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The Piercing of His Side

John 19:31–37 · Passion week in Jerusalem

Scripture

John 19:31–37

he Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

King James Version · public domain

Joani 19:31–37

udhenjtë pra, për të mos mbeturë trupatë mbi kryqt për ditën’ e-shëtunë, sepse ishte e-prëmte, (sepse ajo dit’ e-shëtunë ishte e-madhe,) i ulutnë Pilatit t’u thyhenë kërcinjt’ e këmbëvet, edhe të ngrihen’ andej. 32Erthnë pra ushtëto-rëtë, edhe thyenë kërcinjt’ e të-parit, edhe t’ati tjetërit që ukryqëzua bashkë me atë. 33Po kur erthnë te Jisuj, edhe e panë, se më kishte vdekurë, nuk’ i thyenë kërcinjtë; 34Po një nga ushtëtorëtë i çpoj brinjënë me shtijzë, edhe për-një-here i dolli gjak edhe ujë. 35Edhe ay që pa dëshmoj, edhe dëshmim’ i ati ësht’ i-vërtetë, edhe ay e di se thotë të-vërtetënë, që të besoni ju. 36Sepse këto ubënë që të mbushetë shkronja, “Eshtër nukë dot’i thyhetë.” 37Edhe përsëri një tjatërë shkronjë thotë, “Dotë vështronjënë mb’atë që çpuanë.”

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

This second Adam bowed His head and fell asleep on the cross, that a spouse might be formed for Him from that which flowed from the sleeper's side.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 120 (on John 19:31–37)

The Piercing of His Side (John 19:31–37)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of St. John, Homily 85 (on John 19:31–37) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 14. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.lxxxvii.html

On the legs of the others broken, but the side of Christ pierced:

when they came, brake the legs of the others, but not those of Christ. Yet these to gratify the Jews pierced His side with a spear, and now insulted the dead body.

On the blood and water, out of which the Church consisteth:

With this too an ineffable mystery was accomplished. For "there came forth water and blood." Not without a purpose, or by chance, did those founts come forth, but because by means of these two together the Church consisteth. And the initiated know it, being by water indeed regenerate, and nourished by the Blood and the Flesh. Hence the Mysteries take their beginning; that when thou approachest to that awful cup, thou mayest so approach, as drinking from the very side.

On the true Paschal Lamb, of whom the type went before:

For even if this was said with reference to the lamb of the Jews, still it was for the sake of the reality that the type preceded, and in Him the prophecy was more fully accomplished.

On the Evangelist who saw it and bare record:

That is, "I heard it not from others, but was myself present and saw it, and the testimony is true."

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XII (on John 19:31–37) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_12_book12.htm

On the blood mingled with water, a foreshadowing of the Eucharist and of Holy Baptism:

they with a spear pierced His Side, which sent forth Blood, mingled with Water; God presenting us thereby with a type, as it were, and foreshadowing of the mystery of the Eucharist, and Holy Baptism. For Holy Baptism is of Christ, and Christ's institution; and the power of the mystery of the Eucharist grew up for us out of His Holy Flesh.

On the Scriptures fulfilled in the unbroken bone and the pierced side:

For not a bone of Him was broken, and He was pierced with the spear of the soldier, according to the Scripture.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of John (on John 19:31–37) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On the miracle of blood flowing from a dead body:

To please the Jews, they pierce Christ, thus insulting even His lifeless body. But the insult issues in a miracle: for a miracle it is that blood should flow from a dead body.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 120 (on John 19:31–37) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107.iii.cxxi.html

On why the Evangelist said "opened," and not "pierced," His side:

A suggestive word was made use of by the evangelist, in not saying pierced, or wounded His side, or anything else, but "opened;" that thereby, in a sense, the gate of life might be thrown open, from whence have flowed forth the sacraments of the Church, without which there is no entrance to the life which is the true life.

On the second Adam asleep on the cross, and the spouse formed from His side, as Eve from Adam:

Because of this, the first woman was formed from the side of the man when asleep, and was called Life, and the mother of all living. ... This second Adam bowed His head and fell asleep on the cross, that a spouse might be formed for Him from that which flowed from the sleeper's side. O death, whereby the dead are raised anew to life! What can be purer than such blood? What more health-giving than such a wound?

On the two Scriptures fulfilled, the unbroken bone and the pierced side:

He has furnished two testimonies from the Scriptures for each of the things which he has recorded as having been done. ... "A bone of Him ye shall not break:" an injunction which was laid upon those who were commanded to celebrate the passover by the sacrifice of a sheep in the old law, which went before as a shadow of the passion of Christ. ... In like manner to the words which he subjoined, "But one of the soldiers laid open His side with a spear," belongeth the other testimony, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced;" where Christ is promised in the very flesh wherein He was afterwards to come to be crucified.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On the Preparation (Parasceue), the sixth day:

Parasceue, i.e. preparation: the sixth day was so called because the children of Israel prepared twice the number of loaves on that day.

Patristic sources

Read the sources: Chrysostom, Homilies on John, Homily 85 (CCEL) · Augustine, Tractates on John, Tractate 120 (CCEL) · Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, Book 12 (tertullian.org) · Catena Aurea on John (isidore.co)