Re: [FamilyofGod] The Blessed Affliction of a Conflicted Heart
SOUNDING OUT: I Thirst
Sometime after taking care of his mother, very near his death, Jesus Christ expressed his desire for a drink with the simple statement, "I thirst." John's Gospel records two descriptive phrases that set the background for his request: "knowing that all things were now accomplished," and "that the scripture might be fulfilled." Jesus drawing near to the close of his life was comforted "knowing that all things were now accomplished." He was ready to see the completion of his mission. Just one thing left. Jesus said, "I thirst." and the scriptures were fulfilled. Psalms 22:15 describes Jesus' condition saying, "my tongue cleaveth to my jaws." With a thirst like that it was about time he requested a drink. Psalms 69:21 says, "...and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." He had already been offered and refused four drinks. Now finally he requested a drink. The context suggests that this request was made to his family and close friends standing nearby. One of them responded and utilized hyssop to offer this fifth drink to Jesus. Like most of us at the end of our toil, he desired some refreshing. He waited until the end to request it, as if this was the completion of his duty. Throughout his life he acted in fulfillment of scripture, now this one last element before he declares, "It is finished." This was not the first time Jesus had been offered wine. Both Mark and Matthew observe that he was offered bitter wine just prior to being crucified (Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23). Perhaps this was intended as an intoxicant for those about to suffer pain. Jesus refused to drink this first offering of wine. The drink that Jesus requested and accepted was wine vinegar which didn't have any alcohol in it. It was a popular drink with soldiers of the Roman army, made by diluting sour wine vinegar with water. It was inexpensive, considered more thirst quenching than water alone, prevented scurvy, killed harmful bacteria in the water, and the vinegary taste made bad smelling water more palatable. The soldiers had brought it to sustain them during their crucifixion duty. They weren't getting drunk on it, just using it to quench their own thirst. This use of hyssop is a throwback to the first Passover when the children of Israel were to dip hyssop in the sacrificial blood and then use it to sprinkle the blood across the doorposts and lintels of their houses. According to Exodus 12:3 and 4, that first Passover was to be observed by individual families and close friends. Here at the sacrifice of the true and final Passover lamb, hyssop, family, and friends are again involved. They filled the sponge with the wine and then used the sponge to squeeze the wine onto the hyssop. The hyssop's thick, hairy leaves and branches being made into a bunch that held moisture very well. Hyssop tied with a scarlet cord to a cedar handle was used in purification ceremonies of the Old Testament. (See Hebrews 9:19,20; Exodus 24:6.8; Numbers 19:6,17,18; Leviticus 14:1.7,48-52.) Hyssop had long been known for its value in healing and purifying. Besides Passover, hyssop was also used in the Old Testament in the cleansing of a healed leper and of a house delivered from plague and was to be used in the cleansing of anyone who had been in contact with a dead body. Psalms 51:7 says, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean...." Hyssop was used by Moses in sprinkling blood on the book of the covenant before all the people. Only this fifth drink did Jesus request and accept. His request in fulfillment of scripture was necessary to strengthen himself and ease his throat so that he might cry out his final words from the cross "with a loud voice." He was preparing himself to bring it all to completion. love u, Shirley La Fave   --- On Thu, 4/7/11, Wanda Ward <angelina56p47@yahoo.com> wrote:
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