John 19:32-3732Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:32‑37)
AT last the soldiers came to see if Jesus and the two thieves were dead, so that they might bury them before it was dark. The soldiers looked at one thief, and they saw he was not dead. So they broke his legs, and that killed him. Then they looked at the other thief, and they saw he was not dead. So they broke his legs too.
Then they looked at Jesus. They saw He was dead, so they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers took a long stick with a sharp point at the end, called a spear, and put it in His side. And out of Jesus’ side blood and water came flowing out onto the ground. John was standing nearby, and he saw the blood.
Do you remember how Jesus, at supper the night before, had poured wine into a cup and said to the disciples, ‘This is My blood, which is shed for many’?
Now His blood was poured out. The spear made a hole in Jesus’ side. There was a hole in His side, and a hole in each hand, and a hole in each foot, and His forehead was pricked with thorns, and His eyes had shed many tears, and blood had come from His skin. All this He suffered for people who have sinned, just like we have, so that God might forgive them their sins.
‘Yes, He is surely dead,’
The cruel soldier said,
Then pierced the Savior’s side.
Behold, a mingled tide
Of blood and water, flowing from the wound,
Covers with crimson stains Golgotha’s ground!
The loving John was near;
He saw the soldier’s spear
Bring forth that wondrous flood
Of water and of blood;
And well-remembered how his Master said,
He came for sinful man His blood to shed.
The blood that flowed that day
Long since has passed away;
But still there flows a stream,
Though by all eyes unseen,
For those that trust the blood on Calvary spilled;
And in that stream their souls are washed from guilt.
And does it flow for me?
And can I washed be?
For oft my soul has been
Spotted and stained with sin.
Mercy I ask, because the Savior died;
And thus, as by a stream, be purified.
Questions
How did the soldiers kill the thieves?
Why did they kill them so soon?
Why did the soldiers not break Jesus’ legs?
What did they put into Jesus’ side?
What is a spear?
What came out of His side?
What had Jesus poured out once at supper, when He said, ‘This is My blood’?
Why did Jesus shed His blood on the cross?
What takes away sin?
A verse from the Bible for you to learn:
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.