But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. John 19:33-34
In our Bible study this week, we are looking at the evidence for and the impact of Jesus’ resurrection. As we talk about the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection, we were reminded during the weekend message that because some skeptics believe that Jesus faked His death, we first have to ask ourselves, “Did Jesus really die?” Of course, the answer to this question is “Yes, He certainly did die.” In our Bible study today, we will talk about one of the pieces of evidence that Jesus really did die: Roman officers confirmed His death as He was nailed to the cross, taking on the sins of the world.
John 19 recounts some of the last moments before Jesus breathed His last breath during His crucifixion. Remember, John was one of Jesus’ disciples, which means that he saw everything that he wrote about firsthand. He saw Jesus arrested, even though He was innocent. He saw Jesus sentenced to be crucified. He also saw Jesus being crucified on a cross. As Jesus hung on the cross, John explains that “Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture, He said, ‘I am thirsty’” (verse 28). At Jesus’ words, He was given a sponge soaked in a jar of sour wine to taste” (verse 29). As He tasted the sponge, Jesus said the words, “It is finished!” Then He breathed His last breath (verse 30). He had done what He had come to do. He had suffered a brutal crucifixion on a cross to pay the price for our sins, and now He had died. John tells us that the religious leaders did not want the bodies of the three men, including Jesus, who were crucified that day, to hang the following day, which was the Sabbath of the Passover celebration, so they requested that their deaths be accelerated (verse 31). One way to hasten a crucifixion was to break the legs of those being crucified because broken legs would make it much more difficult to breathe. The soldiers went to break the legs of the men being crucified, but when they came to Jesus’ cross, they realized He had already died (verse 33). Instead of breaking His legs, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side, and blood and water “flowed out,” confirming that He had truly died (verse 34). Make no mistake, Jesus was confirmed dead; the soldiers who crucified Him that day made sure.
The book of Luke records another statement that Jesus made as He was on the cross being crucified by the soldiers: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:31). How remarkable that, as Jesus was facing torture beyond what most could imagine, forgiveness was on His mind. If He, our Savior and Lord, could be thinking of forgiveness as He was being brutally tortured and crucified on a cross, then we, too, are called to model His forgiveness. We are called to forgive those around us when our human nature wants to hold a grudge. This is a much more peaceful way to live than holding on to bitterness and resentment.
We have a wonderful Savior who willingly laid down His life, fully dying a criminal’s death on a cross, although He was innocent. As He was dying on the cross, He prayed a prayer to God the Father, asking Him to show forgiveness to those torturing Him while He was on the cross. Even more, He died so that He could extend forgiveness to each one of us if we place our faith in Him. Will we follow His example and be quick to forgive? May each one of us choose to model His forgiveness today.
Your calling is to follow Jesus’ radical example of forgiveness today. Who do you need to show forgiveness to today? Take a step toward forgiveness today, whatever that looks like to you. It might mean saying the words, “I forgive you.” It might mean extending kindness to someone who has hurt you. It might mean simply forgiving that person in your heart and letting go of bitterness. Whatever it looks like for you, take that step of forgiveness today.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, as I sent out to model Your forgiveness to others, help me…”
Going Deeper
John 19:16-37
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. 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. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
©2026 Sagebrush Church
