How do you know for sure Jesus died? Some say Jesus passed out from the pain and later recovered in the tomb. It’s eternally crucial that Jesus did in fact die on the cross. If he didn’t, we suffer forever. 

Whenever you have a question about the Bible, look at the immediate context. When Pilate heard Jesus had died, he was surprised that it had happened so quickly. So Pilate sent a soldier to test if Jesus truly was dead. “One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” (John 19:34).

This proves medically and scripturally that Jesus died. It all has to do with how God created our bodies to react to being injured. When a body is cut or punctured, the wound instantly contracts, closing up the hole, and then blood clots the wound to heal it. This only happens if the body is alive. If the body is dead, there’s no instantaneous, automatic reaction. The hole stays open. Whatever is inside comes out. 

This is how autopsy results show if a victim was stabbed while alive or after death. If the body died, even a split second earlier, the wound stays open. The soldier was watching to see how Jesus’ body reacted to being pierced. Jesus’ wound stayed open; what was inside—blood and water—came out. Jesus died. Without a doubt, Christ died and paid the price for your soul’s salvation. You are forgiven by his death and saved by his life!