“I Thirst.”

It has been said that thirst is one of the most severe agonies of crucifixion. The wounds of the hands and feet, the brow of the forehead, the back having been severely lacerated with the cat of nine tails, would have been all inflamed by now. Jesus would now be experiencing a raging fever, and water would have been greatly desired because of the insupportable thirst.

Previously, Jesus cried out “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?” In that phrase, we have a message of spiritual suffering as the sin of the world was poured out on Jesus in a three-hour interval of time. Now we come to another moment of anguish but the realm of suffering is different. Previously it was a cry of spiritual suffering. Now, it is a declaration physical suffering. He was thirsty. Once again we see – He is 100% God and 100% man; the perfect God man. He was thirsty.

A good question might be “Why did He say these words?” Is there more here? For sure, he was thirsty. It may well have been as much as 20 hours since He has had anything to drink, but is there more? In that moment on the cross Jesus thirsted for water. It could be said today Jesus thirsts for souls; the souls of people who will admit they cannot make it alone.

• He thirsts for souls who will serve Him faithfully all the days of their lives so they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
• He thirsts for souls who appreciate the fact that He died for them and appreciate it to the point that the appreciation is manifested in the way they live.

Have you turned to Him and by faith claimed Him as your Lord and Savior? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you have never been saved, remember, He died on the cross for you too.