The Plan

The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.

John 19 continues with the activities after Jesus’ death – that of breaking the legs of the one crucified.  But here we read that because Jesus was already dead, his legs were not broken.  However, that’s not the real reason they weren’t broken. They weren’t broken because God, in his word from long ago, intended for not one of Jesus' bones to be broken, way back when God’s plan for salvation unfolded. 

And I love the other verse that was fulfilled, “they will look on the one they have pierced.”

I see two wonderful things here that should be comfort to all of us.  These cruel haters of Jesus were not in control of what happened to him.  God was in control the entire time, even in the middle of the darkest night.  And secondly, I see that the purposes of God, for those who crucified Jesus to look to him, were also fulfilled.  God will get the glory and cause the gaze of others to turn towards him, even when we are at the end of it all.

This must be why Jesus was able to endure all that he did. He knew his father’s hand was on him, under him, and holding him, and that his father was in control of all that happened to him, fulfilling a bigger plan, a plan to save the world.

God is always in control of our lives when we live for him.  Others may harm us, hurl insults at us, and even hang us out to dry, but ultimately God sees it all and knows.  And he has a plan.  And it’s a good plan.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.