“After this, Jesus knew that everything had been completed. So that the Scriptures would come true, he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ There was a jar of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth.”
John 19:28-29
The Thirst of Jesus
It showed that Jesus is truly human.
“Jesus gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death on a cross.” Philippians 3:7-8 (NCV)
It showed He was the promised Savior.
“So that the Scriptures would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
John 19:28
“When I was thirsty they offered me vinegar.” Psalm 69:21b
“Take a branch of the hyssop plant, dip it into the bowl filled with blood, then wipe the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes.”
Exodus 12:22
It shows how much Jesus loves me.
“God demonstrated his own love for us in that while we were all sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
The Thirst of Others
“The time is coming when I will send famine on the land. People will be hungry, not for bread; they will be thirsty, but not for water. They will hungry and thirst for a message from the Lord. People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the Lord, running here and going there, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and fine young men will grow faint and weary, thirsting for the Lord’s word.” Amos 8:11-13
I serve Jesus by serving others.
“’Lord, when did we ever see YOU hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give your something to drink?’ … And He will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25: 37-40
Jesus notices the smallest service.
“If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42
The most Christ-like service is to my enemies.
“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.” Proverbs 25:21
How Do I Get My Thirst Satisfied?
Realize what I am really thirsty for.
“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you. My whole being desires you like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Psalm 63:1
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Realize that Jesus feels my pain.
“He took our suffering on himself and felt our pain for us…He was wounded for the wrong we did and crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds.” Isaiah 53:4-5
“Our High Priest understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15
Stop looking for fulfillment elsewhere.
“My people have done two evils: They have turned away from me, the springs of living water and they have dug their own wells, which are broken wells that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living waters will flow out from within.’” John 7:37-38
“Jesus said, ‘People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.’” John 4:13-14
It is as wrong to deny Jesus’ humanity as it is to deny Jesus’ divinity!
