Jesus in Thy Thirst and Pain
Jesus in Thy thirst and pain
Jesus in Thy Thirst and Pain is a hymn text by William Cowper (1779) in C.M. meter. Found in lw 268, tlh 184. Sung to MARTYRDOM.
The hymn presents Christ's passion as both an expression of divine compassion for human suffering and the means of salvation, central to Lutheran soteriology. It invites the believer into empathetic contemplation of Christ's suffering while affirming the redemptive efficacy of His sacrifice.
History & Background
Written by William Cowper in 1779, this hymn reflects his evangelical Anglican faith and appeared in the Olney Hymns collection. It became a standard Lenten hymn in Lutheran and Reformed traditions.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 268
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 184
Bulletin Note
Cowper's meditation (1779) blends evangelical fervor with classical English hymnody. Its sustained focus on Christ's physical passion reflects both Reformation theology and 18th-century Methodist revival piety.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens the Law's conviction of Christ's undeserved suffering while proclaiming the Gospel's radical promise: His thirst and pain are ours no longer, for He has borne them in our place.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (conviction of sin and Christ's sacrifice) to Gospel (amazement at grace, personal response of self-surrender)
Overview
The Fifth Word: 'I thirst.' One of seven short litany hymns by Thomas B. Pollock on the Seven Words from the cross (TLH 180-186), each stanza ending 'Hear us, holy Jesus.' The set was designed for the Three Hours (Tre Ore) devotion on Good Friday, one hymn after each meditation. Jesus' bodily thirst as his blood drains away, and behind it a deeper thirst to win our love (st. 1); may he still thirst for us in mercy and fulfil his holy work (st. 2); and may we thirst to know his love and be led to the healing waters (st. 3). The hymn turns the Word in both directions: Christ thirsts for us; we thirst for him.
Central theme: Christ's thirst on the cross — real and bodily, and the sign of his longing to save — answered by our thirst for him
Structure
Three tercets with refrain. His thirst (1) — his merciful will (2) — our thirst and the healing waters (3).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'our sin and woe' (3). Gospel: Christ thirsting to win us; 'healing waters' (1, 3).
Confessional Connections
John 19:28 (TLH's text). The thirst is real — Christ's true human nature suffers (AC III; against docetism). It fulfils Scripture (Ps 22:15; 69:21). St. 2, 'Thirst for us… satisfy Thy loving will' — God 'desires all people to be saved' (1 Tim 2:4; FC XI.28). 'Healing waters' — the living water Christ gives (John 4, 7), which in Lutheran reading is given through Word and Baptism (Titus 3:5; SC Baptism).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Good Friday (Tre Ore, Fifth Word); Lent.
Historical Notes
Pollock (1836-1896), an Anglican priest serving the poor at St. Alban's, Birmingham, published the Seven Words litanies in 1870 (Metrical Litanies). He was known for metrical litanies of this kind.
About the Tune
SEPTEM VERBA (Bernhard Schumacher, 1939) — apparently composed for TLH (verify) and used for all seven Pollock hymns.
Scripture References
John 19:28-29 Ps 22:15 Ps 69:21 John 4:7-14 Luke 19:10 1 Tim 2:4 John 17:4 Ps 42:1-2 Isa 55:1 John 7:37-38 Rev 22:1-2 Rev 22:17 Ezek 47:9
Stanza by Stanza
Jesus, in your thirst and pain, while your wounds drain your life-blood, thirsting even more to win our love: hear us, holy Jesus.
'After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), I thirst' (John 19:28). 'My tongue sticks to my jaws' (Ps 22:15). At the well he asked for water to give living water (John 4:7-10).
- Scripture
- John 19:28-29, Ps 22:15, John 4:7-10
- Imagery & language
- Thirst; draining blood; thirst for love.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ's longing for us.
- Connection to previous
- His thirst.
Still thirst for us in mercy; satisfy your loving will; fulfil all your holy work: hear us, holy Jesus.
'The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost' (Luke 19:10). 'Who desires all people to be saved' (1 Tim 2:4). 'Having accomplished the work' (John 17:4).
- Scripture
- Luke 19:10, 1 Tim 2:4, John 17:4
- Imagery & language
- Mercy; loving will; holy work.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's saving will.
- Connection to previous
- His will.
May we thirst to know your love; lead us in our sin and sorrow to where the healing waters flow: hear us, holy Jesus.
'As a deer pants for flowing streams' (Ps 42:1). 'Come, everyone who thirsts' (Isa 55:1). 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me' (John 7:37). 'The river of the water of life… for the healing of the nations' (Rev 22:1-2).
- Scripture
- Ps 42:1-2, Isa 55:1, John 7:37-38, Rev 22:1-2, Rev 22:17
- Imagery & language
- Our thirst; sin and woe; healing waters.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — sin and woe; Gospel — living water.
- Connection to previous
- Our thirst.
Themes
Christ's passion Redemptive suffering Penitence Atonement Compassion of Christ