John 19:31

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation.

Some urge that this refers to the preparation for the Sabbath day, but John explains the meaning in which he uses the word "preparation," in verse 14, where he says distinctly "it was the preparation of the Passover." It is true that the next day was the Sabbath and "that Sabbath was an high day." It was more than an ordinary Sabbath. The annual Sabbath of the Passover, "the first day of unleavened bread," which was set apart as. Sabbath by the law, coincided with the weekly Sabbath, making that Sabbath of unusual solemnity.

That the bodies should not remain upon the cross.

It was the Roman custom, as well as that of other Gentile lands, to leave the body on the cross to putrefy and be devoured by carrion eating birds and beasts, but this was forbidden by the Jewish law which, partly as. sanitary measure and partly as. ceremonial obligation, required immediate burial (Deuteronomy 21:23). Hence, in Judea, out of deference to Jewish prejudices the Romans yielded their custom. These Jews, who had no scruples about sending an innocent man to death on trumped-up charges, and who resorted to the most unscrupulous methods to defeat justice, were such sticklers for these ceremonials that they would have considered it an awful profanation of sacred things if the body of one whom they had murdered had remained on the cross over the Sabbath day!

Their legs might be broken.

Breaking the legs was. barbarous method adopted to hasten death, probably instituted as much to add horror as to terminate sufferings. The legs were crushed with. hammer somewhat like. sledge, and the shock would bring speedy death. The Jewish authorities simply request Pilate that he shall order the coup de grace to be administered in order that the bodies may be taken down from the cross.