But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
3 sermons cite this verse
as I've been stating over and over again, it's not your only hope in the sense that there's nothing else, and I guess we've been reduced down to this final choice. The fact of the matter is, what's transpiring this day, this night in history, is our only hope of eternal life and salvation because of what was written, because of who Jesus Christ is and was and is again. The one who gave his life, who willingly gave his life, who the prophets foretold would do exactly that. You just read eyewitness accounts of events that are in complete correlation with those of the Roman Empire and their subsequent investigation of the crucifixion of Christ and how it was handled. This is something that transcends religion. The fact that Jesus Christ came into this world as the prophets foretold, but all with a mission. Jesus said regarding this day, for this reason came I into the world. It's absolutely awesome. And so as we look at these things very quickly, friends, with the time that we have together, I want you to consider seven things very quickly. …
… first man and of the other who was crucified with Him. But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Now these are death experts. They are by profession executioners. They do this routinely. They knew He was dead. There is no reason to break His legs. in a bizarre gesture. Verse 34 says, "'One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.'" I don't know whether that was a gesture of humiliation. I don't know if it was one final insult to run a spear into the heart area of Jesus on the cross, or if He was just making sure. But they knew death when they saw it. And when He pierced that side, lymphatic fluid and blood came out. Psalm 69 says, "'Reproach has broken my heart.'" There was no reason for Him to do that in the standard crucifixion. It was a strange gesture for one whom was designated already to be dead. …
"Then came the soldiers and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was dead already, they broke not His legs, but one ofthe soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith there came out blood and water. And he that saw it bares record that his record is true: and he knows that he is telling the truth, that you might believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled. A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another Scripture says, They shall look on Him whom they have pierced." John 19:32-37. WHAT a wonderful conjunction of Prophecy and Providence! I want you to behold it, and admire it. Two texts of Scripture predict, the one in Exodus the other in Zechariah (such a long interval having occurred between the distinct records), the former that not a bone of the Paschal Lamb should be broken—the latter that He should be pierced. How were these two to be fulfilled in the minuteness of one incident? The rough Roman soldier comes with the iron bar to break the bones of the three prisoners who have been crucified. He has orders to break their legs. The well-disciplined soldier acts almost mechanically, according to orders. Roman discipline was of the very sternest kind. Will not the soldier, therefore, break the legs of Jesus? No! Moved by some strange impulse, he marks that one of the three, Jesus, who is called Christ, is already dead. Though commanded to break His legs, he forbears—but, most likely to clear himself of all doubt on that point, he pierces His side with a spear! The willfulness of the soldier, wavering though wanton, thus fulfilled both the prophecies of which he must have been, himself, totally ignorant! And this was brought about, first, by his not doing what he was ordered to do and, secondly, by doing what he had not been ordered to do! Oh, how inscrutable the mystery of Providence! How marvelously does God rule the sons of men while He leaves them to their own free will! Did not this soldier act altogether as a free agent, whether following the dictates of his reason or the impulse of his temper, when he thus unwittingly, by his singular conduct, verified to the letter the words of Prophecy as precisely and entirely as if he had been a mere puppet moved with wires at the instigation of another mind and another hand than his own? This was not an accidental circumstance, or a singular coincidence—it was Providence—a sublime purpose of God brought to pass by simple means. Irregularities among men do not disorganize the ordained purposes of Heaven, and what we think to be chaos is a well-ordered system far beyond our imagination, into which we vainly attempt to peer. …