The Thirst

Did you know that Jesus was offered a drink two times during His crucifixion? Did you also know that the first time He refused the drink, and the second time He accepted. Let's look at the details of the prophecy, of what Jesus said before His crucifixion, and of what happened during the crucifixion.

Prophecy:
"My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." Psalm 22:15

The 15th verse of Psalm 22 is very descriptive of the extreme level of physical thirst Jesus experienced on the cross.

Jesus' Words During the Last Supper:
Look at the scripture that records what Jesus said at the Last Supper regarding what He would not drink:
"Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Mark 14:25
"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:29

The First Drink that Jesus Refused at His crucifixion:
"They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink." Matthew 27:34
"And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not." Mark 15:23

Jesus said He would not drink the fruit of the vine from the time of the Last Supper until He could drink of it born anew in His Father's kingdom. ---- So, when the Roman soldiers offered Jesus wine with gall, He refused it. Another fact that is important to realize is that wine mixed with gall (myrrh) served narcotic purposes that numbed pain. Jesus knew that His mind and body could not be hindered by narcotics and be the pure sacrifice to bear the sins of the world.

The Drink Jesus Accepted:
Jesus did accept a drink after He refused the one of wine and gall. The second drink was vinegar.
"And straightaway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink." Matthew 27:48
"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth." John 19: 28-29

Reading and analyzing these scriptures is awakening. So many times we hear details about Jesus' crucifixion, like the vinegar, and we file it in our minds as a list of facts. There is no real understanding that fosters a true comprehension --- we just know it happened. I want to challenge you today to know the "why" behind all the "whats"! Jesus didn't refuse that first drink because He wasn't thirsty! There was a reason. A reason founded in scripture, and it is the reason that makes all the difference.