The Seven Words from the Savior on the Cross: Victory 1

Jesus’ spoken words from the cross emphasize the truths of forgiveness ("Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  Luke 23:34), hope ("Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:43), love (“Woman, behold your son; behold your mother.” John 19:26-27), atonement (Matthew 27:45-49), humanity and victory (John 19:28-30).

 

“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. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30 ESV).

 

As per Jesus’ previous statement (I thirst) within the same context we witness a declared victory (vs.29-30). “A jar full of sour wine stood there.” A jar containing a full measure of sour wine mixed with water stood nearby. Due to massive dehydration, it was not unusual for the crucified to complain of thirst. Therefore, sour wine was readily available to alleviate, to some extent, the criminal’s thirst.

 

The soldiers used a wine soaked sponge and which as then placed on a hyssop branch in order to reach Jesus’ mouth. The hyssop branch was used by the Hebrews for ritual sprinklings. It remains an indigenous plant to western Asia and northern Africa (1 Kings 4:33). The Israelites used it in sprinkling the blood of the paschal lamb upon the lintels of their doors, (Exodus 12:22); in sprinkling blood in purifications, (Leviticus 14:4, 6, 51, 52; Heb. 9:19); and in the sacrifices of separation, (Numbers 19:6). It was this plant the guards used in giving Jesus vinegar while he hung crucified on the cross).

 

The guards held the sponge to His mouth and Jesus received the sour wine. This act fulfilled the prophecy found in Psalm 69:19-21, “You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. (Psalm 69:19-21 ESV)

 

A Psalm of David which speaks of his own personal despair and abandonment becomes a fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy as Jesus receives the due penalty of our sin.