Not a Bone Broken

Luke 23:46-49

The repugnance of God toward sin is described in Luke 23:44-45, when for about three hours, from about noon to 3:00 pm. God caused a darkness, similar to a solar eclipse but lasting far longer .

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” (Luke 23:44-45)

After three hours, Jesus could hardly bear the estrangement from God resulting from bearing the sins of the world. Matthew 27:46 records his distress. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Finally the burden was lifted, and he spoke out to God.

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46)

Crucifixion was a very cruel form of punishment, with people frequently living from forty-eight to sixty hours, and some as long as seventy two. For Jesus to die after only about four was very unusual. Luke’s comment that he gave up the ghost is very significant. Jesus described what would happen in John 10:17-18. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” He did not die of the efforts to kill him, he voluntarily gave up his life for us.

Over the years, I have seen a number of people who decided their life was no longer worth living who made up their minds to die. None succeeded unless they used some form of suicide, whether by overdosing or by starving themselves and rejecting their medications. Several were unable to commit suicide, making it clear that ordinary people do control their life and death, although God may allow them to kill themselves. Jesus exhibited a power that is not given to ordinary people.

"Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47)

After seeing the sun darkened for three hours and the earthquake that occurred on Jesus death, the centurion charged with executing Jesus was convinced who Jesus was. Matthew 27:54 describes his and the other soldier’s response. “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

Those who had wanted Jesus dead beat their chests in pride and went home satisfied that they had gotten rid of him. Those who had believed in him hung around, reluctant to give up their hope and go away.

“And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.” (Luke 23:48-49)

Because it took so long for those who were crucified to die, and they did not want anything to mar their celebration of the Sabbath during the Passover week, the Jews demanded that the legs of the condemned be broken to speed their deaths. Evenwith broken legs most prisoners took twelve to sixteen hours to die. Breaking their legs would ensure that they would die during the following day, during the preparing for the Sabbath. It clearly establishes the time frame as being on Thursday. Jesus had said he would be in the grave three days and three nights. The traditional date of Friday only permits two nights. Dying at about 3:00 pm means that Jesus’ resurrection about daylight Sunday morning would fulfill the prophecy. Failure to do so would mean he could not be the Messiah.

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:31-34)

I Corinthians 5:7 declares that Christ is our Passover. “… For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” A requirement for the Passover was that not a bone of the lamb be broken according to Exodus 12:46. “In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Psalm 34:20 prophesied, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken,” about the Messiah. That his legs were not broken is one more proof that he was Messiah.

To make sure of his death, one of the soldiers stabbed a spear into his side, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 12:10. When they pierced his side, a mixture of water and blood came out, proving the blood had ceased to circulate, as anyone who has ever bought a package of meat and seen the bloody mixture in the bottom of the package can attest. There could be no question that he actually died. Those who insist he just fainted clearly ignore the evidence. He fulfilled that prophecy as well.