Topical Encyclopedia
The prophecy that none of the Messiah's bones would be broken is a significant aspect of the messianic predictions found in the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament. This prophecy underscores the divine orchestration of events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, affirming His identity as the promised Messiah.
Old Testament BackgroundThe prophecy finds its roots in the typology of the Passover lamb, as described in the Book of Exodus. In
Exodus 12:46, the Israelites are instructed regarding 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 commandment concerning the Passover lamb is reiterated in
Numbers 9:12: "They must not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations."
The Passover lamb serves as a type of Christ, the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. The stipulation that none of its bones be broken prefigures the manner in which Christ would be sacrificed.
Fulfillment in the New TestamentThe fulfillment of this prophecy is explicitly recorded in the Gospel of John. During the crucifixion, 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. The one who saw it has testified to this, 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 highlights the direct fulfillment of the Old Testament typology and prophecy, affirming that Jesus is the true Passover Lamb whose sacrifice brings redemption.
Theological SignificanceThe unbroken bones of Christ hold deep theological significance. They emphasize the perfection and completeness of His sacrifice. Just as the Passover lamb was to be without blemish, so too was Christ's sacrifice perfect and unblemished, fulfilling the requirements of the Law and providing a complete atonement for sin.
Furthermore, the fulfillment of this prophecy serves as a testament to the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture. It demonstrates the meticulous fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Christ, reinforcing the belief in Jesus as the Messiah foretold by the prophets.
In summary, the prophecy that none of Christ's bones would be broken is a profound testament to the divine orchestration of His sacrificial death, fulfilling the typology of the Passover lamb and affirming His identity as the Messiah.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Exodus 12:46In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone thereof.
Torrey's Topical TextbookPsalm 34:20
He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
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 ... It is pregnant with the deepest
meaning respecting the counsel ... The historical Christ meets and satisfies our ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm
The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... (4.) In regard to those prophecies which relate ... as only the vehicle of certain ideas
respecting deity ... terrible than the figures by which Christ has represented ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm
Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... antiquity of nearly four thousand years before Christ. ... to these or like conclusions
respecting it, the ... each successive defence of the prophecies, in proportion ...
/.../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
Resources
How can I identify messianic prophecies in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.orgWhat biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70? | GotQuestions.orgProphecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
