offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah
comes to take Him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His
last. (Mark 15: 36-37)
I have to admit that this is the first time that I have really looked into
the meaning of these verses. I was quite surprised with what I found.
Just thinking about giving someone wine vinegar, especially at a
vulnerable time, is just plain cruel and nasty to me. I always looked at
this passage as a negative act, a hurtful thing. Then, when I read the
explanation in the bible for “wine vinegar,” I was surprised. It said, “A
sour wine used by laborers and soldiers.” So, if it was a common drink,
then maybe it was offered to Jesus as a kind gesture, a gesture of
compassion and concern. Maybe even a gesture of love.
Thinking of it this way just blew my mind. All these years I perceived
this act to be terrible and awful. Now, I believe I have to rethink what
was really going on when I hear these verses. Our perceptions are our
reality. It goes without saying, so maybe we need to really look at how
we perceive things to be sure we really have it right or really
understand and get what is said or what is going on. You just might be
surprised that what you perceive, your reality, really isn’t the reality of
the situation.
This Lenten season, look and search beyond your reality to truly
understand what it is you are perceiving, no matter what the situation,
before you make it your reality.
Sandy Briggman
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now,
Our hearts in true devotion bow,
Thy Spirit send with grace divine,
And let Thy truth within us shine.
German Hymn
Cantionale Sacrum 1651
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