Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross over the Sabbath — for that Sabbath was a great day — so they asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and the bodies taken away.
In context
29A jar of sour wine was standing there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, set it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had taken the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross over the Sabbath — for that Sabbath was a great day — so they asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and the bodies taken away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and then of the other who had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
