I AM THIRSTYReading: John 19: 28-37
Water is becoming an increasingly scarce and precious commodity in our world. For those of us who live in countries where the rainfall is abundant we treat an endless supply of water as a right and rebel against impending or actual water charges. But when we take a wider view we realise that water is the most priceless treasure we have. Without it nothing can survive. It is totally necessary for all life. When we are thirsty, really thirsty, every other consideration goes out the window. Thirst is such an all-consuming thing. All we can about is what will quench that thirst – water.
Jesus had an unbearable thirst – physical thirst as he hung, dying, on the cross; thirst, also, for what was happening to be finished; thirst to see the reign of God established. In his humanity on that terrible day that we, from a post-resurrection viewpoint, now rightly call Good Friday – he cried out, “I am thirsty!” They were nearly the last words he spoke. And at the last moment, he was heard. His executioners soaked a sponge in wine, put it on a branch and held it to his lips. Perhaps it was that action that gave him the strength to fling his last affirmation of faith against the darkness, “It is finished!” It was a tiny thing, a fleeting moment of compassion from those men who probably had to drug themselves with that same wine in order to perform such deeds. I like to think that it was a fragile thread of a bridge between Jesus and the forces that were crucifying him. His thirst was for them as much as it was for all the others down through the ages. It had to be. And within a couple of days, and for all time, that bridge would change in shape and structure and indestructible strength; no longer a hyssop branch holding a sponge soaked with sour wine, but an empty cross, a sign of hope and life and quenched thirst for all time.
On one of his earlier visits to Jerusalem Jesus had stood in the Temple and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow from within.” That living water referred to the Spirit who had not yet come because all had not yet been ‘finished.’ But now, from that thirst of Jesus, from his death and resurrection would come that gift for everyone believing in him.
As we dare to really look at places of extreme woundedness and brokenness in our world, as we attune our ears to ‘hear’ the silent screams arising from this parched and anguished earth, it would be easy for us to over-spiritualize events and situations and negate human responsibility for doing something that would contribute to justice and peace and provision for desperate physical needs. We are challenged to act as well as reflect, but the empowering comes from that living water, the Holy Spirit.