John 19:28-29 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst. We shall look upon these words as — I. THE ENSIGN OF CHRIST'S TRUE HUMANITY. Angels cannot thirst. A phantom, as some have called him, could not suffer in this fashion. Thirst is a common-place misery, such as may happen to peasants or beggars; it is no royal grief; Jesus is brother to the poorest. Our Lord, however, endured thirst to an extreme degree, for it was the thirst of death, and more the thirst of one whose death was "for every man." Believing this — 1. Let us tenderly feel how very near akin to us our Lord has become. You have been parched with fever as He was, and gasped out, "I thirst." Your path runs hard by that of your Master. Next time your fevered lips thus murmur, you may say, "Those are sacred words, for my Lord spake in that fashion." While we admire His condescension let our thoughts turn with delight to His sure sympathy. 2. Let us cultivate the spirit of resignation, for we may well rejoice to carry a cross which His shoulders have borne before us. If our Master said, "I thirst," do we expect every day to drink of streams from Lebanon? Shall the servant be above his Master? &c. 3. Let us resolve to shun no denials, but rather court them that we may be conformed to His image. May we not be half ashamed of our pleasures when He says, "I thirst?" II. THE TOKEN OF HIS SUFFERING SUBSTITUTION. 1. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" points to the anguish of His soul; "I thirst" expresses the torture of His body; and they were both needful. The pangs that are due to law are of both kinds, touching both heart and flesh. 2. The present effect of sin is thirst, dissatisfaction. Now Christ standing in the stead of the ungodly suffers thirst as a type of His enduring the result of sin. More solemn still is the reflection that thirst will also be the eternal result of sin. "Father Abraham, send Lazarus," &c. 3. He had no sooner said "I thirst," and sipped the vinegar, than He shouted, "It is finished;" and all was over; and our great Deliverer's thirst was the sign of His having smitten the last foe. III. A TYPE OF MAN'S TREATMENT OF HIS LORD. 1. It was a confirmation of the Scripture testimony with regard to man's natural enmity to God. According to modern thought man is a very fine and noble creature, struggling to become better. But such is not the Scripture estimate. At the first there was no room for Him at the inn, and at the last there was no water for Him to drink; but when He thirsted they gave Him vinegar. Manhood, left to itself, rejects, crucifies, and mocks the Christ of God. 2. Have we not often given Him vinegar to drink? Did we not do so years ago before we knew Him? We gave Him our tears and then grieved Him with our sins. Nor does the grief end here, for our best works, feelings, prayers, have been tart and sour with sin. IV. THE MYSTICAL EXPRESSION OF THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART. 1. His heart was thirsting to save men. This thirst had been on Him early. "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" "I have a baptism to be baptized with," &c., and when on the cross the work was almost done His thirst could not be assuaged till He could say, "It is finished." 2. He thirsts after the love of His people. Call to mind His complaint in Isaiah 5, "It brought forth wild grapes" — vinegar. According to the sacred canticle of love (Solomon's Song of Solomon 5.), we learn that when He drank in those olden times it was in the garden of His Church that He was refreshed. 3. He thirsts for communion with His people, not because you can do Him good, but because He can do you good. He thirsts to bless you and to receive your grateful love in return. V. THE PATTERN OF OUR DEATH WITH HIM. Know ye not that ye are crucified together with Christ? Well, then, what means this cry, "I thirst," but this, that we should thirst too — 1. After Christ. Certain philosophers have said that they love the pursuit of truth even better than the knowledge of truth. I differ from them, but, next to the actual enjoyment of my Lord's presence, I love to hunger and to thirst after Him. 2. For the souls of our fellow-men. Thirst to have your children, your workpeople, your class, saved. 3. As for yourselves, thirst after perfection. Hunger and thirst after righteousness, for you shall be filled. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. |
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