I Thirst

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

(John 19:28-29 NASB)

This coming Sunday I am going to be speaking from this passage.  It has caused me to consider all the ways that “I thirst.” I don’t what to look at the ways the world seek to respond to my thirst, I want the world to be better to me than it actually is. I want the world to have a little “more good” in it so that I can enjoy the world and not always need to turn to the Father for life. This confession is the result of looking at the life I actually live and not the life I want to live. I often teach against pretending (what some now call faith) and since I don’ want any pretense in my heart, I better seek to get it out of my writing as well.

Can being thirsty and receiving sour wine be in the will of the Father? I guess it was for Jesus, but what about you and me? When we thirst don’t we get the best wine, the cup of cool water, the refreshing of the soul? Jesus knew that all things had already been accomplished. Isn't it time for Jesus to have some time off, for him to get a little something that isn't prophetic, isn't eternal, isn't so critical?

When we can’t help ourselves we are helpless. Jesus is helpless on the cross. He volunteered to be physically destroyed and spiritual sin for us. Now in this moment of need he must take what he is given or take nothing at all. This is the lot of most followers of Jesus around the world, not in America, but around the world. Most people don’t get to choose clean water over dirty water let alone which coffee shop or which style of brew. Bread, meat, medication are all received based on what is offered to people with no options. When was the last time we joined Jesus in connecting and suffering with others in this way?

Maybe this Easter Season after we have “accomplished” all that we were supposed to accomplish we can thirst, and then humbly receive what is offered. Even now some are considering what to expect in regard to a new outfit, what payday will bring so they can get a little something for themselves, something that they deserve. Others are looking for some “me time” or some space to do what they want to do. What will happen if they are given instead some sour wine, more work, inconvenience, or flooded basement?

I often have a list of things I want to do.  Saturday I want to go trout fishing.  If it was nicer, I would want to ride my motorcycle and go trout fishing. I don’t want to unclog the sink or deal with the water in the basement. I don’t want to have a cup of hot water and not a cup of coffee for breakfast. I don’t want to have your serve me what you have for me, I want to get it myself.

Today I have a small desire to be more like Jesus. I want to do what I was called to do and then rest, without anxiety, on the cross He has for me.  I want to worry about what I get less and try and give my life away better.  To do this I know that I am going to get thirsty, very thirsty.