The Fifth Word Of The Cross:

"I Thirst!"

This is, on one level, the simple cry of a man crucified and dying slowly in the Palestinian sun. Suffering for Jesus was real because he was fully and completely human as well as fully and completely divine. I have seen those "Lord's Gym" tee shirts that were popular some years ago. They depicted a mighty superman savior who could left the sins of the world. The church, in contradiction to that idea, sees Jesus as fully human as was well as fully divine. Jesus does suffer for us. Jesus does die for us. But he dies in a state of human weakness. Many Christians don't like that idea, they want a Savior who is not like us, who was never weak. That Savior then was merely pretending to be human, and was not completely so. The church, however, teaches, that it is in the fact that Jesus suffers and dies with the suffering of his oppressed people that makes the cross a saving sign. We believe in atonement, which is a word that was created to translate the Greek idea. It comes from At-one-ment. God is completely at one with us in Jesus. He suffers like his people, like us. He thirsts and suffers and dies. It is in this oneness of the cross that somehow, in the mystery of the incarnation, God joins us that we may be lifted to God in Jesus' the resurrection.

Some people see the second coming as the same thing. Superman Jesus is going to come flying in and save us from all the bad people around us. Well, Jesus comes in judgement, but those he judges may be quite surprised when they find that those who are judged are those who are the least compassionate, even if they are Christians. They are those who, having received the mercy of God in free grace, refuse to extend it to their fellow human beings. People are suffering all around us from poverty, disease, sin and oppression. Jesus showed mercy to such. Often we Christians show only judgment. A thirsting Savior suffers as our neighbors do. He who thirsted on the cross gives us the Water of Life and calls us to be compassionate toward the suffering. A thirsting Jesus calls us to the best of what is in us, to help the poor, oppressed and suffering, knowing that in serving them we are serving Jesus.

Our Savior suffers in weakness so that we may have God's strength in our weaknesses, and that we may be instruments of healing to others. May we look on those who suffer from all forms of disease and the effects of the harshness of our world with mercy. May we render aid to Jesus in our suffering neighbors.

Peace,
Jim