John 19:35

He who saw it has borne witness – his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth – that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

John’s intent with his gospel is refreshingly clear.  He writes so that we might know and believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the most high God, the Savior of the world.  He doesn’t hide his premise or try and smuggle it in.  Moreover, he writes that these things have happened publicly and openly in time and history.  Any Roman or Jew of the day could have contradicted his account as surely they had reason to do so considering the trouble that Christianity caused them.  But the historians – Josephus and Tacitus and others – are never able to say, “See!  Here is the body of that Jesus from Nazareth.  He was never raised.”  Such would have put an end to all of this rather quickly.  Not only this, but none of the non-believing writers ever contradict the narrative of John.  We know from extra-biblical sources that Jesus lived, performed many signs and wonders, was crucified under Pilate and that his followers then claimed He had risen and worshipped Him as God.  

When we consider this soberly we see the incredible weight of glory upon the Scriptures. God has not given us His Word in some kind of vacuum.  John says that these things have actually happened.  This is no fable.  There are real historical figures all throughout – not to mention the other 65 books of the Bible – and never once has a single source or account been discredited by history or science.  With all of man’s guns of disbelief aimed at it, the Bible has never once been proven false.  This is especially pertinent with the crucifixion considering how monumental an event it was and how easily John’s account could have been destroyed by contrary evidence from the powers of that day.  

God has not asked us to put our faith in a fairy tale but in a real Jesus that walked the earth and was actually crucified by Pilate over 2,000 years ago.  The critics will say that this book (the Bible) was merely chosen by the “authorities” and that other books were left out of the canon.  But this is nonsense.  The 27 books of the New Testament were written in the first century by apostles or their associates (like Luke). Their message was proven by the power of miracles – both their own and those of Jesus.  Once these men died there was no more revelation and the canon was closed. The authority that chose them, therefore, was that of the Holy Spirit.  

But what of the councils and the controversies?  How do we answer those that charge the church with conspiring to keep contrary accounts out of the Bible?  

Well, first, we should remember that the early church was already facing false doctrine and fending off attacks from groups like the gnostics just decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection.  So, no, the Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of controversy.  In fact, it confronts the pretenders with a clear presentation of the gospel – the meaning and work of Jesus’ life – and rests its authority on Jesus himself, especially His resurrection.  Not only that, there’s the amazing consistency of message throughout the apostolic teachings, all pointing to the meaning and purpose of the cross and resurrection.  

Oh, and did you know that we can recreate almost all of the New Testament, in fact, from the letters of the early church fathers as they quoted it again and again.  And they quoted it as Scripture.  They quoted it as authoritative.  Plus, pretender gospels like the so-called gospel of Thomas were written, for the most part, centuries after the life of Jesus and by people that were never part of Jesus’ ministry when He was alive.  That would be like someone today writing the definitive insider’s account of the life of George Washington.  

John’s point in this passage is that he was that beloved disciple..he was there with the Lord, learning from Him, following Him, letting Him down time and again and no source contradicts this. John’s gospel was written by the very man that Jesus loved and told to care for His mother as He hung dying on the cross.  Count on it.  John was there, my friend.  He was an eyewitness.  

There is something else to consider, though, when we hear of the attacks from Bible critics.  They will try and point out this alleged contradiction or that one.  What they haven’t done, though, is that simple thing that John has done in today’s verse.  John states his claim.  He writes that you might believe that Jesus is Lord and, therefore, the Lord of Scripture, and the Creator God who holds all things together – the same Lord that said He was the Way, the Life and the Truth.  On what grounds does a Bible critic build his argument?  If the Bible isn’t true and isn’t the word of God then what is ultimately real and why does truth and falsehood matter?  To say that there’s a contradiction in the Scripture is to say that ultimately truth matters.  Why?  A Christian responds that truth matters because God is the God of truth and there’s no lie in Him, so the reality (the world and life) that He crafted is non-contradictory.  Parenthetically, this is why the cross is essential to God’s character too.  If God were to just willy-nilly pardon sin, it would be an assault on his consistency and character.  The cross offers sinners mercy even while God’s just wrath is appeased.  God is both just and justifier of the one who has faith in Christ. There are no contradictions in the faith.  God is true.  God is trustworthy and any suggestion to the contrary doesn’t hold up under even the most rudimentary scrutiny.  Such protestations are merely classic examples of projection.  Sinners rest their thinking on no foundation whatsoever, so they accuse the Bible of doing the same thing.  But even if they were right – and the thought is terrifying – that would only prove that there is nothing in this world, ultimately, but confusion and death.  

But when the critic says there are errors in the Bible, he unwittingly affirms the reality of God’s moral and logical universe.  No other worldview, religion, or philosophy makes sense of this basic problem for the non-believer.  A man protesting against the Scripture for an alleged error is like a man protesting that he doesn’t speak English  by screaming, “I don’t speak a word of it!” in English.  He’s guilty of borrowing God’s premises in order to use them against Him.  So, John’s statement of the veracity of his writing, and its connection to the rest of Holy Scripture, is deeper than mere self-attestation. He is humbly and simply laying down God’s charge to humanity.  This is God’s Word.  It is holy and inerrant.  To disbelieve it, one must embrace intellectual absurdity by claiming truth without having any ground for truth. To ignore it, for whatever reason, is catastrophic for the soul of man because faith comes by hearing of the Word of life.  But rest assured, Christian.  You can trust the Word of the Lord with your life.  You can trust that your every day, every care, every fear, even the very hairs on your head, and certainly your eternal destiny, are in His loving hands.  This is why John includes this.  He says, “here are the facts…and you can’t disprove them!”  

So, if you’ve come to Christ already but the incessant attacks from the world have battered your peace of mind, come back to this truth and take your rest.  You will not be lost, my friend.  It’s impossible.  It’s unthinkable.  The same God that managed these affairs so that not a bone of Jesus was broken, will see you safely to that distant shore.  

He will not fail!  Ever.  Period.  Do not think in your dark hours that he doesn’t have you.  He does.  And all the love of God is upon you in Jesus Christ.  All of it.  Never forget this for a second as you battle the world, the flesh and the Devil.  

All of the love of God is backed by that sovereignty and power.  Remember Jesus dead on the cross –  for you, my friend!  It was for your sin and my sin that He took upon Himself this agony, this shame, and this death.  But, lo!  He will rise in a few days so that you know His death wasn’t in vain.  For now we humbly consider this work on our behalf and John doubles down, so gently, so tenderly, to remind us, to quiet us in the storms, that even a small detail like the breaking of legs, amidst this great drama, wasn’t forgotten by God.  What an incredible thing it is to read!  What a triumphant thing.  God is in charge of your life and the God that ordered every detail here, has promised in Romans that all things will work together for your good.  How could it not?  You are God’s because of Christ.  Your life is part of the divine drama, the divine romance where God saves sinners and brings them to righteousness.  That is your destiny and your inheritance.  It’s your today and tomorrow.  Sin and death are no more.  Let go of all that and see Christ and how He loves you so and drop those great weights of fear that weigh down the soul.