A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
John 19:29 NIV
Sour Wine
It should come as no surprise that the Niagara region, with its abundance of grape growers, produces a variety of wine vinegars. Wine vinegar is produced through a fermentation process that involves the conversion of alcohol into acetic acid. This process begins by selecting a high-quality wine and introducing a specific strain of bacteria called acetobacter. The acetobacter bacteria converts the alcohol in the wine into acetic acid through a series of chemical reactions. The acetic acid production gives wine vinegar its characteristic sour taste and acts as a natural preservative.
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We can’t imagine what Jesus must have gone through as He hung on the cross. It is said that crucifixion was the most severe form of capital punishment ever designed. It was emotionally, physically, and in Jesus’ case, spiritually draining. In the midst of that horrific punishment, one small piece of humanity was offered to Jesus. In John 19:29 we read, “A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.” Wine vinegar was often used in Jesus’ day to quench thirst – His thirst on the cross must have been horrific. This small act of human compassion would have been appreciated and, after He accepted it, He breathed out the words “it is finished” and He died. What a lesson for all of us. We need to be aware of the needs of those around us. We need to be prepared to reach out to them with the love and compassion of Jesus. We offer a drink to Jesus every time we reach out to others in His name with an act of compassion.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley