Broken Bones
Or
More Fulfilled Prophecy
Sunday August 6, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Jesus! But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”
“And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.’” John 19.31-37
Something To Consider:
It was a Roman custom to leave the bodies of crucified criminals on the cross for several days until death. And for many that meant being seized with insanity. In the minds of the Roman government this cruel public punishment was a deterring influence against future violence and criminal behavior by the people they ruled over.
Historians tell us that there were blocks on the cross that the crucified individual would rest their feet upon. As the agony and pain would increase within every muscle and nerve, their body would naturally slump downward. In this downward position the air passage would close and the person would begin to suffocate. By pushing upward off of the block with their legs they were able to get more air into their lungs, only to repeat the vicious cycle all over again.
Jesus was probably in such a weak and physically drained state from the scourging, that His feet were nailed to the block of wood. For in Luke 24.39, Jesus declared to His disciples, probably in reference to the nail prints; “Behold, My hands and My feet.”
Something Else To Consider:
But because of the approaching Sabbath, the Jewish leaders persuaded Pilate to order the legs of the prisoners broken to hasten suffocation and certain death. Could it be that these so-called spiritual leaders had searched the Scriptures, looking for anything to be used to disqualify Jesus as the true Messiah?
For in Exodus 12.46, we are told that not one bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken. Again, in Numbers 9.12, Moses wrote concerning the Passover lamb, “They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all of the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.” And because Jesus was already dead, His legs were not broken.
John wrote, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day…” That is, it was the day prior to the Sabbath, a day of rest. There is coming a final day of rest for all who have made the proper preparation for eternal life in and through Jesus! Have we made our preparations according to the Word of God?
Isaiah declared in Isaiah 40.3, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” This was true of Jesus’ first coming and it is more true of His second coming. Therefore, are we prepared for Christ’s second coming and what is to come before His second coming?
If not, and we breathe our last breath in this life, we are like broken bones, unable to stand in the judgment of God! Have we taken advantage of the many preparation days of our lives, or have we squandered the precious time on earth given us by our gracious creator?
Something More To Consider:
In Deuteronomy 22.22-23, Moses declared of those deserving of death that are hung on a tree, that their bodies should not remain overnight. And in Zechariah 12.10, the Lord speaking through the prophet of His future second coming as the Messiah to rescue Israel from the invading armies of the earth, reported, “Then they will look on Me whom they have pierced.”
Therefore, John testified in writing more prophetic fulfilled events in order that we might believe, for if His bones were broken, Jesus would have been prophetically disqualified as the true biblically proclaimed and promised Messiah. In other words, even in the death of Jesus, God the Father was in total control!
What is it that we are in the midst of today that we feel as though no one is in control? The death of Jesus fulfilled prophecy and therefore was required that we might be able to experience the forgiveness of our sin.
The prophet Amos proclaimed in Amos 4.12, “Prepare to meet your God.” There is nothing more important than our being biblically prepared to meet our God either in death or in His coming again! Nothing!
A Few Final Words:
At some point, we shall all look on Him, Jesus, of whom was pierced due to the sins of the world. Will we be spiritually prepared or will we be deservingly convicted of our unforgiven sin, iniquities, and trespasses against God when we see Jesus? Now is the day of salvation!
And yet, many will foolishly put off making their decision, and in doing so, they have made their decision to stand against Christ and His coming kingdom. How sad to be placed in that eternal state of separation from God by our putting off what we know we should do today!
Even after dying for the sin of the world, the written Word of God concerning Jesus was being fulfilled according to previously proclaimed prophecy. And yet, it was for the benefit and eternal reward of all who would truly believe and wisely seek forgiveness for their sin.
And according to John, prophecy was fulfilled in the death of Jesus. “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, thank You Lord for the more sure word of prophecy concerning Jesus of Nazareth. May Your Word be fulfilled in the earth in and through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 