Hunger and Thirst

Towards the climax of His suffering on the cross of Calvary Jesus cried out, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Yet not long before, He had been offered a drink and refused it.  Some commentators say this was because it was ‘mixed with gall,’ a mild sedative which would dull the pain (Matthew 15:23). Jesus came to suffer for the sins of the world; to bear the pain Himself, not to have it soothed or minimised in any way.  But now He had done what He came to do. Scripture had been fulfilled and His mission was complete. He was able to declare triumphantly, “It is finished!

Thirst comes in many forms. It is a natural urge which needs to be quenched, like hunger. It must be satisfied or we die. It can be motivated by greed, or want, or necessity. It can come as a drive for self indulgence. It is a force built into our body, but like so many other aspects of life, it can be abused. Thirst for power, or a drive for wealth, may be fertile breeding grounds for sin, and generate greed and selfishness, all of which are tools of the enemy to draw us away from God.

Adam was enticed by the lie ‘you will be like God’ (Genesis 3:5). This is typical of many temptations in life today, which can be used by the enemy to lure us away from the path of righteousness which Jesus has presented to us.

What do I hunger for? What gives me true fulfilment and satisfaction?

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). This is God’s sure promise to draw us towards a life which is pleasing to Him and satisfying for ourselves. This is the promise that secures absolute fulfilment.

There is true blessing and lasting satisfaction in pursuing the things of God - a journey that grows richer with every step. It’s a journey that never ends during this life, yet continually draws us closer to God as we discover the depth of His promises and the beauty of His grace.

It’s a continuous journey we can walk every day, leading us beyond this world into lasting joy and a deep relationship with God.

Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:13).

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost ... Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods” (Isaiah 55:1-2).