ACC ~ John 19 v28

JESUS’ SUFFERING HAS NO EFFECT ON ENEMIES

CHRYSOSTOM: “I thirst.” Jesus here again fulfills a prophecy. [1] But consider, I ask you, the cursed nature of the bystanders. Though we have ten thousand enemies and have suffered intolerable things at their hands, yet when we see them perishing, we relent. But these people made no such peace with Jesus, nor were they tamed by what they saw. In fact, they became more savage and increased their mockery. They brought to him vinegar on a sponge, as one would bring it to someone condemned, and they gave it to him to drink. It is also on this account [of the prophecy] that the hyssop is added. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 85.3. [2]

[1] See Ps 69:21 (68:22 LXX); 22:15 (21:16 LXX).

[2] NPNF 1 14:318-19**.

JESUS THIRSTED FOR THEIR FAITH

AUGUSTINE: The Samaritan woman at the well found the Lord thirsting, and by him thirsting, she was filled. She first found him thirsting in order that he might drink from her faith. And when he was on the cross, he said, “I thirst,” although they did not give him that for which he was thirsting. For he was thirsting for them. EXPLANATION OF PSALM 62.5. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 8:253-54.

BY CHRIST’S HUMILITY, WE ARE CLEANSED

AUGUSTINE: Jesus said, “I thirst,” as if he were saying, There is one thing still you have failed to do, that is, to give me what you are. For the Jews were themselves the vinegar, degenerated as they were from the wine of the patriarchs and prophets and filled like a full vessel with the wickedness of this world, with hearts like a sponge, deceitful in the formation of its cavernous and tortuous recesses. But the hyssop, on which they placed the sponge filled with vinegar, being a lowly herb and purging the heart, we rightly take for the humility of Christ himself. This humility is what they enclosed and imagined that they had completely ensnared. And so we have it said in the psalm, “You shall purge me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed.” [1] For it is by Christ’s humility that we are cleansed because, if he had not humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross, [2] his blood certainly would not have been shed for the remission of sins or, in other words, for our cleansing. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 119.4. [3]

[1] Ps 51:7 (50:9 LXX).

[2] Phil 2:8.

[3] NPNF 1 7:433-34**.

JESUS THIRSTED AS MAN

JOHN OF DAMASCUS: If, on the one hand it was as God that Jesus suffered thirst and when he had tasted would not drink, surely he must be subject to passion [1] also as God. For thirst and taste are passions. [2] But if it was not as God but altogether as man that he was thirsty, similarly as man he must be endowed with will. ORTHODOX FAITH 3.14. [3]

[1] Gk empathēs.

[2] Gk pathos.

[3] NPNF 2 9:59**.