John 19:33-34
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
One of the remarkable things about the risen and ascended Christ is that he still bears the marks of his death and suffering for humanity. Christ has truly made the Cross eternal with his physical body. Even when our bodies are fully restored at our own resurrection, Christ will still bear the wounds of his crucifixion. This powerful and physical seal points directly to the centrality of the Cross.
It was routine for those who were crucified to have their legs broken to speed up death. This was done so it was nearly impossible for them to lift themselves up to keep from suffocating.
Jesus, who had already died, was stabbed in his side so the guards could confirm his death. His legs weren’t broken, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy that no bones of Christ would be shattered. Furthermore, Zechariah 12:10 reveals another wonderful and important prophecy:
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
In this passage, the Lord makes known that it was Him incarnate who was crucified. This verse also offers a glimpse into the future, telling us that Christ will return in his second coming with his visible wounds. The whole world will see the firstborn over all creation who has been crucified and pierced.
The blood and water from his side depicts the cleansing and forgiveness for humanity. The Anima Christi, a popular prayer in the medieval Church declares, “Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me.”
The Cross is a reminder not only of our cleansing and forgiveness from sin but also that despite whatever agony we face, Christ faced an even worse agony. It is not a promise of temporary deliverance from our suffering, but it is a promise that God shares in that suffering. It’s a reminder that despite every anguish, pain, and rejection we face, the Triune God has a plan and purpose to reconcile us and raise us up. It’s a comfort to know that the sacrifice and blood of Christ is perfectly sufficient, and one day we will see the marks for ourselves.
