Joseph Langford writes an engaging essay from the perspective of Christ speaking to a person and by implication, all people. The monologue draws from an interpretation of Jesus’ words on the cross, “I am thirsty.” The interpretation is that beyond His physical thirst, Jesus was expressing His desire for every person to know His unconditional love, he thirst for us. The interpretation is bolstered by an expanded reading of Psalm 69 often understood to have messianic implications.
Langford relies a lot on one verse to build his thought, but the basic premise that Christ does love beyond our sin and shame, taking us as we are is Biblically undeniable. Langford does well in not only presenting Christ’s desire for people to come to Him, but also explaining where the change in us comes. “ You don’t need to change to believe in my love, for it will be your belief in my love that will change you.” This subtlety is central to understanding the love of Christ. We should be and should call others to the love of Christ, believing in Christ enough to know that His patient love, patiently shapes us and others into who we are all created to be. We just have to believe, trust, and wait.