They did this because it was Friday. Friday was "the preparation day" for the Sabbath [Saturday]. This would be a "double Sabbath," because it was the Passover. Victims were usually left on the cross until the bodies rotted away. But the Jews want to get it all over, to prevent ritually defiling the Sabbath and Passover. The soldiers take sledge-hammers and crush the legs of the criminals (Luke 23:39-43) who were crucified with Jesus. This would make them die very quickly!

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Old Testament