Are you thirsty for the things of God? Are you longing for God? The Psalmist wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go to meet with God?” (Psalm 42: 1-2)
The deer is panting for the life-sustaining living water. Yes, life depends on water. Here are interesting facts supporting this:
- The human body is made up of 70% of water.
- More than 70% of the earth is covered in water.
- A baby is surrounded by water, amniotic fluid.
- A person can survive only 2 to 3 weeks without water.
Think of Jesus on the cross, dehydrated, saying, “I thirst!” (John 19: 28) What did they then give Jesus? “A jar of wine vinegar, was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’s lips.” (John 19: 29)
Let’s look at three items being highlighted:
- Wine vinegar was equivalent to cheap wine, the ordinary wine for ordinary people.
- A sponge is a soaking element used to contain a liquid and used to cleanse.
- Hyssop plant is a long aromatic plant that held liquids well and was used in purification rituals. It was the plant that was dipped in blood and smeared over the top and sides of the door frames of the Israelite homes, to not permit the destroyer to enter the houses to be struck down.
- When the enemy sees the power of the blood he cannot touch but must pass over.
Jesus, drank of the wine, while soaked in pain and suffering, which was lifted to His lips to taste and drink, from a plant that was used in purifying, as the blood covered and ran down declaring, “It is finished!”
Blood (juice) and water are components of communion, the wine of the new covenant, which every time we partake and remember, during communion. We can’t forget,
- He drank…
- He suffered…
- He was pierced…
Before they took down Jesus’ body from the cross, “One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” (John 19: 34)
- He declared…
“To him who is thirsty I will give a drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelation 21: 6)
- He still is alive and well.
- He still is inviting.
Oh, what a Savior! “The Spirit and the Bride say Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22: 17)
“For He satisfies the thirsty.” (Psalm 107: 9)
(Shared from John 19: 16-42, Modified)
Celebrating The Passover
Today, the Jewish festival of Passover is a very special holiday that celebrates the Jewish people being freed from the pharaoh, from slavery, of Egypt over 3,000 years ago. It’s the oldest, continuously celebrated holiday of the Jewish calendar and runs for seven or eight days, depending on where you live.
Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah by writing a letter inviting all to come to the temple of the Lord, in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
So couriers went out to deliver the message. “The hand of the Lord was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 30: 12)
- Unity of mind and heart are one and are needed to carry out what the King had ordered.
The entire assembly rejoiced. “There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 30: 26)
When we visited the temple, in Jerusalem, a few years back, I could feel the celebratory spirit still within those walls as I stepped foot inside the temple area. All around there was a celebration going on, music and families gathered.
- God loves when His people hunger and thirst for Him. That hunger brings forth blessings.
“The priests and Levites stood to bless the people and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling.” (2 Chronicles 30: 27)
When we thirst for God, we are asking, “Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86: 11-12)
Jesus has promised, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55: 1)
- Being full of living water brings life.
- Being full of wine and milk brings nourishment and enjoyment.
- Receiving without a cost, paid for by Jesus, which is a free gift, a gift that is eternal, eternal life.
If we can’t live without water, we can’t live or survive without Jesus, the Living Water.
(Shared from 2 Chronicles 30 & Psalm 86, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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