24d So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Comment: There would have been a wide cross-section of society watching this triple crucifixion. Among them His mother, broken hearted and wondering about her angelic meetings earlier in her life. At this time his family were not His followers and Jesus asked John, who was there, to look after her. There was a scripture to be fulfilled and he asked for a drink and was given a sponge of cheap sour wine. Then that last great cry ‘It is finished’. And that bears thinking about. Was the cry one of defeat, of exhaustion, of giving into all the bitter opposition? There is at least one more alternative – was it a cry of victory? Why is Jesus somewhere called the second Adam? He came without the taint of sin, and lived a perfect life attuned to and not opposed to God the Father’s will. If He was/is the Messiah then His death was for mankind – for you and me – to being sacrificed, the perfect and only adequate for human sin. For us to become in a right relationship with God! If we follow Him!
Prayer: Please help me to think and think and understand and act!
As I read it! 