The Jews held to their laws and rituals above all else. To them, the Sabbath stood as the holiest of days. What an affront to God, should the bodies remain on the cross into the Sabbath! Therefore to hasten death, they requested the soldiers to break the legs of the men on the crosses. Even in this illustration, God shows Himself above man’s designs, fulfilling His word and maintaining a witness, that all may believe.
Above Man’s Designs
When it came to the concerns of man, God already had pre-empted their plans. When the soldiers came to Jesus, He was already dead. There was no need to break His legs. Instead, they pierced His side. From Genesis to Revelation we read about God’s designs concerning His Son and mankind.
Fulfilling His Word
John refers to scriptures which were fulfilled in this part of the story. He refers to Psa. 34:20, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” and “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.” Psa. 22″16,17, Zech. 12:10 and 13:6 along with Rev. 1:7 all refer to His being pierced. These words were placed in the hearts and minds by God’s Spirit, and some have been fulfilled while yet some remain.
Maintaining A Witness
God not only worked above man’s plans, but fulfilled the words He had spoken to the prophets, and has yet to fulfill. In it all He maintained a witness. Here the apostle John is the witness. He defends his testimony. “I have seen this, I verify that it is true, I know it is the truth and I’m telling you so you can believe.”
God’s heart, all through time, desires for all to believe. Even in this illustration, God shows Himself above man’s designs, fulfilling His word and maintaining a witness that all may believe. Someday the fulfillment, “Behold He is coming with clouds and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.”