Last Words of Jesus, Part Five

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."  A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

John 19:28-29

Today is Good Friday.  It is the day we remember as that day Jesus Christ died on the cross.  We have covered four of the things Jesus said while on the cross, and today we look at another saying.  It is fitting that this fifth saying lands on Good Friday, because most of us associate crucifixion with intense physical pain.  And Jesus' saying today focuses on that physical element.

Jesus said that He was thirsty.  There are three things to consider with this statement.

1. This fulfilled prophecy.

In Psalm 22:15, David writes, "My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death."  Psalm 22 is the Psalm of the Cross.  This psalm makes many prophetical references to the death of Jesus, and verse 15 refers to Jesus' thirst.  It may not seem like a big deal, but John clearly saw even this simple saying of Jesus as fulfilling the Scriptures.  It appears that Jesus knew this as well, but the timing, as we will see, is very interesting.

Not only did what Jesus said fulfill prophecy, but the actions of the soldiers did as well.  They gave Jesus sour wine, or as some translations say, wine vinegar.  This wine was the cheapest for soldiers to access.  Notice this verse in Psalm 69:21, "They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."  Psalm 69 is also a prophetical psalm of Jesus.  Both Jesus and the soldiers are fulfilling prophecy and carrying out God's divine plan.

2. This prepares Jesus for the next saying.

If you look throughout all four Gospel accounts, we find some interesting things. In Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23, Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh and gall, but He refused it.  Later, in Luke 23:36, the soldiers mockingly offer Jesus sour wine.  Finally, as we read in John, Jesus asks for the drink and He receives it.  Piecing these accounts together, we come away with the while picture.  Jesus had the opportunity to drink before He asked for it, but He refused.  Why did He refuse earlier, but ask for it later?

Notice that John says that Jesus asked after He knew all things had been accomplished.  So Jesus knew the work was done, and now He prepares to say two things.  After drinking, He declares that it is finished.  After this, He commits His Spirit to God.  Finally, He dies.  Luke 23:46, Mark 15:37, and Matthew 27:50 tell us that when Jesus uttered these final words, He cried out.  He said them loudly.  It was a final declaration that Jesus had accomplished all that He set out to accomplish.

So perhaps, as Jesus hung from the cross, His tongue sticking to the roof of His mouth, dehydrated, He waited until the last moment to receive the wine so that for a moment His mouth would be eased of its dryness, and He would be able to mightily declare that the work was done.  What a thought!

3. This reveals the physical suffering Jesus experienced.

Finally, and most simply, Jesus' thirst reminds us that Jesus was fully human.  He did not only suffer spiritually (great though that suffering was), but He also suffered physically.  He felt the thorns, the punches, the plucking, the scourging, the nails, the hanging, and finally, even the thirst.

It is a simple, yet powerful reminder of all that Jesus did to save us.  He offered us Living Water, and in His final moments, we gave Him sour wine.

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did ever such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?