Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 19:29

"There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth." — John 19:29 (ASV)

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Why is hyssop mentioned here? You remember that the hyssop was used in the cleansing of the leper, and that David prayed, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. The hyssop was also used in the sprinkling of blood under the law, so it is introduced here with a set purpose.

The sponge is introduced here too; it always seems to me very remarkable that, in the death of Christ the circle of life was completed. The sponge is the very lowest form of animal life, and Christ is the very highest type of life of any kind.

The sponge was lifted to the lip of the King of glory and carried refreshment to him; and you and I, like the sponge, the very least of God's living ones, may yet bring refreshment to our Saviour's lips.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

For he did receive it. It was a weak kind of wine, commonly drunk by the soldiery. This is not that mixed potion which he refused, wine mingled with myrrh, which was intended to stupefy the dying in their pains: When he had tasted thereof, he would not drink; for he would not be stupefied. He came to suffer to the bitter end the penalty of sin; and he would not have his sorrow mitigated. But when this slight refreshment was offered to him, he received it.

Having just expressed his human weakness by saying, I thirst, he now manifests his all-sufficient strength by crying with a loud voice, as Matthew, Mark, and Luke all testify.