THE WORD OF SUFFERING

A reading from John (19: 28 – 29). " After this Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said (to fulfil the scriptures), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.

"I am thirsty"

The problem of suffering has always been a perplexing one. A little over two weeks ago, my father died. I asked God why He let that happen when numerous prayers were offered from families, friends, and members of our church in Papua New Guinea, the Saint Paul Congregation here, and myself.

Why should there be suffering in a world that is governed by a perfect God — a God who not only has the power to prevent evil, but who is love. Why should there be pain, sickness and death? Why do bad things happen to good people? I come to realize that my faith engages in big questions without easy answers. When I look out at our world I rightly recognize that too often it is a Vale of Tears.

When Jesus said, "I am thirsty", I find this to be remarkable. Jesus had hung on that cross for six hours and had passed through unbelievable suffering yet He knew and remembered that one prophetic word of scripture still remained to be fulfilled. He overlooked nothing. He submitted to scripture and took steps to fulfill it. But this should not surprise us. The scripture always reminds us that God’s presence is constant, even though we don’t understand how God is functioning.

The cross shows us, however, that God is not ignorant of our sorrows, for in the person of His Son, He Himself "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows". The cross shows us that God Himself suffered.

Is your body racked with pain? So was His! Are you misunderstood, misjudged, misrepresented? So was He! Have those who are nearest and dearest to you turned away from you? They did from Him! Are you in the darkness? So was He!
"I am thirsty." This universal need is a spiritual need: that is why natural things cannot satisfy it. Unknown to natural man what he desires — like Jesus — is God. God made us and He alone can satisfy us.

"I am thirsty," said the Lord as He hung on the cross for our sins.
"I am thirsty," says natural man as he looks for meaning and purpose in life.
"I was thirsty," says the Christian who has come to Jesus, and found in Him the well of living water.
I am thirsty now Lord, but you constantly remind me that only you can quench my thirst so I will have to wait patiently for your timing.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, our throats are dry, but it is not the kind of dryness that can be quenched by water or any other kind of liquid we know. It is a dryness, which only you can quench. Lord, we thirst and we pray for your living water. Amen +

*** I shared this with the St.Paul Lutheran congregation on Good Friday at the 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service