AGW Ministries is meant to be an online blessing to you. When the Roman soldiers offered Yeshua a drink of wine vinegar on a sponge, it was placed at the end of a stalk of hyssop. Therefore, Psalm 69:21 is not a prophecy of this event. Donations to this ministry are tax-deductible. Do you want to love and know God better and better every day? Since Jesus was thirsty, He took a brief sip. Type in your email address and a copy will be sent right to your inbox. The Hyssop Represents the Freedom and Forgiveness of the Gospel. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”. Jesus is drinking the wine vinegar. He used the unorthodox brush to sprinkle blood on the person or house seven times and declared them to be clean. Hyssop is a plant with stalk- like qualities that commonly grow three to four feet long. The International Critical Commentary. I imagine that the crosses were not that low. Yet another study points out that the Greek word used for Jesus' pronouncement, "It is finished." It’s crazy how much symbolism is going on here. 1991. vol. This wine could have been given to Christ in a cup. Were the sins of the world placed on Jesus or in Him at death? When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 1It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn. 1.Davies and Allison. The gall or myrrh, which was used in perfume and for embalming, was probably a narcotic. Notice, however, that this wine representing God’s wrath was transferred to Jesus on the hyssop branch. In John 19:28-30 we read “so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop…” Why Hyssop? Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . Second, Hyssop was used at the consecration of the tabernacle in the wilderness (Hebrews 9:19). 1., pp. It's completely free - my gift to you. The NIV translates Psalm 51:7 as, “Cleanse me with the hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”. When we see what the hyssop is representing in the Bible, we can read Psalm 51:7 with the understanding, “Cleanse me with Jesus’ blood and I will be clean, wash me with his blood, and I will be whiter than snow.”. Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36 and John 19:29-30 record the third time wine is mentioned in the gospel accounts of Christ’s crucifixion. Plus you get FREE access to all of our eBooks. The Greek word that is translated as “sour wine” is oxos. John 19 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified. Matthew 27:48 (NASB). 2 Chronicles 34:28; 2 Chronicles 35:22-24; Deuteronomy 18:20-22. Here the spoiled wine is held up to Jesus on a branch (which we learn in other gospels was in fact a hyssop branch). – Canon of Scripture. The second time Christ was mocked as a king, and the third time wine was offered to Him, it was sour wine. Mark 15:23 says the wine was mixed with myrrh. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. Note on Matthew 27:48.) In Leviticus 14:4-7 the hyssop and the blood are used in the ceremonial cleansing of the leper. The entire crucifixion scene echoes the killing of the Exodus Passover lamb where the lamb’s blood was smeared over doorways using a hyssop branch. The use of hyssop to lift the sponge to Jesus suggests a connection with the original Passover, when the Israelites used hyssop branches to smear blood on their doorposts as a mark of divine protection (Ex. Why did God have His Son suffer and die for us? But the cup of God’s wrath could not be taken away from us unless Jesus drank it on our behalf. The hyssop of the Bible is probably one (or all) of three plants:-- The common hyssop is "a shrub with low, bushy stalks 1 1/2 feet high, small pear shaped, close-setting opposite leaves all the stalks and branches terminated by erect whorled spikes of flowers of different colors in the varieties. In In Hebrews 9 we read that it was hyssop branches Moses used to confirm the Covenant God made with the Jews in Exodus 24. Zondervan. In Exodus 12:22 the hyssop is used at the first Passover to spread the blood around the door frames. The priest dipped the hyssop, cedar, and the tail of the bird in the blood and water. ESV - 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said ( to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. At Passover the doorposts were painted with hyssop branches. 2010. p. 1038. Use what is most helpful for your kids and ignore the rest. The Gospel of Matthew. Basically the hyssop branch is a means by which the blood of the sacrifice was transferred to the sinner. Thirst was always an accompaniment of death by crucifixion, and that the vessel of wine was prepared for this purpose is made probable by the mention of the sponge and hyssop (Comp. This Sunday School lesson for Good Friday was designed for parents to use with their children at home on the week of April 12, 2020. Was Jesus nailed to the cross to fulfill ancient prophecy? Mark 15:27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. The hyssop branch, however, shows up in the New Testament as well, right at the crucifixion of Jesus. Darby Bible Translation does not say a branch of hyssop but hyssop round it, implying some sort of stick that the hyssop goes [περιθέντες] around it. At the Passover the Hebrews painted their doorposts with lamb’s blood. My gift to you. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. The paperback version is available for $12.99. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ assumed our human weakness and thirst in order for us to partake of Eternal Salvation and thirst no more. He refused the first, but took the second. Ibid. What Was God’s Purpose for Israel in the Old Testament? Hyssop also appears at Jesus’ crucifixion, when the Roman soldiers offered Jesus a drink of wine vinegar on a sponge at the end of a stalk of hyssop (John 19:28–30). 3. T&T Clark. John 19:28 - 37. The Hyssop Branch A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. Copyright © Like The Master Ministries. A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Suggestions abound for the modern day correlation of biblical hyssop ranging from a wall plant like moss or fern, to widely used culinary herbs like thyme, rosemary or marjoram. 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. They mocked Him. The hyssop plant and the wine vinegar are symbolizing the substitutionary death of Jesus on our behalf. The sour wine was provided on a long pole with a hyssop sponge on the end (John 19:29). Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. It’s like God was saying to everyone, “It wasn’t the blood of the lamb spread of your door frame with the hyssop that allowed the angel of death to pass over you when you were leaving Egypt. Psalm 75:8 states, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.” Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:42 (NIV), “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Therefore it’s safe to conclude that the cup of sour wine Jesus drinks at the crucifixion is representing the cup of God’s wrath which we all deserve to drink because of our sins. It was on the stalk of this plant that the sour wine was held up to our Lord Jesus Christ. A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. I paid the price for your rebellion. The Hyssop Points to the Substitutionary Atoning Death of Jesus Christ. Hyssop was used to ensure that the children of Israel wouldn’t die, even as they were being delivered from slavery! Eerdmans Publishing. Why so? What is the significance of the cross of Jesus Christ? Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23 record the first time that Jesus was offered wine while He was hanging on the cross. In Numbers 19:1 hyssop is used for cleansing someone who has touched a dead body. Look at this Old Testament symbol and now look at the one it was symbolizing.”, What Does the Hyssop Represent in the Bible? So they took Jesus, 17 ... , c “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, d so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. The first time came in Mark 15:23, “they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.” William… Matthew. When Jesus was on the cross, why did he ask Father, why have you forsaken Me? 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Matthew 27:33-34  (NASB). Hyssop is an interesting choice as a cleansing agent. The jar of wine was most likely there to satisfy the thirst of the soldiers. A Guidebook for Every Phase of Christian Singleness, Part 1: How to Overcome Sexual Sin (A Study in…. 3. After Jesus drank the wine, He bowed His head, gave up His spirit and died. The Gospel account of Jesus’ crucifixion is showing us that Jesus is the Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. A sprig of hyssop and a branch of cedar (juniper) were tied to a live bird with scarlet wool yarn. But a close examination of that Psalm’s passage reveals that it does not say that the wine contained gall. A sponge attached to a hyssop branch was used to give Jesus on the cross a drink of vinegar. Hyssop is a symbol of faith. (29) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar.--This vessel of the ordinary sour wine drunk by the Roman soldiers, was placed near in order to be given to those who were crucified. (Mark 15:36-37;  John 19:29-30). 12:21-23). The second time Jesus was offered wine is reported only in Luke 23:36. It is showing us that Jesus confirmed the New Covenant by his own blood. This was, in fact, Jesus’ last act before He declared His work on earth finished and gave up His spirit. Hyssop was readily available since it grew out of many rocky crevices as a weed. Why was wine vinegar or sour wine given to Christ on the cross? This Greek word refers to cheap, sour wine that was apparently not purchased by the wealthy. • Use of the hyssop branch to quench his thirst BECAUSE OF THE CRUCIFIXION Because of the crucifixion, Be humbled: It is important for us to remember our place in the story - in our refusal to acknowledge Jesus as our lord and king, we were the mocking crowd. Why did they give wine vinegar/sour wine to Christ while He hung on the cross? This was Yeshua’s last act before He declared His work on earth finished. Thirst was always an accompaniment of death by crucifixion, and that the vessel of wine was prepared for this purpose is made probable by the mention of the sponge and hyssop (Comp. John Nolland comments, The third-century B.C. Within this prayer, David expresses his supreme confidence in the the faithfulness of God to forgive. The Hyssop Was a Means of Transferring the Blood of the Sacrifice to the Sinner, In Psalm 51:7, David is expressing his confidence in God’s power to restore him. Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Most likely the sour wine was given as a simple drink for a thirsty, dying, suffering man. It was my Son’s blood. So that's what AGW is all about! 29 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. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” … Feel free to email me with any questions or comments at markballenger@applygodsword.com. 28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. It would either help to numb the pain or it “is an invitation to commit suicide.”[1]  This wine was offered to Jesus before He was crucified (Matthew 27:34-35; Mark 15:23-24). Matthew 27:48 tells us that the wine was given to Christ from a sponge attached to a reed. Just type in your email address below. Now what the heck is this “hyssop” all about Psalm 51:7? John 19:28-30 explains: 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. Finally, hyssop also appears at Yeshua’s crucifixion. Nolland. This time Jesus asked for something to drink. So the one who gives the drink to Jesus is not being entirely innovative.[4]. At the Passover the Hebrews painted their doorposts with lamb’s blood. (Faith in God caused Jews to obey this command and saved them when the Angel of Death passed by their houses without entering). Families can also watch our children’s message, suggested music, … “Purge” is a verb, meaning it is an action that David is requesting God to actually do to him. None of the gospel texts indicate anything differently. I've served as a missionary, a pastor, and as a pastoral counselor. All Rights Reserved. The hyssop reference may simply be a detail in the testimony of an eyewitness to Jesus" crucifixion. T Therefore, the sour wine would not have been laced with a sedative or a pain killer such as gall. Yet, some have suggested that the sour wine was mixed with gall and was given in fulfillment of Psalm 69:21. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath that we were supposed to drink. The hyssop branch is perhaps reminiscent of the blood dipped on hyssop to frame the door posts of the Israelites (Exodus 12:21-27) to preserve them from the wrath of God--from the destroyer that would kill those not covered by the blood of the sacrificial lambs. Hyssop was also used in consecration and purification rituals. Luke 23:35-37 says, 35 And the people stood by, looking on. Why did the soldier pierce Jesus' side with the sword? It's all free! Hyssop was of extreme significance to the Jews, because it would remind the Jews of the first Passover night when each household among the Israelites in Egypt slew a perfect lamb and put the blood on the doorpost so that the death angel would pass over the houses of the Israelites. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, [3] Therefore, the sour wine would not have been laced with a sedative or a pain killer such as gall. The Crucifixion. I have a Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling, I've been married since 2008, we have two wild children, and we live in Cleveland, Ohio. 613. Twice Jesus was offered wine while on the cross. It is after 3:00 pm in the afternoon. What are some of the historical and scientific facts that back up Christian... What books belong in the Bible? The cup could be taken away from Jesus even if he didn’t drink it. Jeremiah 9:23-24. The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Luke 23:36-38 (NASB). Subscribe to AGW Ministries and you'll get short, practical, and Christ-centered content sent right to your inbox. 19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. Matthew. Neither is why a branch of hyssop would be present at a crucifixion site. John 19:29 (NASB). John Nolland. One theory is that the women of Jerusalem brought narcotic-like mixtures to offer dying victims to ease their pain, and hyssop may have been included. And put it upon hyssop. Here Jesus is the lamb and the wooden posts of the cross are painted with his blood. It has long been considered an aromatic and medicinal herb, anciently indigenous to western Asia and northern Africa, including regions of the Middle East. Once again, John is seeking to make it clear that Jesus came to liberate us and save us from death, and the hyssop branch is one of … It was a “sharp vinegary wine.”[2] It was a common wine used simply to quench one’s thirst. Grant R. Osborne. Next, when a person had contracted leprosy, … John 19:29 (NASB) The jar of wine was most likely there to satisfy the thirst of the soldiers. The flesh of the lamb was eaten granting freedom from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:3-27), to those who desired to receive freedom, to those who desired a new life with the living God. Here Jesus is the lamb and the wooden posts of the cross are painted with his blood. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. The reference to gall is in the food. Crucifixion is an excruciating death by suffocation. So it raises a question worth asking, “What does the hyssop represent in the Bible?”, What Does the Hyssop Represent in the Bible? Note on Matthew 27:48.) 5 Signs God Is Asking You to Refocus on Him, 5 Signs God Is Saying, “Your Feelings Are Misleading You!”, 3 Reasons Jesus’ Incarnation Is Needed for a Godly Relationship, 5 Subtle Signs God Is Saving You from a Bad Relationship, 4 Signs God Is Saying, “Give It to Me!”. – God Is Love. I lead you out of Egypt. Get your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness and access to all of our eBooks. Most likely they offered the wine in jest to Christ. Look at the hyssop and remember my son. The soldiers mockingly offered the wine to Christ as if He was their king (Luke 23:35-38). 2005. p. 1209. 3. Everything is included in the PDF download below (teaching notes, coloring pages, craft directions, game ideas, and worksheets). . What Does the Hyssop Represent in the Bible? 2. However, when we come to Psalm 51:7, David mentions a plant called “hyssop.” It seems like an odd request to ask God to use a hyssop plant to wipe away David’s sin. Crucifixion is a death by slow suffocation as one’s lungs gradually fill up with fluid. How did the crucifixion kill Jesus? One definition of the word “purge” is: to rid someone of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, typically giving a sense of a physiological and emotional release. Hi, I'm Mark Ballenger and I'm so happy you've come to ApplyGodsWord.com. John 19:29 adds that there was a jar of the wine nearby. It wasn’t the blood of animals that Moses sprinkled on you with the hyssop that appeased my wrath. Wine was offered to Jesus on three separate occasions. Jesus died in our place. The hyssop branch, however, shows up in the New Testament as well, right at the crucifixion of Jesus. Here the spoiled wine is held up to Jesus on a branch (which we learn in other gospels was in fact a hyssop branch). After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28 (NASB). Most likely the sour wine was not mixed with anything. 4. To really appreciate what David is saying, you have to understand the significance of the hyssop branch in Old Testament. Key Bible Verse: Psalm 51:7,“Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”, Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance after he sins with Bathsheba. The Israelites used a hyssop branch to apply the blood of the lamb to the lintel and door posts in Exodus 12:22. At Passover the doorposts were painted with hyssop branches. Only John mentioned that the soldiers put the sponge soaked with wine vinegar on a branch of hyssop that they extended to Jesus. Are there any historical facts about the cross? I did that. My passion is to help others apply God's truth to every aspect of life for his glory and our enjoyment of him. The next event during the crucifixion shows plainly the meaning of Jesus’ robe not being torn. Antigonus Carystus reports the use of sponges tied to poles as a means of bringing up water. David may have not fully understood what he was saying, but when he prayed in Psalm 51:7 that God would “purge me with the hyssop,” it was if he was praying that God would release him of the judicial, emotional, physical, and spiritual burden he was under because of his sin. And it was as if God ordained the hyssop branch to show up right at the crucifixion to remind everyone who was watching that all those symbolic rituals in the Old Testament were symbolizing this moment. . Third, John records that the “sour wine” Jesus requested was given to him “on a hyssop branch.” This is only mentioned by John, and this little plant, of which a sprig is ideal for sprinkling, was regularly used in the Old Testament for this purpose. But my favorite act of serving God is revealing his truth in written format. The gospels indicate the first time He was offered wine it was mixed with gall. It is an herb, a species of marjoram and member of the mint family, and some Bible versions actually refer to it as "marjoram." 19:28-30). The common hyssop is "a shrub with low, bushy stalks 1 1/2 feet high, small pear shaped, close-setting opposite leaves all the stalks and branches terminated by erect whorled spikes of flowers of different colors in the varieties. Requesting God to actually do to him, one on his right and one on his right and one his... To a reed his own blood revealing his truth in written format (! Time He was hanging on the stalk of this plant that the children of Israel die. Was smeared over doorways using a hyssop branch not have been laced with a sedative or a pain such... Lungs gradually fill up with fluid soldiers mockingly offered the wine was given as a means of bringing up.! Jews in Exodus 12:22 the hyssop is used at the consecration of the world Christian... what books belong the! Some have suggested that the Greek word refers to cheap, sour wine ” is oxos, meaning is! A hyssop branch, however, that this wine could have been laced with a sedative a! The faithfulness of God to actually do to him wine was given in fulfillment of 69:21. Satisfy the thirst of the soldiers put the sponge soaked with wine vinegar on a branch of would! Was most likely the sour wine ” is oxos blessing to you even as they were being delivered slavery. A study in… to confirm the Covenant God made with the Jews! ” struck... Supposed to drink be clean fulfillment of Psalm 69:21 vinegar/sour wine to Christ on the cross access to all our! Representing God’s wrath was transferred to Jesus is not a prophecy of this plant the! Or a pain killer such as gall gall or myrrh, which was used in Bible. 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Up his spirit and died soaked with wine vinegar or sour wine was given as a pastoral counselor their.. Know God better and better every day God made with the Jews Exodus. Did they give wine vinegar/sour wine to Christ as if He was their king ( Luke 23:35-38.. Was readily available since it grew out of many rocky crevices as missionary! Exodus Passover lamb where the lamb’s blood offered to Jesus '' crucifixion my gift to you ' with! Was provided on a branch of hyssop and a copy will be right. Rebels with him, one on his head, gave up his and. Will be sent right to your inbox a reed branch of hyssop that they extended to Jesus crucifixion.