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"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)Those who stood beneath the cross of Jesus Christ that day when our Lord was crucified, beheld a sight that would be so vivid that it would stay with them until the hour drew nigh for their own death. They never forgot that day when the Lord of Glory hung on that cursed tree being made a curse for all who would ever draw a breath of God’s air.The Bible tells us that our Saviour was beaten and bloodied, and His body battered beyond recognition. Isaiah prophesied of this saying, "As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:" (Isaiah 52:14) Was this the will of God? Make no mistake about it, the Bible also tells us, "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;" (Isaiah 53:10)On top of all this physical abuse, this Lover of men's souls endured the emotional heartaches that came from the taunts stemming from the angry crowd’s hatred. Those who one day had cheered the Son of God as He went about His Father’s business healing and saving folks right and left, now jeered with a curl of the lip saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save."(Matthew 27:42)The scene was drawing to a close now as the ninth hour began. The majority of this evil mob, with the exception of a few of His devout followers, had spent the better part of the day waiting to see if indeed "Elias will come and save him." The people were weary, and no doubt wanted to hurry home and tell their neighbors, who couldn’t make it that day to behold God's supreme sacrifice for mankind's sin.Why, even the impatient party-soaked soldiers got into the act by going to the two malefactors that hung on either side of our Saviour, "…and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him." (John 19:32) "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:"(v. 33)And now we come again to that telling verse in John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” Look closely at this un-named soldier as he pushes his spear into the very heart of our Lord Jesus. What a hellish deed! But wait, could it be that you and I, along with this soldier, also had a firm grip on that spear when we too were lost and separated from God by our sin?The spear of sin found it’s mark that day and PRAISE GOD, THE BLOOD COVERED THE SPEAR! This crowning act of that soldier's sin, and all the hatred it gives birth to, brought forth the final payment by the blood of Christ that still today, extends the mighty Hand of God’s Mercy and Grace to whosoever will.Oh, thank God, thank God indeed friends, that the Blood of our Blessed One covers not only the spear of our sin, but goes right to the very root!