The Gospel of John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion includes this detail: “Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down” (John 19:31 NIV). Crucifixion was a horrible and painful way to die. The weight of the body pulling down would create a tremendous strain on the heart. A man being crucified could push up with his legs, which would reduce the strain on the heart and prolong life a little longer. Therefore, breaking the legs would make this impossible and thus hasten death. John’s account continued: “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” (John 33-34). Jesus did not have His legs broken because He was already dead. The soldier thrust a spear into Jesus to see whether He was dead and to kill Him if He was not. The pooled blood poured out, demonstrating that He was dead and also releasing the flow of Jesus’ blood (like the blood of the Passover lamb) that would wash away sin.

Why was Jesus already dead? John 19:30 gives the answer: “Jesus said, ‘It is finished’…bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Jesus was not killed by the Roman soldiers. He died when He chose to die. Jesus had already explained this: “I am the good shepherd…and I lay down my life for the sheep…I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:14-18)

That Jesus’ legs were not broken is remarkable because it shows that even when He was dead, Jesus was still in control. He did not want His legs broken for two reasons. First, He fulfilled some Old Testament prophecies. Jesus was sacrificed at the time of the Passover, which commemorated the day when the Israelites were saved from the angel of death in Egypt by sacrificing a lamb and spreading its blood on their doorposts. The Mosaic law said that none of the Passover lamb’s bones should be broken (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). This also fulfilled Psalm 34:19-20: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” We know that the righteous do suffer, but this psalm symbolically says that no such suffering will be permanently disabling for those who are righteous. Jesus also fulfilled a Messianic prophecy saying that He would be pierced: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced…On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

Second, Jesus did not have His legs broken because He knew what was coming. He knew that after His resurrection He would need His legs to walk again on the earth.