The Water, Vinegar and Jesus, "I Thirst": 7 Last Words of Christ
- elynnewig
- May 9
- 8 min read
Man I’m thirstier than I’ve ever been in my life! I take a drink and it’s cool for a minute but then I find that I am thirsty again. Ever felt that way? No matter what you do you, you need more to drink.
Are you thirsty? That wasn’t a rhetorical question. Are you thirsty? For what? I mean just what are your thirsty for? This world offers so many drink options. How does one choose? Is it cost? Is it flavor? Is it the amount? Is it temperature? What is your expectation? Something inside you causes you to realize I’m thirsty. And so, what?
There is nothing in your fridge. There is nothing in your wallet. You’ve been toiling and working up a sweat and No one is inviting you to the liquid fountain of thirst quenching drinks. Who has the power to quench your thirst?
Go with me here…
The drink is there. You see it. Your mouth is dry. You see someone who can give relief. And what do they do? Perhaps they pour a drink and take a swig, smack their lips and set the drink down just out of your reach. All that but they deny you access to what clearly can be given. Not only that you are tied up and bound in such a way that you can’t get down and get it for yourself.
You are made fun of as your tormentors continue to sip whenever they please. Not only that several times different drink options are selected and savored before your very eyes. Over a tortuous span of time, enjoyment is all around, available to all but you and you have done nothing at all but try to be there for others. In fact you been toiling so hard for others that sweat pours from your brow. And there are those with the power do, do not care a wit. The “powerful one” is doing all while you thirst.
So, one of the tormentors finally decides to step up and give you something to drink. They go through the choices picks through them carefully. One is selected and turned down only to select another. There is no need to hurry – after all you aren’t going anywhere. Up until now, the weather has held up pretty well. So, there’s time. A decision is finally made! the choice is pulled out of the stack of drinkables and a liberal amount is put in a shabby bruised tin cup. The “thirst quencher” thinking everything is under control, careful not to loose the ties that bind, brings the choice up to you and positions it so you can drink…
You do know that when you are thirsty, you begin tasting the drink before you take the first sip right? So the liquid is being brought to your lips. You can taste it. Your imagination takes over and you know how cold it will be. You know full well what it will taste like going down your throat. You are getting excited at the hopeful chance that your thirst might be quenched while you still have strength to taste…
You open your mouth and allow the liquid to go into your mouth. It takes a second or two to register that all your hopes have been dashed because you have just been given vinegar!!
Where is the victory in that?!
I THIRST!!
Get the picture? Good!
Okay enough of this scenario building play on this theme. Let’s see what was going on in this Scripture. What was happening at this point in our biography? John 19:28 says in part I thirst. Today, we have heard homilies on several of the Words. The first three words demonstrate Jesus’ loving desire to think about others – Forgive his condemners for they don’t know what in the world they are doing; Mary and John become mother and son; a thief who understood would be with Jesus in glory that very day! Isn’t that just like Jesus to all that for others. But I thirst – referred to Jesus’ need.
We must recognize the human Jesus. He did indeed suffer. He did indeed experience that walk where folk who were supposed to love Him, beat, mocked and spat on Him. He was nailed to a cross. He was experiencing all that occurs when one is crucified. Now, what we know medically tells us that he was more than likely dehydrated. And, as He hung there suffering, He finally took a moment to think of Himself. And, He said, I thirst. So, we must not diminish His need. For to do so negates some parts of this miracle that is in the making. He did thirst as you thirst, and you thirst, and I thirst.
Suppose, just for a moment that Jesus was thirsty before He was nailed to that cross. Could it be possible that He was thirsting for people who knew Him and sought Him. As a matter of fact, God has always thirsted for one; seeking those who can quench His thirst satisfaction that He would get from His only begotten Son. Before David, who was a man after His own heart and Jesus our Savior, do you remember Job? In Job 1:8, God asks Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” A thirst quenching servant, wouldn’t you say?
Jesus was thirsty, and they gave Him vinegar. Why? We have trouble on every hand. All the people at war in one way or another, aren’t they thirsty? Here at home, all around, aren’t people thirsty?
So, why are we giving them vinegar? When you were thirsty, did you turn away from water and go get a glass of vinegar? You were thirsty did you receive vinegar? Were they really trying to quench His thirst? Are they really trying to quench your thirst? Just what are we doing?
Why is this question of thirst reverberating in my mind? Was Jesus really thirsty? Are you thirsty? Why? What are you thirsting for?
Water? Well, water would be the likely solution, wouldn’t it? I mean can we reflect on this word without thinking about the thirst-quenching power of mere water? At the start of this homily, I spoke about times when I have taken a drink and still been thirsty. Have you ever been thirsty? Did you go and get your favorite drink – raspberry lemonade – Pepsi – sangria? And, man when you are finished, you are still thirsty. You still have to go get that water so your thirst might be quenched. But is it? Maybe we should see earthly water isn’t the answer. That water will temporarily quench your thirst, but you will thirst again.
Vinegar?? It washes away mold. It gives flavor to chitterlings. But I have never heard anyone say it quenches thirst. It doesn’t even smell very good and sometimes you have to hold your nose to deal with it. So, not only doesn’t it quench thirst, it can also assault your sense of smell. So, don’t worry about the vinegar that is thrown your way – soaring gas prices is vinegar; can’t afford insurance is vinegar; coffee houses with better attendance than Sunday school, that’s vinegar; social media stealing our young and young at heart that’s some strong vinegar. Vinegar here… vinegar there. Like Jesus don’t let vinegar be your final word
Jesus! there is Jesus, the Son of God, pure human while still part of the Trinity. Hanging on a cross. He walked with them. He talked with them. But He’s on a cross saying I thirst.
On that cross they gave Him vinegar!! But they didn’t understand that the living water will always wash vinegar away. They may not have known, but we have to understand today that the Lord can liquify vinegar and is stronger that H2O. The vinegar had no power. Put it on His tongue, throw it in my face – with Jesus it has no power. The same can be said about you and me. Tie me and bind me. Let them wrap you up and put vinegar in your mouth; with Jesus it has not power!
Jesus – Living water? That’s what I have in mind. Remember? John 4:8 Jesus told the woman at the well: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus knows something about being thirsty. He also knows something about having thirst quenched. He knows that when you seek water, folk will give you vinegar. Say no and just lean your head back, open your spirit and receive the Water that earthly water nor vinegar can cure.
The message for today is what, then? Was Jesus thirsty for the One? Do you thirst? What are you thirsting for?
Jesus said: “I thirst”. And soon His thirst would be quenched.
If Jesus went through all that pain and suffering to come to a place where He admitted His thirst, what are you waiting for? He hung on that cross. Have you ever hung out there being accused of something you knew you hadn’t done. Ever Just been waiting for someone to acknowledge and believe in your innocence, believe in your worth, believe you are indeed a child of God?
Yes, Jesus may have been able to quench His own thirst. But ultimately, it is your thirst Jesus wants to have quenched. Let me say that again. It is your thirst that Jesus wants to quench!
Imagine it! Water is temporary… Vinegar is ridiculous unsatisfying and completely ineffective on a child of God. Jesus is hanging there in his innocence wanting you to find relief. And you better believe there is a way for you to find relief. Don’t you now know about it?
Don’t you stay bound and tied by earthly nuisances. Don’t allow life to have you running haywire through a mess of drinks that will not give you everlasting relief from that which makes you thirsty. Don’t you know what it is? Don’t you want to move toward the only one who can quench your thirst so you will never be thirsty again. Are you moving toward it? It’s Good Friday! Don’t miss this opportunity to join in with the throng of us who have decided to choose Jesus. It’s Good Friday I say! Do you thirst? Thirst after righteousness.
He may have had to remain hung on that cross. but I challenge you not to make his thirsting be in vain. Climb into His loving arms, accept Jesus as you are. Leave the drinks of the earth to quench your human and bodily thirst. but look to the cross, cling tightly and humble yourself in the love that is there for the taking. Lift your head, your head, your heart, your soul and shout hallelujah my Jesus saves. Allow his to quench your thirst each and every day. Slow down on the sodas and juice (okay I am not there yet). Sip the water when your body is thirsty. Just refuse the vinegar. And from this Good Friday forward cling to the living water.
Let me say one more thing about Living Water. A personal account, if you don't mind. You see one day someone told me about that Living Water. I believed it but didn't try it at first. But then life being life had draw closer to the Living Water. I went to the well of living water and I took a sip. It tasted so good that I was fortified to do God's will no matter what. And one day I felt joy and decided to go for more living water. Again I was refreshed and replenished. Then I learned that I didn't have to wait until I was hurt or in pain. I could go for living water in the midst of my intoxicating joy. You see I took a step and it felt so good, that I retraced my steps and back for more. I took three steps. And I missed it soooo, that I ran back for more. So, now, I just stay as close as I can to the well of Living Water. I might take a coke and I actually do drink lots of water. But nothing is as thirst quenching wonderful as a sip of that Living Water.
All because Jesus was willing to hang on that cross and thirst.
For you, for me, for this topsy-turvy world – Jesus said I thirst.
Aren't you glad He did?
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