Jesus' own people did not recognize what was happening; they knew that rabbis in distress sometimes looked to Elijah for help (as in b. `Aboda Zara 17b; p. Ketubot 12:3, Section 6), and they assumed that Jesus was doing likewise. Clearly they expected no supernatural intervention—expectations seemingly confirmed because Elijah would not come.

The narrative again bristles with irony: far from being able to help Jesus, Elijah was his forerunner in martyrdom (17:10-13; Kingsbury 1983:130). The wine vinegar (27:48) was probably an attempt to revive him (Reicke 1974:187), perhaps to prolong the torment in mocking pretense that Elijah had come to relieve him. But Jesus had come to drink the cup of suffering (26:39), the cup of God's wrath (Jer 25:15-29). Our Lord is both our model, obedient and uncomplaining as he serves the Father no matter what the cost, and our Savior, who offers himself for the sins of the world.