“I thirst.” (John 19:28)
On the cross, Jesus suffers horrific physical pain. This is aggravated by an agonizing thirst. This is why He cries out in a cracked voice, “I thirst.” A sponge soaked with wine vinegar is put on a stalk of the hyssop plant and lifted to Jesus’ lips, as the only way to let Him drink.
Even in His thirst, Jesus fulfills Scripture. Thirst is spoken of in Psalm 22:15 and Psalm 69:21. This is already the third reference to Psalm 69 by John (previously in 2:17 and 15:25).
Hunger and thirst also symbolise Jesus’ desire to fulfill His Father’s will completely (as mentioned earlier in John 4:34; 18:11). He suffers intense thirst to be a fountain of living water for those who (will) believe in Him (see John 4:10-15; 7:37-39). He who gives the living water by His Spirit must now suffer thirst Himself. Thus Scripture comes to its deeper fulfillment. Jesus accepts His suffering and faces His enemies with kingly authority. Nevertheless, He is not immune to suffering; His suffering on the cross is horrific. In this way, He identifies with those who have lamented their suffering in Scripture, bringing their suffering to God.
Jesus knows better than anyone that in this suffering He is fulfilling a calling from God. But this does not diminish the reality of His suffering and of His communion with His followers in their suffering.