A Broken Heart
A Sermon on John 19:31-37
Originally preached April 4, 1958
Scripture
31The 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, …
Sermon Description
Why do Christians gather for worship on Good Friday? Certain religious and pseudo-Christian religions gather for what might be called, “holy days.” Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how tradition, not facts or truth, often drive these empty and meaningless gatherings. But why does the church gather for worship on these special occasions? Dr. Lloyd-Jones opens John 19:31-37 to answer that very question. The Christian faith and motives for Christian worship are based on the certainty of facts. While other religions create what appear to be worship-filled gatherings, they are empty and void of fact. They are created in the minds of men. By contrast, the Christian faith is built on the foundation of fact. Furthermore, those facts are certain and peculiar in nature unfolding the fulfillment of prophecy from centuries gone by. What is the fact that drives worship on Good Friday? In this sermon, Lloyd-Jones teaches that the death of Christ and all of the peculiar facts of his death drive this worship. And, why does his death cause us to worship? Through his death, a literal broken heart, the Lamb of God provides forgiveness for our sin.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon opens by discussing the justification for having a Good Friday service as Protestants. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that while they reject holy days, it is good to remember the historical facts of the faith.
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The first general message is that the Christian faith is based on historical facts, not just ideas. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against turning the faith into just a philosophy.
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The second general message is the certainty of the facts. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to John's testimony about the events to show they are true.
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The third general message is the peculiar nature of the facts. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks why John includes such specific details about the crucifixion.
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The first particular message is that the details were included to answer early objections to the faith, such as that Jesus did not really die. The details show he truly died.
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The second particular message is that the details show the fulfillment of prophecy, such as about the Passover lamb and the Messiah. This shows God's plan was at work.
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The third particular message is that the details show the actual cause of Jesus's death was a ruptured heart from the intense suffering he endured. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues only this medically explains the blood and water.
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The suffering that caused Jesus's death was bearing the punishment for sins. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says this shows there was no other way for God to forgive sins.
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Jesus endured this suffering for each person. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listeners to consider the price Jesus paid for their forgiveness.
Sermon Q&A
Martin Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe it's appropriate for Protestants to observe Good Friday?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that Protestants can justify observing Good Friday not as a "holy day" (which would contradict Protestant tradition), but as an opportunity to "remind ourselves of the historical character of our faith." While the Protestant and Puritan forefathers rejected these observances to make a "clean sweep" of Catholic practices, Lloyd-Jones believes there's value in having at least one day a year to focus specifically on the historical events of Christ's crucifixion, not just the doctrine.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he emphasizes that Christianity is based on historical facts?
Lloyd-Jones stresses that Christianity is not merely a philosophy or set of ideas but is firmly grounded in historical events. He warns against theological movements that try to "demythologize" the gospel by removing its factual foundation. He states: "Were it not for these events in history, there would be no Christian faith. It's not a philosophy, it's not a teaching. It is a proclamation that God has done something and done it in the field of history." The events of Calvary, the cross, and Christ's death were actual historical occurrences as real as any other historical event.
What medical explanation does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give for the "blood and water" that came from Jesus' side?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides a medical explanation that the "blood and water" described in John 19:34 indicates that Jesus died from a ruptured heart. He explains that when blood settles in a vessel, it separates into blood clot and serum (which appears like water). The spear thrust released both components, suggesting Jesus' heart had literally burst before the soldiers arrived. Lloyd-Jones notes that medical authorities consider heart rupture "extremely rare" and "well nigh impossible for a normal heart," indicating something extraordinary happened to Jesus physically.
According to the sermon, what caused Jesus' heart to rupture?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus' heart ruptured from the intense agony and suffering He endured. He dismisses the idea that it was merely fear of death or disappointment that caused this, as these don't typically cause physical heart rupture. Instead, he attributes it to the spiritual agony of bearing God's wrath against sin: "God made him to be sin for us. That God laid on him the iniquity of us all. That God smote him with the punishment that your sins and mine deserved. He endured the pains of hell." The suffering was so intense it physically ruptured His heart.
What two prophecies does Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlight that were fulfilled in the details of Christ's crucifixion?
Lloyd-Jones points to two specific prophecies fulfilled in these verses: 1. "A bone of him shall not be broken" - This refers both to the Passover lamb instruction where no bones were to be broken, and to Psalm 34:20 which prophesied this about the Messiah. 2. "They shall look on him whom they pierced" - From Zechariah 12:10, another Messianic prophecy. These fulfillments demonstrate that Christ's death wasn't accidental but part of God's predetermined plan.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the details about Christ's death by ruptured heart prove this is the only way of salvation?
Lloyd-Jones argues that if there were any other way God could forgive sins, He would never have allowed His Son to suffer such agony. The physical evidence of the blood and water, indicating a ruptured heart from extreme suffering, proves the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death. He challenges those who reject blood atonement: "Explain the blood and the water. Explain the rupturing of the heart." He concludes that "there is no way of being reconciled to God except through Jesus Christ and him crucified" because God's holy nature required that sin be punished.
What false theories about Christ's death does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute using John's eyewitness details?
Lloyd-Jones identifies two false theories that John's details refute: 1. The theory that Jesus merely fainted on the cross rather than actually dying (dispelled by the soldiers confirming He was already dead and the spear thrust). 2. The theory that Jesus had only a "phantom body" rather than a real human body (refuted by the physical details of His death, including the blood and water). These details provided evidence against early heresies that denied either the reality of Christ's death or His true humanity.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.