Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of the week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: "Not a bone of it will be broken." And again another passage says: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced".
In Other Words
There are "conspiracy theories" surrounding the death of Jesus on the cross. Some say He merely fainted, and that later on His body was spirited away to some place where He was revived. Later, they say He traveled to France to begin a new life there. And to think that there are people who actually swallow this "theory" as though it were "gospel truth".
The truth is what the Scriptures record: that Jesus did die and He was certified dead, and reported as such to Pontius Pilate. There was no play acting for Jesus Christ truly died, period. All this was to fulfill the Scriptures about the death of the Messiah.
It is however the meaning of His death that matters. For it was sacrificial death: Jesus Christ died so we may have salvation and eternal life in His kingdom. We, who witness His death through our loving, meditative and prayerful reading of His Passion and Death, should be overwhelmed by the sacrifice of this "Tremendous Lover". No one who reflects on Christ's passion, death , and resurrection should come away unaffected, unappreciative and untouched by the "greatest love of all". Yes Christ has dies, Christ is risen; and all of this is for us. Oh what He did for love, what He did for love...
- Fr. Lino Nicasio SVD (SHP, Kamuning, Q.C.)
