Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

Because the day of Preparation is followed by a high Sabbath, the Jews ask Pilate to have the bodies removed. The soldiers break the legs of the two others, but Jesus is already dead, so they leave his legs unbroken. One soldier pierces his side, and blood and water flow out. The witness testifies to what he saw, and the chapter links the scene to Scripture about unbroken bones and the pierced one.

I³¹t was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. ³²So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. ³⁶Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” ³⁷And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”