{"id":5007,"date":"2013-03-28T01:20:11","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T06:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/?p=5007"},"modified":"2015-03-13T15:31:02","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:31:02","slug":"the-seven-last-words-of-christ-the-fifth-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/2013\/03\/28\/the-seven-last-words-of-christ-the-fifth-word\/","title":{"rendered":"The Seven Last Words of Christ – The Fifth Word"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The Fifth Word:
\n\u201cI am thirsty.\u201d
\n(John 19:28)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A painting of the Cruxifixion, from a church in Taormina, Italy. Photo by Mark Roberts<\/p>\n

No doubt Jesus experienced extreme thirst while being crucified. He would have lost a substantial quantity of bodily fluid, both blood and sweat, through what he had endured even prior to crucifixion. Thus his statement, \u201cI am thirsty\u201d was, on the most obvious level, a request for something to drink. In response, the soldiers gave Jesus \u201csour wine\u201d (v. 29), a cheap beverage common among lower class people in the time of Jesus.<\/p>\n

John notes that Jesus said \u201cI am thirsty,\u201d not only as a statement of physical reality, but also in order to fulfill the Scripture. Though there is no specific reference in the text of the Gospel, it\u2019s likely that John was thinking of Psalm 69, which includes this passage:<\/p>\n

Their insults have broken my heart,
\nand I am in despair.
\nIf only one person would show some pity;
\nif only one would turn and comfort me.
\nBut instead, they give me poison for food;
\nthey offer me sour wine for my thirst.
\n(vv. 20-21)<\/p>\n

As he suffered, Jesus embodied the pain of the people of Israel, that which had been captured in the Psalms. Jesus was suffering for the sin of Israel, even as he was taking upon himself the sin of the world.<\/p>\n

As I reflect on Jesus\u2019 statement, \u201cI am thirsty,\u201d I keep thinking of my own thirst. It\u2019s nothing like that of Jesus. Rather, I am thirsty for him. My soul yearns for the living water that Jesus supplies (John 4:10; 7:38-39). I rejoice in the fact that he suffered physical thirst on the cross \u2013 and so much more \u2013 so that my thirst for the water of life might be quenched.<\/p>\n

Questions for Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n

How do you respond to Jesus\u2019 statement \u201cI am thirsty\u201d? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

O Lord, once again I thank you for what you suffered on the cross. Besides extraordinary pain, you also experienced extreme thirst. All of this was part and parcel of your taking on our humanity so that you might take away our sin.<\/p>\n

Dear Lord, in your words \u201cI am thirsty\u201d I hear the cry of my own heart. I too am thirsty, Lord, not for physical drink. I don\u2019t need sour wine. Rather, I need the new wine of your kingdom to flood my soul. I need to be refreshed by your living water. I yearn for your Spirit to fill me once again.<\/p>\n

I am thirsty, Lord, for you. Amen.<\/p>\n

Resources for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Seven Last Words of Christ: Reflections for Holy Week<\/a>
\n(the seven-part series, of which today\u2019s post is part 5)<\/p>\n

The Stations of the Cross: A Devotional Guide for Lent and Holy Week<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Roman, Jewish, and Christian Perspectives<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction to Eastertide: The Season of Easter<\/a><\/p>\n

Handel\u2019s Messiah<\/em>: An Unexpected Easter<\/em> Masterpiece<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Fifth Word: \u201cI am thirsty.\u201d (John 19:28) A painting of the Cruxifixion, from a church in Taormina, Italy. Photo by Mark Roberts No doubt Jesus experienced extreme thirst while being crucified. He would have lost a substantial quantity of bodily fluid, both blood and sweat, through what he had endured even prior to crucifixion. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5572,16882],"tags":[17164,21638,21666,17165],"class_list":["post-5007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holy-week","category-seven-last-words","tag-fifth-word","tag-holy-week","tag-seven-last-words","tag-thirsty"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Seven Last Words of Christ - The Fifth Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Fifth Word: \u201cI am thirsty.\u201d (John 19:28) A painting of the Cruxifixion, from a church in Taormina, Italy. 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