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Answer
John 19:28 states, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, says, ‘I thirst’” (KJV). The Greek term translated as “accomplished” means “finished,” which is how the ESV interprets the word. In fact, two verses later, Jesus declares, “It is finished” (verse 30). In both instances, the concept is that Jesus achieved, completed, and fulfilled His earthly mission: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” «even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. », (Matthew 20:28, ESV). To grasp the significance of His sacrifice, we must examine the context of John 19:28–30.
Returning to John 19:28, we read, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, says, ‘I thirst’” (KJV). Here, the word know indicates awareness of (and submission to) the Father’s will: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” «For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. », (John 6:38, ESV). On the cross, Jesus knew that His imminent death signified the completion of the Father’s redemptive plan. This does not imply that there is nothing else to be fulfilled now, but that everything up to that point was intended to fulfill both the Father’s will and Old Testament prophecies about the Suffering Messiah (see Isaiah 53).
The inhumane and unimaginable suffering that Jesus endured for our sins caused Him to become dehydrated. Therefore, Jesus said, “I thirst” «After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished.
He said, “I thirst,” so that the scripture might be fulfilled (John 19:28). Here, John clarifies that Jesus expressed thirst to fulfill the Scripture. This does not imply that Jesus mentioned His thirst solely to fulfill the Scripture. On the contrary, it signifies that Jesus recognized the significance of the messianic prophecies concerning Himself (cf. John 5:39). For instance, in Psalm 22:15, the psalmist describes, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death” (ESV). Additionally, in Psalm 69:21, the psalmist states, “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink” (ESV). The reference to “sour wine” in both Psalm 69:21 and John 19:30 establishes a significant link between the two passages.
John 19:29–30 further develops this theme of fulfillment: “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” (ESV). In Exodus 12:22, hyssop was used during Passover to sprinkle above doorposts. Therefore, it appears that John intends for his audience to perceive a connection between the initial Passover and “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”) (John 1:29). The debt and punishment for our sins have been completely paid. This is primarily what Jesus conveys by saying, “It is finished.”
In John’s Gospel, particularly in John 19:28–30, Jesus is consistently portrayed not as a powerless victim but as the model of self-aware obedience to the Father. Jesus had previously explained, “The Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.”
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17-18; ESV; see also John 14:31).
