Good Friday: The Thirst

"I thirst" (John 19:28 KJV).

How? How can God's Son be thirsty? Most of the time when we think about Jesus, we think about spiritual things: faith, trust, hope, salvation. But as Jesus hangs on the cross, things are very physical. Jesus says, "I thirst."

The cross keeps us from thinking that our faith and our beliefs are other-worldly. Jesus lived here. Jesus suffered and died here. His message is for us here. The truth is, if we're going to meet God, we'll meet him here.

As you read the Gospels, you'll notice the writers are minimalist with their descriptions of the crucifixion. They report "they did this," then "they did that." No gory details. Just "I thirst."

Why does Jesus say this? Earlier Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from the water that I give will never be thirsty again" (John 4:14; 6:35) and, "All who are thirsty should come to me!" (John 7:37).

So, what does this mean? In the Bible, to "thirst" is usually for more than water. It means to long for, to desire, to year for. Early in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus blessed a type of holy desperation: "Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6).

Augustine once said, "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee."

When the soldiers heard Jesus say, "I thirst," they offered him a sponge with vinegar on a stick. But Jesus is thirsty for more than water. Jesus has this deep, holy thirst that longs to see God's will done on earth as in heaven--a thirst that can only be satisfied by lifting the cup of salvation and drinking every drop.

When we say, "Jesus is Lord," we mean that God is personal, available, and present. This God thirsts for us, completely gives himself to us, and moves close to us.

Comments

From Anxiety to Hope

In the early winter of AD 28, an extraordinary rumor spread across the shores of Galilee. A new prophet is on the scene. God had been silent for so long. Believers had longed for a new word from God. The last prophet to speak about the Messiah lived nearly 400 years ago. Some thought prophecy was dead. Others hoped it would be revived. Many longed for a movement which would bring them a new kind of freedom. Then John appears. Crowds come to hear this voice in the wilderness. It may helpful to remember the Exodus story: When Israel left Egypt, they were ed through the Red Sea, through the wilderness of Sinai, and, finally, through the Jordan into the promised land. People were desperate for a new exodus, a new freedom. Then John appears. He tells people to turn their lives around. He calls for people to change their hearts and lives. He's not calling for a one-time event. Instead, this is a radical change of life. John is preparing the road for the Lord to return. He...

Lift High the Cross: A Holy Week Message from Bishop Bryan

This is the most unusual Holy Week I have ever experienced. Last Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, I attended the memorial service for my mentor and friend, Bishop Bev Jones. Serving on his staff while I was in seminary was an invaluable part of my training for ministry. I thank God for the sequence of events that made possible that opportunity. On Palm Sunday, Sherrill and I received word that her brother was hospitalized due to a sudden medical crisis related to his three-year battle with mantle cell lymphoma. We made the eight-hour drive to Punta Gorda, Florida. It's one day at a time for now. We are thankful for the compassionate medical team that is caring for him. Each of these experiences reminds me of the deeply personal significance of Holy Week. The Christian faith begins with the reality of the rejection, suffering, and death of Jesus. Christianity does not dodge these harsh realities, it embraces them. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." ...

Our Mission from Jesus

Mark 6:7-13 in the Common English Bible (CEB) reads: "He [Jesus] called for the Twelve and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick--no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts. He told them to wear sandals but not to put on two shirts. He said, 'Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. If a place doesn't welcome you or listen to you, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.' So they went out and proclaimed that people should change their hearts and lives. They cast out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them." In this text, Jesus sends out his disciples to proclaim and live the life that Jesus lives in their presence. He gives them the command to preach, heal, and to overcome evil, with authority. He sends them to reveal the good news of the kingdom with words a...

The Wesleyan Way

Search This Blog