Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³³  but coming to Jesus, when they 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 immediately blood and water came out.

 ³⁵  And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true;  and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

 ³⁶  For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.”

 ³⁷  And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”  John 19:31-37. 

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As soon as Jesus died, it was indeed finished.  Christ “hath presented himself in our behalf before the Father, to appease his wrath by his full satisfaction, by offering himself on the tree of the cross, and pouring out his precious blood to purge away our sins”.  Article 21 of The Belgic Confession. 

We do not have to wait three days until the resurrection to see clues that God had accepted Christ’s perfect sacrifice as full satisfaction. 

Here is one clue.  In today’s Scripture, we read the detailed account of how the soldiers considered breaking the legs of all three of those who were crucified, but how they did not break the legs of Jesus, “to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 

This Scripture refers to Psalm 34:19-20.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.” 

God used this “breaking of bones” event and Scripture to indicate that God considered Jesus righteous at this point of time.

Here is another clue.  In today’s Scripture, we read the detailed account of how the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus, to fulfill the Scripture, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” 

This Scripture refers to Zechariah 12:10.  “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”

God used this “piercing of the side” event and Scripture to indicate that in a sense God considered Himself as pierced at this point of time.

So, if God so quickly received the perfect sacrifice of Jesus as full satisfaction, why did God wait three days to raise Him from the dead?  Why must we also die?  Why does it state in The Apostle’s Creed that he descended into hell? 

The answers are in The Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 41.  Why was he also “buried”?

Answer.  Thereby to prove that he was really dead.

Question 42.  Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

Answer.  Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal life.

Question 43.  What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

Answer.  That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead and buried with him;  that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us;  but that we may offer ourselves unto him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Question 44.  Why is there added, “he descended into hell”?

Answer.  That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.