God gave us masses of water with wonderful properties. We can drink it. We can cook with it. We can wash with it and swim in it. Water evaporates, clouds form which the wind carries landwards and it starts to rain! Water droplets reflect sunlight in a particular manner and form a rainbow – just for the beauty of it. Water boils at 100°C and then the temperature doesn’t rise any higher, a very suitable temperature for coffee and tea!
Water supports life. It is necessary for human beings, plants and animals. The psalmist writes: As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for you, the living God (Ps. 42:1 – 2). If a deer is very thirsty, it only thinks of water, it craves after water. Similarly, in his despair the psalmist thirsts for God. If we thirst for God, we are invited by Jesus Himself: “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says: Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side” (John 7:37-39). To believers, baptism with water signifies the cleansing of their sins. We are so fully cleansed of sin as if we have died with Christ: By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death (Rom. 6:4).
To be truly thirsty is terrible. Therefore water is the least, but at times also the most essential thing that you can give a fellow being. Jesus said: “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42).
When Jesus hanged on the cross He suffered the most terrible pain in his hands and feet, also on his head with the crown of thorns. About this He said nothing, but He said: “I am thirsty” (John 19: 28). He craves water although He Himself created the oceans. It is He who told the ocean: “Be quiet! … Be still!” (Mark 4:39) and it happened. And then on the cross – the terrible thirst! But Jesus accepted that. He chose to pay for our sins and to endure the thirst of hell, in our place. Jesus told the parable about the rich man who called out from hell: “Send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool off my tongue, because I am in great pain in this fire!” (Luke 16:24). It ís terrible. But for God’s children there is hope, for those who thirst for God: He (God) will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. … To anyone who is thirsty I will give the right to drink from the spring of the water of life without paying for it (Rev. 21:4).
Jesus had to experience terrible thirst in order that his children may share in the water of life that He gives us, and He gives it at no cost to us, because He has already paid the price!
Our heavenly Father, thank You for water. Thank You for the water of life that You give us due to what Jesus had earned. Let your Spirit live in us. Amen.
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