Jesus In India — Page 45
CHAPTER ONE 35 of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But 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. (John 19:31-34) From these verses one learns clearly that in order to put an end to the life of a crucified person, it was the practice in those days to keep him on the cross for several days, and then to break his legs, but Jesus' legs were purposely not broken, and he was taken down alive from the cross, like the two thieves. That is also the reason why blood gushed out when his side was pierced, whereas the blood of a dead man is congealed. This also shows very clearly that there was some kind of an internal secret plan. Pilate was a God-fearing and good-hearted man; he could not openly show favour to Jesus, the Messiah, for fear of Caesar because the Jews condemned Jesus, the Messiah, as a rebel. All the same, Pilate was lucky to have beheld Jesus, the Messiah, but Caesar was not so fortunate. Pilate not only saw Jesus, the Messiah, but also showed him great favour. He did not at all desire that Jesus, the Messiah, should suffer crucifixion. It is clear from looking at the Gospels that Pilate resolved several times to let Jesus, the Messiah, go, but the Jews threatened that if he did so, he would be disloyal to Caesar because, according to them, he was a rebel who wanted to become king. (John 19:12) Moreover, the dream which Pilate's wife saw, was also the prime mover to the effect that somehow or the other, Jesus, the Messiah, should be saved from crucifixion, and that it would oth- erwise spell disaster for them themselves. Since the Jews were a