The fifth saying of Jesus as He hung on the Cross, living up to
His Name, which was to save His people from their sins was a
request in which Jesus expressed a need. His saying was ‘I
thirst’ (John 19:28). Though cursorily it may seem like an
expression of his physical condition, is there more to this than
what is evident. One of the dictionary definitions of the word,
‘thirst’ is an ardent desire, craving or longing. Interestingly,
one can go without food for days, but not without water. Thirst
is a physical condition that can bring the strongest of the
strong to their knees, some even to the point of death. Samson
the strong after killing a thousand warriors in battle cried to
the Lord when he felt thirsty, questioning, now shall I die of
thirst? (Judges 15:18-20). The grumbling Israelite pilgrims
questioned Moses, if he had led them out of Egypt to kill them
and their children and cattle with thirst (Exodus 17:3). When no
water in the desert of Beersheba was found, Hagar, unable to
bear the possibility of