Episode 36: Thirst
Thirst
Nothing on our planet can be as satisfying to one’s body after having worked really hard in a hot environment as a drink of water. Our body craves what it truly needs for survival. When thirst goes unsated, dehydration sets in, along with strange experiences, dizziness, even seizures; all while the body’s basic needs remain unmet. Thirst remains a powerful force in the human experience, even in societies with an abundance of potable water. Yet, thirst maintains a deeper level of meaning; it represents an unmet longing, a craving for true satisfaction, an unfulfilled desire at our basic level of existence. Thirst exists as one of the few experiences humans truly share.
In the Old Testament
In the prophetic writings, thirst provides an important image of God’s provision and lack thereof. Isaiah 49:10 notes, “They will not hunger nor will they thirst, nor will the burning heat strike them, not even the sun itself, but the one who has mercy will comfort them and lead them through springs of water.” More familiar is Isaiah 55:1 where God calls to his people, “Listen up you thirsty people, come to the water, those among you with no money, walk in the market and purchase wine without money, even the best wine and meat.” Less well known is the prophet Jeremiah’s words, “Because I have sated every thirsty soul and filled their hunger completely.” (Jeremiah 31:25, 38.25 LXX) Hunger and thirst are recognized as objects which God can prevent for those who follow after him. They also represent objects that result from disobedience to the same LORD.
On a metaphorical level, thirst represents a desire for the worship of God, for experiencing the presence of God. “My soul thirsts for the Living God; when will I be present and see the face of God?" (Ps 42:2, 41:2 LXX) The challenge for understanding comes in seeking to find the appropriate level of meaning when encountering thirst in the Scripture.
Elsewhere in John
Jesus appears in the Gospel of John satisfying the various needs of individuals. One of those needs is thirst. Since ancient Palestine did not possess a system of public water supplies, especially in the rural areas, water was something someone, usually the women, had to walk to retrieve and then bring back to the home. The mode of transportation for the common person rested in their capacity for walking. When traveling between towns, thirst needed to be managed. When the woman of Samaria encounters Jesus as she retrieves water for her home, thirst becomes an initial topic of conversation.
So Jesus answered, “if you only knew God’s gift and
who asks you for a drink of water, you would be asking
him and he would give you living water. . . Jesus said
to her, “Everyone who drinks from this water will thirst
again; but whoever drinks from the water I provide
will certainly not thirst into the ages, because the water
I provide will become a spring of water bubbling forth
into life of the ages. The woman replied, “Lord, give me
this type of water so that I will not thirst nor need to
come here to get water.” (John 4:10, 13-15)
The woman’s basic need for drinking water remains her primary focus. Jesus, however, speaks of thirst on a metaphorical level, while he still addresses a true reality of life.
Jesus utilizes his provision of living water (See Episode 29), taking on the role held by God in the Old Testament on two other occasions. In the growing conflict expressed in John 6, the crowd who was fed in the wilderness asks Jesus to give them the bread he offers, echoing the words of the Samaritan woman; “Lord, give us this type of bread all the time.” (John 6:34) In response Jesus lets them know that he fulfills both their hunger and their thirst. (John 6:35)
At the temple during the fall festival Jesus again offers to meet their thirst.
“If anyone is thirsty, let that one come to me and drink.
The one who believes in me, just as the Scripture says,
‘A river of living water will flow forth from his
belly.’” (John 7:37-38)
The listeners have journeyed by foot from their homes around the Roman empire to the city of Jerusalem in order to celebrate God’s provision of water during the wilderness years. Once more, Jesus claims to do what only God can do, provide water to satisfy the thirst of this large assembly. Yet, a condition is attached to satisfying anyone’s thirst, belief. (See Episode 8)
In his discussion with the woman of Samaria, Jesus indicates that she would have her thirst filled if she only recognized his true identity, one exceeding that of a mere Jewish male. (John 4:10) In the wilderness near the time for the Passover Jesus challenges the people’s failure to acknowledge the meaning of his signs (See Episode 24) and thus his identity. (John 6:26) He then associates the satisfaction of their thirst with believing, partly because they have associated the manna in the wilderness with Moses, instead of it being a provision by God for his people. Bread and water can only temporarily satisfy the hunger and thirst people experience. Only God can provide for these daily needs in ways that exceed expectation.
As Jesus suffers on the cross, at one point he utters the words, “I thirst.” These words are often viewed in light of various passages from the Psalms, possibly Psalm 22:15 or 69:21. Yet, given this word’s use elsewhere in this gospel and the immediate context of Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus' declaration of his own thirst might well be understood as Jesus’ own recognition that he has poured out all the life he has to offer, and a statement that he is now trusting God to meet his own deepest need, life of the ages.
Concluding Thought
As we read through the Gospel of John and other accounts in the Bible, it is not uncommon to overlook the basic elements of existence in the hope of finding some sparkling gem. Yet, even a need as basic as drinking water for our bodies can provide incredible value. Our ancient ancestors depended upon God to provide food and water for them since times of famine and drought were far too common. Even these basic elements were not under their own control. But hunger and thirst go beyond the basic digestion need; they also speak of an inner need we face as humans. We hunger for companionship, we thirst for friendship, we are starving for affection. These needs are never met by what we ingest and swallow. Such metaphorical meanings are critical elements of human existence. Jesus indicates on three occasions in this Gospel that he is the one, the only one, who can satisfy our thirst for God. His water is the life-giving water which quenches this thirst for all the ages.
Take 5 Minutes More
One major difficulty of living in a prosperous culture where the basic necessities of life are not even given a second thought is the propensity to forget how necessary they are to our existence. Prosperous individuals can also forget how necessary God is to our existence. When the pursuit of external “stuff” outdistances the pursuit of internal meaning which shapes our behavior toward others, we are the real losers. External stuff cannot satisfy the thirst we have within us.
Consider the following questions.
- Where are your priorities found, on the external or the internal things of life?
- Who do you hold responsible for meeting your needs, others, yourself, or the eternal God?
- What change can you make right now to have your deepest thirst fully satisfied?