Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Fifth Word: “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)





Painting from a church in Taormina, Sicily

Mark Roberts @ www.markroberts.org continues with the fifth in the series on the Seven Last Works of Christ. He notes that John was thinking of Psalm 69, which includes this passage:

Their insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
if only one would turn and comfort me.
But instead, they give me poison for food;
they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
(vv. 20-21)

He offers for Reflection:

  • How do you respond to Jesus' statement "I am thirsty"?
  • What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?
He closed with this prayer:
"O Lord, once again I thank you for what you suffered on the cross. Besides extraordinary pain, you also experienced extreme thirst. All of this was part and parcel of your taking on our humanity so that you might take away our sin.

Dear Lord, in your words "I am thirsty" I hear the cry of my own heart. I too am thirsty, Lord, not for physical drink. I don't need sour wine. Rather, I need the new wine of your kingdom to flood my soul. I need to be refreshed by your living water. I yearn for your Spirit to fill me once again.

I am thirsty, Lord, for you. Amen".

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