Bible Reading Blog
“No Broken Bones”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: John 19
“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs… these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”” (John 19.33, 36)
Just before liberating Israel from slavery, God instructed them to sacrifice a lamb without blemish. As part of the process, he explicitly directed that none of its bones were to be broken (Exodus 12.46). What is the point of this detail? Some see this as a power play from a controlling dictator. But what God was doing in that time was establishing a pattern that would help future generations understand his work through Jesus (Hebrews 9-10).
The Passover lamb foreshadowed God’s ultimate work and deliverance through Christ (Psalm 34.20; John 1.29; 1 Corinthians 5.7). Just as the Israelites were enslaved and without hope, so are we enslaved to sin (Romans 3.23, 6.6; Galatians 4.3, 8). But God, promises deliverance to those who would follow his command and apply the blood (Exodus 12.21-32; Colossians 1.20; 1 Peter 1.18-19). This detail from John’s gospel undeniably connects the death of Jesus to God’s work through this specific event. He created salvation and God expects his people to remember that! The foreshadowing of Christ throughout the Law reveals to us that God was in control of the whole process.
God knew what would happen to Jesus when he sent him into this world (Acts 2.23). But not only that, he knew HOW it would happen, down to the most minute detail. And so, we not only see consistency in God’s plan, but we see fulfillment.
These details are the substance of our faith. They remind us that God hasn't changed his mind or altered his plan. This is important because sometimes the moment you’re in doesn’t make sense. But God is always in the details. “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord, according to his purpose” (Romans 8.28). As demonstrated through the Exodus and through Christ, the result of God’s plan is always liberation and victory. It doesn’t always look that way in the details… But that’s because we haven’t gotten to the end yet. These details remind us God is there and that he’s working his plan.
We need to trust that even if things don’t make sense for us now, God is faithful. He’s proven that through the fulfillment of his plan through Jesus; and one day everyone will know the faithfulness of God.
“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53.10-11)
