John 19

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

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.

Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

What does John 19:34 mean?

Explanation

John 19:34 delves into a critical moment at the crucifixion of Jesus.

In the narrative, following Jesus' death upon the cross, a Roman soldier pierces His side with a spear.

The act of piercing Jesus’ side is significant because it was a common Roman practice to ensure death.

The text specifically notes that "blood and water" flowed out from the wound, which has led to various interpretations both medically and theologically.

This could signify the separation of clot and serum as a result of Jesus’ death, which would indicate that Jesus was indeed dead before the spear pierced Him.

Beyond this, many theologians find deeper meaning in the blood and water as symbols: blood for the sacrificial system that Jesus fulfilled and water as a representation of baptism, cleansing, or the Holy Spirit.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This event is situated at the end of the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John, which is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion is part of the story of His trial, death, and resurrection.

During the time period in question, crucifixion was a common method of execution used by the Romans, especially for serious offenses including crimes against the state such as sedition.

The act of breaking the legs of those crucified (known as crurifragium) was employed to hasten death.

However, in the case of Jesus, the soldiers deemed that He had already died and instead pierced His side to confirm His death.

Theological Insights

There are varied theological insights from this verse.

For many, this event fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 12:10, hinting at a recognition of the Messiah.

The imagery of blood and water has been interpreted as symbolizing the sacraments of Eucharist (the wine symbolizing blood) and Baptism (the water).

Additionally, the blood can be seen as linked to the Old Testament sacrifices, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. For Catholics, this scene is especially significant as it birthed the Church from the side of Christ, akin to Eve being created from Adam's side.

Protestants might emphasize the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the fact that the occurrence demonstrates that Jesus truly died, securing the believability of His resurrection.

Some theologies hinge on the concept of Jesus as the Pascal Lamb, whose blood was shed for the salvation of humanity.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of John 19:34 could encompass:

Reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus, which encourages believers to live sacrificially for others.
Appreciating the sacraments (for those traditions that hold sacramental beliefs) as a connection to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Understanding the significance of Jesus’ suffering in personal faith and finding solace in times of personal suffering.

Cross-References

Zechariah 12:10 (KJV): "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
Exodus 12:46 (KJV): "In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof."
1 John 5:6 (KJV): "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "pierced" is "νύσσω" (nyssō), which means to pierce or stab. The specifics of blood (αἷμα, haima) and water (ὕδωρ, hudōr) are noted descriptively, indicating a physical and observable result.

It is crucial to note that the use of these Greek words also conveys more profound implications as they are loaded with religious significance in the scripture.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The piercing of Jesus' side and the flow of blood and water can be compared to other cultural and religious sacrificial practices.

For example, in various ancient civilizations, blood was often viewed as a source of life and a means of appeasement to the gods.

In Jewish ritual, blood sacrifices were a central component of religious worship and atonement.

The concept of water as cleansing or life-giving is seen in numerous religions, including the purification rituals in Judaism and rites of passage in Christianity through baptism.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the flow of blood and water has been speculated to suggest a medical condition such as pleural effusion or pericardial effusion that could occur following death by crucifixion.

This could potentially confirm the historical accuracy of crucifixion, as such conditions would align with what can happen to a human body that undergoes significant trauma and stress like that of crucifixion.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have provided insights into John 19:34:

Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that this verse demonstrates both the complete humanity of Jesus (in His death) and the undeniable proof of His death.
The MacArthur Study Bible notes that the blood and water provide testimony to Jesus' true death, which confirms that our sins are fully paid for by His sacrifice.
The New Bible Commentary points out the fulfillment of prophecy and no broken bones (citing Psalms 34:20), emphasizing Jesus as the perfect Passover lamb.

Commentators from different denominations might have unique takes interpreting the significance of the blood and water symbolically, with a consensus on its importance in affirming the death and, subsequently, the resurrection of Jesus.

John 19

John 19

What does John 19:34 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 19:34 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?