John 19:32
"Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away."
Key Reflection
This passage highlights the Jewish custom of hastening the death of crucified individuals by breaking their legs, as a means to expedite decomposition before the Sabbath. By requesting this, the Jews were adhering to ritual purity laws while ensuring Jesus remained dead for the duration of the special Sabbath.
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From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes