Thirst

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

THIRST

Ps 22:15-18

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

NIV

We actually have three distinct prophesies within this passage, but it seems better to include all of them for context. The first is he is thirsty.

John 19:28

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

NIV

His mouth felt like a clay pot, that is what a potsherd is. Dry without any moisture left in it at all. However we notice, Jesus knew he had taken all our sins, all was now complete. He wanted to make sure all prophesies were completed to show the people he was their Messiah. Even in those horrible conditions, his thoughts were of his people rather than himself. It does seem odd that he would say he was thirsty being the spring of living water, but it was to fulfill the prophecy in this psalm. The question which this brings to mind is that related to one of the teachings of Jesus known as the beatitudes.

Matt 5:6

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

NIV

Jesus is our righteousness, and we are to hunger and thirst for him. That could relate to the events surrounding our conversion moment. Whatever our condition was or our state of mind was prior to our salvation moment, we were in the process of thirsting for Jesus. It may not have been in that word, but that was what was occurring. However were we filled completely with his righteousness and need no further food or drink? Seems rather foolish to think one meal would suffice. In the natural we cannot survive our whole life on one meal, nor should it be in the spiritual realm. It is a constant daily activity of seeking or following after Jesus, being thirsty for more of him in our lives. Yes, he is there, all the time, all of him, but it is us who are the problem. He does not force his way upon us. We merely have to look at how the Israelites deserted him time and time again. How they spent four hundred years in Egypt. What started out as their salvation turned into slavery. When they cried out to God, he saved them, as he always does. So let us continue to hunger and thirst for him and we will always be filled to the brim and, in fact, overflowing with the love of Jesus.