And one of them immediately ran, took a sponge soaked with vinegar, and putting it on a reed, gave it to Him to drink.
This episode shows the conflicting attitudes of those standing beneath the cross: some were mocking, while someone else—seemingly with compassion or curiosity—came near to Jesus and offered a sponge soaked with vinegar. The vinegar here symbolizes human bitterness, in which Christ shared to the very end, fully drinking the cup of suffering. The one who did this may have thought to ease Jesus’ thirst, yet his action became the fulfillment of prophecy (Ps. 68(69):22): “For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” This small scene also shows that even the smallest and seemingly accidental actions were taking place according to the divine plan.