Twelfth Station - Jesus dies on the cross
I THIRST
Invitation to quench the Thirst of Jesus
I THIRST
Invitation to quench the Thirst of Jesus
Scripture Reading
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the Scripture): “I am thirsty”. A jar full of vinegar was standing there. So they put a sponge full of wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said: “It is finished”. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn 19:28-30).
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the Scripture): “I am thirsty”. A jar full of vinegar was standing there. So they put a sponge full of wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said: “It is finished”. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn 19:28-30).
Reflection
Let’s picture Jesus on the cross for a moment. He is hanging only by three nails, doesn’t touch the earth; neither sky. But he owns earth, Sea and Sky.
Behold Jesus who is in front of you, hanging on the cross, bleeding to death. See his sorrowful but gentle face. He is not here for our compassion since he has been rejected by so many people.
Jesus was almost fainting; it looks like all His strength has gone by now. He said: ‘I thirst.’ The disciples who were standing around the Cross looked at him with the deepest expression of sorrow.
Did the people around him understand the real meaning? probably not. That is why they gave him wine vinegar. Jesus didn’t worry about his physical thirst. Jesus’ thirst is the thirst of all those who are waiting for his love. You and Me. Jesus thirst for you and me. Yes he thirst for us; Our Spirits. . Why? He couldn’t receive our love because we didn't love him enough. Do we thirst for him (his love)? Before we answer we have to remember couple of things.
God created us in love, and we are the ones who went away from him. When we were in sin he loved us. Finally he sends his only son to redeem us from slavery to sin. Now we have crucified his son on the cross. Jesus still thirsts for our love for him. His thirst is to share his mission with us.
Jesus Speaks
I know how you feel now. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you. I love you, for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. It is not the physical beauty that I am interested in. Yes your hearts are “wounded” and “divided”. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back.
I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. If you carry them still, place them in this cross at this very moment. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. You cannot find them anywhere.
I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you. No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in my love. Come as you are. I love you. I thirst for you.
Now you may ask why? My Father gave me a mission. I accomplished it. But this mission has to go on. Now you have been given the same mission which is normally ignored. That is why I have to say "I looked for love, and I found none…"(Ps. 69: 20). I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to me, right now, more than you ever have before.
Then I will guide you how to help me. I want your help to bring everyone back home to my Father. It will be a gift for you.
Will you accept this gift and quench my thirst?
We suggest that reader will stay silence and receive the love of Crucified Jesus before move to next station.
Let’s picture Jesus on the cross for a moment. He is hanging only by three nails, doesn’t touch the earth; neither sky. But he owns earth, Sea and Sky.
Behold Jesus who is in front of you, hanging on the cross, bleeding to death. See his sorrowful but gentle face. He is not here for our compassion since he has been rejected by so many people.
Jesus was almost fainting; it looks like all His strength has gone by now. He said: ‘I thirst.’ The disciples who were standing around the Cross looked at him with the deepest expression of sorrow.
Did the people around him understand the real meaning? probably not. That is why they gave him wine vinegar. Jesus didn’t worry about his physical thirst. Jesus’ thirst is the thirst of all those who are waiting for his love. You and Me. Jesus thirst for you and me. Yes he thirst for us; Our Spirits. . Why? He couldn’t receive our love because we didn't love him enough. Do we thirst for him (his love)? Before we answer we have to remember couple of things.
God created us in love, and we are the ones who went away from him. When we were in sin he loved us. Finally he sends his only son to redeem us from slavery to sin. Now we have crucified his son on the cross. Jesus still thirsts for our love for him. His thirst is to share his mission with us.
Jesus Speaks
I know how you feel now. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you. I love you, for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. It is not the physical beauty that I am interested in. Yes your hearts are “wounded” and “divided”. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back.
I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. If you carry them still, place them in this cross at this very moment. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. You cannot find them anywhere.
I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you. No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in my love. Come as you are. I love you. I thirst for you.
Now you may ask why? My Father gave me a mission. I accomplished it. But this mission has to go on. Now you have been given the same mission which is normally ignored. That is why I have to say "I looked for love, and I found none…"(Ps. 69: 20). I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to me, right now, more than you ever have before.
Then I will guide you how to help me. I want your help to bring everyone back home to my Father. It will be a gift for you.
Will you accept this gift and quench my thirst?
We suggest that reader will stay silence and receive the love of Crucified Jesus before move to next station.