The prophecy that none of the Messiah's bones would be broken is a significant aspect of the Old Testament predictions concerning the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This prophecy is rooted in the typology of the Passover lamb and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.

Old Testament Prophecy

The foundation for this prophecy is found in the instructions regarding the Passover lamb. In Exodus 12:46, the Israelites are commanded concerning the Passover lamb: "It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones." This command is reiterated in Numbers 9:12, emphasizing the importance of the lamb's unbroken bones as part of the Passover observance.

The Passover lamb serves as a type of Christ, the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. The Apostle Paul explicitly connects Christ to the Passover lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7, stating, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." The unbroken bones of the Passover lamb prefigure the unbroken bones of Christ during His crucifixion.

Fulfillment in the New Testament

The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in the Gospel of John. During the crucifixion of Jesus, the Roman soldiers were ordered to break the legs of those crucified to hasten their deaths. However, when they came to Jesus, they found that He was already dead. John 19:33-36 states: "But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. He who saw it has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of His bones will be broken.'"

This passage explicitly connects the events of the crucifixion with the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the Messiah's unbroken bones. The piercing of Jesus' side, rather than the breaking of His legs, serves as a testament to the divine orchestration of these events in accordance with Scripture.

Theological Significance

The fulfillment of this prophecy underscores the perfection and completeness of Christ's sacrificial death. Just as the Passover lamb was to be without blemish and its bones unbroken, so too was Christ's sacrifice perfect and unblemished. The unbroken bones of Jesus highlight His role as the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice brings deliverance from sin and death.

Furthermore, this fulfillment affirms the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture. The precise fulfillment of such specific prophecies serves to strengthen the faith of believers, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan, as revealed in the Scriptures, is both intentional and meticulously carried out.

In summary, the prophecy that none of the Messiah's bones would be broken finds its fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, aligning with the typology of the Passover lamb and affirming the divine orchestration of His sacrificial death.John 19:33,36
But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Quotations from the Old Testament in the New.
... Respecting this class of quotations, it is only necessary ... 6. Of the prophecies quoted,
some refer immediately to ... Matthew quotes as fulfilled in Christ (chap.2 ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxix quotations from the.htm

John xix. 16-18
... disciple concerning His mother, fulfilling prophecies, holding forth ... the others,
but not those of Christ. ... men imagining nothing great respecting Him; but anyhow ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxv john xix 16-18.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... raise an argument at this point respecting the believer's ... accurate and literal
fulfilment of these prophecies we have ... to break one bone in the body of Christ. ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... performed by him, and the prophecies fulfilled in him ... is pregnant with the deepest
meaning respecting the counsel ... The historical Christ meets and satisfies our ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... to these or like conclusions respecting it, the ... already the vast majority of the
prophecies are acknowledged ... and the bodily sufferings of Christ enhanced above ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. ... of sinners, I am to infer His
wishes respecting ourselves ... 4826] ordered that food should be given him to eat ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Now, lest any one should look upon it as good ... flesh and blood; but those that receive
him, they have ... their Father; they receive the doctrine of Christ with a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

Were Jacob's prophecies about his sons fulfilled? | GotQuestions.org

When were Obadiah's prophecies against Edom fulfilled (Obadiah 1:18-20)? | GotQuestions.org

Where do the Hebrew Scriptures prophesy the death and resurrection of the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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