The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross-35

"I thirst"

4. Here we see the Saviour’s submission to the Father’s will.

The Saviour thirsted, and he who thirsted thus, remember, possessed all power in heaven and earth. Had he chosen to exercise his omnipotency, he could have readily satisfied his need. He that of old had caused the water to flow from the smitten rock for the refreshment of Israel in the wilderness, had the same infinite resources at his disposal now. He who turned the water into wine at a word, could have spoken the word of power here, and met his own need. But he never once performed a miracle for his own benefit or comfort. When tempted by Satan to do this he refused. Why did he now decline to satisfy his pressing need? Why hang there on the cross with parched lips? Because in the volume of the book which expressed God’s will, it was written that he should thirst, and that thirsting he should be "given" vinegar to drink. And he came here to do God’s will, and therefore did he submit.

In death, as in life, scripture was for the Lord Jesus the authoritative word of the living God. In the temptation he had refused to minister to his need apart from that word by which he lived, and so now he makes known his need, not that it might be ministered unto, but that scripture might be fulfilled. Mark he does not himself fulfill it, God can be trusted to take care of that; but he gives utterance to his distress so as to provide occasion for the fulfillment. As another has said, "The terrible thirst of crucifixion is upon him, but that is not enough to force those parched lips to speak; but it is written: In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink - this opens them" (F W Grant). Here then, as ever, he shows himself in active obedience to the will of God, which he came to accomplish. He simply says, "I thirst"; the vinegar is tendered, and the prophecy is fulfilled. What perfect absorption in his Father’s will!

Again we pause to point an application to ourselves - a double one. First, the Lord Jesus delighted in the Father’s will even when it involved the suffering of thirst. Are we so resigned to him? Have we sought grace to say, "Not my will, but thine, be done"? Can we exclaim, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight"? Have we learned in whatever state we are in "therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11)?

But now mark a contrast. The Son of God was denied a draught of cold water to relieve his suffering - how different with us! God has given us a variety of refreshments to relieve us, yet how often are we unthankful! We have better things than a cup of water to delight us when thirsty, yet often we are not grateful. O if this cry of Christ’s were but believingly considered, it would make us bless God for what we now almost despise, and beget contentment in us for the most common mercies. The Lord of glory cried "I thirst" and had nothing in his extremity to comfort him, and dost thou, who hast a thousand times forfeited all right to temporal as well as spiritual mercies, slight the common bounties of providence! What! grumble at a cup of water, who deservest but a cup of wrath. O lay it to heart and learn to be contented with what you have, though it be but the very barest necessaries for life. Complain not if you dwell in but a humble hovel, for your Saviour had not where to lay his head! Complain not if you have nought but bread to eat, for your Saviour lacked that for forty days! Complain not if you have only water to drink, for your Saviour was denied even that in the hour of death!