Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. John 19: 28, 29, NIV.
Heavenly Father, we are humbled by the sacrifice made by heaven in order to save our souls. We pray that as we study Your Word today, we will thirst for “living waters.” In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Lest we forget, that what He endured, He endured as a human being, His “Fourth Word” serves as a reminder, “I am thirsty.” The night before, was the last time the Savior had had anything to eat or drink. I read this bit of information on Diet Bites: “On average, the human body is about 60% water – all but our little brains which are about 70% water. Our blood is about 80% water and our lungs, 90% water.” If this information is true, we can try to appreciate what Jesus is feeling when He utters these words.
Jesus had been steadily losing His body liquids. Scripture informs us, that in the Garden of Gethsemane, ” . . . being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 23: 44). He had been scourged twice, and He was bleeding from the deep gashes in His back. He was also losing blood from the piercings caused by pressing the crown of thorns into His forehead and temples. He is bleeding from His hands and His feet, where they nailed Him to the cross. He had been struggling with a cross that was too big for Him (it was not intended for Him). Most likely, this extreme effort has caused Him to sweat profusely. He is quite likely suffering from dehydration. Besides, thirst is one of the discomforts of death by crucifixion.
This is the second time in Scripture that I recall Jesus asking someone for water. The other occasion is found in John, chapter 4, “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (7, NIV). After He had engaged her in conversation, He offered her “living waters” that would quench her thirst, forever (14). Only Jesus can make such an offer, because He is the “Water of Life.” Now He, is thirsty! He, who had “separated” the waters in the beginning (Genesis 1: 6), and “gathered the waters” in one place (10), was thirsty. He who filled the waters with living creatures on the fifth day of creation (20-22); and made a mist come from beneath, to water the earth, was thirsty! He who created, and controlled, water, was thirsty! What a travesty of nature!
He needed water to keep His brain intact in order to communicate with His Father. The Savior was in need of water, and they gave Him vinegar. Perhaps this was intended to cause numbness, but Jesus would not accept it. He would consciously, give His life to save humanity. If He must suffer thirst, that our quench for eternal life might be satisfied, then He would do it.
He would bear the thirst, in order that we might drink from living waters, and live forever! Because of this, He can say to you and me, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him (her) who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him (her) come; and whoever wishes, let him (her) take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22: 17).
NOTE: My deep regrets for the late publishing of today’s devotional!