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The Desire of Ages
victory they had expected. Even in the hour of their apparent triumph,
they were harassed with doubts as to what would next take place. They
had heard the cry, “It is finished.” “Father, into Thy hands I commend
My spirit.”
John 19:30
;
Luke 23:46
. They had seen the rocks rent, and
had felt the mighty earthquake, and they were restless and uneasy.
They had been jealous of Christ’s influence with the people when
living; they were jealous of Him even in death. They dreaded the
dead Christ more, far more, than they had ever feared the living Christ.
They dreaded to have the attention of the people directed any further
to the events attending His crucifixion. They feared the results of that
day’s work. Not on any account would they have had His body remain
on the cross during the Sabbath. The Sabbath was now drawing on,
and it would be a violation of its sanctity for the bodies to hang upon
the cross. So, using this as a pretext, the leading Jews requested Pilate
that the death of the victims might be hastened, and their bodies be
removed before the setting of the sun.
Pilate was as unwilling as they for the body of Jesus to remain
upon the cross. His consent having been obtained, the legs of the two
thieves were broken to hasten their death; but Jesus was found to be
already dead. The rude soldiers had been softened by what they had
heard and seen of Christ, and they were restrained from breaking His
limbs. Thus in the offering of the Lamb of God was fulfilled the law
of the Passover, “They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor
break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover
they shall keep it.”
Numbers 9:12
The priests and rulers were amazed to find that Christ was dead.
Death by the cross was a lingering process; it was difficult to determine
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when life had ceased. It was an unheard-of thing for one to die within
six hours of crucifixion. The priests wished to make sure of the death of
Jesus, and at their suggestion a soldier thrust a spear into the Saviour’s
side. From the wound thus made, there flowed two copious and distinct
streams, one of blood, the other of water. This was noted by all the
beholders, and John states the occurrence very definitely. He says,
“One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came
there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his
record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A