Lamb of God — Bible — Andrew Forrest

John 19:31-37

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

In chapter 1, Andrew and an unnamed disciple (John, but because he has not yet met Jesus in the narrative he just leaves himself anonymous) hear John the Baptist describe Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother [John 1:35–40].

For the next 19 chapters, we read about what Jesus said and did as John works his Gospel to its shocking climax—the Crucifixion of the Son of God. At the cross, John is the only male disciple present when the soldiers take Jesus’s body down from the cross:

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced” [John 19:33–37].

That little scriptural reference “not one of his bones will be broken” is a quotation from the Book of Exodus, specifically the place where the Israelites are given instructions about how to prepare the Passover lamb:

46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones [Exodus 12:46].

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
So, when John makes sure to tell us that none of Jesus’s bones were broken and then quotes from the Book of Exodus, what is he telling us? Namely that Jesus is the ultimate Lamb of God, the ultimate sacrifice! Note that John tells us that without telling us. What John heard John the Baptist say way back in chapter 1 now finally has its payoff in chapter 19.