Jesus’ Care, Thirst, and Completion on the Cross
John 19:25–30 (NKJV)
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Message
I. Behold Your Son: Jesus’ Care (25-27)
See v25.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
By the cross of Jesus stood three or four people. They are His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Here, His mother’s sister and Mary the wife of Clopas could be the same person. See v26.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
On the cross, Jesus must have been in excruciating pain. However, when He saw His mother, He took care of her. He gave His mother the disciple whom He loved standing by as her son.
See v27.
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Then, Jesus entrusted the disciple with the care of His mother.
II. I Thirst: Fulfillment of Prophecy (28-30a)
See v28-30a.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30a So when Jesus had received the sour wine,
Jesus knew that all things were now accomplished; That is, He sacrificed on the cross, redeemed our sins, and restored our relationship with God. His mission on the cross was completed. Then, Jesus said, “I thirst!” (28) to fulfill Psalm 22:15 NKJV and Psalm 69:21 NKJV.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
21 They also gave me gall for my food,
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
This also demonstrates His humanity. John 4:7 also shows Jesus as a human who thirsted.
We find that Jesus took food only after accomplishing all things first. When His disciples urged Him to eat (John 4:31), Jesus said in John 4:32-33 NKJV,
“I have food to eat of which you do not know. My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.”
We can observe a similar example with the servant of Abraham in Genesis 24:33 NKJV.
33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.”
Also, Jesus taught a similar priority in Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV.
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Similarly, another example is as follows. In the wilderness, Jesus was fasting to prepare for His public mission (Matthew 4:1-2). Then, the devil tempted Jesus when He was hungry (Matthew 4:3). Jesus answered in Matthew 4:4 NKJV,
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
III. It Is Finished: The Sacrificial Completion of Christ’s Mission (30b)
See v30b.
30b He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
After fulfilling the food-related prophecy in the end (30a), Jesus said, “It is finished!”, indicating that His mission on the cross was completed.
