There is nothing like thirst to put on display the vulnerability of our human condition. Thirst is a metaphor that permeates the story of faith. From the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai to Samson the great judge, we all thirst. It is a picture of our longing for God. Jesus, however, is the source of a water that quenches every thirst. When you read of his life - and the promise he offers to others - one should marvel at the fact that he was thirsty. Jesus chose to be thirsty. He chose to take on frail humanity. He who is eternal took on the frailty of human existence. To the woman at the well, he offered an eternal spring. She was thirsty and longed for this water. At the great water festival of Jerusalem, Jesus stood up when the waters would have flowed down the streets of the holy city and he declared that he himself is the source of living water. Water is a picture of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through baptism, water is the picture of new life, life refreshed.  Through the waters of baptism, he quenches our thirst. Like the Ethiopian eunuch, when we come to faith - we cry out, "here is water!"  Water is also our destiny. In John's final vision of eternity, he sees the river of life - flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Has your thirst been quenched?

Preach Jesus: His Final Words From the Cross

Quenched

John 19:28-29

Psalm 63:1, "O God,  you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."

What we learn from His Thirst:

1. He reminds us of His Humanity.

• See John 4, "...please give me a drink..."
• Amos 8:13, "In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst."
• Hebrews 4:15, "this High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin."

2. He directs us to His Divinity.

• v29, "Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill scripture..."
• Psalm 69:21, "...they offer me sour wine for my thirst..."
• v29, "...a jar of sour wine was sitting there..."
• See John 2, the Wedding at Cana, v10, "...you have kept the best until now!"
• See John 7, the water festival
• Isaiah 58:11, "The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring."
• John 7:37b-38, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"

3. He invites us to our Destiny.

• Revelation 21:6, "And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."
• Revelation 22:17, "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life."