But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. Now 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.”
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Significance
When soldiers came to Jesus and saw already dead, didn't break legs but one pierced side with spear; at once blood and water came out (19:34). Flow of blood and water indicates Jesus died as fully human being (Leviticus Rabbah 15:2 on Leviticus 13:2; cf. 1 John 5:6-8). John may also be alluding to Exodus 17, especially v. 6: "Strike the rock, and water will come out for the people to drink" (cf. Numbers 20:11; Carson).
Found via
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1763) — on John 19:34-37, citing Numbers 20:11 / the smitten rock (Exodus 17:6 strand), Psalm 34:20 and Exodus 12:46 (unbroken bones), and Zechariah 12:10 (piercing); the blood-and-water "fully human" note draws on the rabbinic parallel in the title anchor (Leviticus Rabbah, not canonical Scripture)
