John 19:31-37

A soldier pushes a spear into Jesus' side

31 It was the day when the Jews prepare everything for their day of rest. The next day was the day for the Passover meal, so it was a very important day. The Jews did not want the men's bodies to stay on the crosses during that day of rest. So they asked Pilate to tell the soldiers to break the legs of those men. Then they could take the dead bodies down from the crosses.

19:31If the soldiers broke a man's legs, he would die more quickly on the cross.

32 So the soldiers went there. They broke the legs of the two men who were on the crosses next to Jesus. 33 Then they went to Jesus. They saw that he was dead already. So they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pushed a spear into Jesus' side. Immediately, blood and water came out of his body. 35 The man who saw these things has spoken about them. What he says is true. He knows that it really happened. He is telling you the truth so that you can believe. 36 The Bible already said how it would happen. It says:

‘Nobody will break any of his bones.’

19:36See Psalm 34:20. Also see Numbers 9:12.

37 In another place, the Bible says:

‘People will push a spear into that man's body,

and then they will look at him.’

19:37See Zechariah 12:10.

And that is how it really happened.