John 19:28, commentary and pictures

Near the end of his suffering on the cross outside Jerusalem, after the darkness lifted and he knew that all things were now accomplished for Scripture to be fulfilled, he again became conscious of bodily suffering with parched tongue and lips and said that he was thirsty. A Roman soldier in pity lifted sour wine to his lips on a sponge on a stalk of hyssop, while his persecutors were given a final opportunity for sympathy but mocked and refused relief and taunted that they should wait to see whether Elijah would come to save him. Those who held it as an added insult teach that what was offered was vinegar mingled with gall, which after tasting he refused to drink before declaring his work finished. His knowledge that his work was accomplished testified that his death fulfilled the purpose for which he came to save a perishing world and made eternal life available to repentant believers. His cup was bitter not merely from fear of death or bodily pain but from bearing as substitute and ransom the sense of human sin and the Father's wrath, and his endurance to the full measure of what human beings can bear makes victory possible for those who remain united to him by faith in their struggle to control appetite.

Words in Crucifixion Setting

The cry of thirst belongs to the crucifixion at Calvary outside the gate of Jerusalem, the place where felons and murderers were executed. There, as substitute, Christ suffered outside the boundaries to sanctify the people with His own blood for the transgression that banished Adam and Eve from Eden, redeeming from the curse of the law by being made a curse. That cross stood among the great trials and works that were preceded by a night of prayer to the Father. It was the taking away of the Bridegroom in deep humiliation, when He was given into the hands of wicked men with His own nation clamoring for His blood.

He was crowned with thorns upon His sacred brow, clothed in the purple robe, mocked and bowed to and struck with the reed placed in His hand. He was scourged as the worst of criminals though expected to take David's throne, rejected while the murderous Barabbas was chosen in His place, and lifted up on the cross to die as a malefactor. This was the time when the disciples had cause to mourn and fast, with their faith tried and their hope and courage failing.

The words I thirst came after He knew that all things were accomplished and in connection with the fulfillment of Scripture. After the darkness lifted from His spirit He again became conscious of bodily suffering and spoke of literal physical thirst. As His earthly mission neared completion His tongue and lips were parched while He endured the agony of crucifixion.

A Roman soldier took pity on Him and lifted vinegar to His lips on a sponge attached to a stalk of hyssop. His thirst gave His persecutors a final opportunity to relieve Him and show sympathy. But the priests and other mockers ridiculed Him, refused relief, and taunted that they should wait to see whether Elijah would come to save Him and take Him down.

He was given vinegar and gall as an added insult. After tasting it He refused to drink. His suffering ended in the declaration that the work was finished.

Accomplished Salvation and Response

He knew that his work was accomplished and that his death fulfilled the purpose for which he came, to save a perishing world. His final words on the cross testified to angels and to people that he had completed this work by giving his life. By that completed giving of life he made eternal life available to repentant believers.

At Calvary outside the gate of Jerusalem, where felons and murderers were executed, he suffered outside the boundaries to sanctify the people with his own blood for the transgression that banished Adam and Eve from Eden, redeeming from the curse of the law by being made a curse. His suffering and death were as humanity's substitute and ransom. The bitterness of his cup came from bearing the sense of sin and the Father's wrath for humanity, not merely from fear of death or bodily pain.

His suffering on the cross is the means by which he gives grace and power to people and the evidence that he is at their side to help them. His blood was given as the price of redemption. That sacrifice provides restoring power for the salvation of soul and body, and calls people to surrender themselves to his keeping and to bring their lives into conformity to his will.

The chapter to which this thirst belongs is of special importance to believers, speaking to their hearts and recording his suffering and death. That record strengthens those who suffer for faith so they can keep the faith, and those who hold fast receive his righteousness. Together with Gethsemane, the great sacrifice made on the cross of Calvary is so great that in comparison with it the church, despite some advance over past years, is far behind in the greatest work ever given to mortals.

In the agony of the cross, including thirst, his suffering reached the full measure of what human beings can bear. His endurance is the example for those struggling to control appetite. His victory over temptation makes victory possible for those struggling against appetite, and that victory becomes theirs when they remain united to him by faith.

This belongs to a terrible, trying hour of gloom and darkness on the cross that tested and proved the disciples. They lost faith as they beheld him dying because they had failed to watch and pray and to share his self-sacrifice, and so had not received the light and knowledge of his sufferings and the glory that should follow. Had they remained watching, rays of hope from that knowledge would have lighted the darkness and sustained their faith, but instead they failed to endure the proving, and Peter denied his Lord before his enemies.