Narcotic Refused

~Matthew 27.33-34 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

~Mark 15,22-23 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

One tradition holds that "respected women of Jerusalem provided a narcotic drink to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain" (http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-wine-jesus-drank). This seems reasonable. But Christ refused this wine. According to Tyndale's Bible dictionary he was determined "to die with an unclouded mind."

After hours on the cross however, he's offered the more vinegar-like wine, what the dictionary calls "the ordinary drink of laborers in the field and of the lower class of soldiers." We read these verses as Jesus, near death, cries out to God.

~Mark 15.35-36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. NIV

"a sponge full of vinegar . . . on a reed" NASB, also KJV

"a sponge with vinegar (a mixture of sour wine and water)" Amplified Bible

"a sponge, soaked . . . in cheap wine" Good News Translation, or "sour wine" The Message

~John 19.28-30 Later, knowing that his mission had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

~also Matthew 27.48

Thank you Jesus.

It seems cold to come to this focal moment in history and consider the vinegar, not the sacrifice. But sticking to my purpose I note that apparently the line between wine and vinegar can be thin. I don't claim to know much about either.

the cup of suffering

~Mark 14.36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

~Matthew 26.39, 42 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

~Luke 22.41-46 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

I've been surprised to note how many times Jesus uses food or eating to make pictures of the kingdom. Often, as in references to feasting, these show blessing. This time it depicts suffering. Was he thinking of the Passover wine he'd just shared with the disciples? Or maybe bitter water like at Marah in Exodus 15?

Olive Grove

~John 18.1 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.

~Mark 14.32a They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane....

~Matthew 26.36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”

~Luke 22.39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus liked to hang out in the olive grove. In his time of great distress, this is where he comes.

Grapes

~John 15:1-8 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

God must value grapes to use them for his fruitfulness analogy.

Bread: vehicle for blessing or a curse

~John 13.21, 26-27 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” . . . .
Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”

Hmmm. All at the table ate the same bread. The disciples ate it as the symbolic "body of Christ," accepting Jesus' explanation though they did not yet understand it's meaning. Judas completely missed the point but ate it anyway, and Satan had access to him.

Bread, representing food, can be a way for God to bless or for Satan to curse.

The Lord's Supper

~Matthew 26.16-30, Mark 14.12-26, Luke 22.7-38, John 13

Bread. Wine. Such important symbols of the Jewish and Christian faiths.

The Passover Meal is full of meaning, which I think will be better considered from the Old Testament explanations when I get to that point.

Now, I only note again that meals are an important part of life, sometimes setting for significant conversations and symbolism.

Dining Room

~Mark 14.13-15 (also in Matthew 26 and Luke 22) So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”

Jesus traveled light. But he sometimes used the resources of people who had more material wealth at their disposal. Here it's a dining room. Let's make our dining rooms, which may not be used every day, available to him.