Examining the Crucifixion – The Physical Death of our Savior

1. Examining the Crucifixion – The Physical Death of our Savior

2. Today’s Perception • Often tainted with a sanitized, sterilized, and often stylized “art-deco” depiction of Christ on the cross. • Today, it is exceedingly uncommon to hear a detailed description of the events that attended Christ’s crucifixion and death. • A complete and thorough look into the details can lead to a firmer knowledge and a deeper-rooted faith about what actually transpired on that old rugged cross.

3. Roman Crucifixions • Crucifixions were commonplace during the time the gospel accounts were written. • Because everyone knew about them, however, great detail was not provided in the Scriptures concerning the actual practice of crucifixion. • Sadly, this omission leaves people living today at a distinct disadvantage. How much do we really know about this ancient practice of torture and death?

4. Roman Crucifixions • Crucifixion is believed to have originated in the Persian Empire. • However, Romans are given credit for perfecting it into a heinous means of inflicting death • Romans appreciated the cruelty of crucifixion because it demonstrated three clear advantages over other means of execution.

5. Roman Crucifixions • First, it was incredibly painful for the victim (so much so that the person being crucified often was rendered unconscious during the proceedings). • Second, it provided a lingering death, which was much preferred for extremely vicious criminal acts. • Third, it afforded a horrific deterrent for anyone contemplating a similar offense.

6. So what did Christ actually endure in those few short hours? So what did Christ actually endure in those few short hours?

7. The mindset of Jesus • Even as Christ was instituting the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29), His private thoughts already were centered on His impending suffering and death. • Luke 22:15 - And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. • Matthew 26:27-28 - Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of thecovenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

8. The mindset of Jesus • Matthew 26:36-46 - Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

9. The mindset of Jesus • Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” • Luke 22:44 - And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

10. Jesus prayed in the garden - Matthew 26:36-46

11. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace North Gethsemane

12. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace North Gethsemane

14. Jesus on Trial Jewish Trial • Soon after midnight, Jesus was arrested at Gethsemane by the temple officials and was taken first to Annas and then to Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest for that year. Between 1 AM and daybreak, Jesus was tried before Caiaphas and the political Sanhedrin and was found guilty of blasphemy. The guards then blindfolded Jesus, spat on him, and struck him in the face with their fists. Soon after daybreak, Jesus was tried before the religious Sanhedrin and again was found guilty of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death.

15. Jesus on Trial Roman Trial • Since permission for an execution had to come from the governing Romans, Jesus was taken early in the morning by the temple officials to the Praetorium , the residence and governmental seat of Pontius Pilate. However, Jesus was presented to Pilate not as a blasphemer but rather as a self-appointed king who would undermine the Roman authority.  Pilate made no charges against Jesus and sent him to Herod. Herod likewise made no official charges and then returned Jesus to Pilate. Again, Pilate could find no basis for a legal charge against Jesus, but the people persistently demanded crucifixion. Pilate had Jesus flogged (scourged) hoping to satisfy the mob. Finally, Pilate granted their demand and handed over Jesus to be crucified.

16. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace Mark 15:1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. North Gethsemane

17. The Roman Praetorium or “Castle Antonia”

18. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace Luke 23:7 And as soon as he (Pilate) knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. North Gethsemane

20. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace Luke 23:11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. North Gethsemane

21. The Roman Praetorium or “Castle Antonia” Luke 23:20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” 22 Then he said “I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise (scourge) Him and let Him go.”

22. Scourging of Jesus At the Praetorium, Jesus was severely whipped. (The severity of the scourging is implied in one of the epistles [1 Peter 2:24]. A detailed word study of the ancient Greek text for this verse indicates that the scourging of Jesus was particularly harsh.)

23. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (March 21, 1986 -- Vol. 255, No. 11) Scourging Practices Flogging was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution, and only women and Roman senators or soldiers were exempt. The usual instrument was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals. Occasionally, staves also were used. For scourging, the man was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post. The back and legs were flogged either by two soldiers or by one who alternated positions. The severity of the scourging depended on the disposition of the soldiers and was intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or death. After the scourging, the soldiers often taunted their victim.

24. Short whip (flagrum) Medical Aspects of Scourging As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim's back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and Subcutaneous tissues. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh.Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock.The extent of blood loss may well have determined how long the victim would survive on the cross. Direction of wounds

25. Scourging of Jesus The Roman soldiers, amused that this weakened man had claimed to be a king, began to mock him. Next, they spat on Jesus, placed a crown of thorns on his head and struck him on the head with a wooden staff. Moreover, when the soldiers tore the robe from Jesus' back, they probably reopened the scourging wounds. The severe scourging, with its intense pain and significant blood loss, most probably left Jesus in a pre-shock state. The physical and mental abuse given out by the Jews and the Romans, as well as the lack of food, water, and sleep, also contributed to his generally weakened state. Therefore, even before the actual crucifixion, Jesus' physical condition was at least serious and possibly critical.

26. Houses of Annas & Caiaphas? Via Dolorosa Approx 1640’ Herod’s Palace Castle Antonia Hasmonean Palace North Gethsemane

27. Matthew 27:31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

28. John 19:17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. • Luke 23:26 Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. The patibulum weighed approx.75 to 125 lbs.

30. Nailing of wrists Left, Size of iron nail. Center, Location of nail in wrist, between carpals and radius. Right, Cross section of wrist, at level of plane indicated at left, showing path of nail, with probable transection of median nerve and impalement of flexor pollicis longus, but without injury to major arterial trunks and without fractures of bones.

31. Nailing of feet. Left, Position of feet atop one another and against stipes. Upper right, Location of nail in second intermetatarsal space. Lower right, Cross section of foot, at plane indicated at left, showing path of nail. • Exodus 12 46b - you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. • Psalm 34:20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. • Numbers 9:12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.