The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Friday, April 5, 2024

THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Jesus' cry of "I thirst" reflects the intense physical agony He endured during His crucifixion. After hours of hanging on the Cross, Jesus experienced excruciating pain, exhaustion, and dehydration. His human body, subjected to the brutality of crucifixion, longed for relief and refreshment. Jesus' cry of thirst serves as a powerful expression of His identification with the suffering and frailty of humanity. Hebrews 4:15 affirms, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." In His humanity, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions and physical sensations, including thirst.

In uttering the words "I thirst," Jesus fulfilled the prophecy recorded in Psalm 69:21: "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." This fulfillment of prophecy underscores the divine orchestration of Jesus' suffering and the redemptive purpose behind His sacrificial death. Beyond its physical implications, Jesus' cry of thirst carries symbolic significance, pointing to the spiritual thirst of humanity for the living water that only He can provide. In John 4:14, Jesus declared, "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers the water of life to all who are spiritually thirsty, satisfying the deepest longings of the human soul.

In reflecting on Jesus' cry of "I thirst," believers are reminded of the depth of Jesus' humanity, His identification with our suffering, and His provision for our spiritual thirst through His sacrificial death on the cross. It serves as a poignant reminder of the compassion and love of our Savior, who willingly endured suffering and death to bring us salvation and eternal life.

Confession:

 I acknowledge the depth of Jesus' suffering on the Cross and His willingness to endure thirst and agony for my sake. I receive with gratitude the living water that Jesus offers, satisfying my spiritual thirst and bringing me into communion with God.

Further Reading:

Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

John 4:14 - "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Read through the bible in 1 year: Deuteronomy 28:1-68 Luke 11:14-36 Psalm 77:1-20 Proverbs 12:18

Read through the bible in 2 years: Catch-up day & Ps 88