Death by Crucifixion

by Greg Win

INTRODUCTION:

We continue our study of the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said that it was this single event which served as the ultimate proof of the deity of Jesus (Romans 1:4). Paul further stated that without the resurrection, our faith is worthless, and we remain lost in our sins – void of hope (1 Cor. 15:17).

We have already established that our approach in studying this matter must be an historical one. It is necessary to see if the historical evidence supports the claim that Jesus actually rose again. But where should we begin? We propose a simple and very practical starting place: before you could believe that a man had come back to life, it would be necessary to prove that he really died. This will be the purpose of our study.

  1. PRE-CRUCIFIXION EVENTS: A cruel mixture of physical and emotional torture.
    1. A sleepless night of prayer in the garden. (Luke 22:39-46)
    2. Betrayal by a "friend". (Matt. 26:47-50)
    3. Desertion of all his closest friends. (Mark 14:50; Matt 26:56)
    4. The equivalent of six trials in a matter of a few hours.
      1. He was questioned before Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and finally Pilate again.
      2. He was subjected to lies and false charges. (Matt 14:55-65; Luke 23:2)
      3. He was humiliated and mistreated. (Matt 26:67,68)
    5. Scourging (Matt 27:26)
      1. "The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across the shoulders, back and legs. At first the heavy thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissues. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped."
        - C Truman Davis, "The Crucifixion of Jesus"
        Arizona Medicine, March, 1965, p. 185
      2. While there is considerable controversy over this matter, some experts believe that the scourging prior to the crucifixion was an unusual case of double punishment. That being the case, it would serve to explain why Jesus died much sooner than the two thieves who were crucified with him.
    6. The purple robe and the crown of thorns. (Matt. 27:27-31)
    7. He was forced to carry his own cross. (John 19:17)
  2. THE CRUCIFIXION
    1. The brevity of the gospel accounts, and the relatively sparse information concerning the actual methods of crucifixion show that this was a common form of execution.
    2. It was common to nail the victim to the cross with arms outstretched, but with knees bent. This was done in order to prolong the agony and delay death.
      1. "Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostals muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. (The victim) fights to raise himself in order to get even a short breath."
        - C Truman Davis, ibid
      2. Finally when the authorities were ready for the victim to die, the legs were broken, thus preventing the movement necessary to exhale. Rapid suffocation would result.
    3. For years many doubted the Bible record of nailing the hands and feet to the cross (John 20:24-28). It was claimed instead that the victims were tied to the cross with ropes.
    4. In June 1968, an archaeological discovery in cave-tombs just north of Jerusalem, proved that such practice did occur.
      1. Notes concerning the discovery included this statement regarding one of the skeletons: "Both the heel bones were found transfixed by a large iron nail. The shins were found intentionally broken. Death caused by crucifixion."
        -N. Haas, "Anthropological Observations on the Skeletal Remains from Giv’ at ha-Mivtar", Israel Exploration Journal, vol. 20, 1970, p.39
      2. This also confirms John’s statement in regards to the practice of breaking the legs to hasten death. (John 19:31-37)
  3. POST-CRUCIFIXION EVENTS
    1. Any possibility that Jesus might have survived this ordeal, is quickly dispelled when we consider the final mistreatment of Jesus’ body by a Roman soldier at the scene.
    2. John 19:32-37
    3. Medical authorities have concluded that this outpouring of water and blood could only have come from the pericardium, that is the sac of fluids which encompasses the heart. Therefore, the soldier’s spear most likely pierced through Jesus’ heart.
  4. FINAL CONFIRMATION OF DEATH
    1. All doubts that Jesus actually died on the cross are removed by the Roman authorities themselves. (Mark 15:43-45)
    2. Death by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans was an extremely efficient method of execution, as the following incident will prove: "True, there is a recorded instance of a victim being taken down from a cross and surviving. The Jewish historian Josephus, who had gone over to the Roman side in the rebellion of 66 A.D., discovered three of his friends being crucified. He asked the Roman general Titus to reprieve them, and they were immediately removed from their crosses. Still, two of the three died anyway, even though they apparently had been crucified only a short time. In Jesus’ case, however, there were additional complications of scourging and exhaustion, to say nothing of the great spear thrust that pierced his rib cage and probably ruptured his pericardium. Romans were grimly efficient about crucifixions: victims did not escape with their lives."
      - Paul l. Maier, The First Easter, p.112

CONCLUSION:
Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary. There can be no doubt about this conclusion. This is an important point as we proceed to discuss the evidence of the resurrection.

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