Gospel
text (John 19,31-37): As
it was Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross
during the Sabbath, for this Sabbath was a very solemn day. They asked Pilate
to have the legs of the condemned men broken, so they might take away the
bodies. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other
who had been crucified with Jesus.
When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead; so they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water. The one who has seen here gives his witness so that you may believe: his witness is true and He knows that he speaks the truth. All this happened to fulfill the words of Scripture, ‘Not one of his bones shall be broken’. Another text says: ‘They shall look on him whom they have pierced’.
When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead; so they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water. The one who has seen here gives his witness so that you may believe: his witness is true and He knows that he speaks the truth. All this happened to fulfill the words of Scripture, ‘Not one of his bones shall be broken’. Another text says: ‘They shall look on him whom they have pierced’.
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