No Broken Bones
“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs” (John 19:33).
A few verses later we find out why they didn’t break the Lord’s legs. “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken” (John 19:36). It was no coincidence that Jesus died before the soldiers came to break the legs of those on the crosses. The Jews, in their Passover celebration, were not allowed to break any of the bones of the sacrificial lamb. “This is the ordinance of the passover … neither shall ye break a bone thereof” (Exodus 12:43, 46). So Jesus, in fulfilling the type, did not suffer any broken bones — just a broken heart. He could say, “Reproach hath broken My heart” (Psalm 69:20). Jesus died voluntarily. He gave up His life. No one took it from Him.
The Israelites were never to forget their redemption and deliverance from Egypt, and we are never to forget the work of Calvary, which is the basis of our redemption and deliverance. He has asked us, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).
