“It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their dead bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) These things happened in fulfilment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.””
John 19:31-37 NLT
A factual account from John, providing an insight into Jewish religious culture. The Jewish leaders wanted to avoid having the gruesome sight of men, still alive, but in the process of death by crucifixion, hanging on crosses on the Sabbath, the following day. So the custom in those days was to hasten death by breaking the legs of the people involved, so that they could only hang by their arms, which would accelerate death from asphyxiation. The unfortunate two thieves were dealt with in this way, but John’s account records that Jesus was already dead. To make sure, the Roman soldier speared Jesus, and blood and water flowed out of the wound, something that has been confirmed as being medically accurate for a recently deceased person. Once again, John then reminds his readers that Scripture has been fulfilled, with prophecies from Psalm 34:20, “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” and Zechariah 12:10, “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died“.
As an aside, modern communion services often allude to Jesus’ sacrifice and His body broken at Calvary. But this isn’t factually correct because none of Jesus’ bones were broken. A better way is to thank God for how Jesus gave Himself for sinners.
We pilgrims always stay close to Jesus on the Cross, reminding ourselves of the time when He selflessly and deliberately chose to die, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of mankind, so that through Him we will receive forgiveness. Before the Cross, the ground is level, with no one able to claim better treatment than anyone else. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And we can only marvel at the audacity and success of God’s gracious salvation plan. The devil was defeated that day and he can never prevent a sinner saved by grace from entering God’s presence. He can never anymore wield control over those who believe in Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father. We fall on our knees and worship the Saviour of the World, Your Son Jesus. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 