CHRIST HIS CRUCIFIXION (Scriptures Are From the King James Version of the Bible)

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1 I. History of Crucifixion. CHRIST HIS CRUCIFIXION (Scriptures Are From the King James Version of the Bible) A. Crucifixion was not a form of punishment used by the Jews. Under the law of Moses, however, when someone was executed, their body might be hung on a tree for people to view, but it had to be taken down before night: if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22) B. The Romans reserved punishment by crucifixion only for the most vilest of criminals, such as those guilty of robbery, sedition, perjury, desertion from the army, and treason. C. Crucifixion was practiced by a number of nations besides Rome, including the Greeks, Germans, Persians, Assyrians, Scythians, Egyptians, Celts, and Britons. It seems that the Persians might have been the first to use crucifixion. There were several types of crosses. The crux simplex was a single upright stake. The crux commissa was a T shaped cross with the horizontal beam atop the vertical stake (sometimes called the Tau cross for the Greek letter). The crux decussate was X shaped like the Roman numeral ten. The crux immissa (Latin cross) was a lower case t shape. II. Mode of crucifixion. A. The upright portion of the cross (stipes) was generally left standing in the ground. B. Although the Latin cross ( t ) is generally shown in pictures, the form used mostly in Jesus day was the Tau ( T ). The crosspiece was called the patibulum, and it had a hole in the center so that it would fit on top of the upright piece, or stipes. C. Again, artists have drawn pictures of Jesus carrying the complete cross (stipes and patibulum); however, the victim only carried the crosspiece. It, by itself, weighed over one hundred pounds; so it would be very difficult to carry without including the heavier vertical post. D. A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim s crime was usually attached to a staff and carried in the front of the procession. Then at the place of crucifixion, the staff was nailed to the top of the cross above the victim s head. This would give the illusion of the Tau cross. E. The execution. 1. The victim was stripped of his clothes. 2. The executioner laid the crosspiece on the ground and pulled the victim back on it so that the beam was fitted under the back of his neck. 3. Soldiers would then kneel on the victim s arms so that his forearms would be held flat to the crosspiece.

2 4. The executioner would locate the small hollow spot in the wrist of the victim and would drive the iron nail into that spot on each wrist. The wrist area was also considered part of the hand and it would provide more support. If the nails were driven through the palms, the nails might, after a period of time, rip through the finger area. 5. Two soldiers would take each side of the crosspiece and lift the victim, whose weight was on his wrists, until his feet were off the ground and the crosspiece was high enough to fit onto the top of the stipes. 6. Next, the victim s feet were secured to the upright. Sometimes they were tied with cord; but often, they were placed one over the other and one nail was driven through the arch of both. The knees would be in a bent position. When the wrists began to hurt enough and it became difficult to breathe, the victim would push up with the feet; but soon the feet would be fatigued and the support would go back to the wrists. 7. It was the soldiers duty to watch the victim until he died so that friends or relatives wouldn t remove him and try to restore him to health. Some were known to live several days on the cross. 8. The Romans usual practice was to leave the body on the cross to rot and be devoured by birds and wild beasts; however, in deference to the Jews, death was hastened by breaking the victim s legs and taking him down before night. F. The crucifixion of Jesus. 1. After Jesus had been up all night, had a crown of thorns pressed on his head, and had been hit and scourged, he was very weak. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. (John 19:17) Because of Jesus physical fatigue and the weight of the patibulum, and probably because the soldiers wanted to speed up the journey of over a half mile to Golgotha, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (Luke 23:26) This Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. (Mark 15:21) The mention of Simon s sons by Mark might indicate that he was familiar with them. 2. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other malefactors, led with him to be put to death. (Luke 23: 27-32) Jesus prophesied to the women about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in A.D. 70. It would be a time of great distress and difficulty, especially for women who were pregnant or had babies. They would have trouble taking care of themselves and their little ones and it would be extremely difficult for them to flee. He also told them a proverb familiar to them. A green tree is a good tree and bears fruit, a dry tree would bear no fruit and was to be burned. If the green tree, those who were righteous, would suffer, how much more would the dry tree, those who were evil, suffer by being burned in the fires of hell.

3 3. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. (Matthew 27:33-34) The term Calvary for Golgotha is a Latin derivation. We don t know why it was called the place of the skull unless it was a common place for crucifixions and the skulls represented the remains of those who had been executed. Mark said that they gave Jesus wine mingled with myrrh. (Mark 15:24) Myrrh was one of plant extracts from the general classification of those in the gall category. It was given to Jesus to ease the pain and shorten his life, but when he tasted it and knew what it was, he didn t want it. 4. Afterwards, the soldiers stripped Jesus of his clothes and wrapped a cloth around his loins. Then they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23: 33-34) And it was the third hour. (Mark 15:25) 5. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. (John 19:19-22) It is probable that the sign was written before Jesus left on his walk to Golgotha and was carried there at the same time, then nailed to the cross during the crucifixion. 6. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. (John 19:23-24) 7. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destsroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. (Matthew 27:39-44) 8. Both malefactors may have initially railed against Jesus, but one did repent and state his belief that Jesus was the Christ. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (Luke 23:39-44) 9. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the

4 disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:25-27) 10. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lamasabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (Matthew 27:46-47) Jesus called out to his Father in Hebrew. 11. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (John 19:28-29) The soldiers had brought vinegar mixed with water to quench their thirst. When Jesus said that he was thirsty, one of the ones standing there filled a sponge with it, placed it on a hyssop branch, and offered it to Jesus. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. (Matthew 27:49) 12. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30) His spirit left his body and went to paradise. 13. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee s children. (Matthew 27:51-56) With the earthquake, the veil in the temple that divided the holy place from the most holy place was torn in two from top to bottom. The old testament covenant had been completed and it was now time for the Christian dispensation to begin. The partition that separated Jew and Gentile was done away. God was no longer in a place made with hands, but in His heavenly abode, the type of the anti-type. A number of graves were also opened because of the earthquake, but the spirits of the saints who had been buried in them did not return and walk in their bodily form until after the resurrection. We are not told what happened to them after their appearance, but their spirits probably returned to paradise after their purpose had been served. They were probably taken up by God like Enoch and Elijah. 14. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:31-37) The soldier that rammed the spear into Jesus side meant to ensure that he was dead. G. The burial.

5 1. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. (Mark 15: 42-47) Joseph had some assistance in burying Jesus, for: there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:39-42) The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56) 2. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so that last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:62-66) The chief priests and Pharisees were afraid that if Jesus disciples stole his body from the tomb, the second claim that he made about being raised from the dead would be worse than the first, that he was the Messiah. The Jews did everything that they could to ensure that Jesus body would still be in the tomb when the third day came.