It Is Finished: Thirst, Passover Bones, and the Pierced One

Knowing that all is now accomplished, Jesus says, “I thirst,” and receives sour wine. Psalm 69:21 is the strongest scriptural background to the thirst/vinegar detail. Jesus then says tetelestai—“It is finished/accomplished”—and dies; the popular sermon claim that this exact form was stamped “paid in full” on ordinary debt receipts is historically weak and should not be taught as established fact. John next explains that Jesus’ legs are not broken “that the scripture should be fulfilled,” invoking the Passover-lamb commands in Exodus/Numbers and possibly Psalm 34:20. A soldier pierces Jesus’ side, and John explicitly quotes Zechariah 12:10 about looking on the one pierced.