A Small Branch

The sprig of hyssop is a small branch. Yet this small branch reveals to us God’s great love. In the Exodus story, it is through this branch that the blood of the Passover lamb preserves the people from death. In the Gospel, it is the hyssop branch that holds the sponge, allowing Jesus to finish drinking the cup the Father has given him and complete the plan of salvation. Something so small can produce such significant fruit.

Gospel - John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother

and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,

and Mary of Magdala.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,

he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

Then he said to the disciple,

“Behold, your mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished,

in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

Jesus said, “I thirst.”

There was a vessel filled with common wine.

So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop

and put it up to his mouth.

When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,

“It is finished.”

And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,

in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,

for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,

the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken

and they be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

Scriptural Analysis

John presents a group of women gathered at the cross, just as in the synoptic Gospels. However, only in Saint John’s account do we hear of the mother of Jesus being at the cross. Additionally, John mentions them being at the foot of the cross, as opposed to being at a distance. Early in John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32) We see that beginning to happen with the gathering of people at the foot of the cross.

The mention of Jesus’ mother and the Beloved Disciple is not only a historical fact but also has a more profound spiritual significance. In a worldly sense, Jesus is entrusting the care of his mother to John. This is an act of love, as with her only son gone (and of course, Saint Joseph having died previously), Mary would have been destitute. Jesus is ensuring that Mary will be taken care of. However, there is also a more profound spiritual truth.

Just as at the Wedding at Cana, Jesus refers to his mother as “Woman.” The title “Mother of Jesus” also portrays Mary as the mother of the Church. John is drawing on images from the Old Testament. In Genesis, Eve is referred to as “woman” and “mother,” and in the Prophet Isaiah, we hear of “Mother Zion.” Jesus uses the same see-and-say pattern that he deployed in the first chapter of John. He sees someone and says something about them: their role in God’s plan. In this case, Jesus reveals the relationships that compose the Church as the communion of the disciples with one another and with God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells Mary to behold her son. In one sense, ‘son’ could mean ‘Jesus’. However, the context suggests that Jesus is referring to John. In doing this, Jesus is establishing a spiritual relationship between himself and John, who are both “sons” of Mary. In these words from the cross, Jesus reveals the spiritual relationship among himself, his mother, and the Beloved Disciple in the Church as God’s family. If the Beloved Disciple shares spiritually in Jesus’ life as the Son, he also has Mary as his spiritual mother. Mary becomes a new Eve, the spiritual mother of Jesus’ disciples who share in his life.

Jesus is aware that everything that is the Father’s plan for salvation is now finished. The Greek word used here for “finish” is teleo, which relates to the Greek verb teleioo, meaning “to fulfill.” John uses this word frequently when describing Jesus’ accomplishment of the Father’s work. This is related to telos, or end, or goal. Jesus states that he thirsts.

The topic of thirst first appears when Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” (John 4:14) Jesus, thirst here is not physical but rather spiritual: to finish drinking the up the father has given him to accomplish the work of salvation and for the Holy Spirit to be sent. As expected, the Roman soldier does not understand this and instead offers Jesus a sponge soaked with common wine. John uses the Greek word axos for common wine, which links this passage with the Psalms, “And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21) The word translated here as vinegar is also axos. Giving Jesus something undrinkable as he cries out is yet another way for the soldiers to mock him.

The use of a Hyssop branch is also significant. This is a small plant that could not hold the weight of a soaked sponge. The plant also plays a vital role in the history of the Jewish people. During the Exodus, it was a hyssop branch soaked in the Passover lamb’s blood that was used to mark the doorpost and lintel. Hyssop is also used to purge both people and homes from leprosy and contact with corpses so that they could participate in temple worship. John previously presented Jesus as the Lamb of God, whose blood would save His people, so the use of Hyssop connects Him with the Passover lamb. Only in John’s Gospel do we hear of Jesus drinking the vinegar. Jesus must drink the cup the Father has given him. He then declares it is finished. Jesus’s perfect offer of obedience to the Father is completed, and he dies. The phrase “handed over the spirit” has a double meaning. It signifies Jesus’ death, but it also reminds us of the connection between his hour and the coming of the Holy Spirit, which he will send to his disciples.

Jesus dies on a Friday, which is the day of preparation for the Passover, which begins at sundown. Mosaic law requires that bodies be buried before sundown, which is why the Jewish authorities did not want the bodies to remain on the cross. The Jewish authorities asked Pilate to have the legs of the victims broken to hasten their death. The two men crucified with Jesus had their legs broken, but when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead. However, to verify, they stabbed him in the side with a spear.

Of course, there is great significance in this. First, the Passover lamb was not to have any of its bones broken. This further connects Jesus to the image of a new Exodus and a new Passover lamb. We are saved from the bondage of sin and death. Even more significant is the blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus. The water alludes to baptism and the blood of death. Jesus laid down his life for the salvation of the world out of obedience to the Father. John is making a connection with the prophet Zechariah, who wrote, “When they look on him whom they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10). In the first part of that verse, Zechariah says, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication.” There is a connection between the death of Jesus on the cross and the outpouring of God’s mercy on His people. This is further strengthened when looking at the start of Chapter 13, where Zechariah says, “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)

Daily Application

It is easy to get caught up in the trap that we are insignificant and that what we do has no real impact. There is a bit of truth in that statement: compared to God, we are insignificant, but in the eyes of God, we receive great significance. Consider that when the promise of salvation was given, there were only two people present: Adam and Eve. If there were only one person, Christ would still have completed the work of his Father, the plan of salvation. That is how much God loves every human being and how significant you are to God.

It also shows how God works in the world: through the small and insignificant. Christ was not born into worldly riches but in a lowly state. Yet he is the King of the Universe. That man the world saw as insignificant is the most significant in history. If we allow him to, he will work great things through us. These great things often seem trivial to us. However, something as seemingly minor as saying hello to the clerk at the store can be an event of great importance. That may be the one word that prevents them from committing suicide. It may be the event that puts them on the path to know God and his great love for them.

This Monday after Pentecost is a great time for us to recognize our significance in the eyes of God. We matter, and our lives matter. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you God’s love for you, and then allow that same Spirit to dwell in you. If you do, he will use you and the ordinary events of your existence to bring about great things. You may feel like the small hyssop branch, but God can take a small branch and make it a mighty instrument in his plan of salvation.