Jesus was thirsty on the cross

JESUS WAS THIRSTY ON THE CROSS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
John 19:28 28Later, knowing that everything had now
been finished, and so that Scripturewould be fulfilled,
Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
The Fifth Word From The Cross
John 19:28
J.R. Thomson
This is both the shortestof all the dying utterances of Jesus, and it is the one
which is most closelyrelatedto himself. It came from the parched lips of the
Divine Victim towards the close ofhis agony, and after the darkness which
endured from the sixth to the ninth hour. Mosttouching in itself, it has its
spiritual significance for us.
I. THIS CRY REMINDS US THAT OUR LORD JESUS SHARED OUR
HUMAN NATURE AND ITS INFIRMITIES. The needand desire to which
expressionwas thus given had a physical cause and was accompaniedby a
physical pain. Jesus had thirsted upon his journey when he askedfrom the
Samaritan womana draught of waterfrom Jacob's well. Jesus seems to have
takenno refreshment from the time when he supped with the apostles in the

upper room; since then he had endured the agonyin the garden, had passed
through the repeatedexaminations before the Jewishcouncil and the Roman
governor, and had hung for hours upon the cross. The bodily anguish and
exhaustion of crucifixion, aggravatedby his unspeakable mental distress,
accountfor the thirst which possessedthe dying Sufferer. When the
refreshment was offered, Jesus moistenedhis lips with the posca, orsour wine,
offered him in the sponge raisedon the stem of hyssop. This seems to have
revived him, and strengthenedhim for the last cries which he uttered in his
humiliation.
II. THIS CRY IS AN EVIDENCE OF OUR LORD'S EXTREME
HUMILIATION. When we remember that Jesus was the Lord of nature, who
could feed multitudes with bread, and could supply a banquet with wine;
when we remember that this acknowledgmentof thirst was made in the
presence ofhis enemies and persecutors;when we remember from whom
Jesus deignedto acceptthe draught by which his thirst was relieved; - we
cannot but be impressedby the depth of humiliation to which he stooped, He
was "obedientunto death;" the "things which he suffered" were unexampled.
Christ not only condescendedto die; he accepteddeathin a form and with
accompanying circumstances whichrendered it something more than death.
His death was sacrificial, and he shrank from nothing that could contribute to
make him "perfectthrough suffering."
III. THIS CRY INSTRUCTSUS AS TO THE PRICE BY WHICH OUR
REDEMPTION WAS SECURED.Our Lord's pain of body, his anguish of
soul, the ignominious circumstances attending his decease, were allforeseen
and accepted. This very cry was a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy; and the
language ofthe evangelistforbids us to regardthis as a mere coincidence. "By
his stripes we are healed;" and we may look upon his voluntary endurance of
thirst as a means of satisfying the deep thirst of our immortal spirit. At all
events, in his anguish he paid the price by which his people are redeemed.

IV. THIS CRY SUGGESTSTO US A METHOD BY WHICH WE MAY, IN
ACCORDANCE WITHCHRIST'S OWN DIRECTIONS,MINISTERUNTO
HIM. Jesus has taught us to identify his people with himself. If love to him
would find an opportunity for its display, an outlet by which it may flow forth,
this is to be found in those ministrations to Christ's "little ones" which he
enjoins upon those who recognize his authority and who love to please him.
The cup of cold watermay be given to the thirsty one in the name of a
disciple. Some want may be supplied, some suffering alleviated, some wrong
redressed. And they who for Christ's sake thus minister to the thirsting, the
needy, the friendless, are justified in deeming themselves, so far, ministers to
Christ himself. It is all as though, hearing his dying cry, they raised the
refreshing draught to his parched lips. He will accountthe deed of charity as
done unto himself. - T.
Biblical Illustrator
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplishedthat the
Scriptures might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:28, 29
A word from the cross
Abp. Trench.
1. Our Lord's sevenwords from the cross, have in all ages beenvery dear to
the Church. There is nothing strange in this. Had it been but some earthly
monarch, great, wise and good, would not his latestwords, or words uttered at
some notable crisis, be accounteda precious legacy? Butwhat king, what
moment like this?
2. That the words should be thus exactlyseven, the sacredand mystical
number is not without its significance. No evangelistrecords them all; every
evangelistsome. St. John alone records the briefest of them all; only one word
in the original. It is the only utterance which contains any allusion to Christ's
bodily anguish. He has from His cross a word of intercessiononbehalf of His

enemies;a word of grace foran enemy turned into a friend; a word of tender
and thoughtful love for His mother; a word of triumph as He contemplates the
near consummation of His work;a word of affiance on His Fatherand God;
yes, too, and His soul's agony has claimed one mysterious utterance for itself.
3. And even this word was not wrung out from Him by any overpowering
necessity. He would not have spokenit, if He had not known that this was one
of the things which were foretold concerning Him. The Scriptures referred to
are no doubt Psalm 22. and Psalm 69:4. Physicians assure us that all the worst
which we could imagine would be but a feeble and remote approach to His
sufferings from thirst. Considerall which during the lastfew hours He had
gone through. There is no suffering comparable to that of an unassuaged
thirst, such as everything here was caculatedto arouse. Those who have
wandered overa fresh battlefield inform us that the one cry of the sufferers
there is for water;all other agonybeing forgottenin this. The cry for water
swallows up every other cry.
I. WHAT A LESSON OF COMFORTDOES THIS UTTERANCE
CONTAIN!We want a Saviour, at leastin our times of trial and suffering, not
Himself untouched with the same, who can have a fellow-feeling with those
who suffer, in that Ha Himself has suffered first. And such a Saviourwe are
assuredthat we have. He was God; yet He did not take refuge in His divinity
when the stress ofthe trial grew sharp and strong. There was no make believe
in the matter. As He had knownslighter accesses ofthis human infirmity,
when, for instance, at Jacob's well, so now He endured the fiercestaccessofit.
He who avoided not this, we may be sure, avoided none of the weaknesses and
woes ofour fallen humanity.
II. WHAT A CONSTANTLYRECURRINGTEMPTATION BESETS
EVERY ONE OF US IN THE NECESSARYREFRESHMENT AND
REPARATION OF THE DAILY WASTE OF THE BODY. How easilywe

come to attach too much importance to what we shall eat and what we shall
drink; and, though guilty, it may be, of no excess in the eyes of others, yet to
burden and clog the spirit through over-much allowing and indulging the
flesh! How easily in this wayour table may become a snare to us. It is not for
nothing that our warning examples of those who sinned, seducedby
temptations of appetite, are scatteredthrough all the Scripture. The first sin
of all was a sin of this character. It is for a mess of pottage that Esausells his
birthright. No sins of the children of Israelin the wilderness are so frequent as
these. Surely, if we would overcome these, the power to do this must be found,
where all other poweris to be found, in the Cross of Christ. And we need this
help. The whole mechanism of sociallife is at this day, for the higher classes of
society, so finished and elaborate, that they are very little trained or
disciplined to meet small annoyances, disappointments, and defeats of
appetite. Greatdanger, therefore, there is that those, who would perhaps have
borne some great trial bravely, should be immoderately disturbed by these
small ones. But how will the Cross ofChrist put to silence these petty
discontents.
III. CONSIDER WHO IT WAS WHO SPAKE THOSE WORDS. We have
seenin them the evidence that He was Man, but He was also God. Surely
when we would stir up these cold hearts of ours to love Him better and to
serve Him more, it is well that we should bring this before our mind, that He
had been in the form of God from eternity, who had now made Himself so
poor for us that He was content to ask and to receive a boon from one of the
unworthiest of His creatures. He who exclaimed now, "I thirst," was the same
who had made the sea and the dry land, who held the oceanin the hollow of
His hand. All streams and fountains, all wells and waterbrooks,and the rivers
that run among the hills, were His, who now thirsted as probably no other
child of man ever had.
IV. AND WHEREFORE DOESHE THIRST? Thatour portion may not be
with Him who, tormented in that flame, craved in vain a drop of waterfor His

burning tongue; that we may receive of Him that gift of the waterof life which
shall cause us never to thirst any more; that He may lead us at last to that
pure river of the waterof life, etc.;that He might see us thirsting after God.
When He sees this in us, then He beholds the fruit of the travail of His soul,
and is satisfied.
(Abp. Trench.)
The shortestof the sevencries
C. H. Spurgeon.
We shall look upon these words as —
I. THE ENSIGN OF CHRIST'S TRUE HUMANITY. Angels cannotthirst. A
phantom, as some have called him, could not suffer in this fashion. Thirst is a
common-place misery, such as may happen to peasants or beggars;it is no
royal grief; Jesus is brother to the poorest. Our Lord, however, endured thirst
to an extreme degree, forit was the thirst of death, and more the thirst of one
whose death was "forevery man." Believing this —
1. Let us tenderly feelhow very near akin to us our Lord has become. You
have been parched with fever as He was, and gaspedout, "I thirst." Your
path runs hard by that of your Master. Nexttime your fevered lips thus
murmur, you may say, "Those are sacredwords, formy Lord spake in that
fashion." While we admire His condescensionlet our thoughts turn with
delight to His sure sympathy.
2. Let us cultivate the spirit of resignation, for we may well rejoice to carry a
cross which His shoulders have borne before us. If our Mastersaid, "I thirst,"
do we expectevery day to drink of streams from Lebanon? Shall the servant
be above his Master? &c.

3. Let us resolve to shun no denials, but rather court them that we may be
conformed to His image. May we not be half ashamedof our pleasures when
He says, "I thirst?"
II. THE TOKEN OF HIS SUFFERINGSUBSTITUTION.
1. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsakenMe?" points to the anguish of
His soul; "I thirst" expressesthe torture of His body; and they were both
needful. The pangs that are due to law are of both kinds, touching both heart
and flesh.
2. The present effectof sin is thirst, dissatisfaction. Now Christstanding in the
steadof the ungodly suffers thirst as a type of His enduring the result of sin.
More solemn still is the reflection that thirst will also be the eternal result of
sin. "FatherAbraham, send Lazarus," &c.
3. He had no soonersaid "I thirst," and sipped the vinegar, than He shouted,
"It is finished;" and all was over; and our greatDeliverer's thirst was the sign
of His having smitten the last foe.
III. A TYPE OF MAN'S TREATMENT OF HIS LORD.
1. It was a confirmation of the Scripture testimony with regardto man's
natural enmity to God. According to modern thought man is a very fine and
noble creature, struggling to become better. But such is not the Scripture
estimate. At the first there was no room for Him at the inn, and at the last
there was no water for Him to drink; but when He thirsted they gave Him

vinegar. Manhood, left to itself, rejects, crucifies, and mocks the Christ of
God.
2. Have we not often given Him vinegar to drink? Did we not do so years ago
before we knew Him? We gave Him our tears and then grieved Him with our
sins. Nor does the grief end here, for our best works, feelings, prayers, have
been tart and sourwith sin.
IV. THE MYSTICAL EXPRESSION OF THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART.
1. His heart was thirsting to save men. This thirst had been on Him early.
"Wistye not that I must be about My Father's business?" "Ihave a baptism
to be baptized with," &c., and when on the cross the work was almost done
His thirst could not be assuagedtill He could say, "It is finished."
2. He thirsts after the love of His people. Call to mind His complaint in Isaiah
5, "It brought forth wild grapes" — vinegar. According to the sacredcanticle
of love (Solomon's Song of Solomon5.), we learn that when He drank in those
olden times it was in the garden of His Church that He was refreshed.
3. He thirsts for communion with His people, not because youcan do Him
good, but because He cando you good. He thirsts to bless you and to receive
your grateful love in return.
V. THE PATTERN OF OUR DEATH WITH HIM. Know ye not that ye are
crucified togetherwith Christ? Well, then, what means this cry, "I thirst," but
this, that we should thirst too —

1. After Christ. Certain philosophers have said that they love the pursuit of
truth even better than the knowledge oftruth. I differ from them, but, next to
the actualenjoyment of my Lord's presence, I love to hunger and to thirst
after Him.
2. Forthe souls of our fellow-men. Thirst to have your children, your
workpeople, your class, saved.
3. As for yourselves, thirst after perfection. Hunger and thirst after
righteousness, foryou shall be filled.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
The fifth word from the cross
W. Forsyth, M. A.
Wrung from Christ by the most agonizing of pains. Teachesus that Christ
was no stoic. Psalm22:15, fulfilled. Notbodily thirst only. The soul
sympathized with the body, and through it betrayed its deepestwants. These
words —
I. BetrayAN IRREPRESSIBLE LONGING FOR HUMAN SYMPATHY.
Learn this from Psalm 69:20. The sympathy of Peterrejectedbecause
mistimed; that of the daughters of Jerusalembecause misdirected. Here, and
in Gethsemane, Christ, as a true Man, felt the want of it.
II. RevealTHE DEPTHOF THAT HUMILIATION TO WHICH CHRIST
DESCENDEDIN ACCOMPLISHING HUMAN REDEMPTION. All the
resources ofthe universe were at His disposal. Had He not miraculously fed
the multitude, &c., and proclaimed, "If any man thirst," &c. That the Son of

the Highestshould stoopto ask aid from His executioners proves the
voluntariness and greatness ofHis humiliation.
III. Form THE CLIMAX TO THE PRECEDING CRYOF DISTRESS."My
God, My God," &c. Not the Father's approval, but the consciousnessofit,
obscuredfor a moment. Christ longed to hear the familiar words of approval,
"This is My beloved Son." Two dense clouds intervened.
1. Combined hosts of darkness.
2. Accumulated load of human guilt (Psalm 69:1-3).
IV. Express THE SAVIOUR'S YEARNING FOR HUMAN PENITENCE
AND LOVE. He lookedupon the multitude, but found no sign of relenting.
When He saton the well He said, "Give Me to drink," and meant, "Give Me
thy heart" — so here.
(W. Forsyth, M. A.)
The thirst of Christ
Thirty ThousandThoughts., ArchdeaconWatkins.
Consideredin its —
I. PHYSICAL ASPECT.
1. Its producing cause — bodily pain and exhaustion.

2. Its significance — that Christ was very Man.
II. SPIRITUAL ASPECT.
1. Its objects. Christ thirsted for —
(1)The love of men.
(2)The salvationof men.
(3)Reunion with His Father.
III. PROPHETIC ASPECT.
1. Its expressionand import — "that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
2. Its significance — that Christ was very God.
IV. PRACTICAL ASPECT. It teaches us —
1. To bear suffering with patience and submission.

2. That patience in suffering is quite distinct from stoicalendurance.
3. To abstain from fleshly lusts.
4. The blackness ofhuman ingratitude.
5. The unselfishness of Divine love.
6. Forwhat man should thirst.(1) Forreconciliationto God through Christ, by
quenching the thirst of His dear Son in accepting His offered salvation, and
turning to Him with love, sorrow, and repentance.(2)Forthe communion of
Christ's body and blood in the perpetual memorial of His precious death.
(Thirty ThousandThoughts.)
Now there was seta vesselfull of vinegar. — This vesselof the ordinary sour
wine drunk by the Roman soldiers was placednear in order to be given to
those who were crucified. Thirst was always an accompanimentof death by
crucifixion, and that the vesselofwine was prepared for this purpose is
probable by the mention of the sponge and the hyssop. This latter detail is
peculiar to John. Bochartthinks that the hyssop was marjoram, or some plant
like it, and he is borne out by ancient tradition. The stalks from a foot to a foot
and a half high would be sufficient to reachto the cross
(ArchdeaconWatkins.)

COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(28) Comp. accounts ofthe darkness and death in Matthew 27:45-50;Mark
15:33-39;Luke 23:44-46.
Knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be
fulfilled.—It is difficult to give the exact meaning of the words in English. In
the originalthe words for “accomplished” and“fulfilled” are derived from the
same root, and the latter word is not the ordinary formula of quotation which
we have had, e.g., in John 13:18 (see Note there). The Vulgate has “Postea
sciens Jesus quia omnia consummata sunt ut consummaretur Scriptural
Perhaps the nearestEnglishrendering is “that all things were now completed
that the Scripture might be accomplished.” But then there arises the difficult
question, Is this connectedwith the words which follow, or not? The margin
assumes that it is, and refers to Psalm69:21. On the other hand (1) St. John’s
custom is to quote the fulfilment of Scripture as seenin the event after its
occurrence;(2) he does not here use the ordinary words which accompany
such a reference;(3) the actualmeaning of “knowing that all things were now
accomplished” seems to exclude the idea of a further accomplishment, and to
refer to the whole life which was an accomplishment of Scripture; (4) the
context of words as they occurin the Psalm(John 19:22 et seq.)cannot be
understood of our Lord. There seems to be goodreason, therefore, for
understanding the words “that the Scripture might be completed,” of the
events of the whole life, and not of the words which immediately follow.
I thirst.—He had refused the usual stupefying drink at the moment of
crucifixion (comp. Notes on Matthew 27:34;Matthew 27:48), but now all has
been accomplished, the moment of His departure is at hand, and He seeks
relief from the physical agonyof the thirst causedby His wounds.

BensonCommentary
John 19:28-30. After this — After what is relatedabove; and after other
events recorded by the other evangelists, suchas the three hours supernatural
darkness, and the doleful exclamationof Jesus, Eloi, Eloi, &c., of which see
notes on Matthew 27:46-47;Mark 15:34; Jesus, knowing that all things — All
the grievous and terrible sufferings he had to endure; were now upon the
point of being accomplished — And being parched with a violent drought:
that the scripture might be fulfilled — Where the Messiahis describedas
crying out, My tongue cleavethto my jaws, and in my thirst they gave me
vinegar to drink, (Psalm 22:15;Psalm 69:21,)to show that he endured all that
had been foretold concerning him; saith, I thirst. Now there was set — As
usual on such occasions;a vesselfull of vinegar — Nearthe cross:as vinegar
and waterwas the common drink of the Romansoldiers, perhaps this vinegar
was sethere for their use. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it
upon hyssop — That is, a stalk of hyssop; and put it to his mouth — In a
contemptuous manner. See note on Matthew 27:48. “There must have been
some plant in Judea of the lowestclass oftrees, orshrubs, which was either a
species ofhyssop, or had a strong resemblance to what the Greeks called
υσσωπος; inasmuch as the Hellenist Jews always distinguishedit by that
name. It is said of Solomon, (1 Kings 4:33,) that he spake oftrees, from the
cedartree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssopthat springeth out of the
wall. Now they did not reckonamong trees any plants but such as had durable
and woodystalks, see note on Matthew 6:30. That their hyssop was of this
kind, is evident also from the uses of sprinkling, to which it is in many cases
appointed by the law to be applied.” — Campbell. When Jesus had received
the vinegar, he said, It is finished — The predictions of the prophets that
respectmy personalministry are all fulfilled. The important work of man’s
redemption is accomplished. The demands of the law, and of divine justice,
are satisfied, and my sufferings are now at an end. It appears from Matthew,
Mark, and Luke, that in speaking these words he cried with an exceeding loud
voice;probably to show that his strength was not exhausted, but that he was
about to give up his life of his own accord. Having thus shouted, he addressed
his Father, with a tone of voice proper in prayer; saying, Father, into thy

hands I commend my spirit, and then bowed his head, and gave up the ghost
— Leaving us the best pattern of a recommendatory prayer in the article of
death. See note on Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
19:19-30 Here are some remarkable circumstances ofJesus'death, more fully
related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the
writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to a secretpowerof God
upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord's characterand authority
might continue. Many things done by the Roman soldiers were fulfilments of
the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be
fulfilled. Christ tenderly provided for his mother at his death. Sometimes,
when God removes one comfort from us, he raises up another for us, where
we lookednot for it. Christ's example teaches allmen to honour their parents
in life and death; to provide for their wants, and to promote their comfort by
every means in their power. Especiallyobserve the dying word wherewith
Jesus breathedout his soul. It is finished; that is, the counsels ofthe Father
concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and
prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the
Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremoniallaw is abolished;
the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished;
an end is made of transgressionby bringing in an everlasting righteousness.
His sufferings were now finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body.
It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvationis now completed.
His life was not takenfrom him by force, but freely given up.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
See the notes at Matthew 27:46-50.
That the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst - See Psalm69:21. Thirst
was one of the most distressing circumstances attending the crucifixion. The
wounds were highly inflamed, and a raging fever was caused, usually, by the
sufferings on the cross, and this was accompaniedby insupportable thirst. See
the notes at Matthew 27:35. A Mameluke, or Turkish officer, was crucified, it
is said in an Arabic manuscript recently translated, on the banks of the

Barada River, under the castle ofDamascus. He was nailed to the cross on
Friday, and remained until Sunday noon, when he died. After giving an
accountof the crucifixion, the narrator proceeds:"I have heard this from one
who witnessedit; and he thus remained until he died, patient and silent,
without wailing, but looking around him to the right and the left, upon the
people. But he beggedfor water, and none was given him; and the hearts of
the people were melted with compassionforhim, and with pity on one of
God's creatures, who, yet a boy, was suffering under so grievous a trial. In the
meantime the waterwas flowing around him, and he gazed upon it, and
longed for one drop of it; and he complained of thirst all the first day, after
which he was silent, for God gave him strength" - Wiseman's Lectures, pp.
164, 165, ed.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
28-30. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished—that
is, the moment for the fulfilment of the lastof them; for there was one other
small particular, and the time was come for that too, in consequence ofthe
burning thirst which the fevered state of His frame occasioned(Ps 22:15).
that the scripture—(Ps 69:21).
might be fulfilled saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vesselfull of vinegar—on
the offer of the soldiers'vinegar, see on [1912]Joh19:24.
and they—"one of them," (Mt 27:48).
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Ver. 28,29. Davidsaid, Psalm69:21, to signify his enemies multiplying
afflictions upon him, They gave me also gallfor my meat; and in my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink; which he spake metaphorically. Part of these

words were without a figure literally fulfilled in Christ, who was the Son of
David; for he crying out upon the cross that he thirsted, there being no other
liquor at hand, or this being seton purpose for this end, they dip a spunge in
it, and give it to him to drink; whether to stupify his sense, orto prolong his
life in those torments, or barely to quench his thirst, is hard to determine. It is
probable that it was such a kind of refreshment as they allowedto ordinary
malefactors in his circumstances,the particulars of which usage we are not
able to determine.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
After this,.... After he had committed his mother to the care of John, which
was about the sixth hour, before the darkness came overthe land: and three
hours after this was the following circumstance, whichwas not without the
previous knowledge ofChrist:
Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished;or just upon being
accomplished, were as goodas finished; and as they were to be, would be in a
very short time; even all things relating to his sufferings, and the
circumstances ofthem, which were afore appointed by God, and foretold in
prophecy, and of which he had perfectknowledge:
that the Scripture might be fulfilled: might appear to have its
accomplishment, which predicted the great drought and thirst that should be
on him, Psalm22:15 and that his enemies at such a time would give him
vinegar to drink, Psalm69:21
saith, I thirst; which was literally true of him, and may be also understood
spiritually of his great thirst and eagerdesire afterthe salvationof his people.
Geneva Study Bible

{9} After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
(9) Christ when he has takenthe vinegar, yields up the Spirit, indeed drinking
up in our name that most bitter and severe cup of his Father's wrath.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
John 19:28. Μετὰ τοῦτο]Not indefinitely later, but after this scene with Mary
and John.
εἰδὼς, κ.τ.λ.]as He was aware (John 13:1) that His death was alreadyat hand,
that consequentlyall was alreadyaccomplished, in order to bring the
Scripture to fulfilment, in respectof the accomplishmentof its predictions
concerning His earthly work, He now still desires, at this goalof
accomplishment, a refreshment, and says:I thirst. Accordingly, ἵνα τελ. ἡ
γράφη is to be referred to πάντα ἤδη τετέλ., as Cyril (?), Bengel, Michaelis,
Semler, Thalem., van Hengel (Annot. p. 62 ff.), Paulus, Tholuck,
Hofmann,[248] Luthardt, Lange, Baeumlein, Scholten, Steinmeyer, have
connectedit, This is the correctconstruction, because ΠΆΝΤΑ ἬΔΗ ΤΕΤΈΛ.
leaves us no room to think of a fulfilment of Scripture still remaining behind,
and consequentlyexcludes the connectionof ἵνα τελ. ἡ γρ. with ΛΈΓΕΙ;
because, further, ΤΕΛΕΙΏΘΗis selectedsimply for the sake of its reference to
τετέλ. (it is the ΠΛΉΡΩΣΙς of Scripture, to which now nothing more is
wanting), and because Johnnever makes the statement of purpose, “that the
Scripture might be fulfilled,” precede the moment of fulfilment, and even
where a single definite factis the fulfilling element, always actuallyadduces
the passage ofScripture in question (John 17:12 is a retrospective indication
of a passagealreadybefore adduced). Hence the ordinary interpretation must
be given up (Chrysostom, Theophylact, Euth. Zigabenus, Ruperti, and many
others, including Lücke, De Wette, Brückner, Strauss, B. Crusius, Baur,
Ewald, Hengstenberg, Godet), that ἵνα τελ., Κ.Τ.Λ. refers to ΛΈΓΕΙ·ΔΙΨῶ,

so that it contains the scriptural ground of the thirst, to which Jesus gave
expression, and of the drinking of the vinegar which was given to Him, and
Psalm69:22 is the passage intended; where, however, the drinking of vinegar
is the work of scornand of malice, which would not be at all appropriate here,
since it is simply the quenching of thirst immediately before death that is in
question, without other and further background.
πάντα ἤδη τετέλ.] τουτέστινὅτι οὑδὲν λείπει τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ, Chrysostom;
ἬΔΗ (already) points to the very early occurrence ofHis death (Nonnus:
θοῶς).
[248]Weissag. u. Erf. II. p. 146. On the other hand, Hofmann, in the
Schriftbew. II. 1, p. 314, has alteredhis views, and connects ἵνα τελ. ἡ γρ. with
λέγει.
Expositor's Greek Testament
John 19:28. Μετὰ τοῦτο … Διψῶ. “After this, Jesus knowing that all things
are now finished, that the scripture might be completely fulfilled, saith, I
thirst.” Jesus did not feelthirsty and proclaim it with the intention of fulfilling
scripture—which would be a spurious fulfilment—but in His complaint and
the response to it, John sees a fulfilment of Psalm 69:22, εἰς τὴν δίψαν μου
ἐπότισάν με ὄξος. Only when all else had been attended to (εἰδὼς κ. τ. λ.) was
He free to attend to His own physical sensations.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
28–30.The two words from the Cross, ‘I Thirst,’ ‘It is Finished’
28. After this] See on John 19:38.
knowing]Comp. John 13:1.

were now accomplished]Rather, are alreadyfinished. The very same word is
used here as in John 19:30, and this identity must be preserved in translation.
that the scripture, &c.] Many critics make this depend on ‘are already
finished,’ in order to avoid the apparent contradictionbetweenall things
being already finished and something still remaining to be accomplished. But
this constructionis somewhatawkward. It is better to connect‘that …
fulfilled’ with ‘saith,’ especiallywhen Psalm69:21 speaks so plainly of the
thirst. The apparent contradiction almostdisappears when we remember that
the thirst had been felt sometime before it was expressed. All things were
finished, including the thirst; but Christ alone knew this. In order that the
prophecy might be accomplished, it was necessarythat He should make
known His thirst. ‘Brought to its due end’ or ‘made perfect’is the natural
meaning of the very unusual expressiontranslated‘fulfilled.’
Bengel's Gnomen
John 19:28. Μετὰ τοῦτο, afterthis) after this one event which immediately
preceded. [After the parting of the garments, whereby the Scripture which
was immediately before quoted by John obtained its fulfilment.—V. g.] [The
conjecture is somewhatdifferent, which is exhibited almost in these words in
the Harm., p. 569:“The phrase μετὰ τοῦτο seems ratherto refer to the whole
Acts of the crucifixion, than the address to His mother and the disciple
mentioned in John 19:26-27, as immediately preceding. ForJohn, having
brought Mary to his dwelling, returned to the cross, John19:35;from which
we may gather the inference, that not only was she brought into the house out
of the open air before the darkness, but even that immediately after the first
word spokenby Jesus on the cross, which was directedto the Father, the
secondword had regardto His mother, whom He observed beneath His
cross.”Let the impartial Readerweighwell in what way best the statements
which the Gnomon has, as to the order of these events, can be made to
harmonise with those which we have now brought forward, as wellfrom the
Harm. Ev. as also from the Germ Vers.—E. B.] Τοῦτο differs from ταῦτα, ch.

John 11:11. The former is never takenadverbially.—εἰδὼς, knowing)
Believers also, in the agonyof the lastconflict, may perceive that the issue
(end) is near.—πάντα, all things) for instance, those things which are recorded
in John 19:24, even concerning minor matters.—τετέλεσται, ἵνα τελειωθῇ)
The verb τελέω applies to events;τελειόω, to Holy Scripture. The verb διψῶ,
I thirst, and the verb τετέλεσται, it is finished (‘consummated’), are closely
connected. The thirst had been, in the case ofthe body of Jesus, whatthe
dereliction by the Fatherhad been in His soul. In His journey on foot He had
felt weariness(ch. John 4:6); in His voyage, He had been overpoweredby
sleep(Mark 4:38); in the desertpreviously, He had felt hunger (Matthew 4:2);
and now, in fine, on the cross, the most extreme and burning thirst, after His
sweat, His goings back and forward [betweenCaiaphas, Herod, Pilate, and the
people], His speaking, His scourging, and the nails. Amidst all these He had
not said, He is in pain; for the fact spoke for itself as to His pains, which were
foretold in Scripture; but He does speak ofHis thirst, in which all the rest
have their confluence and termination, and thereby He asks for a drink. For
the Scripture had foretold both the thirst and the drink. Thirst is wont both to
be felt most, and to be quenched, only then when one’s toil has been
completely ended: ἵνα, that, may be joined with λέγει, He saith.
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 28, 29. - (c) "I thirst" - the last agony. Verse 28. - It does not come
within the purpose of John to recordthe portents which attended the final
scene - either the supernatural darkness on the one hand, or the rending of the
veil of the temple on the other. He does not recordthe visions of the saints, nor
the testimony of the centurion (see Matthew 27:45-56;Mark 15:33-39;Luke
23:44-49). He does not record the further quotation of Psalm22; the cry,
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" nor the misinterpretation of the multitudes;
nor the jeer at his dying agonies. Buthe does recordtwo of the words of the
Lord, which they had omitted. He, moreover, implies that he had purposely
left these omissions to be filled up from the synoptists, for he adds, After this,
Jesus, knowing that all things had been (τετέλεσται)now finished, said, I
thirst, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. John heard in this word
the comprehensive cry which gatheredup all the yearnings and agonies ofhis

soul, which fulfilled its travail, which expressedthe awful significance ofhis
suffering, and strangelyfilled up the prophetic picture (Psalm 69:21).
Vincent's Word Studies
Were accomplished(τετέλεσται)
Rev., with stricter rendering of the perfect tense, are finished. Finished
corresponds better with it is finished, John 19:30. This sentence may be taken
with the preceding one, or with that which follows.
STUDYLIGHTRESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary
I thirst - The scripture that referred to his drinking the vinegaris Psalm
69:21. The fatigue which he had undergone, the grief he had felt, the heat of
the day, and the loss of blood, were the natural causesofthis thirst. This he
would have borne without complaint; but he wishedto give them the fullest
proof of his being the Messiah, by distinctly marking how every thing relative
to the Messiah, whichhad been written in the prophets, had its complete
fulfillment in him.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography

Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on John 19:28". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/john-
19.html. 1832.
Return to Jump List return to 'Jump List'
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the Scriptures
might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.
This does not mean that Jesus said, "I thirst" in order to fulfill prophecy. As
Westcottsaid, "The fulfillment of scripture was not the objectwhich the Lord
had in view, but there was a necessarycorrespondencebetweenhis acts and
the divine foreshadowing ofthem."[16]Old Testamentpassagesprophesying
the Lord's thirst are Psalms 22:15 and Psalms 69:21. See under John 19:27.
ENDNOTE:
[16] Ibid., p. 277.
Copyright Statement
James Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. All other rights reserved.
Bibliography
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Coffman
Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".

https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/john-19.html. Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
After this,.... After he had committed his mother to the care of John, which
was about the sixth hour, before the darkness came overthe land: and three
hours after this was the following circumstance, whichwas not without the
previous knowledge ofChrist:
Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished;or just upon being
accomplished, were as goodas finished; and as they were to be, would be in a
very short time; even all things relating to his sufferings, and the
circumstances ofthem, which were afore appointed by God, and foretold in
prophecy, and of which he had perfectknowledge:
that the Scripture might be fulfilled: might appear to have its
accomplishment, which predicted the great drought and thirst that should be
on him, Psalm22:15 and that his enemies at such a time would give him
vinegar to drink, Psalm69:21
saith, I thirst; which was literally true of him, and may be also understood
spiritually of his great thirst and eagerdesire afterthe salvationof his people.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.

A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on John 19:28". "The New JohnGill Exposition of
the Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/john-
19.html. 1999.
Geneva Study Bible
9 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
(9) Christ when he has takenthe vinegar, yields up the Spirit, indeed drinking
up in our name that most bitter and severe cup of his Father's wrath.
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon John 19:28". "The 1599 Geneva Study
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/john-19.html.
1599-1645.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament

Are now finished (ηδη τετελεσται — ēdē tetelestai). Perfectpassive indicative
of τελεω — teleō See same form in John 19:30. As in John 13:1, where Jesus is
fully conscious (knowing, ειδως — eidōs) of the meaning of his atoning death.
Might be accomplished(τελειωτηι — teleiōthēi). First aoristpassive
subjunctive of τελειοω — teleioō rather than the usual πληρωτηι — plērōthēi
(John 19:24) with ινα — hina John sees the thirst of Jesus in Psalm69:21.
Jesus, ofcourse, did not make the outcry in any mechanicalway. Thirst is one
of the severestagoniesofcrucifixion. For the “perfecting” of the Messiahby
physical suffering see Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:7.
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)
Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Robertson's WordPictures
of the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/john-19.html. Broadman
Press 1932,33. Renewal1960.
Vincent's Word Studies
Were accomplished( τετέλεσται )
Rev., with stricter rendering of the perfect tense, are finished. Finished
corresponds better with it is finished, John 19:30. This sentence may be taken
with the preceding one, or with that which follows.

Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon John 19:28". "Vincent's Word
Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/john-19.html. Charles
Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.
The Fourfold Gospel
After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture
might be accomplished, saith, I thirst1.
THE CRUCIFIXION. C. DARKNESS THREE HOURS. AFTER FOUR
MORE SAYINGS, JESUS EXPIRES. STRANGEEVENTS ATTENDING
HIS DEATH. Matthew 27:45-56;Mark 15:33-41;Luke 23:44-49;John 19:28-
30
I thirst. For comment on Jesus'physical condition, see John19:28-30.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website. These files
were made available by Mr. Ernie Stefanik. First published online in 1996 at
The RestorationMovementPages.
Bibliography

J. W. McGarveyand Philip Y. Pendleton. "Commentaryon John 19:28".
"The Fourfold Gospel".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tfg/john-19.html. Standard
Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. 1914.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
28.Jesus, knowing thatall things were now accomplished. Johnpurposely
passes by many things which are relatedby the other three Evangelists. He
now describes the lastact, which was an event of the greatest
importance.WhenJohn says that a vesselwas placedthere, he speaks ofit as a
thing that was customary. There has been much controversy on this subject;
but I agree with those who think (and, indeed, the customis proved by
histories)that it was a kind of beverage usually administered for the purpose
of accelerating the death of wretched malefactors, whenthey had undergone
sufficient torture (176)Now, it ought to be remarked, that Christ does not ask
any thing to drink till all things have been accomplished;and thus he testified
his infinite love towards us, and the inconceivable earnestnessofhis desire to
promote our salvation. No words canfully express the bitterness of the
sorrows whichhe endured; and yet he does not desire to be freed from them,
till the justice of God has been satisfied, and till he has made a perfect
atonement. (177)
But how does he say, that all things were accomplished, while the most
important part still remained to be performed, that is, his death? Besides,
does not his resurrectioncontribute to the accomplishmentof our salvation? I
answer, John includes those things which were immediately to follow. Christ
had not yet died: and had not yet risen again;but he saw that nothing now
remained to hinder him from going forward to death and resurrection. In this
manner he instructs us, by his own example, to render perfectobedience, that

we may not think it hard to live according to his good pleasure, eventhough
we must languish in the midst of the most excruciating pains.
That the Scripture might be fulfilled. From what is statedby the other
Evangelists, (Matthew 27:48;Mark 15:23;Luke 23:36,) it may readily be
concluded that the passagereferredto is Psalms 69:21,
They gave me gallfor my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to
drink.
It is, undoubtedly, a metaphoricalexpression, and David means by it, not only
that they refused to him the assistancewhichhe needed, but that they cruelly
aggravatedhis distresses. Butthere is no inconsistencyin saying that what
had been dimly shadowedout in David was more clearlyexhibited in Christ:
for thus we are enabled more fully to perceive the difference betweentruth
and figures, when those things which David suffered, only in a figurative
manner, are distinctly and perfectly manifested in Christ. To show that he
was the person whom David represented, Christ chose to drink vinegar; and
he did so for the purpose of strengthening our faith.
I thirst. Those who contrive a metaphorical meaning for the word thirst, as if
he meant that, instead of a pleasantand agreeable beverage, theygave him
bitterness, as if they intended to flay his throat, (178)are more desirous to be
thought ingenious than to promote true edification;and, indeed, they are
expresslyrefuted by the Evangelist, who says that Christ askedfor vinegar
when he was neardeath; from which it is evident that he did not desire any
luxuries. (179)
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Calvin, John. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Calvin's Commentary on the
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/john-19.html.
1840-57.
James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary
THE THIRST OF CHRIST
‘I thirst.’
John 19:28
There breaks from the Cross one short, swift word, the only cry through the
day’s long hours, which speaksofHis own physical agony. Yet we cannot read
these words as merely being signs of bodily suffering; there is a deeper
spiritual meaning in the words as we read them now.
I. He thirsted for men.—How He thirsted for men! Was that thirst satisfied?
Did it have no result? Was He disappointed at all? Nay, one of the soldiers, we
read, dipped a sponge in vinegar and held it to our Lord. Do you not think
that must have been something to the Master, hanging upon the Cross, that
one of the very men who had crucified Him, and scoffedatHim, and scourged
Him should have handed something to satisfy His thirst? Yes, that must have
been worth something to our Lord. How would it be with us? From the Cross

He still appeals to us. None of us can surely ever resistsuch an appeal. It
touches our pity. He says ‘I thirst’ to-day, and if I can read your thoughts
aright by your presence here, I know that you will satisfy that appeal. I know
that there will be a response.
II. The thirst satisfied.—Here we are amongstfriends, those who sympathise
with us in our aims, and in our objects, and in our bestendeavours; but next
week, how will it be then when we are amongstthe enemies of Christ, when we
are amongstthose who are scoffing at Him and scorning Him; who are setting
Him at naught? Shall we be as that soldier? Shall we be able to brave the
derision and the scoffing of our companions, and to satisfyour Lord’s appeal,
or shall we be as one of those, His enemies, who will do nothing? I have not
exaggeratedthe temptations that will come to you. They come to us clergyjust
as they come to you. It must have been very easyfor the disciples to follow
Him in the days of His popularity; and the demand upon our lives at this
moment that we should live for Christ is not a greatone. But believe me, a
time is coming when your religion, if it is anything at all, will make a demand
upon you, when somehow in your daily life, in your home life, or in your
business life, there will be conflicting interests at work, and it will be a
question whether you will satisfythe Redeemerand His love for men, or the
world which merely stands by and sneers. What is going to quench that
thirst? we ask. Nothing but this—giving our lives for His service.
III. What it costs.—Perhaps youare wondering what men and women are
doing for Christ to-day, what it costs to be a Christian. Many men and
women, girls and young men, whom the world thinks very little about, are
serving Christ, and their love for Christ costs them much in homes where they
never know anything but taunts and sneers, where all that they hold most
dear is sneeredat, and blasphemed, and put to open ridicule! And yet they
remain true; they are truly doing their best. You have a best to give; you can
give your life to the Redeemernow that He asks forit. Let us not give Him
that which costs us nothing, a mere modicum of our service, the leastwe can

do, just the one hour in the week in which we go to His house. Let us give Him
the full life-service for which He asks.
—Rev. T. J. Longley.
Illustration
‘A German student who had servedin the Franco-PrussianWarwas wounded
in an engagementnear Paris, and lay on the field unable to stir. He did not
know exactly what was the nature of his wound, and he thought that he might
be dying. The pain was intense; the wounded and dying were groaning round
about him; the battle was still raging;the shots were falling and tearing up the
ground in all directions. But after a time one agony, he afterwards told a
friend, began to swallow up all the rest and soonmade him forgethis wound,
his danger, and his neighbours. It was the agony of thirst. He would have
given the world for a draught of water. This was the supreme distress of
crucifixion. The agonies ofthe horrible punishment were of the most
excruciating and complicatedorder; but, after a time, they all gatheredinto
one centralcurrent, in which they were lost and swallowedup—that of
devouring thirst; and it was this that drew from our Lord the fifth word.’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE WORD OF SIMPLE HUMAN NATURE
This I should emphasise as the word of simple human nature. It was perfectly
natural that He should feelthirsty. Rememberthe awful scourging, and the

blood that was shed, and the fever from the open wounds: these would
naturally make thirst.
I. There was nothing stoicalaboutthe Crucifixion.—He did not wish to hide
any pain: He did not bite His lips and shut His teeth, but saidquite calmly, ‘I
thirst,’ implying that He would like a sponge or something put to His lips. He
did not receive it at first when they offered it to lull the pain. But now He
thirsts, and they fill a sponge with sour wine and put it to His lips, and He
drinks.
II. It shows that in the dear Master’s heartthere was not a spark of
resentment.—He asks forand receives a kindness from one of the
executioners, from one of the men who had been dicing over His clothes, from
His enemies, from those who are putting Him to death. That was the most
beautiful thing that man ever did in his life—a thing that one who loved the
Saviour would long to do. The only thing we can offer Him is a brokenheart,
and we say, ‘Because, dearMaster, we cannotoffer Thee the sponge and
vinegar, we offer Thee contrition for our sins.’And I want you to remember
that your heavenly Father will not forgive you unless you ‘from your hearts
forgive every one his brother their trespasses.’Yousay, ‘Yes, I will forgive,
but I never want to have anything more to do with that man.’ Or else, ‘Oh, I
quite forgive, but I would never accepta thing from his hands—I will never
accepta favour from that man.’ I do not think that you cancall that
forgiveness from your heart.
III. When you are suffering ask the Lord to give you the ‘Living Waterthat
springeth up into Everlasting Life,’ which if a man drink of, he shall never
thirst. May God refreshus with His grace!
—Rev. A. H. Stanton.

Illustration
‘It would seemthat there are two extremes about representing and dwelling
upon the bodily suffering of our Lord. First, of course, there are such scenic
representations as those which we sometimes read of in foreign countries. This
sensationalismis like every other form of sensationalism, and carries with it
the same dangers. This materialism is sometimes in danger of obscuring the
very sacrifice whichno doubt it is honestly meant to make personal and
dramatic. But it cannotbe denied, I think, that much of the thought and
feeling around us in this country at the present time sets in the opposite
direction. All who have lookedat the criticism of the New Testamentwill
remember how much is said of the Docetæ,that is, those ancient heretics who
lookedupon matter as in itself evil, and therefore could not believe that the
Lord of glory had a true body. They lookedupon Him as being a spiritual
Being entirely, or rather a shadow playing an apparent part in an unreal
world. And is there not something of Docetismatthe root of some criticism
upon sacredart which has become very fashionable and influential amongst
ourselves?’
(THIRD OUTLINE)
THE CRISIS REACHED
I. It shows the reality of the bodily pain of our BlessedLord.—Modern
religious feeling appears rather to delight in going counterto ancientreligious
feeling. Ancient religious feeling appears to have held almost universally, that
as no sorrow was everlike that sorrow, so no suffering was everlike that
suffering. Modern religious spirituality seems to wish to minimise the physical
suffering of the Lord on the Cross. It would seemto find a charm in proving

that the thieves betweenwhom the Lord was crucified suffered more than He
did. But the lowermental and moral organisationwouldappear to suffer less
than the higher and therefore more sensitive. Those who have witnessedit
would tell how the Chinese dying of slow starvationwith occasionaltorture
superadded, has been known to laugh and jeer through the bars of his iron
cage atthe multitude who surround him. Our BlessedLord was made subject
to suffering. The word which St. Paul uses in Acts 26:23 means physical
suffering. They of old believed that the body which was prepared for it had an
exquisitely sensitive organism. Yes, after the agonyin Gethsemane;after
being draggedabout from tribunal to tribunal, from Annas to Caiaphas, from
Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, from Herod back againto Pilate;
after the crownof thorns—the terrible acanthus thorn—after that fearful
Roman scourging, afterthe trance which necessarilyaccompaniedthe torture,
after the exhaustionof those big drops falling down as they did slow and
heavily upon the dust of Calvary, after the parting of human love, the dying
Lord does not dwell upon His sufferings at length. Just that one word drops
from those white lips of His—‘I thirst.’
II. It indicates to us that a crisis has been reachedin the history of our Lord’s
passion.—InJohn 19:28 the brightness of the victory begins. ‘After this Jesus,
knowing that all things were accomplished’—the wordshould rather be
translated ‘finished,’ for it is precisely the same word rendered ‘It is finished’
in John 19:30. In the ‘It is finished’ of John 19:30, we have the consummation
of that which was in the heart of the Lord in John 19:28. There is a perfect
unity of characterin the representations ofour BlessedLord given to us in the
four evangelists. Think of the temptation—He fastedforty days and forty
nights, and was afterwards a hungred. First came the spiritual struggle, then
the compliance with the lowly needs of the body.
III. A revelation of His character.—Howtruly and how beautifully human He
is! He complies with the claims of the body, with the duty of seeking
refreshment. The Stoic might have smiled cynically; the Indian brave, girt

round with a circle of fire, his eyes starting from his head in the agonyof the
heat, and his black lips baked, has been knownto spurn so much as a single
word of compassion;the Buddhist under the burning sun has hung without
one exclamation, without one appeal for help from his dreadful suffering;
betweenhim and the Lamb of God there is all the difference betweenfree self-
sacrifice and crazy suicide.
Archbishop Alexander.
Illustration
‘A great German Protestantwriter, in speaking ofthis fifth word of our Lord,
has likenedHim to some hero who feels no exhaustion during the excitement
of the battle, until the smoke begins to drift awayfrom the lines, and the roll
of cannon-shotis exchangedfor a straggling fire—then, and not till then, he
thinks of his bodily needs, he goes into his tent and calls for drink.’
(FOURTH OUTLINE)
THE APPEAL FROM THE CROSS
I. There are many roads to Christ on His Cross, and some of us will come by
one road, and some by another.
(a) Some—many nowadays, perhaps most—are repelled by the mystery of
that dark wrath, by the tremendous issues which weave themselves round and
about the Sacrifice. Theyrecoilfrom the theologywhich strains to unravel

something of the secret. They fearto ask whatis there, what is this hidden
struggle. Why evil? why hell? Why did not God sweepit away with one stroke
of His hand? So it staggersand bewilders, and to many that road is shut off.
(b) Will they come near by the other road? Will they come near to Christ
through the strange sympathetic thrill of human brotherhood? In tender
confidential trust, through the pathos of the weakness, and the trouble, and
the pain—will that draw them? will that help them to come closer? Jesus says
to them still, ‘I thirst. I am human, I am your brother, I am as you are; I feel,
I suffer, I am very weary and heavy laden, and I cannothide it. I open my
heart to you, and I am wounded by your neglect;I am unhappy, I thirst.’
II. Jesus is not ashamedto show Himself on this weak human side.—Run up
to Him and recognise Him, and claspHim. Let Him make His entry into your
heart. Only remember, though you were sensitive to His humanising touch,
yet there are other sides true as this, hidden now to you. This same Jesus,
Whom you love for saying so simply ‘I thirst,’ is He Who speaks also in the
high language, whenHe tells you, ‘I and My Father are one,’ ‘Father, glorify
Thy Son with the glory that I had with Thee before the world was.’The two
are intertwined. The Gospelof John is the Gospelof the highest, but the
Gospelalso of the lowest, the Gospelof a high union betweenthe Son and the
Father, the Gospelwhich tells you of the heavenliest, sweetest, gentlest,
humblest beauties of the Lord’s human nature, the Gospelwhich tells you
how He said, ‘I thirst.’ And do not, therefore, because youcan only see one
side of the Lord, deny the other, or think you see all because you feelthe
tender drawing of His word, ‘I thirst.’
III. And those who are drawn towards the high theologicaldogmatic visionof
God Incarnate, of the atonement of blood, of Him Who enters in within the
holy place carrying that with Him—do not, because ofthat, be afraid to

recognise Him Whom you rightly adore in this poor Sufferer Who so humbly
appeals to your help and pity by His plaintive ‘I thirst.’
Rev. Canon H. ScottHolland.
Illustration
‘The expression“I thirst” was chiefly used in order to afford a public
testimony of the reality and intensity of His bodily sufferings, and to prevent
any one supposing, because ofHis marvellous calmness and patience, that He
was miraculously free from suffering. On the contrary, He would have all
around Him know that He felt what all severelywounded persons, and
especiallyall crucified persons felt—a burning and consuming thirst. So that
when we read that “He suffered for sins,” we are to understand that He really
and truly suffered. Henry observes, “The torments of hell are representedby
a violent thirst, in the complaint of the rich man who beggedfor a drop of
waterto coolhis tongue. To that everlasting thirst we had all been
condemned, if Christ had not suffered on the Cross, andsaid, ‘I thirst.’”’
(FIFTH OUTLINE)
THE THIRST FOR FELLOWSHIP
1. Those who have experiencedbodily thirst tell us how terrible is the
experience.—Weprobably have never really known it; but travellers in the
desert, those on battlefields, shipwreckedsailors, andmany others have left
for us on record their frightful experiences. Nothing, they tell us, canbe quite
so bad.

II. It was this He chose to suffer for our sakes.
III. The words mean something more.—It is the thirst of the spirit which is
surely spokenof also. Though betrayed, denied, refused, buffeted, alone, He
condescends stillto desire the salvationof the poor blind race whom He had
come to aid. ‘I thirst.’ Eachtime we in our dull apathy or carelesswantonness
fall into sin, whether of commissionor omission, we wound and crucify Him
afresh. He has come to light a fire, and our lifeless hearts fail to respond to the
glow. ‘I thirst.’ Yes, He, the Holy One, the BlessedSufferer, actually stoops to
desire our love and loyalty; He thirsts for the fellowshipof His own.
—Rev. A. Osborne Jay.
Illustration
‘These words—“Ithirst”—appearimmediately to have produced some effect.
John’s accountwould seemto show us that more than one took part in this act
of mercy to the Lord. “They filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon
hyssop, and put it to His mouth.” May we not well suppose that these soldiers
were the first-fruits of that appeal? Its result was the finer feeling, the readier
sympathy, the instinctive tenderness. Some Chinese women said to the wife of
a missionary who workedamongstthem, and brought them to a knowledge of
Christ, “We first knew that we were womenwhen we first knew Christ.” And
so manhood first knew what was bestin manhood when it knew Christ. Here
was the pledge of the beginning—first sweetmusic from the lips of Christ, the
first tiny ripple of that greattide of helpfulness, of Christian sympathy, which
is now coming in full and big upon the shores ofevery land in Christendom.’

(SIXTH OUTLINE)
DIVINE THIRST
Two words—‘I thirst’—but how full of meaning! They came from One Who
had cried out in the streets of Jerusalem—‘Ifany man thirst, let him come to
Me and drink.’ It was the same Jesus Who a little time before satwith that
woman in Samaria by the well and told her that the waterwould only quench
her natural thirst for a while, but He would give her waterwhich, if she
drank, would not only quench for ever that thirst, but would enable her to go
out and quench the thirst of others. And yet He said, ‘I thirst.’
I. Bodily thirst.—After the agonies ofthe Garden, after the mockeryof the
Jews and the Roman soldiers, after those three long dark hours, after all that
He had endured, He felt a bodily need—‘I thirst.’ If we could only think of all
it means for you and me—‘I thirst.’ That awful agonywas borne for you and
for me.
II. Soul thirst.—‘He thirsted,’ says a modern writer, ‘to be thirsted after. He
thirsted long for the souls of men and women. He came down from heaven to
draw all the world to Himself.’ Read once againthe story of His Passion, the
story of the Cross, the story of His death, and you will understand if you read
aright something of the awful soul-thirst through which Christ passed. Christ
thirsted for human souls;He thirsted for yours and mine. He thirsts. Is not
that pathetic? Still He thirsts, thirsts for the souls of men and women all over
the globe. Whenevera man or woman is brought to Him, whenevera man or
woman comes to Him, it is as though some one had takena drop of water and
touched the dry lips.

III. Fellowshipwith His suffering.—‘I thirst.’ If you and I had been on
Calvary we should have loved to do something to minister to the wants of our
Saviour. And when little souls cry on beds of sickness, whena man finds the
struggle for daily existence more than he can stand, Christ through them is
crying ‘I thirst’ to you and me, and their thirsty souls canbe satisfiedand
Christ will be satisfiedthrough you. Christ believes in man. Christ on the
Cross might have been silent, but He chose to speak—‘Ithirst,’ and He
showedthe world what His sufferings were. He says again, speaking through
suffering humanity, ‘I thirst,’ and He asks you to do something to quench that
thirst, because He knows that deep down in the bottom of the heart there is
some hope after all for the very worstman. The way of the world is to make
the worstof everybody, to paint every one as black as possible. But Christ
believed in man. He thought there was some goodeven in the heart of a
Roman soldier, and He was not disappointed. Show your love for Christ by
thirsting for souls that He came to save. Any goodthat we can do, let us do it
now. Do not let us neglectit, for we shall never pass through this world again.
—Rev. F. W. Metcalfe.
Illustration
‘The Church’s Masterbelieved in the recoveryof man, and therefore He
believed in something recoverable in man, when it was influenced by His
Spirit. He passedfrom heaven to earth, He wore the shape of a man, He
became like us—like us in form, like us in feature, like us in language, like us
in His affections, with their beautiful strength and their still more beautiful
weakness,like us in the heart that throbbed, like us in the blood that was
shed. He came to make men more human, He came to give them a higher
humanity. He seems to say in our text, “I cannot use these hands of Mine, they
are piercedand fastenedto the tree; if you were to offer Me a cup even now I

could not lift it to these suffering lips; I know there is humanity among you—I
thirst.”’
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nisbet, James. "Commentaryon John 19:28". Church Pulpit Commentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cpc/john-19.html. 1876.
John Trapp Complete Commentary
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
Ver. 28. That the Scripture might be fulfilled] It is a high point of heavenly
wisdom to do our ordinary business in obedience to God’s command, and with
an aim at his glory; to go about our earthly affairs with heavenly minds, and
in serving men to serve God; to taste God in the creature, and whether we eat
or drink, or whateverelse we do, to set up God, 1 Corinthians 10:31. Every
actionis a stepeither to heaven or hell. The poor servant in being faithful to
his master, "serves the Lord Christ," Colossians 3:24, who was more careful
here of fulfilling the Scripture and working out our salvation, than of
satisfying his own most vehement thirst.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on John 19:28". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/john-
19.html. 1865-1868.
Expository Notes with PracticalObservations onthe New Testament
Observe here, 1. The affliction or suffering which our Saviour complained of,
and that is, thirst; there are two sorts of thirst, the one natural and proper,
the other spiritual and figurative; Christ felt both at this time. His body
thirsted by reasonof those agonies which it laboured under. His soulthirsted
in vehement desires, and fervent longings, to accomplishthat greatand
difficult work he was now about.
2. The design and end of our Lord's complaint; that the scripture might be
fulfilled, he said, I thirst. Our Savour finding that all was accomplished, which
he was to do before his death, but only the fulfilling of that one scripture,
They gave me vinegarto drink; Psalms 69:21 he, for the accomplishment
thereof, said, I thirst.
Whence note, that such were the agonies and extreme sufferings of our Lord
Jesus Christ upon the cross, that they drank up his very spirits, and made him
cry, I thirst.

2. That when Christ cried out, I thirst, it was to show, that whatever was
foretold by the prophets concerning him, was exactly accomplished, and even
to a circumstance fulfilled in him: That the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus
saith, I thirst.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Burkitt, William. "Commentary on John 19:28". Expository Notes with
PracticalObservations onthe New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wbc/john-19.html. 1700-1703.
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
28.]μετὰ τοῦτο is generally, but not necessarily, immediate. Here we must
suppose the ἐλωῒ ἐλωΐ to have been said meantime, and the three hours’
darkness to have takenplace. Perhaps during some of this time John was
absent: see above. ἵνα τελ. ἡ γρ.] Various needless objections have been raised
to the application of these words to the saying of the Lord which follows, and
attempts have been made (by Luthardt and Meyer among others: see on the
other hand Ewald) to connectthem with τετέλεσται ( τετέλεσται, ἵνα
τελειωθῇ). That St. John does use ἵνα … as applying to what follows, ch. John
14:31 shews. And so here,—‘that the Scripture might be accomplished’(not
πληρωθῇ),—having it in view to leave no pre-appointed particular of the
circumstances ofhis suffering unfulfilled, Jesus, speaking doubtless also in

intense presentagony of thirst, but only speaking becauseHe so willed it, and
because it was an ordained part of the course which He had taken upon Him,
said this word. “Nec hoc levamentum petiisset, nisi scivissetid quoque ad
κριτήρια Messiæsecundum Prophetas spectare.Unde hæc altera motiva
additur: ut consummaretur Scriptura.” Lampe in loc.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Alford, Henry. "Commentary on John 19:28". Greek TestamentCritical
ExegeticalCommentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/john-19.html. 1863-1878.
Heinrich Meyer's Critical and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament
John 19:28. ΄ετὰ τοῦτο]Notindefinitely later, but after this scene with Mary
and John.
εἰδὼς, κ. τ. λ.] as He was aware (John 13:1) that His death was already at
hand, that consequentlyall was already accomplished, in order to bring the
Scripture to fulfilment, in respectof the accomplishmentof its predictions
concerning His earthly work, He now still desires, at this goalof
accomplishment, a refreshment, and says:I thirst. Accordingly, ἵνα τελ. ἡ
γράφη is to be referred to πάντα ἤδη τετέλ., as Cyril (?), Bengel, Michaelis,
Semler, Thalem., van Hengel (Annot. p. 62 ff.), Paulus, Tholuck,
Hofmann,(248) Luthardt, Lange, Baeumlein, Scholten, Steinmeyer, have

connectedit, This is the correctconstruction, because πάντα ἤδη τετέλ. leaves
us no room to think of a fulfilment of Scripture still remaining behind, and
consequentlyexcludes the connectionof ἵνα τελ. ἡ γρ. with λέγει; because,
further, τελειώθη is selectedsimply for the sake ofits reference to τετέλ. (it is
the πλήρωσις of Scripture, to which now nothing more is wanting), and
because Johnnever makes the statement of purpose, “that the Scripture
might be fulfilled,” precede the moment of fulfilment, and even where a single
definite fact is the fulfilling element, always actually adduces the passageof
Scripture in question (John 17:12 is a retrospective indication of a passage
already before adduced). Hence the ordinary interpretation must be given up
(Chrysostom, Theophylact, Euth. Zigabenus, Ruperti, and many others,
including Lücke, De Wette, Brückner, Strauss, B. Crusius, Baur, Ewald,
Hengstenberg, Godet), that ἵνα τελ., κ. τ. λ. refers to λέγει· διψῶ, so that it
contains the scriptural ground of the thirst, to which Jesus gave expression,
and of the drinking of the vinegarwhich was given to Him, and Psalms 69:22
is the passageintended; where, however, the drinking of vinegar is the work
of scornand of malice, which would not be at all appropriate here, since it is
simply the quenching of thirst immediately before death that is in question,
without other and further background.
πάντα ἤδη τετέλ.] τουτέστινὅτι οὑδὲν λείπει τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ, Chrysostom;ἤδη
(already) points to the very early occurrence ofHis death (Nonnus: θοῶς).
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Meyer, Heinrich. "Commentary on John 19:28". Heinrich Meyer's Critical
and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hmc/john-19.html. 1832.
Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament
John 19:28. ΄ετὰ τοῦτο, afterthis) after this one event which immediately
preceded. [After the parting of the garments, whereby the Scripture which
was immediately before quoted by John obtained its fulfilment.—V. g.] [The
conjecture is somewhatdifferent, which is exhibited almost in these words in
the Harm., p. 569:“The phrase μετὰ τοῦτο seems ratherto refer to the whole
act of the crucifixion, than the address to His mother and the disciple
mentioned in John 19:26-27, as immediately preceding. ForJohn, having
brought Mary to his dwelling, returned to the cross, John19:35;from which
we may gather the inference, that not only was she brought into the house out
of the open air before the darkness, but even that immediately after the first
word spokenby Jesus on the cross, which was directedto the Father, the
secondword had regardto His mother, whom He observed beneath His
cross.”Let the impartial Readerweighwell in what way best the statements
which the Gnomon has, as to the order of these events, can be made to
harmonise with those which we have now brought forward, as wellfrom the
Harm. Ev. as also from the Germ Vers.—E. B.] τοῦτο differs from ταῦτα, ch.
John 11:11. The former is never takenadverbially.— εἰδὼς, knowing)
Believers also, in the agonyof the lastconflict, may perceive that the issue
(end) is near.— πάντα, all things) for instance, those things which are
recordedin John 19:24, evenconcerning minor matters.— τετέλεσται, ἵνα
τελειωθῇ)The verb τελέω applies to events; τελειόω, to Holy Scripture. The
verb διψῶ, I thirst, and the verb τετέλεσται, it is finished (‘consummated’),
are closelyconnected. The thirst had been, in the case ofthe body of Jesus,
what the derelictionby the Father had been in His soul. In His journey on foot
He had felt weariness (ch. John 4:6); in His voyage, He had been overpowered
by sleep(Mark 4:38); in the desert previously, He had felt hunger (Matthew

4:2); and now, in fine, on the cross, the most extreme and burning thirst, after
His sweat, His goings back and forward [betweenCaiaphas, Herod, Pilate,
and the people], His speaking, His scourging, and the nails. Amidst all these
He had not said, He is in pain; for the factspoke for itself as to His pains,
which were foretold in Scripture; but He does speak of His thirst, in which all
the resthave their confluence and termination, and thereby He asks fora
drink. For the Scripture had foretold both the thirst and the drink. Thirst is
wont both to be felt most, and to be quenched, only then when one’s toil has
been completely ended: ἵνα, that, may be joined with λέγει, He saith.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bengel, JohannAlbrecht. "Commentary on John 19:28". JohannAlbrecht
Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/john-19.html. 1897.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
Ver. 28,29. Davidsaid, Psalms 69:21, to signify his enemies multiplying
afflictions upon him, They gave me also gallfor my meat; and in my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink; which he spake metaphorically. Part of these
words were without a figure literally fulfilled in Christ, who was the Son of
David; for he crying out upon the cross that he thirsted, there being no other
liquor at hand, or this being seton purpose for this end, they dip a spunge in
it, and give it to him to drink; whether to stupify his sense, orto prolong his
life in those torments, or barely to quench his thirst, is hard to determine. It is

probable that it was such a kind of refreshment as they allowedto ordinary
malefactors in his circumstances,the particulars of which usage we are not
able to determine.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon John 19:28". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/john-19.html. 1685.
Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament
The scripture; Psalms 69:21.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Edwards, Justin. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Family Bible New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fam/john-
19.html. American TractSociety. 1851.

Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges
28. μετὰ τοῦτο εἰδώς. See on John 19:38, John 3:22, John 13:1. The identity
betweenτετέλεσται here and in John 19:30 must be preservedin translation;
are now finished. The constructionthat follows is amphibolous. In order to
avoid the apparent contradiction betweenall things being already finished
and something still remaining to be accomplished, many critics make ἵνα
τελειωθῇ depend upon τετέλεσται. But this is awkward. It is better to connect
ἵνα τελ. with λέγει, especiallyas Psalms 69 speaks so plainly of the thirst. The
seeming contradiction disappears when we considerthat the thirst had been
felt before it was expressed. All things were finished, including the thirst; but
Jesus alone knew this. In order that the Scripture might be accomplishedand
made perfect, it was necessarythat He should make known His thirst. “He
could have borne His drought: He could not bear the Scripture not fulfilled”
(Bishop Hall). Τελειόω in this sense is remarkable and very unusual.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
"Commentary on John 19:28". "Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools
and Colleges".https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/john-
19.html. 1896.
PeterPett's Commentary on the Bible

‘After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished that the Scripture
might be accomplished, says “Ithirst”.’
‘All things are now finished that the Scripture might be accomplished’
(compare Matthew 26:56). We cannot even begin to comprehend the fullness
of these words, nor the depth of the things that had to be accomplished. He
had bruised the Serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), He had made Himself an
offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10), He had been wounded for our transgressions
and bruised for our iniquities, He had borne in Himself the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:5-6), He had brought healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). He had
made Himself the all-sufficient Redeemerof mankind (Isaiah 59:20;Jeremiah
50:34). He had perfected for ever those who are being sanctified(Hebrews
10:14). To comment properly on this verse we would need to go through the
Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter to revealall the ways in which He
fulfilled them. But what mattered most was that all that had to be done had
been done. Thus the specific Scripture in mind may have been Psalms 22:31,
suggestedby the later cry ‘it is finished’.
Now He was free to think of His own needs. “I am thirsty”. Was this a plea for
something to assuageHis bodily need, or was it a cry to the Father in His
longing for His Father’s presence (Psalms 42:1), a longing that could only be
satisfiedwhen He was fully restored to His Father? He had experiencedthe
sufferings and desolationof the world, and now He knew its thirst (see Psalms
42:2, ‘My soul thirsts for God, for the living God’).
Many link ‘that the Scripture might be fulfilled’ with ‘I thirst’, but in our
view it fits far better with the previous phrase (compare Matthew 26:56).
There is no example in John or anywhere in the New Testamentwhere ‘that
the Scripture might be fulfilled’ is followedby, ‘he says’. Always it is followed
immediately by the direct quote or by ‘which says’.

For the context reference should be made to Psalms 69:21 where the Psalmist
says, ‘in my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink’, compare John 2:17 where
the same Psalmis in mind.
The Psalmistin Psalms 22:15 also knew this thirst. There is no question but
that that Psalmfigured heavily in thoughts about the crucifixion and that
Jesus saw Himself as going through a similar experience to that of the
Psalmist. He quoted the first verse, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?” (Mark 15:34;Matthew 27:46), He quoted the last verse “It is finished”
(‘he has done it’) - (Psalms 22:30). He was scornedby the crowds (Psalms
22:7), He was poured out like waterand all His bones were out of joint
(Psalms 22:14), He declaredHis greatthirst (Psalms 22:15)and His clothes
were divided up (Psalms 22:18). But in neither case does the Psalmist
specificallysay, ‘I thirst’.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Pett, Peter. "Commentary on John 19:28". "PeterPett's Commentaryon the
Bible ". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pet/john-19.html.
2013.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
The thirst and death of Jesus, John19:28-30.

28. After this—That is, subsequent not merely to the event last narrated, but
to all the events narrated. The last preceding event was the cry of Jesus, “Eloi,
Eloi;” and the present furnishing of drink is parallel with Matthew 27:48.
All things… accomplished—Allhis sufferings up to the now closing point.
Scripture… fulfilled—Some commentators refer this clause to what precedes;
and the sense would then be that all things were accomplishedin order to the
fulfilment of Scripture. Stier more properly refers it to what follows;and the
sense would then be that Jesus, in order to the fulfilment of Scripture, said, “I
thirst.” We would, however, so extend as to include 29, 30. In order to the
fulfilment of Scripture, Jesus, afterthe satisfactionofhis predicted thirst,
uttered the final “It is finished,” and expired.
I thirst—The briefest but not leastsignificant of the Lord’s utterances upon
the cross. The reference maybe to Psalms 22:15, or rather to Psalms 69:21 :
“Theygave me also gallfor my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to
drink.” It must not be conceivedthat our Lord, in a servile way, directed his
mind to the interpretation of Scripture in these agonizing moments; yet, in a
full, calm, glorious consciousness, he trod the path foreknownof God. He acts
in the full spirit of Psalms 40:7 : “Then said I, Lo, I come; in the volume of the
book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God.” Hitherto in the
greatagonies ofhis soul there had been little thought for the pains of the
body. His utterance, as Lange well says, “is like the words of a hero, to whose
consciousnessit now first occurs that his wounds are bleeding, and that he
needs some invigoration after the heat of the conflict has been sustained.” And
thirst is a deeper suffering than hunger. After the bloody sweatof
Gethsemane, the sleepless night of his trial, the scourgings,the loss of blood,
and the unknown mental agonies, the fluids of his systembecame exhausted,
and the glorious sufferer has not, perhaps, strength to utter his cry of final

triumph. Meekly, like a lamb bleating to its slaughterers, he utters the feeble
expressionof his need. He consents to receive the aid of his murderers.
Invigorated in body by the natural supply, he hastens in spirit, with brief,
rapid utterances, to the consummation.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Whedon, Daniel. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Whedon's Commentary on
the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/john-19.html.
1874-1909.
Expository Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable
All things necessaryfor the fulfillment of Scripture that predicted the
provision of redemption were almostaccomplished(Gr. teleiothe). John was
speaking proleptically again(cf. John 12:23;John 17:1; John 17:4); He spoke
anticipating what would happen. Obviously Jesus still had to die. As the
moment of His death drew nearer, Jesus expressedHis thirst. This showedHis
true humanity. A man in Jesus" physicalcondition would have also
experiencedtorture by dehydration. It is paradoxicalthat the Waterof Life
should confess thirst (cf. John 4:4-14;John 7:38-39). The solution obviously is
that Jesus had referred to Himself as the source of spiritual rather than
physical water.

"One may no more assume that John"s emphasis on the cross as the
exaltation of Jesus excludes his desolationofspirit than his emphasis on the
deity of the Son excludes the Son"s true humanity." [Note: Beasley-Murray,
p351.]
"By accepting the physical refreshment offered Him, the Lord once more
indicated the completion of the work of His Passion. For, as He would not
enter on it with His senses andphysical consciousnesslulled by narcotised
[sic] wine, so He would not pass out of it with senses andphysical
consciousnessdulled by the absolute failure of life-power. Hence He took what
for the moment restoredthe physical balance, needful for thought and word.
And so He immediately passedon to "taste death for every man."" [Note:
Edersheim, 2:608-9.]
The Scripture that spoke of Messiah"s thirstmay be Psalm22:15 (cf. John
19:24)and or Psalm69:21 (cf. John 2:17; John 15:25). Jesus" mentionof His
thirst resulted in the soldier callouslygiving Him vinegar to drink, which
Psalm69:21 mentioned. Thus John stressedthat Jesus" deathnot only
fulfilled God"s will but also prophetic Scripture.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentaryon John 19:28". "ExpositoryNotes of
Dr. Thomas Constable".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/john-19.html. 2012.

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament
John 19:28. After this. Jesus knowing that all things are now finished, that the
scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. It is a question whether the
words ‘that the Scripture might be accomplished’are to be connectedwith
what precedes or with what follows. In favour of the former connectionit may
be said—(1) It is John’s practice to point out the fulfilment of Scripture after,
not before, the event fulfilling it. (2) It is his usual practice to notice the
fulfilment of Scripture in what is done to Jesus, ratherthan in what is done by
Him to fulfil it. (3) The use of the word ‘now’ seems to show that we have
already reacheda complete accomplishmentof Scripture. It would thus
appear that it is the intention of the Evangelistto present to us a word spoken
by Jesus at a moment when He knew that Scripture had been already fulfilled.
He is in the position of One whose work is done, and for whom nothing
remains but to depart. The strong counter-argument is that everywhere else
in this Gospel(see chap. John 2:22) ‘the scripture’ denotes some special
passage. As, however, we cannotdoubt that John regardedthe utterance here
recordedas fulfilling Psalms 69:21 (see chap. John 2:17), the difference
betweenthe two interpretations is less than it at first appears.—Thatthirst
was a greatpart of the agonyof the cross we know;nor in all probability
should we think of more, were it not the manner of John to relate minor
incidents, not for themselves alone, but for the sake of the deeper meaning
which he always seesto be involved in them. This manner of the Evangelist,
therefore, compels us to ask whether there may not be a deeper meaning in
this cry? Let us turn to chap. John 4:7. There, immediately after mention of
‘the sixth hour,’ Jesus says to the womanof Samaria, ‘Give me to drink.’
Here, in close contiguity with another‘sixth hour’ (John 19:14), He says, ‘I
thirst.’ But we have already seenin the language ofchap. John 4:7 the longing
of the Redeemerfor the fruits of that work which He was then accomplishing
in toil and weariness;and we are thus led to think of something of the same
kind here. It was not merely to temper suffering that Jesus cried, but it was

for refreshment to the body symbolizing a deeperrefreshment to the soul.—
The request thus made was answered.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Schaff, Philip. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Schaff's PopularCommentary
on the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/scn/john-19.html. 1879-90.
The Expositor's Greek Testament
John 19:28. ΄ετὰ τοῦτο … διψῶ. “After this, Jesus knowing that all things are
now finished, that the scripture might be completely fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”
Jesus did not feel thirsty and proclaim it with the intention of fulfilling
scripture—which would be a spurious fulfilment—but in His complaint and
the response to it, John sees a fulfilment of Psalms 69:22, εἰς τὴν δίψανμου
ἐπότισάν με ὄξος. Only when all else had been attended to ( εἰδὼς κ. τ. λ.) was
He free to attend to His own physical sensations.
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Bibliography
Nicol, W. Robertson, M.A., L.L.D. "Commentary on John 19:28". The
Expositor's Greek Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/egt/john-19.html. 1897-1910.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
After. Greek. meta. App-104.
were now accomplished= have been already finished. Greek. teleo Notthe
same word as "fulfilled", which is teleioo = consummated. There is a deep sig
nificance here. He saw the casting of the lots, and knew that all that the
Scripture had foretold of others was finished. There yet remained a prediction
for Him to realize, that of Psalms 69:21. See note on Psalms 69:1.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on John 19:28". "E.W.
Bullinger's Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/john-19.html. 1909-1922.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
Scripture might be fulfilled (Psalms 69:21), "saith" -
Fifth Saying:
"I THRIST." The meaning is, that perceiving that all prophetic Scripture
regarding Him was accomplished, up to the very article of Death, except that
one in Psalms 69:21, and that the moment had now arrived for the fulfillment
of that final one, in consequenceofthe burning thirst which the fevered state
of His frame occasioned(see Psalms 22:15) - He uttered this cry in order that
of their own accordthey might fulfill their prophetic destiny in fulfilling His.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on John
19:28". "CommentaryCritical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -
Unabridged". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfu/john-
19.html. 1871-8.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(28) Comp. accounts ofthe darkness and death in Matthew 27:45-50;Mark
15:33-39;Luke 23:44-46.
Knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be
fulfilled.—It is difficult to give the exact meaning of the words in English. In
the originalthe words for “accomplished” and“fulfilled” are derived from the
same root, and the latter word is not the ordinary formula of quotation which
we have had, e.g., in John 13:18 (see Note there). The Vulgate has “Postea
sciens Jesus quia omnia consummata sunt ut consummaretur Scriptural
Perhaps the nearestEnglishrendering is “that all things were now completed
that the Scripture might be accomplished.” But then there arises the difficult
question, Is this connectedwith the words which follow, or not? The margin
assumes that it is, and refers to Psalms 69:21. On the other hand (1) St. John’s
custom is to quote the fulfilment of Scripture as seenin the event after its
occurrence;(2) he does not here use the ordinary words which accompany
such a reference;(3) the actual meaning of “knowing that all things were now
accomplished” seems to exclude the idea of a further accomplishment, and to
refer to the whole life which was an accomplishment of Scripture; (4) the
context of words as they occurin the Psalm(John 19:22 et seq.)cannot be
understood of our Lord. There seems to be goodreason, therefore, for
understanding the words “that the Scripture might be completed,” of the
events of the whole life, and not of the words which immediately follow.
I thirst.—He had refused the usual stupefying drink at the moment of
crucifixion (comp. Notes on Matthew 27:34;Matthew 27:48), but now all has
been accomplished, the moment of His departure is at hand, and He seeks
relief from the physical agonyof the thirst causedby His wounds.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Ellicott, Charles John. "Commentary on John 19:28". "Ellicott's
Commentary for English Readers".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/john-19.html. 1905.
Treasuryof Scripture Knowledge
Jesus
30; 13:1; 18:4; Luke 9:31; 12:50; 18:31;22:37;Acts 13:29
that the
Psalms 22:15;69:21
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Torrey, R. A. "Commentary on John 19:28". "The Treasuryof Scripture
Knowledge". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/john-
19.html.
In vers. 28-30 , we have the potion of vinegar which was given to our Lord. It
was customaryto provide for those who were to be crucified a malefactor's
potion, which should mitigate their pains, and still their horrible thirst. The
vesselcontaining such a drink was, according to John 19:29, alreadythere
before Jesus said, "I thirst." Matthew, in ch. Matthew 27:34, describes the
potion theologicallyas vinegar mingled with gall, because he sees in it a
fulfilment of prophecy, Psalms 69:21, "Theygave Me also gall for My meat;
and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink." This description of the
potion is a delicate and veiled quotation. As to its physical nature, it says—as
every one must see who admits the reference to Psalms 69:21, according to
which the words "galland vinegar" must have, as it were, quotation marks—
only this, that the potion was at once sour and bitter. Mark, who everywhere
devotes a specialobservationto externalities, describes the potion in its
physical quality, "And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh."
The myrrh was designedto make the drink bitter, and rob it of its flavour.
Galen(in Wetstein)says of myrrh, ἔχει, πικρίαν. Accordingly, we must regard
the wine as bitter vinegar. This drink was offeredto Jesus by the soldiers
before the crucifixion, but He rejectedit: "And having tasted. He would not
drink," Matthew 27:34. It is significanthere that the Lord first tasted:this
pertains to the reasonfor rejecting it. In the bitter and sour wine, the entire
relation of the ungodly to Jesus was exhibited; to Jesus, who through them
and for them suffered. When He repelled this drink. He uttered His
condemnation of this position, and rejectedit as unworthy of Him. But this
rejectioncan be viewed only as preliminary; and it intimated that an
acceptanceofit was afterwards to follow. Jesus, according to the psalm, must
actually drink, but the circumstances statedthere were not yet in existence. It
is said, "In My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink." Thus the thirst must
first be experienced. Luke mentions the vinegar in ch. Luke 23:36-37.

Jesus was thirsty on the cross

Jesus was thirsty on the cross

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