John 19:28 (the 5th Saying from the Cross)

One of the effects of crucifixion was dehydration, causing an agonising need for water.  Out of this human need Jesus said: I THIRST (John 19:28). 

Of all the Sayings only this one focuses on Jesus himself and his need. 
His need was not just for physical water but for spiritual water - the water of life. Sin separates us from God's life.  On the cross Jesus identified with us and bore our sin and was cut off from God and his life. This broken fellowship resulted in him experiencing spiritual drought.  He became thirsty for the living water (God's life).

The 4th and 5th Sayings go together: 
In the 4th we saw him bear God's punishment for our sin. 
In the 5th Saying we see that in bearing our sin he also took the consequences of our sin (the CURSE, which includes poverty, sickness and spiritual death - Gal 3:13).  We were made to have God's LIFE and BLESSING flowing through us.  The effect of sin is that we dry up on the inside.   If God's life isn't flowing, we feel dry and empty. This lack of blessing is to be under the curse (Deut 28). 

  We are thirsty for God (Psa 42:2).  It is like having a hole inside that needs to be filled -so we try and fill it with all kinds of things  (some good, some bad- drink, drugs, work, busyness, new-age, entertainment, relationships etc)  We try and quench the thirst and fill that inner need. But none of these can truly satisfy - because it's a spiritual hole that only God can fill.'  Only one thing will truly satisfy and that is God's Life.

Over all the wells of this world are written the words that Jesus said: 
Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again (John 4:13) 
Then he said: If any man thirst let him come to me and drink.. 
whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him 
a well of water springing up into everlasting life (v14). 

A Christian need never thirst, for an eternal supply of living water has been given to him!

The 5th SALVATION BLESSING flowing from the cross = ABUNDANT LIFE. 

He said: I thirst to show he had entered into our condition of spiritual dryness and emptiness,  curse and death in order that we might have life. He felt the effects of sin.  He knows what it is like. Whatever need or emptiness we may feel, we can be sure that Jesus experienced it and worse on the cross.  He was saying: I have identified with you in your sin and death so that you might have LIFE! I experienced emptiness so that you might be filled! 

What he did was redemptive.  It was for us!  He experienced deadness and dryness that we may truly live. To give us LIFE he bore our sin and its effects-separation from LIFE.  Jesus suffered thirst (lack) that we might have fullness of life.  I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)  On the cross he became a curse for us that the blessing of the Spirit might come upon us through faith -a DIVINE EXCHANGE. (Gal 3:13,14)  He was made thirsty so that our thirst may be satisfied with new life. Thus this Saying indicates that flowing from the work of the cross are RIVERS OF LIVING WATER (John 7:37)

If we believe we can come to Him and drink and be filled. 
Jesus bore the sin and curse (thirst) of all so he can offer life to all. 
Salvation is not just forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the start-it opens the door legally  to enable us to receive new life from God that fills, transforms our whole being and sets us free-a life of love, joy and peace. This life quenches our inner thirst and propels us forward with purpose and a desire to please Him. The BLESSING of God includes healing, wisdom in life and prosperity.