Why Jesus Said He Was Thirsty on the Cross

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”John 19:28We could list passage after passage from the Old Testament that was fulfilled by Jesus’ words here, but let’s focus on just two of them:First, Psalm 22 is an amazing prophecy depicting the cross in extraordinary detail. It was written a thousand years before the time of Christ, in a culture where crucifixion was unknown:“All who see me mock me… they wag their heads; ‘He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him’” (22:7-8).“They have pierced my hands and feet” (22:16).“They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (22:18).Second, Psalm 69 also gives us some very specific details about the cross:“I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God” (69:3).“They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink” (69:21).Notice, when Jesus said the words, “I thirst,” He was consciously fulfilling the Scriptures: “They put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth” (John 19:29).Jesus thirsted in order to fulfill the Scriptures. That means He is able to deliver what the Scriptures promise: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (John 4:14). And “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).Jesus Christ invites you to drink living water, because He is the living water. You can come to Him today and find real refreshment for your soul.