The Fruit of the Vine, Then the Vinegar
“He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.”Numbers 6:3 (KJV)
A Nazarite vow meant giving up everything from the vine: “He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes.”
At the last supper, Jesus made a vow of his own. “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” From that night he was set apart for the cross.
On the cross, when they first offered him “vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” He refused anything that would dull the pain. But at the very end, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
He kept his vow until the work was done. And he made a promise with it. One day he will drink the fruit of the vine new, with us, in his Father’s kingdom.
Read it yourself
Read Matthew 26:26–29. What did Jesus say the cup was?
What does it mean to you that Jesus refused anything that would dull the pain until the work was finished?
Lord Jesus, you finished the work. I look forward to the day I will drink with you in your Father’s kingdom. Amen.