The Facts About The Crucifixion

Warning: Details of the crucifixion may be too graphic for some

As followers of Christ - we know that God sent his only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).. We know - that Jesus Christ was the lamb of God (John 1:29).... We know that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).. But do we think about His sacrifice for us...? Do we ever think about the cross? The real actual pain... fear - that Jesus bore for us.... Do you think about the time that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was betrayed....? Do you think about how He prayed to God - asking God if there was a chance to take this cup away...? Do you think about how he prayed so hard that His sweat became like great drops of blood? (Luke 22:44)

Last Sunday - a friend of mine read a passage out of a book she was reading.... It was the story of the crucifixion... What was a crucifixion - where did it come from... What did it mean? The details were hard to hear.... Many of us listening had tears in our eyes... One woman covered her ears...

Where did the practice of crucifixion come from? The first known practice was by the Persians.

What is the practice of crucifixion? Torture and execution by fixation to a cross.

Who perfected this torture? The Romans - they were very efficient and skillful.

Most common form? Was the Tau cross shaped like a "T" There is archeological evidence that supports that this is the type of cross that Jesus was crucified on.

Before the prisoner carries his 110 lb cross to his execution - he is scourged. The definition is: inflicting severe punishment.. severe pain...

What happened when Pilate condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion?

Scourging happens when the prisoner (Jesus) is stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post about His head. A short whip that has several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each strap. This very heavy whip is brought down full force again and again across the shoulders.... the legs... the back... At first the straps bruise... then the skin breaks apart and then the whips hit muscle - causing massive blood loss...

When Jesus was untied the soldiers continued to mock Him - calling Him the king of the Jews... They threw a robe over his bleeding shoulders and made a crown of thorns and pressed it into His scalp - when they tired to this game - they ripped off the robe causing the wounds to open more and His pain to increase...

After the torture... suffering from blood loss and dehydration - Jesus was to carry His cross. He could not do it and Simon of Cyrene was ordered to carry it for Jesus...

Once He arrived at the execution spot - the guards quickly threw Jesus backward with His shoulders against the wood. Large, heavy, square, wrought-iron nails were hammered into His wrists into the wood - each wrist was nailed to the cross - they were careful not to pull the arms to tightly - they had to allow for some movement... The left foot is now pressed against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven though the arch of each - leaving the knees a little flexed... Jesus is now crucified.

As the body sags and more weight is on the nails the wrists are in pain - then to try to get away from the pain of the wrists.. the full weight is brought on his feet and more painful agony... As the arms get more tired - great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles - the cramps make it almost impossible to push Himself up - hanging in this manner causes the pectoral muscles to paralyze and the inter-costal muscles are unable to act - making it difficult to exhale air from the lungs.... Hours of unbelieving pain - cramping, partial asphyxiation, the heart being compressed and causing the heart to stop beating... Most die from either heart failure or loss of oxygen... Jesus is believed to have died from heart failure...

The common practice of crucifixion was to break the bones of the legs to prevent the victim from pushing himself up to help him breath... They did not have to do this to Jesus he was dead.. and to make doubly sure He was dead - a soldier drove a sword through His side and immediately blood and water came out....

I challenge you to look up to Him and thank Him this coming Good Friday - April 2nd... Thank Him for loving us... thank Him for his suffering so that we can be forgiven. The wages of sin is death..... and He died so that We could Live......