We continue our study of the Gospel of John. Picking up at verse 28, in Chapter 19, the Apostle writes:
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ 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. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.” John 19: 28-30
John writes of the fact that Jesus was dying on a Cross, and of His last words. He was being treated as a criminal, but the Mission He was on for the Father, and for us was the most Holy of Holies. Once again prophecy was quoted and fulfilled at the cross when Jesus said He was thirsty, and they offered Him a drink of vinegar wine. Psalm 69:21 says, “they gave me vinegar for my thirst.”
The last words of Jesus were, “It is finished.” We will get more into what He specifically ‘finished’ next week. For this week, let us look at some of the other words Jesus spoke from the cross. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell us He said, “My God, Why have you forsaken Me?” We do not know all that was going on spiritually as Jesus said those words, but it must have been a horrible feeling for Him, as He was not calling His Dad, Father. He called Him God. Some say it would have been when Abba Father turned away and refused to look upon the sin Jesus had taken upon Himself for us. Some say it was when Father separated Himself from the Oneness with Jesus because there could be no sin in the Most High. Whatever was going on It would have been like the terror of a child being abandoned by His Father. The good news is Father obviously communicated with Jesus that all was well, as confirmed by other words spoken by Jesus. He said, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Luke 23: 34. He told one of the criminals on the cross beside Him who had believed in Him, “Truly, I tell you today you will be with Me in paradise.’ Luke 23:43. and in Luke 23:46 He said, “Father, into your hands, I commit my Spirit.’
Jesus knew where He was going. He was calling God, Father again. Everything was on course. The great day of Work and Unconditional Love was almost finished.