The Gospel of John records a key moment of Jesus’ crucifixion. When the soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one soldier thrust his lance into Jesus’ side. Immediately, blood and water flowed out.

Roman executioners often sped up a victim’s death by breaking their legs. This prevented the victim from pushing up to breathe, so they died after just a few minutes. On the Shroud, there is no evidence of broken legs.

There is, however, a 4.4 centimeter almond-shaped wound between the fifth and sixth ribs. The size and shape corresponds to the double-edged blade used by Roman soldiers.

The blood from this wound is visible to the naked eye. But the clear fluid John called water was invisible until 1978. Scientists from the Shroud of Turin Research Project photographed the blood on the man’s side with ultraviolet fluoroscopy. Under this light, they saw transparent serous fluid that looked like water.

This watery serum is post-mortem fluid. When Jesus’ heart stopped beating, his blood began to separate into two portions: a dense part with red blood cells and a clear plasma. On the Shroud, clear serum rings surround the blood traces. The fluid flows vertically down the man’s chest to his waist, then spreads across his back.

Forensic scientists agree that the evidence on the Shroud supports the Gospel account. After Jesus died, a Roman soldier pierced him with a lance. His blood, along with what appeared to be water, poured out of his side.

After this, Jesus was taken down from the cross and prepared for burial. This is where the linen shroud appears in the Gospel accounts.