The Jews therefore because it was the preparation
Profanity of fanaticism
They must make ready for keeping holy the Sabbath while their hands are red with the murder of the Son of God.
A stroke of that Jewish hypocrisy which strains at gnats and swallows camels similar to John 18:28. These men considered themselves strictly bound to observe every jot and tittle of an outward ordinance, but never scrupled to violate the most weighty precepts of the moral law. They made no conscience of murdering an innocent Person, and yet could not think of letting His dead body hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day. (W. H. Van Doren, D. D.)
The dead Christ
I. THE SIGHTS JOHN BEHELD (John 19:32-35).
1. The breaking of the robbers’ legs. How and why this came to pass the Evangelist explains; also how and why the operation was omitted in the case of Christ.
2. The piercing of the Saviour’s side. Not a slight scratch, but a strong thrust of a soldier’s lance, given to render assurance of Christ’s death doubly sure.
3. The streaming of blood and water from the wound--unusual, if not directly miraculous. As Christ’s body saw no corruption the change upon it which should culminate in a resurrection had begun. The water and the blood were an indication of the presence of that new life which was to issue in the transformation of what was earthly and corporeal into that which is heavenly and spiritual.
II. THE REFLECTIONS JOHN MADE (John 19:36-37; 1 John 5:6).
1. That Christ was the true Paschal Lamb. He arrived at this conclusion by observing the coincidence between the not breaking of Christ’s legs and the ancient paschal ordinance (Exodus 12:46). At the time perhaps it escaped his notice, but reflecting on it afterwards he saw in that seemingly accidental, but really providential, circumstance, “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
2. That Israel would one day be converted to Christ. John remembered Zechariah 12:10. Since the first part of the prophecy was undeniably fulfilled, he knew the other would be, and he had not long to wait. Within two months many of Christ’s murderers were crying, “What shall we do?” Acts 2:37). And the day will come when all shall cry it (Romans 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 3:16).
3. That Christ crucified was an all-sufficient Saviour for men. This was suggested; if not then, afterwards, by streaming forth of blood and water, to cleanse and regenerate (1 John 5:6). (T. Whitelaw, D. D.)
A fragment of a wonderful history
I. THE IMMORALITY OF TECHNICAL SAINTHOOD. The Jews here were in a conventional and ceremonial sense great saints, and felt themselves such; albeit they were destitute of genuine morality, and in heart disregarded every precept of the decalogue. It has ever been so. There is a pietism which eats out the heart of humanity, and turns men into bigots and persecutors.
II. THE SERVILITY OF STATE HIRELINGS. The soldiers who crucified and pierced Christ had sold themselves to the state, and surrendered their whole individuality to their employers. The spirit of manhood was extinct; they had become machines to murder and kill. This is the curse of nations. In proportion to the servile spirit of a people is the strength of tyranny. Sycophancy paralyses patriotism. This is not unknown even in England.
III. THE CERTITUDE OF THE GREATEST FACT.
1. The greatest fact in history is the death of Christ. To it all past events pointed, and from it all future have their rise and take their date. It created moral influences which deepen every day.
2. The most competent witness of the fact was John. No one was
(1) More intellectually competent. No one was so much with Christ, and so intimately acquainted with Him.
(2) More morally competent. He was incorruptibly honest and incontrovertibly disinterested.
IV. THE PHILOSOPHY OF EVANGELICAL. PENITENCE (verse 37). He who looks with the eye of faith on the cross as the demonstration of human wickedness and the expression of God’s compassion for sinners, is in a way to have his heart broken with contrition for sin. (D. Thomas, D. D.)