What he said: It is finished, and he gave up the Spirit; he showed not necessity but the power of his death, waiting until all that was prophesied concerning him was fulfilled: for it was also written: And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink: as one having the power to lay down his life, as he himself bore witness. And he gave up the Spirit in humility, that is, with his head bowed; to receive it again in resurrection, with his head lifted up. That this death and the bowing of the head were of great power, the patriarch Jacob foretold in the blessing of Judah: You have gone up, he said, lying down, you slept like a lion: signifying by the ascent his death, by the lion his power.
The legs of the thieves were broken, but not of Christ.
But indeed, because the legs of those two were broken, but his were not, because he had died; why this happened, the Gospel itself revealed. For it was necessary that by this sign also it should be shown that in his announced prophecy the Passover of the Jews was commended, where it was commanded that the bones of the lamb should not be broken.
Blood and water from the side of Christ.
The side that was pierced by the spear poured out blood and water upon the earth; without a doubt, these are the sacraments by which the Church is formed; just as Eve was made from the side of the sleeping Adam, who was the figure of the future.
Joseph and Nicodemus burying.
Joseph and Nicodemus bury him; as some have interpreted the names, Joseph is interpreted as "Increased"; Nicodemus, since it is a Greek name, is more widely known to be composed of victory and people, because %niðkoû% is victory, %dhðmoû% is people. Who then is increased by dying, unless he who said: Unless a grain of wheat dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it is multiplied? And who also by dying conquered the persecuting people, unless he who will judge them by rising again?