The Seven Words from the Savior on the Cross: Humanity 2

Jesus’ spoken words from the cross emphasize the truths of forgiveness ("Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  Luke 23:34), hope ("Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:43), love (“Woman, behold your son; behold your mother.” John 19:26-27), atonement (Matthew 27:45-49) and humanity (John 19:28-30).

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30 ESV).

What is the meaning behind a seemingly insignificant statement such as “I thirst?”

John records that Jesus is not only saying the atonement was completed, but also that the Scriptures were fulfilled, vs. 28b. Jesus affirmed as a reality the fulfillment of Scripture. What Scripture in particular? I submit the following:

Psalm 22:14 - I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. (Psalm 22:14 ESV).  As we preciously saw, there are 15 allusions in the New Testament to Psalm 22. However, there are other Scriptures Jesus fulfilled.

Psalm 42:1-2 - As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2   My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2 ESV).  Lament psalm. His desire is for the water of God. See Psalm 36:8-9; Isaiah 41:17; 55:1; Jeremiah 2:13; 14:1-9; 17:13; John 4:10; 7:37-38; Revelation 7:17; 21:6; 22:1; 17.

Psalm 63:1 - O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1). An intense devotional love for the LORD.

Psalm 69:21 - They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. (Psalm 69:21 ESV). A Messianic psalm. Matthew 27:34.

Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.