As we come to the Word of God again this morning, we're continuing in the story of Jesus as told by John.
You can open your Bibles, if you have them with you, to John chapter 19.
We heard last Sunday how after the trial with Pilate, Jesus was handed over to be crucified.
And John shared with us a few of the things that he witnessed as he watched Jesus die.
The last thing we heard was those very moments prior to Jesus' death.
I'm just going to read it quickly again for us.
This happened as Jesus was hanging on the cross.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,
I'm thirsty.
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant,
and lifted it to Jesus' lips.
When he had received the drink, Jesus said,
It is finished.
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
As we continue on with John's account now,
he's going to tell us what happened after Jesus' death.
And we notice that there are two parts to what happens next.
There's the stuff that happens soon after Jesus dies.
John tells us about this in verses 31 to 37.
And then there's the stuff that happened a little bit later,
the same afternoon, getting towards the evening.
That's in verses 38 to 42.
And John's main emphasis here seems to be that, yes, Jesus really did die.
He was buried.
Yet he died in a way that fulfilled God's ancient words.
Let's read what John has to say, starting with this first section, verse 31.
Now, it was the day of preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath.
Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath,
they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The soldiers, therefore, came and broke the legs of the first man,
who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear,
bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true.
He knows that he tells the truth,
and he testifies so that you also may believe.
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled.
Not one of his bones will be broken.
And as another scripture says,
they will look on the one they have pierced.
So the first thing John tells us about after Jesus died
is how the soldiers came along
and broke the legs of those who were crucified with Jesus.
Yet they didn't break the legs of Jesus.
And to understand what's going on here,
John gives us some information.
First of all,
why did the Roman soldiers break the legs of those who were crucified?
Why did they do this at all?
Well, John tells us in verse 31
that the Jewish leaders
did not want the bodies left on the crosses
during the Sabbath.
It was they that asked Pilate
to have the legs of those on the crosses broken
and the bodies taken down.
So this was not something that the Romans did
for every person who was crucified.
It wasn't a matter of routine.
Sometimes they would if they wanted to speed things along.
Other times they would leave the bodies up there
until the men died
and the birds would come
and I won't even say any more about it.
But this breaking of the legs
was a special request
by the Jewish leaders.
Now why did they want the legs broken?
John tells us
they didn't want the bodies left on the cross
during the Sabbath.
So breaking the legs
was a way
to speed up the death
of the men
on the crosses.
According to medical experts
who have studied this
when a person was hanging
by their arms on the cross
it was very difficult
for them to breathe
in that position.
And so
to open up the chest cavity
and exhale
a man would have to push himself up
using his feet.
It was an utterly excruciating
and torturous
way to die.
And so
breaking the legs
made it next to impossible
for a person
to push up
for breathing.
Instead
they would have to use
their arms to pull up
and eventually
strength would fail
in their arms
making breathing
so difficult
that they would soon die
of suffocation.
So the Jews
asked for this to be done
in order to speed up
the deaths
of those on the crosses.
And John tells us
that it was because
they didn't want
the bodies
on the crosses
during the Sabbath.
And John doesn't
unpack this too much
further for us
but he does give us
some sense
of the timing here.
He says it was
the day of preparation.
That's
the day prior
to the Sabbath.
It's the day
that you would get ready
for the Sabbath.
You'd get all your work done
so that on the Sabbath day
you could rest
in obedience
to the fourth commandment.
It was the day
of preparation
and the next day
was to be
a special
Sabbath
says John.
Now there's
much speculation
about why it was
going to be
a special Sabbath.
Some suggest
that whenever
a Sabbath
happened
during one of the
annual
religious festivals
that automatically
made it
a special Sabbath.
Perhaps the thinking
was something like
a holy day
in the midst
of a holy week
is even holier.
Others point
to a particular offering
that was to be
offered at the
temple
on the Sabbath
during the Passover
festival
which is what
is happening
right now
in Jerusalem.
Whatever the case
it was considered
a great Sabbath
a special Sabbath
and according
to the law
of Moses
anyone executed
on a wooden pole
or anyone
who was hung
on a pole
their body
was to be taken
down before
the end of the day
so as not to
desecrate
the land.
That from
Deuteronomy
21
verses 22
and 23.
So we don't know
exactly what the
religious leaders
were thinking
but perhaps a bit
of superstition
on their parts
you know
this is a special
Sabbath coming
a holy day
in the midst
of a holy week
and executing
someone
well that's
something that
shows God's
curse on that
person
leaving him
up overnight
that goes
against God's
law
and so
we don't want
to defile
or desecrate
the holy day
that's coming
right after
so let's get
those men down
from there
before the
Sabbath begins
keep in mind
that the Jewish
day started
in the evening
and was counted
from one evening
to the next
but again
I mean
this is religious
posturing
look at what
they did
to Jesus
it was the
most unholy
thing imaginable
now all of
this John
tells us
so that we
understand
why the Jewish
leaders wanted
to speed up
the death
of the men
on the crosses
by having
their legs
broken
but why is
this important
what's the
significance
of this
well John
tells us
in verse
32
and 33
that after
breaking the
legs of the
two men
on either
side of
Jesus
they came
to Jesus
and they
did not
break
his legs
why
because they
found that
he was already
dead
now think
about this
why would
John make
so much
of this
detail
that they
didn't break
Jesus legs
John wants
everyone to
know what
he saw
that Jesus
really did
die
on the cross
and this is
the evidence
these soldiers
and what they
did when they
came to Jesus
it proves that
he was really
dead
they were
soldiers
they were
professional
killers
executioners
they would
have known
if Jesus
was dead
or not
and it
was their
job to
ensure that
nobody
was taken
down off
these
crosses
and somehow
survived
their
sentence
the soldiers
were witnesses
they were
proof
they recognized
Jesus was
dead
and so they
didn't even
bother to do
the thing
that would
speed up
his death
there was
no need
and this
is crucial
to see
that Jesus
really did
die
because after
he rose
from the dead
there's going
to be all
kinds of
people
for generations
to come
who are
going to
deny
that Jesus
really rose
from the
dead
by claiming
that he
never actually
died
on the
cross
the Muslims
are among
those who
have that
view
and make
that claim
somehow
he survived
John saying
no
evidence
number one
I saw
the soldiers
intentionally
take a
pass
on breaking
his legs
because they
recognized
that he
was already
dead
and there's
a second
piece of
evidence
that John
gives to
drive this
even further
home
verse 34
John says
instead
one of the
soldiers
pierced
Jesus'
side
with a
spear
bringing a
sudden
flow of
blood
and water
now why
would the
soldiers
do this
well
it probably
wasn't
something they
did out of
contempt
or just
out of
fun
probably to
them it
was their
way to
make absolutely
sure
just in
case that
Jesus was
dead
they knew
he was
dead but
you know
things happen
occasionally
and rarely
sometimes a
heart that's in
cardiac arrest
regains its
rhythm and the
person comes
back
usually it
doesn't happen
many many
very often
sometimes it's
minutes after
very rarely
there's been
stories about
people regaining
consciousness
after hours
of being
pronounced
dead
I guess
they call
this the
Lazarus
syndrome
and medically
ROSC
return of
spontaneous
circulation
for these
soldiers
it's their
job to
make sure
that the
person being
executed
does not
survive
so a
spear into
the side of
Jesus
is plunged
water
but John
notices
something
curious
as he
witnesses
this
a flow
of blood
and water
came out
now the
blood we
expect
but water
what's the
meaning of
this
well it's
probably no
surprise that
medical doctors
and researchers
have been debating
back and forth
on this for a
long time
sometimes it's
difficult to
know who you
can even
trust in that
community
I mean some
of them are
staunch atheists
and they're out
to discredit the
Bible and
disprove it
others are
committed
believers and
Christians and
sometimes maybe a
little over eager
to prove that
what's in the
Bible is true
this is also a
very very
unique situation
Jesus has been
brutally flogged
almost to the
point of death
and then hung
up to die
and so the
medical issues
at play in
Jesus' body
would have
been many
this likely
isn't something
that most
doctors would
ever see
nevertheless
the usual
medical explanation
that is given
and is somewhat
agreed on
is that Jesus
experienced such
heavy bodily
trauma
during his
flogging
and now his
crucifixion
that he went
into what they
call hypovolemic
shock
which is a term
that refers to
low blood
volume
loss of blood
lack of blood
and the results
of this would
typically be that
the heart would
begin to race
to pump blood
that was not
there
the victim would
collapse or faint
due to low blood
pressure
kidneys would
shut down to
preserve body
fluids
a person would
experience extreme
thirst
as the body
desires to
replenish lost
fluids
and we certainly
see some of
these things
as Jesus
goes through
this
we see him
collapsing
weak
possibly
indicating low
blood pressure
on his way
out of the city
unable to carry
the cross
and so they
forced Simon
to do it
we see him
thirsty
at the cross
as we just
red
and so there's
this phenomenon
that's been
observed in
cases of
hypovolemic
shock
that prior to
death
that rapid
racing of the
heart
causes fluid
to gather
in the sac
around the
heart
and around
the lungs
and this
gathering of
fluid in the
membrane around
the heart
is called
pericardial
effusion
and the fluid
around the lungs
is called
pleural effusion
and so it's
generally thought
that when the
spear went in
the blood
and this
fluid
is what
came out
and that's
what had
the appearance
of water
some suggest
that it's
evidence that
the spear
went all the
way in
to Jesus
heart
whatever the
case
it's obvious
that Jesus
body was
pierced so
deeply
by the spear
that there
can be no
doubt
that he
was dead
that seems
to be
John's
main reason
for including
this
it's the
confirmation
it's the
final blow
which after
this there
can be no
denying
he really
did
die
there was
simply no
way he
could have
survived
this
and John's
point here
is not that
the spear
is what
killed him
John already
said up in
verse 30
that after
Jesus said
it is
finished
he gave
up his
spirit
so this
was sometime
after that
these things
John witnessed
are the
confirmation
that yes
he really
did die
and no
he didn't
survive
the crucifixion
in verse
35
John says
the man
who saw
it has
given
testimony
and his
testimony
is true
he knows
that he
tells the
truth
and he
testifies
so that
you also
may believe
so John
the apostle
is the one
writing this
and he
affirms
yes
this is
what I
saw
again
he seems
to refer
to himself
in the
third
person
we talked
about that
already
why he
might do
that
but he
wants
anyone
reading
this
story
to know
I
saw
this
happen
with my
own
eyes
I'm
giving
you
my
testimony
I'm
telling
you
the
truth
so that
you
may
believe
John
goes
on
he
says
these
things
happen
so that
the
scripture
would be
fulfilled
not one
of his
bones
will be
broken
and as
another
scripture
says
they
will
look
on the
one
they
have
pierced
so
there's
more
there's
a deeper
significance
to all
this
says
John
yes
these
two
things
I
witnessed
confirm
beyond
the
shadow
of a
doubt
that he
really
died
on that
cross
but
there's
more
these
two
things
that I
witnessed
were
signs
these
two
unique
things
that
didn't
happen
with
the
other
men
both
of
them
were
fulfillments
of
prophetic
words
that God
spoke
long
ago
in
ancient
times
through
the
prophets
and
then
he
quotes
the
words
the
first
one
not
one
of
his
bones
will
be
broken
this
is
a
scripture
that
John
quotes
from
a
psalm
of
David
written
about
a
thousand
years
earlier
psalm
chapter
34
verses
19
and
20
back
then
David
was
the
king
the
one
that
God
had
anointed
and
chosen
to
reign
over
Israel
David
was
that
king
that
God
made
the
special
promise
to
he
would
be
the
head
of
an
enduring
kingdom
that
would
last
forever
and
King
David
before
he
came
to
his
throne
he
said
this
in
one
of
his
poems
or
psalms
he
said
the
righteous
person
may
have
many
troubles
but
the
Lord
delivers
him
from
them
all
he
protects
all
his
bones
not
one
of
them
will
be
broken
now
David's
point
here
in
the
poem
is
very
simple
it's
that
God
protects
the
righteous
that's
what
David
experienced
for
himself
at
this
point
in
the
story
he's
had
many
troubles
Saul's
been
hunting
him
down
trying
to
kill
him
and
David's
fled
to
Philistine
territory
he's
been
pretending
to be
insane
so
that
the
Philistine
king
Abimelech
won't
kill
him
and
so
he
has
been
knowing
God's
protection
God
has
been
keeping
him
safe
and
this
was
part
of
a
poem
or
a
song
perhaps
that
he
wrote
but
surprisingly
without
David
knowing
it
God
had
a
deeper
meaning
and
intention
with
these
very
words
these
words
were
inspired
by
God
himself
God's
spirit
was
speaking
through
David
so
that
whether
he
realized
it
or
not
these
words
would
come
to be
fulfilled
quite
literally
over
a
thousand
years
later
with
the
king
of
God's
choosing
the
son
of
David
the
Messiah
that
not
one
of
his
bones
would
be
broken
though
there's
also
another
meaning
here
another
angle
that we
can look
at this
with
John
has been
careful
all along
to highlight
that this is
happening
during the
time of
the
Passover
do you
remember
what
John
the
baptizer
said
about
Jesus
he said
look
the
lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
is it
any
coincidence
that
this
lamb
Jesus
who
has
come
from
God
was
slaughtered
at
Passover
no
and
part
of
what
feeds
into
this
and
shows
this
is
this
whole
detail
about
the
breaking
of
bones
thousands
of
years
ago
as
God
gave
his
requirements
for
the
Passover
the
Israelites
were to
take
a
lamb
and
slaughter
it
this
was
going
to
be
the
way
that
their
sins
would
be
covered
back
then
that
punishment
would
pass
over
them
they
would
be
saved
they
had
to
slaughter
a
lamb
put
its
and
remain
inside
the
house
and
one
of
the
things
specifically
they
were
not
to
break
any
of
the
bones
of
that
lamb
God
made
it
clear
thousands
of
years
earlier
and
then
here
Jesus
God's
Passover
lamb
and
not
one
of
his
bones
were
broken
so
it
seems
that
God
himself
is
giving
another
sign
yes
this
is
my
son
this
is
my
king
this
is
the
lamb
that
I
have
provided
the
same
kind
of
fulfillment
is seen
in
John's
second
statement
as
another
scripture
says
they
will
look
on
the
one
they
have
pierced
this
too
this
detail
that
John
noticed
about
the
spear
was
a
fulfillment
of
God's
ancient
words
as
well
these
words
uttered
hundreds
of
years
earlier
by
the
prophet
Zechariah
chapter
12
verse
10
and this
is
God
speaking
through
Zechariah
said
I will
pour out
on the
house
of
David
and the
inhabitants
of
Jerusalem
a spirit
of
grace
and
supplication
they will
look
on me
the one
they have
pierced
and they
will
mourn
for him
as one
mourns
for an
only
child
and grieve
bitterly
for him
as one
grieves
for a
firstborn
son
hundreds of
years
before
Jesus
came
God spoke
of a future
day when the
inhabitants of this
very city
Jerusalem
would cry
would grieve
would mourn
why
because they
will look at
God
the one
they have
pierced
and that
grief
would be
intense
like the
grieving
you would
do
if you
lost
your
only
child
or your
firstborn
son
what is
this
well it's a
prophecy
about how
one day
the people
of Jerusalem
will have
God's
spirit
poured out
on them
and they
will see
clearly
that the
one
they
pierced
was their
God
the
Lord
Yahweh
the one
who had
come to
them
it's a
prophecy
detailing
the grief
and sadness
that will
overtake them
on that
day when
they realize
that
Jesus
the one
that they
killed
really was
the one
and only
the son
of God
their
Messiah
their
king
and I
won't get
into all
the details
of how
this is
fulfilled
it reaches
all the way
to the
book of
Revelation
when Jesus
comes back
but the
striking
feature
of the
God
who spoke
through
Zechariah
and of
this
one
who is
coming
back
at the
end
Jesus
the
identifying
mark
is that
he is
the one
they
pierced
they
pierced
him
with the
nails
they
pierced
him
with the
spear
this
is a
sign
says
John
this
thing
happened
with the
spear
it's
a
sign
another
sign
piled
on top
of all
the
other
signs
that
this
is
no
ordinary
man
he
is
the
Lord
he
is
the
king
of
heaven's
kingdom
God
said it
long ago
you
my
people
will
recognize
me
as
the
one
you
pierced
and
God
fulfilled
it
quite
literally
pierced
not
beheaded
not
some
other
form
of
execution
or
death
don't
miss
this
says
John
the
nails
in
his
hands
and
the
spear
in
his
side
pierced
as
God
foretold
long
ago
so
this
is
what
happened
soon
after
Jesus
died
and
now
quickly
we're
going
to
hear
from
John
what
happened
later
in
the
afternoon
towards
the
evening
verse
38
to
42
later
Joseph
of
Arimathea
asked
Pilate
for
the
body
of
Jesus
now
Joseph
was
a
disciple
of
Jesus
but
secretly
because
he feared
the
Jewish
leaders
with
Pilate's
permission
he came
and took
the
body
away
he was
accompanied
by
Nicodemus
the man
who
earlier
had
visited
Jesus
at
night
Nicodemus
brought a
mixture
of
myrrh
and
aloes
about
75
pounds
taking
Jesus
body
the
two
of
them
wrapped
it
with
the
spices
in
strips
of
linen
this
was
in
accordance
with
the
Jewish
burial
customs
at
the
place
where
Jesus
was
crucified
there
was
a
garden
and
in
the
garden
a
new
tomb
in
which
no
one
had
ever
been
laid
because
it
was
the
Jewish
day
of
preparation
and
since
the
tomb
was
nearby
they
laid
Jesus
there
now
there's
lots
we could
draw out
here
but
I'm
going
to
keep
it
short
this
morning
because
we're
going
to
go
to
the
Lord's
table
in
just
a
minute
here
John
tells
us
that
two
men
were
responsible
for
the
burial
of
Jesus
again
the
fact
that
it
was
preparation
day
seems
to
have
influenced
their
decision
about
where
to
bury
Jesus
body
the
Sabbath
was
almost
upon
them
there's
no
time
to
make
other
arrangements
Matthew
tells
us
that
actually
Joseph
offered
his
own
tomb
this
was
a
tomb
that
belonged
to
him
that
he
had
built
or
made
for
burial
Joseph
of
Arimathea
was
a
wealthy
man
he
was
actually
a
member
of
the
Jewish
ruling
council
the
Sanhedrin
and
we're
told
in
one
of
the
other
gospels
that
he
didn't
side
with
all
the
other
religious
leaders
who
had
agreed
to
condemn
Jesus
so
John
tells
us
here
that
Joseph
was
a
secret
disciple
of
Jesus
he
believed
Jesus
but
he
was
afraid
of
what
would
happen
if
he
let
it
be
known
publicly
with
him
was
a
man
named
Nicodemus
was also
a member
of the
Jewish
ruling
council
the
Sanhedrin
and
if
you
remember
way
back
in
the
story
he
was
that
guy
that
came
to
Jesus
at
night
in
John
chapter
3
and
Jesus
had
told
him
that
he
needed
to
be
born
again
by
the
spirit
of
God
he
knew
back
then
that
Nicodemus
did
not
believe
he
was
looking
at
the
miracles
and
signs
that
Jesus
was
doing
but
Jesus
said
to
him
I've
spoken
to
you
about
earthly
things
and
you
do
not
believe
and
Jesus
had
given
Nicodemus
a
sign
to
watch
for
he
said
watch
for
the
moment
when
the
son
of
man
is
lifted
up
on
a
wooden
pole
just
like
the
snake
was
in
the
wilderness
in
the
days
of
Moses
well
finally
we
see
that
Nicodemus
three
years
later
it's
obvious
he
has
come
to
believe
doesn't
say
that
he
believed
in
the
text
but
given
the
fierce
opposition
and
ridicule
he
would
have
faced
from
the
other
religious
leaders
towards
Jesus
there's
no
way
he
would
be
doing
this
honoring
Jesus
by
helping
to
bury
him
unless
he
too
had
become
a
disciple
in
fact
this
is
his
great
deed
that
springs
out
of
his
faith
John
tells
us
that
Nicodemus
brought
approximately
75
pounds
of
myrrh
aloes
and
spices
to
wrap
Jesus
body
with
an
extraordinarily
large
amount
I
mean
this
is
the
kind
of
amount
the
historians
and
scholars
say
is
fit
for
honoring
the
death
of
a
king
royalty
one
commentary
I
read
suggested
that
if
Mary's
lavish
gift
of
perfume
back
in
John
12
was
worth
almost
a
year's
wages
this
gift
of
myrrh
and
spices
in
this
amount
may
have
been
worth
almost
a
hundred
years
wages
of
the
average
day
labor
of the
time
lavish
gift
so it's
pretty clear
that Nicodemus
has come
to faith
and this
is the
deed that
gives
evidence
of it
so these
two men
prepared
Jesus'
body for
burial
according to
the Jewish
customs
and then they
lay his
body to
rest
in the
tomb
that
belonged
to
Joseph
which
was
nearby
can you
imagine
how difficult
a thing
that must
have been
for
Joseph
and
Nicodemus
to have
watched
all this
happen
to
Jesus
and now
to just
constantly
relive
it
and see
it all
up close
and personal
as they
carefully
wrapped
his body
and laid
it to
rest
in the
tomb
and then
rolled the
stone
in front
of the
entrance
this is
what John
witnessed
that day
near the
cross
where he
stood
this is
what we
remember
as we
come to
the table
we remember
the death
of Jesus
we remember
with the
bread
and the
cup
his
body
his
blood
the blood
that flowed
the body
that was
pierced
with the
nails
and the
spear
we
remember
the
agony
but the
good news
of God
is that
this
death
was for
you
behold
the Lamb
of God
who takes
away
the sin
of the
world
in the
words of
Isaiah
spoken
centuries
earlier
he was
pierced
for our
transgressions
he was
crushed
for our
iniquities
and so
I just
want to
simply ask
you this
morning
do you
believe
this
gospel
that's
why
John
included
all this
wrote
this
so that
you
may
believe
do you
believe
this
good
news
about
Jesus
Christ
our
Passover
Lamb
do you
believe
that
every
selfish
sinful
wretched
thing
that you've
ever done
can be
forgiven
and taken
away
your guilt
taken
away
your
punishment
passed
over
by God
because
Jesus
Christ
our
Passover
Lamb
was
slaughtered
and his
blood
God
sees it
he sees
it there
on the
posts of
the cross
do you
believe
that
his
wrath
need
not
visit
you
do you
believe
this
good
news
that
Jesus
died
for
you
that's
what
this
table
is
all
about
if
you
believe
that
with
all
your
heart
this
table
is
for
you
and
I
invite
you
to
partake
with
us
again
this
morning
as
we
do
this
as
we
reflect
on
the
love
of
God
for
us
if
not
simply
let
the
elements
pass
you
by
so
we're
going
to
take
a
moment
now
just
to
reflect
and
to
pray
and
I
encourage
you
to
confess
your
sins
again
to
God
think
about
this
past
week
and
I
encourage
you
to
thank
God
to
thank
Jesus
for
this
gracious
gift
we'll
wait
until
everyone
has
been
served
and
then
we'll
give
thanks
and
we'll
eat
and
drink
all
together
of
him
Thank you.