Dear Explorer,
Read John 19:31-34
I look at these verses in amazement. The Jewish leaders had just committed murder as they witnessed the death of an innocent man – and indeed the Messiah, King of the Universe, yet, they were concerned that the bodies be taken down so they wouldn't “mess up” the special Passover Celebration.
What did they ask Pilate to do?
When the legs were broken, the person on the cross could no longer push up to get oxygen, so would “drown” quicker as the lungs filled with water. It was very cruel and painful, but it hastened the death.
Why were Jesus' legs not broken?
What did the soldiers do to Jesus instead?
By piercing his chest wall, they released all the accumulated fluid that was in and around his heart cavity making the body lighter for removal. However, the Scripture indicates that not only water, but blood poured out. Forensic experts tell us that they would have had to pierce His heart to get any quantity of blood.
What I want you to know without a shadow of doubt is that Jesus was dead. DEAD. No one lives over a crucifixion. No one lives over a puncture wound to the heart – at least not from a Roman spear. Jesus was dead.
There are some people who will try to tell you that Jesus just fainted and after laying in a tomb for 3 days – revived and walked out. No. He was dead. The Roman soldiers verified that he was dead, so they didn't break his legs. But by puncturing His heart, he was absolutely without a shadow of a doubt, dead.
Read John 19:35-37
John was the only disciple that we know of, who witnessed the entire crucifixion. He states that this is his testimony and that he is telling the truth. He published this account while many other eyewitnesses were still alive, so his record is historically valid. And if that is not enough, he reminds us that all of this was predicted many, many years before it happened.
In His service, dale
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