And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced.--Zechariah
xii. 10.
One of the soldiers, with a spear, pierced the side of Jesus, and
forthwith came thereout blood and water. "He that saw it bare
record, and his record is true".[97] And we know that he saith
true, that ye might believe, that it is Jesus of whom the scripture
saith, they "Shall look on him whom they have pierced." There is
another and higher use to be made of this circumstance. Simple as
the fact at first sight may appear, yet it is the strongest proof
of the death of Jesus. If only blood had issued from the wound,
it would prove comparatively little. But, water was also seen to
flow from the side; which was either the small quantity of water
inclosed in the pericardium, in which the heart swims, or else
the cruor was almost coagulated and separated from the serum. If
it is to be attributed to the latter cause, it confirms what the
evangelist relates; that Jesus had been some time dead. But, if we
place it to the former, it is utterly impossible Jesus could have
survived the wound, even if given in perfect health. In either
case, it effectually proves his death. Not a reasonable doubt can
remain to suppose he was taken alive from the cross. May the act
of the soldier, (wanton and cruel as it certainly was,) convince
the infidel, that Jesus was not taken from the cross before life
was quite extinct; and may he be led to look on him "whom he has
pierced, and mourn." Blessed Jesus, may we often meditate on those
awful scenes, when the rugged thorn pierced thy sacred temples,
the nails thy hands and feet, the spear thy side, and the wrath of
God thy soul. And, while we eye thee as the just suffering for the
unjust, may we learn to abhor sin, which is so hateful in the sight
of a pure and Holy God, that the blood of his own well-beloved Son
was shed ere it could be pardoned. Is not the view of a suffering
Redeemer calculated to raise the Christian's confidence, even in
seasons of the deepest affliction?[98] May he not fearlessly resign
his spiritual and temporal concerns, his fondest hopes and most
anxious cares, to the guidance and wisdom of him, who so loved him
as to die for him? For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life."
[97] John xix. 34, 35. 1 John v. 8.
[98] Romans viii. 32.