Not Broken, But Pierced

One thing did not happen at the cross, and another did happen. Both of these, John says, are a fulfilment of Scripture (Jn. 19:31-37). They relate to two particular aspects of the life and ministry of Christ.

I. His Righteous Person

1. The soldiers found it unnecessary to break the legs of the Lord Jesus, as He was already dead when they checked on Him. He was dead not because of human weakness, but because the Lord Himself chose the time to die (Jn. 19:30). He had power to give up His life, and power to take it again (Jn. 10:17-18).
2. The fact that Christ’s legs were not broken on the cross, points to His identity as the fulfilment of an important Old Testament picture, that of the unblemished Passover Lamb (Exod. 12:46; Num. 9:12; cf. Jn. 1:29; I Cor. 5:7).
3. Legs are for walking, and in spiritual terms the walk represents daily life and experience (Eph. 4:1). Perhaps the unbroken legs of the Lamb suggest the wholeness and unsullied holiness of His life (Exod. 12:5; I Pet. 1:19).

II. His Redemptive Provision

1. It was not enough for Jesus to die. His life’s blood had to be shed. Christ’s body was pierced, as prophesied, since this was a key aspect of His redemptive work (Ps. 22:16; Zech. 12:10; 13:1; Rev. 1:7).
2. The shedding of His blood was necessary to provide for our cleansing from sin. “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission [no forgiveness of sin]” (Heb. 9:22; cf. Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14, 20)
3. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I Jn. 1:7) Blood flowed from His pierced feet, picturing His provision for the cleansing of our walk; blood flowed from His pierced hands, picturing His provision for the cleansing of our work; blood flowed from His pierced side, picturing His provision for the cleansing of our hearts.