We are now into the final hour or two before the Lord Jesus' expired body is laid to rest in a borrowed cave dugout for such a time as this for another person by his own hands. John in his over whelming love for the son of man, the promised Jewish Messiah. Does not speak of the brutality that He suffered in the name of the Father's Love for His divine creation shortly to be restored to Him Who ISh, as the other end of days writers of the synoptic gospels have, to prove who the Son of GOD was and that He did come just as promised in the Jewish scriptures that spoke of Him. and that this mans actions and language revealed just who His was in His divine presence among His humanity.
John 19:31-37 " The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for this sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake 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 brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, "A bone of him shall not be broken." (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20) And again another scripture (in Zechariah 12:10) saith, "They shall look on him whom they pierced." (KJV)
John 19:31-37 "Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for this Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 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 at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture (in Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20) might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture (in Zechariah 12:10) says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced." (ESV)
John 19:31-37 "The Jews were keen to have the bodies removed from the cross before sunset when the Sabbath began, especially since this particular Sabbath would coincide with the first day of unleavened bread which was a "great" day. Their preparation for the feast of unleaven bread and eating the Passover meal was in full swing. They approached Pilate therefore and requested that the bones of the victims be broken and that they might be lifted off the cross. (To commemorate the unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt, they don't eat or even retain in their possession any "chametz" form midday of the day before Passover until the conclusion of the holiday. Chametz means leavened grain - any food or drink that contains even a trace of wheat, barley, rye, spelt to their derivatives and wasn't guarded from leavening or fermentation. This includes bread, cake, cookies, cereal, pasta, and most alcoholic beverages. Ridding their homes of chametz is an intensive process. It involves a full-out spring-cleaning search-and-destroy mission during the weeks before Passover, and culminates with a search for chametz on the morning before the holiday.
Instead of chametz, they eat matza - flat unleavened bread. It is a mitzvah to partake of matza on the two Seder Nights. During the rest of the holiday it is optional.
The highlight of Passover is the two "Seder," observed on the first two nights of the holiday. The first Seder is on Friday Evening, and the second Seder is on Saturday Evening, the Seder is a family oriented tradition and a ritual packed feast.
The focus points of the Seder are: Eating matza and bitter herbs -- to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites. and drinking four cups of wine or grape juice - a royal drink to celebrate their newfound freedom.
The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes in detail the story of the exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to recount to our children the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover. )
The soldiers then broke the legs of the two men who were crucified with Jesus. But when they saw that Jesus was already dead they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers then pierced his side; blood and water flowed from the wound. (The presence of these two elements was evidence that there had been heart rupturing.) The one who witnessed these things has recorded their detail to convince the reader of their significance. These things happened in fulfillment of that which was written prophetically, "No bone in the Pascal lamb shall be crushed." (Exodus 12:46 written in 1500 BC) also another scripture which reads, "They shall gaze upon him whom they have pierced!" (in Zechariah 12:10) (The Mirror)
I shall, the LORD willing, finish this in our next visit.
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