Day 36 :: Pierced
For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.
John 19:31-37
A few weeks ago, we were in Aberfeldy for the February weekend. On the second evening we went for a swim, as we often did when there. Our kids were having great fun with their cousins, when suddenly I heard a shout of ‘Uncle Pete!’ from my oldest nephew. Joel had tried to do a front flip into the pool, and his head collided with the side. We got him out, and slowly the blood began to flow out until it was pouring everywhere.
It was a frightening sight as blood poured out. He was soaking wet, and the water seemed to dilute the blood and it went everywhere. It was a nasty injury, and a scary moment, but not as bad as it could have been. Thankfully it ended up ok as Joel got his head cleaned up and glued back together at Perth Royal Infirmary.
In today’s passage, we read that the Sabbath was approaching, and the Jews sent a request to Pilate that the bodies of those crucified might be brought down. For that to happen, the soldiers had to ensure that they were dead.
Usually, they would have left those who were crucified to die slow and painful deaths, but occasionally the soldiers would speed the process up, so that special days might be observed without distraction or defilement. In this instance, the Jews desired the bodes to be taken away before the Passover Sabbath. They wanted to be certain they could maintain religious purity. Ironically, their actions showed they were far from clean.
Soldiers came to the criminals that crucified either side of Jesus, smashed their legs, and hastened the asphyxiation process. They could no longer use their legs to lift themselves, so they would be unable to give their lungs room to breathe. They would soon be dead.
But when they came to Jesus, they didn’t need to break his legs. He was already dead.
‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’ (v36)
Psalm 34:20
Just as each and every Passover lamb that had been sacrificed over the previous millennium had to be perfect, with no broken bones, so too was Jesus perfect as he gave his body.
The soldiers saw Jesus was already lifeless, but one of them took his six foot spear, reached up and pierced it through his side. Blood and water flowed out. Physiologically, it’s not 100% clear why this happened. It’s possible that his heart ruptured due to the intensity of his suffering. Regardless, it was enough to prove that he was dead.
’They will look at the one they pierced.’ (v37)
Zechariah 12:10
John writes that he was a witness to this. (v36) He watched as the blood and water poured out. Joel’s head was grim enough, but this was another level. Glue or stitches would have been no help. John saw Jesus die a horrible death as his body was torn apart and blood poured from his side. He then wrote down all he had seen, so we too might see and believe.
‘But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
Isaiah 53:5
It was our sin that held him there. The soldier’s spear went into Jesus’ flesh, but it was our rebellion that pierced him. We are responsible for Jesus’ death.
The Jews wanted to be clean for their Passover celebrations, but the irony is that their rebellious rejection of Jesus has made the way for countless others to be clean eternally. That can be us. We can be clean from the guilt, shame, and judgement of sin if our hope is in Jesus.
‘There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains’
Passages to read: John 19:31-37
A thought to remember: Jesus was pierced for our rebellion.
A question to ask: What difference does being cleaned by the blood of Jesus make to you today?
A song to sing: There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood