The Fifth Word
"I am thirsty."
John 19:28
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week
No doubt Jesus experienced extreme thirst while being crucified. He would have lost a substantial quantity of bodily fluid, both blood and sweat, through what he had endured prior to crucifixion. Thus his statement, "I am thirsty" was, on the most obvious level, a request for something to drink. In response, the soldiers gave Jesus "sour wine" (v. 29), a cheap beverage common among lower class people in the first century.
John notes that Jesus said, "I am thirsty," not only as a statement of physical reality, but also in order to fulfill the Scripture. Though there is no specific reference in the text of the Gospel, it's likely that John was thinking of Psalm 69, which includes this passage:
Their insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
if only one would turn and comfort me.
But instead, they give me poison for food;
they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
(vv. 20-21)
As he suffered, Jesus embodied the pain of the people of Israel, that which had been captured in Psalm 69. Jesus was suffering for the sin of Israel, as well as taking upon himself the sin of the world.
As I reflect on Jesus’ statement, "I am thirsty," I keep thinking of my own thirst. It's not like that of Jesus, however. Rather, I am thirsty for him. My soul yearns for the living water that Jesus alone supplies (John 4:10; 7:38-39). I rejoice in the fact that he suffered physical thirst on the cross—and so much more—so that my thirst for the water of life might be quenched. Because Jesus was thirsty, I can be satisfied. Because Jesus was thirsty, I can be full.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you respond to Jesus' statement "I am thirsty"? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?
PRAYER: O Lord, once again I thank you for what you suffered on the cross. Besides extraordinary pain, you also experienced extreme thirst. All of this was part and parcel of your taking on our humanity so that you might take away our sin.
Dear Lord, in your words "I am thirsty," I hear the cry of my own heart. I, too, am thirsty, Lord, but not for physical drink. I certainly don't need sour wine. Rather, I need the new wine of your kingdom to flood my soul. I need to be refreshed by your living water. I yearn for your Spirit to fill me once again.
I am thirsty, Lord, for you. Amen.
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Holy Week
On Sunday morning, we wave our palms and sing Hosanna in the Highest. It is not hard to get caught up in the celebration and wonder if the stones are indeed crying out. Yet in the midst of this great joy there is a chilling stillness.
Thus begins the journey to the cross. A week of little deaths, that’s what Holy Week is for us.Celebration and mourning take turns to stir deep places.
During Holy Week at The High Calling, we invite you to focus solely on the story of our faith. May your eyes be opened to the truth: we cannot follow Christ and remain unchanged.
Image above courtesy of Laity Lodge, one of our sister programs in The H. E. Butt Family Foundation.
