The heart of God – 7

Jesus Who Shed All Water and Blood on the Cross

This chapter explains why the Roman soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs and the spiritual reason He was pierced in His side, shedding both water and blood.

Reading Scripture:
John 19:32–36
“…but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out…”

Memory Verse:
2 Peter 1:4
“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

Reference Verse:
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 19:36
“These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’”

The most important moment in God’s providence to gain true children was when Jesus completed the providence of human salvation on the cross.
This was the most moving event since the creation of the heavens and the earth — the moment when God’s infinite love was revealed most powerfully.

When we understand and truly believe in the providence of the cross, we can be set free from poverty, disease, and every other problem, and we can possess eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let us now learn why the Roman soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs and what spiritual meaning lies in the event when His side was pierced and water and blood flowed out.

1. The Reason Jesus’ Legs Were Not Broken on the Cross

The day Jesus died on the cross was Friday, the day before the Sabbath. Since the next day was a holy Sabbath, the Jews could not leave the bodies hanging on the crosses. Therefore, they went to Pilate and asked that the legs of those who had been crucified be broken so that their bodies could be taken away.
When permission was granted, the Roman soldiers broke the legs of the criminals so that they would die quickly. However, when they came to Jesus, they found that He was already dead, so they did not break His legs (John 19:33).

There was a great providence of God in this. Jesus had no sin of His own. Yet, to redeem all mankind from the curse of the Law, He bore the curse and died on the wooden cross. Since He did not die for His own sin, the Roman soldiers could not break His bones.
Also, God protected Him so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20).
In the Law, God commanded the Israelites not to break any bone of the Passover lamb (Numbers 9:12; Exodus 12:46). The lamb symbolizes Jesus Christ. Just as a lamb gives its milk, meat, wool, and skin for humans, Jesus sacrificed Himself completely as an offering of peace out of love for us.

2. Jesus Pierced in His Side with a Spear

John 19:33–34 says, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

Though Jesus was in very nature God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant, becoming human (Philippians 2:6–7). Being sinless, He died on the wooden cross to open the way of salvation for all people.
During His ministry, He performed miracles and signs, set captives free, and healed the sick and weak. For the sake of saving even one more soul, He often went without rest or food, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and praying alone on the mountain whenever He could.

Although Jesus did only good, He was persecuted, despised, and finally crucified by the Jews. Even after confirming that He was already dead, a Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear.
This act reveals how cruel and evil the human heart can be. Yet, the loving God already knew this wickedness. Even so, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world so that through the blood of the cross, our sins might be forgiven.

That is why Romans 5:8 says,
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

3. The Providence of Jesus Pouring Out Water and Blood

When Jesus was pierced in His side, both water and blood flowed out of His body. This event has three important spiritual meanings.

First, it is the proof that Jesus came as a man.
John 1:1 says, “The Word was God,” and John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
This means that God Himself came to this world in the flesh — that person is Jesus.

Because sinful humans cannot see God and live, the Lord came as the Son of God in human form to reveal God to mankind.
The Bible clearly shows that Jesus shared the same human nature we do. Mark 3:20 records, “Then He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.”
Matthew 8:24 also says, “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.”

Some people may ask, “How could the Son of God feel hunger or pain?”
But Jesus had a body of flesh and bone like ours. He ate when hungry, slept when tired, and even felt sorrow.
Thus, the water and blood He shed proved that although He was the Son of God, He truly came to this world in human form.

Second, it shows that even those who have a body can take part in the divine nature by resembling Jesus Christ.
Because God is holy and perfect, He also wants His children to be holy and perfect.
That is why the Bible says, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), and “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
2 Peter 1:4 says, “He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

To take part in the divine nature means to cast away all sin and become holy and perfect, just as God is.
Jesus, though in human form, completely obeyed the will of God even to the point of death.
He practiced and taught only goodness and truth and fulfilled the Law through love by dying on the cross.

Because Jesus set this perfect example in the flesh, we too can cast away all sin and live with a holy heart and deeds, partaking in the divine nature.
Therefore, we cannot make excuses such as “We are only human and cannot do it.”

Third, it is proof that His blood and water are the power that lead to true life and eternal life.
Since Jesus had no original sin or personal sin, the blood and water He shed were pure and spotless — the blood and water of divine power that brings resurrection.
Although Jesus had a human body like ours, His blood and water were completely different.

Because Jesus, who was sinless and spotless, shed His holy blood, we can be forgiven of our sins, gain true life, and receive eternal life.
The water that flowed from His side also symbolizes the Word of God — the living water of life.
As we hear, understand, and obey the Word of God, we can cast away evil and fill our hearts with truth, becoming true children of God.

The fact that Jesus poured out all His blood and water means that we have received the power to be forgiven of sins and live according to the Word, gaining true life.
We who were destined for death have gained life through the sacrifice of Jesus.

How, then, can we repay such grace?
We must never forget the love of our Lord who sacrificed Himself for us, nor the love of God the Father who did not spare His only Son.
Let us live according to the Word of God and become those who partake in His divine nature.

Plus
What is “Via Dolorosa”?
It is a Latin term meaning “The Way of Sorrow.”
It refers to the approximately 800-meter path Jesus walked from the place of His trial before Pontius Pilate to Golgotha, carrying the cross on which He would be crucified.