Worship Initiative | Last Words of JesusSample

I thirst.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘'I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.” (John 19:28-29)

Humanity on display.

On that day, Christ’s every weakness was advertised before the eyes of men. He bled, he cried, he feared, he thirsted. Stripped of every basic need, the Son of God demonstrated the vulnerability in his own flesh. He truly had become like us.

And though for many in his time, Christ’s humanity was counted as evidence against his divine nature, it may have, in fact, been the most compelling evidence in its favor.

First, a sinless life. Humanity mingled with holiness was a profound and unfamiliar image. No one had yet seen a man live without sin. Even Christ’s own accusers could only bring one charge against him: that he had claimed to be God.

“Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death…’” (Luke 23:20-22)

Christ was met with deep, powerful hatred, stirred up not by his wrongdoing but by his own perfection. They feared him and the mystery of his divine humanity, so they sought to destroy him.

But even this would only further establish Jesus’s messianic identity. The prophecies had spoken of one who would do just as he had done – who would live perfectly, die by the hand of man, and be raised by the hand of God.

“They made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:9-10)

A human man dying a human death, raised by the eternal God and seated in an eternal place of honor. Christ could suffer and die just as any man, and could rise only as God himself.

And to those who believe, Jesus would become a Great High Priest – clothed in the lowliness of man, sympathetic to our every weakness, yet crowned with glory and empowered to purchase our righteousness by his own merit.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

This is what we ought to hear when we read the words of Jesus, “I thirst.” He knows what it is to have need; he knows what it is to suffer; he knows what it is to be a man. And still, he is God. What, then, is our response? We look back to Hebrews for the answer:

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

It is our privilege to draw near to this throne – to come confidently with our need before Christ. He is the Living Water who was made thirsty so that your cup might overflow.

Drink deeply of his love today.