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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 19:31 - 19:37
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_19:31-37
31Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken." 37And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
Joh_19:31 "that the bodies could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath" The Jews were very concerned about dead bodies ceremonially polluting the land (cf. Deu_21:23), especially on the High Holy Sabbath of Passover.
▣ "(for the Sabbath was a high day)" This has been interpreted in two ways.
1. the Passover meal and the Sabbath coincided this particular year (Jews used a lunar calendar)
2. the feast of Unleavened Bread coincided with the Sabbath this year
The feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (cf. Exodus 12) had become an eight-day festival.
▣ "that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away" Apparently this situation had happened before. A large mallet was used to break the legs of the crucified persons. Crucifixion usually caused death by asphyxiation. Breaking the legs caused this almost immediately because the person could not push up on his legs to breathe.
Joh_19:33 "they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs" This may also be fulfilled prophecy going back to Exo_12:46; Num_9:12 and Psa_34:20.
Joh_19:34 "one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear and immediately blood and water came out" This is an eyewitness medical detail showing that He was truly dead and thereby asserting the true humanity of Jesus the Messiah. The Gospel of John, as well as 1 John, were written in the days of a growing Gnosticism which affirmed the Deity of Jesus but denied His humanity.
Joh_19:35 This verse is a comment by John, who was the only eyewitness to all the events of (1) the night trials; (2) the Roman trial; and (3) the crucifixion. This comment on the death of Jesus is parallel to Joh_20:30-31, which shows the evangelistic purpose of the Gospel (cf. Joh_21:24). See hyperlink at Joh_1:8.
There is a Greek manuscript variant in the verb of the last clause. Some texts have the present tense and some the aorist tense. If it was originally an aorist, it is focusing on unbelievers, as does Joh_20:30-31. However, if it is present it is focusing on continuing and developing faith. John's Gospel seems to be directed to both groups.
▣ "true. . .truth" See Special Topics at Joh_6:55; Joh_17:3.
Joh_19:36 This may be an allusion to the Passover Lamb from Exo_12:46; Num_9:12; or Psa_34:20. It depends on which phrase is being referred to: (1) pierced or (2) broken. Jesus Himself showed the early church these Scriptures during the 40 days that He stayed on earth after the resurrection (cf. Luk_24:27; Act_1:2-3). The preaching of the early church (in Acts) reflects these fulfilled OT prophecies which Jesus showed them.
Joh_19:37 This is a quote from Zec_12:10 which is one of the great promises that
1. Israel will one day turn to Jesus, the Messiah, in faith (cf. Rev_1:7)
2. many Jews who had believed already were there grieving over Jesus' death
3. this refers to the Roman soldiers (cf. Mat_27:54) representing the Gentile nations (cf. Joh_12:32)
It is interesting that this quote is obviously from the Masoretic Hebrew Text, not the Septuagint which is usually quoted by the Gospel writers. The Septuagint has "mocked," but the Masoretic Text has "pierced."