That They May Be One Jesus’ Bones Were Not Broken Prophecy that Jesus' bones would not be broken was fulfilled. Jesus was beaten, nailed, pierced, crucified, and killed. His bones were even exposed. Why was it so important that His bones not be broken? The answer lies in the integrity of "the Lord's Body" – the very people of God who are "of His bones." Adam spoke for Jesus and the Church brethren when he said, “bone of My bones, and flesh of My flesh.” (Ephesians 5:30, 32, Genesis 2:23). Christ’s Church is also intended to remain unbroken and not be shattered into splinters. It is not God’s Will that the “Body of Christ” – the Church people, be broken apart. It is His Will that the true body of believers be unified in love and in Spirit – being of one mind with each other. The Church of God is not to be broken – it is to be prepared in unity and oneness to be the Bride who will have made herself ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). The question has been asked, "Wasn't Jesus' body broken to make payment for our healing?" The Scriptures reveal that for our healing Jesus received "stripes" – not broken bones. "By whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5) The Bible manuscripts do not indicate that Christ's body was broken. The King James translators, not realizing the significance of Jesus’ bones remaining unbroken (Exodus 12:46), incorrectly embellished the Greek text. They added the words “which is broken” to the following verse – that are not in the original text. "The Lord Jesus . . . took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-24) What is the correct translation? This is how the scripture should be correctly rendered according to E. W. Bullinger: "The Lord Jesus . . . took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, this is My body, for you: this do in remembrance of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-24) Jesus broke the unleavened bread that represented His body. The Greek, ‘klao,’ Strong's 2806, means only "to break bread," as in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. This word is never used in the sense of breaking bones. It always means to have a meal as the saints did: "breaking bread from house to house, did eat their food with gladness and singleness of heart." (Acts 2:46) Jesus was beaten with many stripes. He was crucified, and He died – but His bones were not broken. “When they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water . . . these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.” (John 19:33-36). This incredible symbolism has tremendous significance for us today. God went to great lengths to prophesy about the bones of Jesus. It was told that Jesus would receive "stripes," but none of His bones would be broken. David was inspired by Christ to give us this Messianic prophecy. "He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken." (Psalms 34:20) Scripture reveals that we, the saints of God, are also represented by the bones of Jesus Christ. "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." (Ephesians 5:30) As the future Wife of Christ, we, the Church of God, are "of His bones," just as Eve was bone of Adam's bones. (Genesis 2:23, Ephesians 5:30) |
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