The 7 Last Words of Christ With Jim CaviezelSample

The Fourth Word - I thirst.

Water, thirst, and drinking are part of a common motif throughout the Gospels, especially in John.

Jesus tells us in John 7: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.”

In this moment on the cross, Jesus, who offers us the promise of living waters through the Holy Spirit, is dry.

Parched.

Empty.

We can all relate to the feeling of both physical thirst and inner emptiness.

But what else was Jesus thirsting for? In this moment, Jesus was betrayed by humanity and feeling forsaken by his heavenly Father.

He thirsts for us; he wants nothing more than for us to fully understand just how much he loves us and for us to love him in return. When Jesus called out his thirst upon the cross, he was given the sour taste of vinegar. In the same way, we too often respond to Jesus’ thirst not with our love but with the vinegar of a heart hardened to God.

Reflect: How can you respond to God’s thirst for your love and offer your gifts back to Him?