Friday, May 7, 2021
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away” (John 19:30,31 KJV).
Like modern denominationalists, the apostate Jewish people carefully picked and chose which Bible verses to follow and which to ignore.
Christ Jesus died on Passover, when the sacrificial lambs were slaughtered (3 P.M.), some three hours before the meal. The first day of Unleavened Bread began at sunset. As per the Law of Moses, leaven/yeast (a type of sin) was to be removed from all Israeli houses. Exodus chapter 12: “[15] Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.…. [19] Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.”
Crucified individuals could linger for days, pushing up with their legs to breathe. Therefore, their legs were broken to hasten death and burial. Israel knew not to leave “cursed” Jesus of Nazareth hanging there, lest He defile their land. Deuteronomy chapter 21: “[22] And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: [23] His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God; ) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
Yet, they failed to see Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb who would pay for their sins. They chose to believe only parts of their Bible. “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me” (John 5:46).
333 Words of Grace 