Good Friday Reflections: Are You Thirsty?

While reading Matthew 25 through the end of the Gospel this morning, I've been all over the Bible. Such in-depth reading and pondering of the story of God's people and their response to God's activity among them helps me grasp a bigger picture. Reading passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and other prophets who prophesied about the Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus' birth expands my understanding of Christ's significance then, now, and forever.

Of the many thoughts and revelations I've had while reading, this is the one that's most poignantly reached my intellect and warmed my heart today. Jesus, the very definition of love and service, has done not only the seemingly impossible but also the highly improbable. The sinless one takes our place. In the midst of unspeakable suffering, he steps in to save the lost and those who actively yell, "Crucify him!" and give him gall to drink. 

Jesus steps into his slaughter and, rather than resent and rebuke, he heals and forgives. He blesses and saves. 

Jesus is the One who tastes the vinegar so sinners may taste living water.

"Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Matthew 26:27-28)

"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive." (John 7:37-38)

On this Good Friday, I pray that you and I will drink this living water, believe, and live. 

Drink!

Dr. Mari

"But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." 

(Jesus in Matthew 26:56)

For more Good Friday reflections, see What's So Good About Good Friday?