John 19:29 – Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that 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.
“Later”, or “after this” as it is often rendered, Jesus spoke again from the cross. With knowledge and intention Jesus spoke. With the knowledge that everything was almost finished. Not just the agony of that day, but the singular task that He came to fulfill was near completion. All that He had been preparing for would be accomplished. So, knowingly He spoke. And intentionally He spoke, so that the last scripture would be fulfilled.
But why? Why did Jesus utter these words from the cross? And to whom? To whom was Jesus speaking when He said, “I am thirsty.”
Scriptural: The first reason that Jesus spoke the words, “I am thirsty”, is as the verse states, to fulfill scripture. There are at least two Old Testament scriptures that apply here.
Psalm 22:15 – “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” The great Messianic Psalm that captures so much of what Jesus suffered describes His dried-up mouth.
Psalm 69:21 – “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar to drink.” In verse 3 of Psalm 69, the psalmist writes, “my throat is parched” and here in verse 21 is the response of his enemies giving him the vinegar.
The clear fulfillment of these passages is Jesus’ crying out, “I am thirsty” and the response of the Roman soldiers stationed there. There was a jar of sour wine, with gall mixed in it. The soldiers offered it to Jesus on a sponge.
Medical: A second reason that Jesus cried out from the cross, “I am thirsty”, was because of the physical state of His broken and crucified body. Medically speaking, crucifixion produces hypovolemic shock because of the massive loss of blood, profuse sweating because of the fever brought on by the intense pain, and severe dehydration as a result of there being less fluids in the body and high fever. In a sense, Jesus, with His words, was validating the words that would be written describing how He died. He was testifying to their authenticity that He, in fact, was crucified for us.
Human: A third reason for the saying, “I am thirsty” is how completely it shows the humanity of Christ. Til the end, Jesus remained fully God and fully man. Why would the Creator God, the One who spoke water into existence, the One to whom the rain clouds obey, ever thirst? How could the giver of the living water that causes one to never thirst again, be thirsty himself? While in the process of accomplishing for us what only God could do, He cries out as a man in pain, in need. It is in His humanity that Jesus identifies with us and it is in His humanity that we can identify with Him. I can’t comprehend what it is to die for the sins of all mankind. But I know what it feels like to be thirsty. I can’t relate with what it feels like to have God forsake you completely and totally. But I know what it’s like to be in need, to hurt and bleed and hunger and thirst. And Jesus knows how it feels as well. He knows you.
Now to address who Jesus was speaking to when he said, “I am thirsty.”
Roman Soldiers: At one level, Jesus was speaking to the Roman soldiers that had just crucified him. His words were a declaration and perhaps an ask. In response, and to fulfill scripture, unknowingly, the soldiers gave him sour wine.
God the Father: At another level, Jesus was crying out to God the Father, “I am thirsty.” Having taken upon himself the sins of all mankind, Jesus had just experienced total and complete separation from God. Could it be that Jesus was longing for communion with the Father in these last moments? “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” After crying out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” can you hear the depth of passion and longing for His Father in our savior’s voice. “I am thirsty.”
Mankind: Now can you picture Jesus calling out to you and me, to humanity across the ages, “I am thirsty.” The One who for the joy set before him endured the cross was hanging upon it with you in mind. He gladly made himself thirsty so that we would never thirst again. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Only hours before the cross with His final wishes, our Lord had prayed that we would be one with Him. Abiding intimately together. We are the bride and He is our groom. Spurgeon writes, “Beloved, there is now upon our Master, and there always has been, a thirst after the love of his people. Yes, he loves to be with his people; they are the garden where he walks for refreshment, and their love, their graces, are the milk and wine which he delights to drink.”
So, what is your response to Jesus’ words? Is your heart as refreshing as a cup of cold water or as sour as vinegar and gall? Are you thirsty in return?
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Revelation 22:17 – Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
When our thirsty Lord stands at your door and knocks, do you open it and invite Him in? Jesus is longingly and lovingly crying out to you and me today, “I am thirsty.”
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