The separation between the Sufferer and His God caused a thirst in His soul and spirit that no one can measure. The intense sufferings made Him also experience a terrible thirst in His body. In these extremely difficult circumstances, another detail that had been prophesied remained to be fulfilled. And thus He fulfilled what Scripture had foretold when He said, “I thirst.”

He had cared for others—His people, the repenting thief, and His mother. He had cared for God and His interests, and now He cared for Himself. Earlier, at the time He had been nailed to the cross, a drink had been offered Him to help diminish His physical sufferings. However, as He was to be the perfect sin and trespass-offering, the Lord Jesus had refused that drink since it was mixed with a stupefying element. As the perfect meal offering, bringing pleasure to God, He depended on God, even in those unfathomable sufferings. Furthermore, He was to be the peace offering, providing the basis for peace between God and redeemed man, so that we might have fellowship with a holy and righteous God. As the burnt offering, Christ would offer Himself up to be God’s delight, so that God would find full satisfaction and rest in Him and His accomplished work.

In perfect illustration of these types Christ retained full control of His senses, and so He had refused that earlier drink. Now, six hours later, having received the vinegar, His lips were moistened. Intense thirst, predicted in Psalm 22:15, led to His fifth saying on the cross: “I thirst.”