Final drink, final breath

Albert Bogle April 18, 2025 5 4

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John 19: 28-30 (NIV)

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

There is much in scripture that is interconnected. When it comes to the Psalms there is no doubt that Jesus knew many of the them. It may well be that Psalm 69 was going through his head as he cries. ‘I’m thirsty.’ These verses in John’s Gospel in many ways contain great insight into the power and the meaning of the resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world. 

It’s fascinating to read the voice of the psalmist in Psalm 69 crying out to God for help. Then to reflect upon the bitter blow of injustice Jesus received at his trial further exasperated with the offer of stale wine on a sponge from a hostile crowd.

Then note the victory cry, “It is finished.” The battle against sin, the world and the devil was won. Death could not defeat him, of his own volition he breathed out his Spirit into the world. And resurrection and a new creation had begun. The wilderness would become a garden once more.

Prayer:

Lord,

Remember me

I’m still here 

Waiting 

Anticipating

Watching

This cosmic war zone

Evil and hate 

Lies and deception

Fill the air

You’re led away 

Like a scapegoat

Left alone 

In the wilderness

Your final wilderness 

Abandoned

Nailed to a cross

Alone but never alone

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Three in one

One in three

On the cross together

Working, weaving fulfilling

Creation’s plan

In a cross shaped space

Wrestling 

Struggling 

Fighting a battle

For the soul of humanity 

The temptations relived

‘It is written,

Man cannot live on bread alone’

‘It is written,

worship the Lord your God and serve him only’

‘It is written, 

do not put the Lord your God to the test’

Then the victory cry

It is finished

And love stripped bare

Echoes down the ages

I AM For You!