Loading...Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
John 19:28 …. knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
My name is Elizabeth and I am the rector of St James Episcopal Church in Pewee Valley. I am also an open water swimmer. An open water swimmer is someone who likes to swim long distances in cold water.
The spring season recently opened. I felt excited and a little nervous to get into the lake for the first time since November. I’d spent the winter in the warm, safe lap lanes of the swimming pool. Now, I was slipping into a mile long swim around the perimeter of a lake with a water temperature of 63 degrees fahrenheit. The temperature felt refreshing. However, the moment I started to swim I felt insatiable thirst. What on earth had I eaten for lunch? Something salty? How could my mouth feel so dry when I was surrounded by water? Was I gonna’ make it all the way around without a drink of water? Could I drink this water?
Thirst reminds us that we are humans with limitations and needs. Of all the pictures Holy Scripture paints, my favorite is in the Book of Revelation where all nations are gathered before the throne of the Lamb from which flows the river of the water of life [Rev 22:2] On each side of the river grow the trees whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. On the shores of that crystal sea everyone bows down and worships with joyful voices and is invited to drink from the water of life without price, and every tear is wiped away.
That beautiful picture of living water cannot be painted without a hyssop branch filled with sour wine. The consummation of all God’s plans and purposes described in the Book of Revelation can only be fulfilled with the events that happen on Good Friday. There on the hill of Calvary Jesus hangs on the cross, fulfilling the plans and purposes described from the foundation of the world [1 Peter 1:20].
Biologically what is happening to Jesus is what happened to me swimming on an open lake and what happens to anyone experiencing a lack of fluids or an increase in the concentration of certain osmolites. Osmolites are compounds like salt which affect osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of molecules through a membrane. When Jesus takes the sour wine, he takes on the sin of the world and that sin dies with him. Sin passes through the membrane of Jesus’ life into his death and can never come back again.
The osmosis of Christ’s suffering brings grace to all suffering and fulfills all the scriptures that say God’s plans and purposes for humankind are for life and love. As the poet Paul Claudel says, Jesus didn’t come to take away our suffering. He came to fill it with his presence.
Jesus didn’t come come take away our thirst. He came to make us thirsty for him. Thirst is the reminder to go where the water is. When your thirst takes your lips to the water fountain, let it also take your heart to the Beatitudes. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
I believe Jesus’ words “I am thirsty.” could be understood as a need for osmolites as much as a need for God’s righteousness to be fulfilled in Love.
Naked and bleeding on the cross, Jesus paints a picture of the world we know only too well — that where there are free people there is sin. When he says, “I am thirsty,” he proclaims that where there are free people, there is also eternal love which triumphs over every sin. For from the same lips which drink the sour wine comes the invitation, to the heavenly banquet described in the Book of Revelation:
….And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
PS. When I was writing this sermon I felt so moved that I browsed for organizations that provide for clean water. Clean water charities reach out to the thirsty in ways like providing clean drinking water or helping remove plastic from the ocean. Won’t you take a sip?
https://www.classy.org/blog/nonprofits-address-global-water-crisis/
