Seven Last Words of Christ (5)

"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty” - John 19:28

Here Jesus is at the end of endurance. What must be done has been done, and the light is fading from his eyes. He says "I thirst". We might imagine Jesus saying even now, "I thirst".

Let me say the simplest thing: in desert times, we thirst. Not only is Christ our living water - Christ thirsts with us. Our God enters into and experiences our most basic needs as immediately as we do. We do not come before one aloof who does not know us, but we come before One who comes alongside us, who is with us always; who goes ever before us, even into suffering and death.

Let us not be ashamed of our limitations, our weaknesses, our needs.

Thirsting God, we thirst for you. You know our every mote, our every thought and feeling. You are wracked with thirst when we thirst, and rejoice with us when cool water is found. You are not above our suffering; you do not turn from us or hover above us and merely watch, but are always present with us in love. We rejoice that you are with us always.