Connect Psalm 34:20 with John 19:36 regarding prophecy fulfillment. Setting the Scene - David writes Psalm 34 while fleeing from Saul, celebrating God’s deliverance. - John records the crucifixion, showing Jesus as the Passover Lamb whose death fulfills Scripture with precision (John 19:31-37). Psalm 34:20 — God’s Promise of Protection - “He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.” - The verse flows from David’s testimony that “The LORD delivers him from all his afflictions” (Psalm 34:19). - The protection of bones is a tangible sign of God’s comprehensive care for the righteous. John 19:36 — Prophecy Fulfilled at the Cross - “Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’” - Roman executioners typically fractured legs to hasten death (John 19:31-33), yet they found Jesus already dead. - The omission of this brutal act becomes a direct, literal fulfillment of Psalm 34:20. Threads That Tie the Passages Together - Physical Integrity: Both texts emphasize unbroken bones—first as promise, then as historical fact. - Divine Sovereignty: What God declares in Psalm 34, He orchestrates centuries later on Calvary. - Righteous Sufferer: David, a prototype of the righteous man delivered, points forward to Jesus, the perfectly righteous One who suffers yet remains under divine protection even in death. Supporting Prophecies Reinforcing the Fulfillment - Exodus 12:46: “You must not break any of the bones” — instruction for the Passover lamb. - Numbers 9:12 repeats the same command. - 1 Corinthians 5:7 identifies Christ as “our Passover lamb,” anchoring the Old Testament typology in Jesus. Deeper Theological Significance - Innocence Affirmed: Unbroken bones underscore that Jesus is the spotless Lamb, free of defect (1 Peter 1:19). - Substitution Confirmed: The Passover connection highlights deliverance through a sacrificial substitute, fulfilled once for all at the cross (Hebrews 10:10). - Assurance Strengthened: If God fulfilled an apparently minor detail, believers can trust Him for every promise, great or small (2 Corinthians 1:20). Living in Light of Fulfilled Prophecy - Confidence: Rest in a God who keeps His word down to the smallest detail. - Gratitude: Praise Christ, the flawless Passover Lamb, whose body remained intact while bearing our sin. - Hope: Look forward to final deliverance, assured that the One who protected His Son’s bones will guard every believer until resurrection glory (Romans 8:11). |