The Crucifixion

"They beat Him over the head with a stick, spat on Him, fell on their knees, and bowed down to Him. When they had finished mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him. Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes among themselves, People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus: “Aha! You were going to tear down the Temple and build it up again in three days! Now come down from the cross and save yourself!”
Mark:15-20,24,29-30 GNT




The biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion reveals few variants from the usual procedure. The fact that Jesus was crucified confirms that His condemnation was pronounced by the Roman procurator Pilate, who alone had the authority to impose this death sentence. Further, the wording on the placard ‘The King of the Jews’ reveals that the crime for which Jesus was condemned was not the Sanhedrin’s charge of blasphemy, but the political crime of high treason, generated by messianic claims, which to Roman ears sounded like a threat to Caesar’s sovereignty. Thus Pilate pronounced the death sentence reserved for treason, Jesus was flogged and led away to be crucified. Perhaps because Jesus was scourged before being led away and was thus too weak to carry the crossbar, a bystander was pressed into carrying the crossbar for Christ.


A person crucified in Jesus’ day was first of all scourged, (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the end), or at least flogged until the blood flowed. This was not done just out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal. After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live. A tablet detailing the crime was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross. At the site the prisoner was often tied or nailed to the crossbeam. The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body. The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole. Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets. Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post. Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure. Especially if the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous, so often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death. Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion birds allowed to degrade the corpse further.

Our Lord refused any form of alleviation for his sufferings, doubtless that He might preserve clarity of mind to the end, in doing His Father’s will. Hence the fact that He was able to comfort the dying thief, and pronounce the rest of the seven wonderful words from the cross. Jesus was betrayed for the cost of a slave, died the death of a slave and paid a murderers punishment for me and for you. What it cost Him, the pain and the agony He experienced we would never know. We can't even imagine what it's like to be crucified, but the Lord went through and suffered for me and for you. He was crucified for you, for your children, your family and all of mankind. The next time we want to get petty about church, complaining that it's too demanding or minstry taking up too much of my free time, think about the crucifixion, Jesus gave His life the cost that was demanded to settle the debt for your sins, past and future. Really think about that the next time your asked to do something for God, we should be willing to go beyond our physical feelings to make the sacrifices the Lord is requiring of us. Look it is our reasonable service to Him, after all we have not shed a drop of blood, but Christ shed His blood and died, no man took His life but He gave it up because of His love for us! The next time you want to want to complain about fellowship or witnessing to someone on the street, think about the crucifixion and how Christ hung on the cross, could you have hung there and went through without begging for them to stop and spare your life? Think about it, think about the crucifixion of Christ.