John Calvin Commentary John 19:36

"For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." — John 19:36 (ASV)

A bone of him shall not be broken. This citation is made from Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12, where Moses discusses the paschal lamb. Note: Moses assumes that that lamb was a figure of the true and only sacrifice by which the Church was to be redeemed. Nor is this inconsistent with the fact that it was sacrificed as a memorial of a redemption that had already been made; for, while God intended that it should celebrate the previous blessing, he also intended that it should exhibit the spiritual deliverance of the Church, which was still in the future. For that reason, Paul, without any hesitation, applies to Christ the rule which Moses sets forth concerning eating the lamb: for even Christ, our Passover, is sacred for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7–8).

From this analogy, or resemblance, faith derives no ordinary advantage, for, in all the ceremonies of the Law, it beholds the salvation which has been manifested in Christ. This is also the design of the Evangelist John, when he says that Christ was not only the pledge of our redemption but also the price of it, because in him we see accomplished what was formerly exhibited to the ancient people under the figure of the Passover. Thus, the Jews are also reminded that they ought to seek in Christ the substance of all those things which the Law prefigured but did not actually accomplish.