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Bible Commentary: “Pierced With A Spear” The Days Of Lent

“Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” (John 19:34 NIV)

In the book of Genesis we read the account of how God created the first man, Adam, and then created a bride for him our of one of his ribs, “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”   Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave
names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no  suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman,’ for she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:18-23 NIV)

John, the apostle, is the only gospel writer to give account of the spear thrust into the side of Jesus to verify that He was, indeed, dead.  Each gospel writer had a reason for writing and each selected accounts of Jesus to fit what they were writing about; Matthew wrote about Jesus as King, Mark as Jesus as servant, Luke as Jesus as Son of Man, John as Jesus as God as man. Therefore, the account shows us that Jesus had indeed died and because He was dead they did not break His legs
fulfilling the scripture that none of His bones should be broken. The blood and water flowing from His body gives us the image that from His body flows blood for atonement, water for purification. With His own body Jesus joined these two together, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.  However, there is one more truth that needs to be addressed and to address it we need to understand that Jesus is the Last Adam, “So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45 NIV).

Now if a bride was made for Adam from his rib or, literally, a wound in his side then for the Last Adam, Jesus, a bride would have to be made the same way. Therefore, John, writing to show Jesus as God made man, gives us the account of the spear being thrust into the side of Jesus and from this wound the church, the bride of Christ is born.

Child of God – Paul tells us, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30 NKJV). These are the same words spoken by Adam when Eve, his wife, was presented to him. We are bone of Jesus’ bone and flesh of His flesh, made in His image and likeness. Not only in the natural but born again in the spiritual. We need to live by the nature of God and not by the nature of man. We need to see that we are a new creature not shackled by the sins that used to beset us but the express image of Jesus who lives in us so that we may be His love to all men and draw them to Him.

Our prayer:
Lord, thank you for make me a participant of your divine nature. For giving me the privilege of being a member of your flesh and bone. Lord help me to die to my selfish inclinations and motives. Help me to live in the glorious liberty that you have given me through your Spirit. Free from the power of sin in me, to give you glory with my actions and be an instrument of love in your loving hands. Amen.

If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior pray: “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that out of love for me you willingly sacrificed your life so that I may live. I repent of all my sins and open my heart to you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer for the first time or if you have any questions please contact us. We would love to hear from you.