John 19:28–29

The sixth branch of this part of the Chapter, contains the accomplishment of a Scripture-prophecy, in Christs thirsting, and their giving him vineger to drink, immediately before his death. In recording whereof, it is insinuate, that his thoughts, in his suffering, ran upon his work, and what was appointed him to accomplish; And that, finding all was accomplished which he was to do before his death, but only that passage, Psal. 69. 21. He, for the accomplishment thereof, intimates to them that he thirsted, and gets but vineger to drink, according to the prediction. It appeares here, that it was their custome to have vineger at the place of execution; though it be not needful to determine for what use they had it; whether, to sprinkle it in the aire, or for men to make use of it to prevent infection, or any evil smell by reason of the dead bodies; or whether, to apply it to the wounds of the condemned, either to hasten the effusion of blood and their death, or (as some will) contrariwise to prolong their pain, and keep them from fainting. It sufficeth us to know, that it was not so made use of here, but given him for drink in their cruelty. It appears also from Mark 15.23. that before he was crucified, they offered him wine mingled with myrrhe, whereof it seems they made use of to stupifie the senses of the sufferers, that they might feel no pain; and that they mixed this with vineger and gall when they offered it to Christ, Mat. 27.34. But he refused it, and having tasted it would not drink of it; yet now he received so much of it, as may be an accomplishment of the prediction. Doct. 1. All that Christ was to endure and suffer, came not at randome, nor at the pleasure of men, but was fore-determined by God, and accordingly recorded in Scripture; for, so is imported in that he was about the accomplishing of all things, which were recorded in the Scripture, and to be fulfilled. See Acts 4.27, 28. 2. Christ in his suffering did not respect his own ease, but his great care was to fulfil all things that were enjoyned & appointed for Redemption of his people; that so he might testifie his love to them, which was not asleep in his trouble: and might by his example teach us, to make it our great care in suffering, rather to do our duty, then how to get ease and deliverance, Acts 20.24. Therefore, upon the Crosse, his study was to see that he did all things requisite, till he might know that all things were now accomplished. 3. Christ is most faithful in fulfilling and making good whatever he hath spoken in his Word, and will not have that made void on any termes; for, knowing that all things were now accomplished, which were to be suffered before his death, only this one prediction remaines, and therefore, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, be saith, I thirst. He did not expresse his need to them, as hoping or expecting to be refreshed by them, but only that he might fulfil the Scriptures which foretold of this part of his suffering. And when all other things are accomplished, he will continue in pain upon the Crosse, and endure this cruel usage, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 4. Christs extream thirst may serve, partly, to point out unto us the extream violence of his suffering, that he was so heated with inward agony, and exhausted with watching, pain, and effusion of blood, as drew on a burning thirst; In all which we should reade his love and condescendence, and acknowledge that it is from him we have the ease of our suffering and exercise; partly, to point out, that as Christ suffered in all his members, to expiate our sin, so particularly, he endured thirst, which was a stroak on his tongue, Psal. 22.15. that he might suffer for, and expiate the sinnes of our tongue; And partly, to point out, that for expiating our sin in eating and drinking and pleasing our palate and taste, and to purchase unto us the use of the creatures with a blessing, he would suffer this thirst, which will be the eternal punishment of gluttons, Luke 16.24, 25. and gets no refreshment, as after followeth. 5. Sufferers for righteousnesse may expect to meet with all the cruelty, despight, and mockery, in their extremity, that malicious enemies can invent; for so much doth Christs lot teach us: when he said I thirst, they filled a spunge with vineger, and put it upon hyssope, and put it to his mouth, that he might suck out the vineger in stead of drink. We need not curiously determine whether that reed (upon which it is said the spunge was put. Matth. 27.48. that so the spunge might reach his mouth on the crosse) was of hyssope, which was not the herb commonly so called, but in that countrey a sort of tree, or whether both the hyssope and reed were joyned together But this is certain, that they did this out of cruelty and spight, and that the Lord so ordered it, not only that he might expiate our abuse of refreshments (as hath been said) but that we might expect the like lot 6 It pleased Christ to undergo this sad lot for our sakes that when he expressed his need of drink, he gets not so much as a drink of water, but only vineger, that so he might teach his people, That their sins deserved they should be deprived of the least and most common comforts, and that he hath drunk all the bitter of what they do deserve; and, That by his being insulted over when he expresseth his need, he hath purchased unto them a right construction of, and a meet and comfortable answer unto their prayers; for, so much also may we gather from this, that when he said, I thirst, they put vinegar to his mouth. 7. It is the sweet way of reading the cruel usage of enemies, to see them over-ruled by God in all they do, and that they will not get their malice vented, further then he hath appointed, and that in all they do, they are but fulfilling his counsel, though they little minde this: Therefore it is said of this their inhumane carriage in particular, that they did it, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.