After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”      John 19:28

The scripture tells us that AFTER Jesus delegated John (the Apostle/Evangelist) to be the caregiver of his mother, Mary, He makes this expression.  Was it a STATEMENT or a REQUEST?

Some scholars conjecture that Jesus was

“moving from the supernatural to the natural.  The scriptures that foretold His birth, life, and now death, were fulfilled.

“I THIRST.”

Some scholars have said that,

“Among His seven last phrases, this is the only verbal expression of His physical suffering.”

The usual process during a crucifixion is giving the person on the cross a concoction of vinegar, water, and hyssop or myrrh.  This is given to deaden the pain by drugging the one suffering.  During my study, I read where Jesus refused to ingest this when it was initially offered to each “crucifant”, if you will.

“I THIRST.”

Jesus made a statement, years before in the Temple,

“The scriptures are fulfilled.”

The Chief Priest and laymen of the Temple accused him of blasphemy.  Jesus knew why He came!

“I THIRST.”

Let me be clear about something.  We do not know if Jesus was asking for something to drink or not.  People have assumed that this is what he was doing.  The soldiers assumed that He was asking for something to drink, so they gave him a bitter liquid.

In Psalms 69:21-b, David wrote,

“and for my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.”

In Matthew 27:48,

“and immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.”

“I THIRST.”

AGAIN I ASK . . . was this a statement or a question?  We may never know, but what we DO know is that the life of Jesus the Christ was NOT taken.  It was freely given.

WHAT WE DO KNOW is that He told us what we should be thirst for.

In John 7:37, Jesus said,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

In Psalms 63:1, David said,

“my soul thirsts for you. . . ”

We should be thirsty!

We should be thirsty for that Living Water.

Jesus is the LOVING WATER and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I need that water.

“I THIRST!”

Happy Resurrection Day!

~~~Malinda~~~