This Easter Week....The Crown That SpeaksSample

THE GALL

“There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.” Matthew 27:34

Mockery led to much of what the soldiers were doing regarding Jesus. After Jesus cried out Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, meaning, “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" The soldiers offered Jesus a sour wine with gall to drink by dipping a hyssop reed into the drink and lifting it to Jesus' lips. Once it touched His lips, He refused it.

However, during crucifixions, it was customary to offer this less-than-palatable drink, which many refer to as sour vinegar, to make the crucifixion tolerable. In Biblical times, vinegar was like wine turned sour.

Gall is bitter. Some consider it toxic and from the poppy plant. In the Old Testament, Job refers to gall as poison coming from an asp (snake). Job 20:14

Was the gesture mockery as part of His torture or an act of mercy? Jesus did express that He was thirsty in John 19:28. Dr. Luke suggests it was mockery. Luke 23:36 says, “The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine.” Mark said it was sour wine mixed with myrrh (Mark 15:23). Myrrh would act as an anesthetic to help with the excruciating pain. Perhaps it was both mockery and mercy, something we will not know.

What we do know is that Jesus endured it all, and he refused the drink even though he was thirsty. Yes, Jesus took every thorn in that crown through many types of suffering.

Jesus willingly took on all suffering, even refusing anything that would have eased the suffering to fulfill the complete will of God that would atone for the sins of mankind.

EASTER TAKEAWAY: Jesus accepted the complete will of God and truly took up the cross of suffering and death in exchange for the redemption of man.

PRAYER: I just want to say thank You, Jesus! Even though You refused to drink the bitter, sour gall, You willingly took on the entire bitter cup of suffering and death for our atonement through Your resurrection. No wonder You told us that to follow You, we must too take up our cross. In Jesus’ Name