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 the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their 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 can 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
“I can count every bone in my body.”
Psalm 22:17
“For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!”
Psalm 34:20
It is clear that it is important that there were no bones broken. But why?
Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones.
Exodus 12:46
They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones.
Numbers 9:12
The Passover lamb was to be intact. The general practice at the time of crucifixion was to break the shin bones of the victims in order to hasten death. If the shin bones were not broken then the victim could push up on their legs and take a breath. The pressure on the chest and lungs was so severe that it was hard to breathe. (So they tell me – I don’t know this from experience). They shattered the shin bones with a Roman hardwood lance to prevent the victim from delaying the process and staying up there for hours. Once the legs were broken the victim couldn’t push up anymore to breathe. In Jesus’ case they didn’t have to do that because he was dead already.
Of all those who were crucified by the Romans, how many victims’ legs were not broken? There are a very small proportion of all the people who have ever lived who have suffered the ignominy of being crucified. Of those it was a rarity to find anyone who still had all their bones intact. How many of those who have been crucified didn’t have their legs broken? Only one I know of. Praise Him who fulfilled Scripture to the smallest detail.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
Regina Brett
It’s not over till God says it’s over. Circumstances and people don’t have the last word; God does!
Bob Gass