Broken Legs

Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one 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 soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. (John 19:31-37)

At first it seems quite strange that “the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.”  These crucified were still alive; therefore, breaking their legs appears to be piling on more suffering for those already in great pain.  Some would say the breakings were acts of compassion because, if unable to stand on cross small platforms, the crucified quickly would die of suffocation.  Crucified victims were no longer able to push themselves up to breathe by using their legs.

However, according to John, the reason for these breakings was religious in nature. The Jewish Passover was a holy day.  Leaving men alive on their crosses at the Sabbath, which began at sunset, would have been viewed as a discretion of this holy day.  Dead bodies could be taken down before the Sabbath; hence, break the men’s legs so they would die. Assuming these events really happened, one wonders about such callousness in the interest of a religious practice.  

Noteworthy is John’s text: “For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken." And again, another passage says: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” Jesus was said to be already dead; therefore, breaking his legs was unnecessary.  Not a bone was broken.  Prophecy was fulfilled including the piercing of Jesus’ side with blood and water flowing out.  These events fulfilled Messianic prophecies also including those in Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20; and Zechariah 12:10.  

John was knowledgeable and a creative writer drawing upon these texts and prophecies to pen his moving and insightful devotion to Jesus who he and his community firmly believed was the Messiah, the Christ.  Like John, we have come to believe in what was said by that unidentified eyewitness who testified.  We have faith that witness was speaking the truth, so that we also might come to believe. And, we do.

Deacon David Pierce