Jesus said, “I thirst.” (From John 19:25-34)

These are the words of Jesus as he was dying on the cross. Was he simply saying he was thirsty for drink or was there something more behind these words?  I’m sure he was physically thirsty after the torture, blood loss, calorie expenditure, and the suffering he endured, but I believe there is more that he thirsts for.  After the violence of that day and after the abandonment of his friends, he probably also thirsted for peace.  He still cries out for peace today!  He thirsts for you and me to bring peace to a world that tortures one another!  He thirsts for souls to run to him and not run away from him and his message of love!  He thirsts for us to see the soul of the protestor who knows all too well the pain and oppression of a community who has endured hundreds of years of slavery and systemic racism ever since.  He thirsts for us to see the soul of the good police officer who isn’t a killer, but is trying to serve the community!  He thirsts for us to see that the opposite political party is filled with people, not terrorists!  He thirsts for us to learn that ALL men and women are born in the image and likeness of God!  He thirsts for us to see that his sacrifice was for us ALL and not just the members of a certain church denomination!  He thirsts for your love and for you to love your neighbor!  He cries out and thirsts, my sisters and brothers in Christ, let us quench his thirst by loving him one another today!  Amen!