John 19:28-29, I Thirst

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

To the woman at the well (4:10) Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” On the last day of the Feast of Booths (7:37-38) Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” This is the same Jesus who now says that he thirsts. We can understand Jesus thirst on two levels. First is the human level. Those crucified experienced dehydration and intense thirst. On the spiritual level, John informs us that Jesus’ utterance is to fulfill the Scripture, here referring to Psalm 69:3 and 21, “my throat is parched . . . and [they] gave me vinegar to drink,” and also to Psalm 22:12-18, especially verses 14 and 15, “I am poured out like water . . . and my tongue sticks to my jaws.” Jesus is cut off from the source of the river of living water as the sinless One becomes sin, to be put to death in the providence of God for the sins of the world.

In a moment of pity, the soldiers, who had brought with them an inexpensive vinegar wine the common people drank, attempt to refresh Jesus, using a hyssop branch. I believe the hyssop branch refers to Exodus 12:22: “Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.” What is happening on the cross is a new exodus for the people of God. Where the blood of the lamb on the hyssop branch protected the people of God from his wrath poured out on the firstborn sons of people and animals in Egypt, the blood of Jesus on the cross protected the people of God as his wrath was poured out upon his own firstborn Son. The One died that the many may live eternally.

We thank you, Father, that someone answered Jesus’ cry from the cross: “I am thirsty,” and that a final ounce of pity was given him by those responsible for crucifying him. Assist us in answering the cries of the needy who thirst and hunger this day, that when Jesus returns we may hear him say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.” Amen.