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From Heaven With Love
wrong. When it was lifted, they made their way home in solemn
silence, convinced that the charges of the priests were false, that
Jesus was no pretender. A few weeks later, when Peter preached on
the day of Pentecost, they were among the thousands who became
converts to Christ.
But the Jewish leaders were unchanged; their hatred had not
abated. The darkness at the crucifixion was not more dense than
that which still enveloped their minds. Inanimate nature had known
Christ and borne witness to His divinity. But the priests and rulers
of Israel knew not the Son of God. They had put Christ to death; but
even in the hour of their apparent triumph, they were harassed with
doubts. What would next take place? They had heard the cry, “It
is finished.”
John 19:30
. They had felt the mighty earthquake, and
they were uneasy. They dreaded the dead Christ far more than they
had feared the living Christ. They dreaded any further attention to
the events attending His crucifixion. Not on any account would they
have His body remain on the cross during the Sabbath. It would be a
violation of its sanctity for the bodies to hang on the cross. So, using
this as a pretext, leading Jews requested Pilate that the death of the
victims might be hastened, and their bodies be removed before the
setting of the sun.
His consent obtained, the legs of the two thieves were broken to
hasten their death; but Jesus was already dead. The rude soldiers,
softened by what they had heard and seen of Christ, were restrained
from breaking His limbs. Thus was fulfilled the law of the Passover,
[514]
“They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any bone
of it.”
Numbers 9:12
.
The priests and rulers were amazed to find that Christ was dead.
It was unheard of 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 flowed two distinct streams, one of blood, the other of water.
John states: “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side,
and forthwith there came out blood and water. And he that saw it
bare record, and his record is true... . These things were done, that
the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.
And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom
they pierced.”
John 19:34-37
.