Fanatical about their own Law, the Jews were devoid of humane feelings. The Mosaic statute was that the bodies of those killed be removed by nightfall. So the Jews applied this to the three crucified men. They were loath to look at the ugly scene during their festivities. They asked Pilate to put an end to the three swiftly by breaking their limbs. Crucified men could sometimes survive three days. Nailing hands and feed does not always cause enough blood loss. So the soldiers went on to mutilate the bodies with crushing blows.
The soldiers halted before Jesus, deciding he was already dead. His tender body was weakened by lashes, and his soul in anguish under the weight of our guilt and God’s wrath on the world. Jesus died freely of his own accord to reconcile us to God. Not particularly concerned with religious matters, the Jews were anxious to make sure that Jesus was dead. One of the soldiers took a spear and pierced Christ’s side near his heart. Water and blood gushed out, proving he had died before the sixth hour of Good Friday.
This event tells the Christian that God is victorious from three aspects. First, the Jews were impelled by Satan to attempt the breaking of Christ’s bones, that no one might claim that the Crucified was the divine sacrifice. The Passover ritual required that the Lamb be intact with no bones broken (Exodus 12:46). So God preserved His Son even in death, and no one can gainsay his appointment as the Lamb of God.
Secondly, the piercing of Jesus’ side by the soldier finds its proof text in Zechariah 12:10. In Zechariah 11:13, the prophet saw that the people of the Old Testament valued their Shepherd at no more then thirty pieces of silver. Despite this derisory amount, God will pour the Spirit of grace and prayer on David’s house and the people of Jerusalem, so that their eyes might be opened and recognize who the Crucified One is and the identity of his Father. Without this enlightenment they would not know God or His salvation. The Crucified One is the sole means of obtaining God’s Spirit, as we read, "They will gaze upon him whom they pierced".
Thirdly, the disciple who faithfully remained at the cross was an eye-witness to all that happened and was spoken. He did not flee at the sight of the soldiers and did not leave his Lord after that death. He saw the piercing of Jesus’ side, and testifies to us of the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that we may gain faith in the unity of the Trinity, and eternal life.