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304. The Fifth Word

Psalm 69:17-21, Matthew 27:48-50, Mark 15:35-37, John 19:28,
Key Verse: Later, knowing that all was now completed, so that the scriptures would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
John 19:28

It would make sense that Jesus would be thirsty. He had suffered tremendous blood loss from the beatings and crucifixion. It was also probably a warm spring day and, while the sun may have been dark at the time He spoke of this physical discomfort, it may have been beating down powerfully during the earlier part of the day. This simple statement lets us know that Jesus was feeling it all, the nails, the heat, the dislocated bones and the thirst. He was not above experiencing the physical suffering that He was enduring for our sake.

John is the only gospel that mentions this statement. Perhaps this is because John was standing at Jesus’ feet and may have been one of the few who heard it. Matthew and Mark, who recorded the fourth word, (yesterday's reading), record that Jesus was offered something to drink after Jesus cried out in a loud voice about His being forsaken by God. John, however, heard the physical need, that perhaps was offered more quietly.

At this point, Jesus was offered something, probably "oxos," a wine vinegar drink of the common soldiers and the poor. This is a different drink than the wine mix that was offered before the crucifixion. Even that act is a bit confusing. It's not clear if Jesus was offered wine with a bit of frankincense to dull the pain, before being crucified, and He refused it in order to experience fully the sacrifice He was offering on our behalf, or if the wine He was offered was mixed with gall, a bitter herb that would have increased His thirst while hanging on the cross. Imagine a taste of baking cocoa on your tongue and not being allowed to wash out your mouth with water and you can understand how this further torture would work. For some reason, Jesus refused the first offering, but now, to fulfill His word on what would happen, He accepts this wine vinegar, offered in kindness or mockery, this also is not clear, but He knew the heart and intent of the one doing the offering, though we may not.

It is also interesting that the sponge was extended to Jesus on a reed of hyssop. In the Old Testament, the priests were instructed to use hyssop in sacrifices and for sprinkling blood on the people during the act of cleansing and or purification. The blood was placed on the hyssop and in turn sprinkled on the people by the priests during the cleansing ceremony. Now, Jesus is shedding His blood, which is our new covenant and He is receiving His last taste of earthly wine from a sponge, on a branch, meant for cleansing. Nothing is wasted in God's economy of meaning.

Jesus had been abandoned by the trinity. Jesus endured suffering as a real, physical human being. When He had sucked the wine from the sponge, there was nothing left to do.

Hymn: "There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood" 

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