John 19:31

These verses contain several remarkable passages tending to the confirmation of our faith, in the belief of the certainty and reality of our Saviour's death: in which the Jews, the soldiers, and St. John, do all five their several and sufficient evidences.

Observe, 1. The Jews' part in clearing up his truth: they desire Pilate (who had power alone to dispose of the dead bodies of condemned persons) that the legs of the crucified persons might be broken to hasten their death, that so they might be taken away, and buried; because according to the law, (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) the land was defiled with those that were hanged, if not timely buried: and they judged if the bodies of these persons did remain on the cross all that night, and the next sabbath-day, which was an high day, (the ordinary-sabbath, and the first day of the passover, or feast of unleavened bread, meeting together,) it might pollute both them and their feast.

Whence note, the cursed hypocrisy of these Jews; they look upon themselves as strictly bound to observe an outward ceremony, but their consciences never scruple to violate the most weighty precepts of the moral law; they strictly observe the ceremonial precept, that the dead bodies should not remain upn the cross, but they scruple not to crucify the Son of God, and to use him with the utmost rigour, desiring his bones may be broken.

Observe, 2. The soldiers' part contributed to clear the truth of Christ's death: they execute what the Jews had desired, and Pilate granted, breaking the legs of the two thieves, but not of Jesus, because he was already dead; but one of, the soldiers resolving to make sure work, thrusts. spear into his side, and there came out straightway blood and water, proving that he was really dead.

All which points out to us, that it is he who came by water and blood, 1 John 5:6 and that from the merit and efficacy of his death, there floweth out blood for the obtaining remission of sin, and water to regenerate and wash us from our uncleanness.

From the barbarous soldier's piercing of Christ's side after he was dead, we learn, that no cruelty was omitted to Christ either dead or alive, which might testify the great desert of our sin, nor was there any needful evidence wanting which might make clear the truth of his death; the soldier's piercing of our Saviour's side was at once an exercise of their cruelty, and an evidence of the certainty of Christ's death.

Observe, 3. St. John's part in this evidence: he avouches, that Christ really died, and expressly affirms that he saw it with his own eyes, for the confirmation of our faith: He that saw it bare record, and his record is true. And farther shows that by these actions of the soldiers, that was done by which several scripture prophecies were fulfilled, and received their accomplishment; particularly, that of Exodus 12:46, concerning the paschal lamb, which was. type of Christ, That. bone of it should not be broken; and that prediction, They shall look on him whom they have pierced Zechariah 12:10.

Learn hence, that Christ is the truth and substance of that type, the paschal lamb, mentioned, Exodus 12:46 and the true passover sacrificed for us; therefore what was ordained concerning the paschal lamb, is applied here to Christ, as the substance of that type: A bone of him shall not be broken.