Every other Wednesday night some girls come over for a Bible study and we've been going through different sayings of Christ on the cross. When I came across "I thirst," I was a little baffled compared to the more common "It is finished"-like phrases that you'd normally think of about the subject.
But it was so encouraging! God brought my heart to worship! Here's some of what we went through:
We first asked what it means to thirst- longing, unmet desires, wanting more, etc. Then we talked about other places in Scripture where thirst or hunger are talked about.
Psalm 143 helped us to realize first that it's our souls that thirst. So the Bible isn't just talking about physical thirst, but spiritual longing! My soul does thirst. I do long for God (and often other lesser things).
Then we looked at Revelation 22:12-18 and Isaiah 55:1
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come - let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge." I warn everyone hearing the words of the prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book."
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
But it was so encouraging! God brought my heart to worship! Here's some of what we went through:
We first asked what it means to thirst- longing, unmet desires, wanting more, etc. Then we talked about other places in Scripture where thirst or hunger are talked about.
Psalm 143 helped us to realize first that it's our souls that thirst. So the Bible isn't just talking about physical thirst, but spiritual longing! My soul does thirst. I do long for God (and often other lesser things).
Then we looked at Revelation 22:12-18 and Isaiah 55:1
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come - let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge." I warn everyone hearing the words of the prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book."
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
How sweet that anyone who thirsts can come to God. The only requirement is thirst- need, humility, knowing you need God and can't do it on your own. A good record, morality, past relationships, church attendance are not necessary. Just need. And we don't have to pay. Without money and without price. We don't do anything for it. We simply get to "delight in the richest of fare." God wants us to enjoy feeling full! Christ is so different than any other call!
And it's God who invites us to come. He says "Come." It's the Spirit and the Bride (Jesus) who beckon us. God invites us to Himself. He invites us to be satisfied and to be full- full in Himself. We eat being satisfied in Jesus that he’s satisfied our debt and we get excited that though we don’t deserve God but we get Him for free. I been loving thinking that being a Christian means simply 1) seeing our thirst, 2) delighting in the fact that we can come, buy, and eat without pay! John 6:35 and John 4:13 also remind us that it's Jesus ALONE that will quench our thirst and never make us thirsty again.
But now, what does it mean that He said "I thirst" on the cross? Thirst is in an ultimate sense longing and desire put in our hearts to be united with God! So thirst is an expression not being with God. So eternal thirst is hell (see Luke 16 for more). Scripture says we’re apart from Christ until we realize our thirst and we come and drink…and that we deserve never-satisfied thirst. So eternal thirst, never quenched is hell. And Christ on the cross is bearing the wrath of for us and took all the separation from God that we deserved, for us. Christ went and endured everything that we should’ve endured! How incredibly gracious! So on the cross He was feeling the separation from God that we should’ve gotten. All of eternity for everyone in an instant!
This was so worshipful for my heart and reminded me of the gospel in a fresh way. God is gracious.
And in a few hours, A and I will be off in Mexico...a taste of heaven! Time with the hubs, sunny 80s, unending guacamole, and beautiful beaches. Can't wait.
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