I Am Thirsty

by Merchant, Paul | Category: Voice From The Cross | Aug 1996

Jesus was thirsty for a drink for His suffering body. He was also the Saviour who was thirsty for souls. It was His desire that many would receive forgiveness of sins through His death. He was thirsty for God's purpose to be completed in His life and death. He had said to Peter in Gethsemane, 'Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?'(1). The Lord Jesus had a thirst for obedience to His God and Father that led Him to Calvary.

He was thirsty in His desire to fulfil all Scripture. 'Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty"'(2). As we know the Lord died soon after receiving the drink, He took the drink in order to fulfil a prophecy about Himself and not for the purpose of relieving His pain or prolonging His life.

The words were spoken after His three hours of darkness, thus confirming that He was conscious throughout the six hours of suffering. Mask describes how two drinks were offered to Jesus. 'Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh' just before He was crucified(3). This was offered to victims as a sedative to reduce pain but the Lord refused this palliative. The Gospels rarely mention Jesus describing his physical condition but here is an exception and in response to His words a spectator offered a different drink, 'One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink' (4)The onlookers waited to see if He would call on Elijah. The Psalmist describes it with contempt, 'They put gall in My food and gave Me vinegar for My thirst' (5) This cheap, sour wine may have had the purpose of prolonging life but Jesus died soon after receiving it.

People could make pathetic gestures to relieve His physical pain but nobody could intrude into His suffering for sin at the hands of His God. In this word from the Cross the Lord hints at the terrible torture of His body in crucifixion. He reveals once again His determination, even whilst enduring death by crucifixion, to obey God's words spoken about Him.

(1) John 18:11; (2) John 19:28; (3) Mark 15:23; (4) Mark 1S:36; (5) Ps. 69:21.

All scriptures quoted from NIV

Merchant, Paul | Aug 1996
Voice From The Cross