Thirsty during Lent

"I am thirsty." These words were spoken by our suffering Lord just before "he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (Jn 19:30b). How terribly sad: the Maker of heaven and earth with parched lips; the Lord of Glory in need of a drink.

A word of Jesus' humanity
While living on earth, the Lord Jesus gave full proof of his sinless humanity. He entered this world as a baby and was wrapped in strips of cloth (Lk 3:7). Like any normal human child, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature" (Lk 2:52). As a man he became tired (Jn 4:6). He was hungry (Mt 4:2). He fell asleep (Mk 4:38). He prayed (Mk 1:35). He rejoiced (Lk 10:21). He was troubled (Jn 11:33). He wept (Jn 11:35). And he cried out: "I am thirsty." Christ was thirsty because he was and is fully man. The book of Hebrews says this about Christ:
(Heb 2:17) ... he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

A word of Jesus' sufferings
"I am thirsty." This word of the Saviour also expresses his sufferings.
The Bible tells us that at the institution of the Supper, was the last time Jesus ate and drank before he was crucified the next day. The Bible tells us Jesus was so anxious and upset about his imminent crucifixion that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Jesus also was whipped. Back then people were whipped until their backs became a big bleeding and open mass of flesh. And think about his crucifixion. Nails, pain, blood, fever! And now remember that he went a night and a day without anything to eat and drink. Is it strange that Jesus said "I am thirsty?" This word on the cross expresses the Saviours extreme bodily, human suffering.

A word expressing thirst for God.
"I am thirsty." In these words we also hear our Lord's thirst for God, after being forsaken for 3 long hours of darkness, when God had turned his face away from Jesus. After three hours of forsakenness, Jesus was crying for God. Jesus remembered the words of the the psalmist:
(Ps 42:1-2) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Jesus had been without God for three awful hours. No wonder he cried out for God. No wonder he said, "I am thirsty."

We also often cry: "I am thirsty," and "my soul is empty (pants for God)". Yet, as Jesus often explained, we look into the wrong things and go to the wrong places to fill our soul when the challenges of life itself shows us our thirst for God. But Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again" (Jn 4:13).

Christ alone can quench our thirst. He alone can meet the deepest needs of our heart, our soul, our life. Come to Jesus. If you die in your sins, your eternal cry will be the moaning of the damned: "I am thirsty." In the lake of fire the lost suffer with nobody to quench their thirst.
Come to Jesus and drink of him. For only Jesus can satisfy your thirst today.