I always found it a mystery to read in the bible how Jesus refused to drink wine before the Romans nailed him to the cross. Even more of a mystery to me was to understand Jesus’ intentions when he asked for something to quench his thirst, and he drank sour wine while suffering the torture of the crucifixion.
So why would Jesus refuse one drink and not the other?
Jesus refuses to drink.
The gospel of Mark describes what Jesus had to endure, “And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take” (Mark 15:22-24 ESV throughout).
According to ancient Hebrew custom based on Proverbs 31:6-7, honorable women of Jerusalem would attend executions to provide support to the condemned. The women would administer them wine mixed with myrrh, or wine mixed with gall (Matthew 27:33-35) as a way to deaden or numb the senses from the pain of the cross. The mixture was also a natural sedative, putting those who took it to sleep.
Jesus refused to take it, “And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (Mark 15:23). Jesus refused because he wanted to experience every single moment appointed to him by the Father (Matthew 26:39) in order to remain the perfect sacrifice for sin (Ephesians 5:2).
What an incredible, selfless act Jesus performed. He took it upon himself to ensure nothing would interfere in his ability to fulfill the scriptures, as written in the Old Testament (Psalms 69:21), and that included enduring the pain of his suffering.
Jesus drinks.
Once he was hanging on the cross, Jesus did drink, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ 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. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:28-30).
Jesus did drink, but what many people believe to be vinegar was nothing of the sort. The Romans did not give him vinegar. They gave him sour wine. Sour wine was there to quench the thirst of the soldiers. The cheap beverage was refreshing and contained nothing that would impede Jesus’ capacity to accomplish God’s purpose. In other words, he took the sour wine to remain completely aware of what he was going through and not that he had succumbed to the weaknesses of the flesh.
The ultimate victory belongs to Jesus.
What an awesome testament Jesus left us. He willingly sacrificed himself (1 Corinthians 5:7) as the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36), and with a clear mind, bore the torture for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). He rose three days later (Matthew 28:5-6) and now sits at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34), waiting for that day when he will return with all power and all glory to conquer all nations (Revelation 15:3-4).
Looking to God 
The last supper was actually the passover feast or Pesach.
During this feast there are 4 wine cups consumed, which come from the 4 promised deliverance of God to his people from Egypt. Exodus 6:6-7
The fourth cup represents the drawing to him or the wedding cup.
He didn’t drink the 4th cup of passover because it had not yet been time for this promise to be fulfilled. Jesus made mention the wedding feast at the end times.
When he returns and takes us up with him and we are at the wedding banquet, which I believe will be during passover, he will drink the 4th cup of deliverance and wedding with his bride.
God said these feasts are for signs and of what is to come, foreshadowings.
Then the passover feast that God ordered Isreal to partake of will be fulfilled when we are taken to him from “Egypt” and are present with him at the wedding feast.
I believe all of the feasts have only partially been fulfilled and not completely.
As for the feast of trumpets, or “the day that no man knows” as its also called. Jesus said, “no man knows the day or the hour of the sun off man’s return.” I believe he will return on the feast of trumpets, followed by the feast of tabernacles, where he dwells with us. At that point those feasts and prophecies will be fulfilled as well.
The feasts not only was a celebration and a commemoration of things that have taken place, but also a foreshadow of things to come. You may very well be correct in stating Jesus’ coming will happen during the feast of trumpets, however, only the Father knows when these things will take place. God bless you!
Wow, wasn’t expecting the author to reply. I appreciate your comment and hope you’re having a fantastic week so far.
You may know this stuff, but I am enjoying this dialog. Thank you.
I believe God gave us a road map of all his intentions.
God said he reveals all things hidden and secret to his people. I also believe him when he said that these feasts are to give us times and dates of things to come and things that will unfold. And so far, he has kept true to his word.
Example: I believe Jesus was born on the feast of tabernacles, the fall, not Christmas.
Tabernacles was when God came down to Isreal and dealt with them in the desert when the temple was built and completed. It was a foreshadowing of things to come, Jesus’ first coming to dwell with man and his second coming to dwell with us again all during tabernacles. It’s consistent, and God fulfilling his promises on the times he gave us.
The three fall feasts: feast of trumpets, feast of the harvest and the feasts of Tabernacles are also
one after another. The trumpet sounds in Israel marking the beginning of the great harvest, followed by the feast of tabernacles. We are told Jesus will return at the sound of the trumpet, harvest and seperate the wheat from the chaff, the believer and the unbeliever, then dwell with us in the end times. It’s consistent. Then just a few months later have the passover (wedding) feast with his people and drink the 4th cup with his people completing in full the prophesy and all God’s feasts and promises.
Other interesting thoughts:
Bethlehem in Hebrew means the house of bread, Jesus is the bread of life, Bethlehem is also where the sacrificial lambs were gathered specifically for passover.
When Jesus said he is the light of the world he was in the temple in the winter, I believe during Hanukkah. Which is the festival of lights when God miraculously multiplied the temple menorah oil while the Hebrews created new oil (this dedication takes a week to preform, which is why the celebrating lasts a week) to rededicate the temple to God, when it was taken from Israel by the Roman’s, who sacrificed a pig in the alter.
I have a different view. Jesus, at the last supper said that he would not drink of fruit of the vine (wine) until he drank it new in the Kingdom of God. Jesus drank vinegar at the cross.
I didn’t know any of this. Good to know because of the significance you point out. Thank you. And other posts of yours I printed out and read before my husband had surgery. We go for post op check up tomorrow but he seems okay. Thank you so much! 🙏🏽
This is wonderful news. Blessings always to you and your husband!
Thank you so much, Jack! I am keeping the posts I printed out from before the operation to read as a prep. Now to make them everyday life. Thanks so much!
You have a nice site. Thanks, Know Your Enemy!
God bless!
Seems more plausible that it was to fullfil all of the Jewish Passover meal and establish the Eucharist which is truly his body, blood, soul, and divinity https://youtu.be/v1yAvrVoYzo
Thank you for explaining gall, myrrh, and the vinegar offered Jesus at his crucifixion.
God bless you always,
Blessings to you also, Linda.
Reblogged this on Disciples of hope.
As we raise the loving spirit inside us, removing the bias and hatred so often sowed to restrict us in our love, the sooner the day, blessings, amen