The Skeptics Annotated Bible (863 page)

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and
the disciple standing by, whom he loved
, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

(19.26)
“The disciple standing by, whom he loved”

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and
they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

(19.29)
“They filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”
394 What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink?

30
When Jesus
therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

(19.30)
“When Jesus … received the vinegar, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
424 Did Jesus drink on the cross?
397 What were the last words of Jesus?

31 The 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.

32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

(19.33-36) The soldiers didn’t break Jesus’ legs because he was already dead. Verse 36 claims that this fulfilled a prophecy: “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” But there is no such prophecy in the Old Testament.

It is sometimes said that the prophecy appears in Ex 12.46, Num 9.12 and Ps 34.20. But Exodus 12.46 and Numbers 9.12 are not prophecies, they are commandments. The Israelites are told not to break the bones of the Passover lamb, and this is all it is about. And Psalm 34.20 seems to refer to righteous people in general (see verse 19, where a plural is used), not to make a prophecy about a specific person.

33 But
when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

(19.33)
“When they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs.”

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

(19.36)
“These things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
”

37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

(19.38-42)
401 Who buried Jesus?

38 And after this
Joseph of Arimathaea
, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly
for fear of the Jews
,
besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

(19.38)
“For fear of the Jews”
You’ve got to watch out for Jews wherever you go.

39
And there came also Nicodemus
, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

(19.39)
“And there came also Nicodemus.”

40
Then took they the body of Jesus
, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

(19.40)
“Then took they the body of Jesus.”

41 Now
in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

(19.41)
“In the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.”

42
There laid they Jesus
therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

(19.42)
“There laid they Jesus.”

20
The first day of the week cometh
Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark
, unto the sepulchre, and
seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

(20.1) “Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark … seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”
403 When did the women (or woman) arrive?
402 How many women came?
405 Was the tomb opened or closed when the women arrived?