“I Thirst”

We want to consider in some detail the fifth entry as it is in John 19:28. It will be noted that the details of the Lord's death are very accurately foretold in the Old Testament, most notably in the book of the Psalms. As the Lord was hanging on the cross, He knew only too well the pain of having His hands and feet pierced (Psa. 22:16). No doubt His head was hanging down and He vividly saw His disjointed bones (Psa. 22:14, 17). Perhaps He had seen the soldiers dividing His garments and casting lots for His vesture (Psa. 22:18). He felt the scornful laugh and the mocking of His agony by those shooting out the lip and shaking the head (Psa. 22:7). He could see the soldier standing by with spear in hand. He knew His side was soon to be pierced (Zech. 12:10). As He reviewed all these prophetic scriptures, He knew the moment had arrived in which He could proclaim, "It is finished." But wait, one scripture was not yet fulfilled. It was Psa. 69:21, "In My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink." And so He proclaims those poignant words, "I thirst.”
What response did this utterance bring forth? Was great David's greater Son to have some of His adherents leap into action so that they might ease the pain of His suffering? No, it was not to be. The Lord Jesus did indeed have a select group of men around Him in the time of His ministry. We read in Luke 10:1, 17 that a company of seventy had a special ministry for Him. And then there was His inner circle of twelve, His chosen disciples who were selected only after an entire night was spent in prayer (Luke 6:12).
Among David's many mighty men, three occupied a special relation and nearness to their leader. The Lord Jesus also had three men who seemed to hold a special place of nearness to Him. They are Peter, James and John. These three accompanied Jesus on several special occasions:
1. It was Peter, James and John who were partners in the fishing business and obtained a miraculous draft of fish at the Lord's direction (Luke 5:6, 7, 10).
2. It was Peter, James and John who accompanied the Lord at the raising up of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37).
3. It was Peter, James and John who accompanied the Lord at the time of His transfiguration (Matt. 17:1).
4. It was Peter, James and John whom the Lord took to be near Him as He agonized in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
5. Later, it was Peter, James and John who became pillars in the early Church (Gal. 2:9).