And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when He tasted it, He would not drink it. And … they … crucified Him.
(Matthew 27:33-35 ESV)
Jesus wouldn’t drink the wine mixed with gall. It was a sedative and painkiller, probably intended to make the soldiers’ job of crucifying Him easier. But it looks like Jesus wanted to go through His suffering with a clear head. And so He turned it down.
Why? Jesus was finishing His work for us—the work that would bring us all out of spiritual slavery to sin, death, and evil. He would take no chance of things going wrong. If that meant more pain for Him, He was willing.
We can see another reason. Jesus was still taking care of the individuals around Him—a handful of His followers, standing at the foot of His cross; the criminals on either side of Him, who had a last chance to believe in Him before they died; and even the soldiers themselves, who had no idea whom they had just crucified. Even as He hung on that cross, Jesus continued to give them what they needed. He would keep watch over them and us until His own death—and then His resurrection.
We Pray: Lord, You’ve always put my needs above Your own. Thank You for loving me this much. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
• When have you cared for someone even though it cost you?
• Were you glad to do it? Why?
• When Jesus remembers what He did for you—how do you think He feels about it? About you?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on March 23, 2026
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved