Thursday 6th April
Read John 19:31-37
“Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’37 and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’” (NIVUK)
The cascade of fulfilled scripture continues to flow. But the focus has subtly shifted. No longer are the ‘fulfillments’ related to the suffering and mockery and death, for it is now finished. Fulfillment now revolves around the care and compassion the Father can show to the Son because the price has been fully paid. But now, after death, his bones are not broken and further mutilation is rendered unnecessary.
John emphasises that Jesus was dead through the witness of the water and the blood. Many explanations have been offered for the witness of the water and blood. Some link it to the witness John speaks of in his letter (cf 1 John 5). Those in the early church thought it may have symbolised and affirmed the two sacraments, baptism and communion. Others have seen fulfillments in many places in the Old Testament.
I confess I lean towards the picture of Christ as the Rock, struck in the wilderness to provide life to a grumbling and thankless people (cf 1 Corinthians 10:4). The struck Rock saved them and water flowed. “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’” (Exodus 17:6) (NIVUK). But who is being struck to bring life? Yahweh stands before the Rock…
It is a picture captured beautifully in Toplady’s classic hymn.
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.”
Reflect on the price paid for the ‘double cure’ today.
