“ I thirst. “
As Jesus came very near to the end of his life he was very thirsty.
Throughout his life he done his Father's will. He had promised
Paradise to the penitent thief, and with a word, made provision for Mary.
The end was very near. He was very thirsty.
Perhaps some of us recall thinking as young people that Jesus' temptations
and sufferings, were somehow easier for him because he was also God.
When we come to the end of his life we have this simple request
because of a common need - thirst to be quenched.
It is quite clear here, that being God did not meet this need.
If this need was not met by being God,
then all of his other needs were not met by being God.
He came to meet our need for our Creator.
We had severed the relation by self will, and were helpless to restore it.
Our need for a mediator was not and is not, just theology.
It is as real as our need for air to breathe, and water to quench our thirst.
The frailty of our bodies is shown in these words of Jesus.
The suffering of human flesh is clearly seen.
What it cost Jesus to do his Father's will is revealed by these two words.
Pain is summarized, and painless spirituality is confronted by them.
His flesh became dehydrated in order to give us the spring of Living Water.
We find it painful to consider his physical suffering,
and turn away before we allow ourselves to be upset by it.
He endured it and only expressed his need.
The flesh that suffered is the flesh we have come to eat today.
It is not only holy and obedient flesh, it is suffering flesh as well.
We have been called to partake of his body that suffered in our place.
We are summoned to remember what we want to pass over.
Father we thank You that Jesus suffered the agony to bring us to You.
strengthen us to consider what we turn from in fear.
cause us to love him with tender feelings because he suffered for us.
bless the bread to us to lead us into him, looking to see your face.
As we ponder the relation between, “I thirst” and his blood that covers us,
the arch-sin of pride comes into view.
Jesus was not proud to refuse to admit his need. Too often, we are.
His entire life had given the grace of humility, so he expresses it one last time.
He humbled himself unto death, yea the death of the cross.
He bore our shame in his body while
his life blood was drained in the presence of the proud.
The sinless life, the only source of life, forever excludes pride.
Father we come to drink the blood of him who thirsted, and said so.
fill our spirits with his that we may reflect his humble love.
he is to us, more than we want to see.
lead us to see our pride, and lay it down, as we drink his blood.