Our purpose and design is to glorify God.
That which Glorifies God is what Magnifies Jesus and dignifies humans.
All this is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Resulting in Lives Changed By Christ.
Jesus calls us to follow Him.
Join us in this year long study in the Life of Jesus by visiting here or join the email list at
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Mk 15:47aNow Mary
Magdalene and Mary†
the mother of Joses Lk 23:55–56[and] the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and
observed the tomb and how His body was placed. 56Then they returned
and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to
the commandment.
Mt 27:62–64The next day, which followed the
Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and
said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, He said,
‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Therefore give orders that
the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come,
steal Him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the
last deception will be worse than the first.”
65“You have a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as
secure as you know how.” 66Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.[1]
The next day—at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies—the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, and told him, "Sir, that liar once said, 'After three days I will come back to life again.' So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first."
"Use your own Temple police," Pilate told them. "They can guard it safely enough."
So they sealed the stone and posted guards to protect it from intrusion.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Nothing Can Stop It
The religious leaders took Jesus' resurrection claims more seriously than the disciples did. The disciples didn't remember Jesus' teaching about his resurrection (Matthew 20:17-19), but the religious leaders did. Because of his claims, they were almost as afraid of Jesus after his death as when he was alive. They tried to take every precaution that his body would remain in the tomb. The tomb was sealed by stringing a cord across the stone that had been rolled over the entrance. The cord was sealed at each end with clay. But the religious leaders took a further precaution, asking that guards be placed at the tomb's entrance. With such precautions, the only way the tomb could be empty would be for Jesus to rise from the dead. The Pharisees failed to understand that no rock, seal, guard, or army could prevent the Son of God from rising again. Because Jesus came back to life, we know that nothing that happens to us can prevent us from rising again and enjoying eternity with our Lord.
The tomb where Jesus was laid was probably a man-made cave cut out of one of the many limestone hills in the area. These caves were often large enough to walk into.
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Matthew 27:57-61
Mark 15:42-47
Luke 23:50-56
John 19:38-42
Intro Questions
Jesus Buried in
Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57–60; Mark 15:42–46; Luke
23:50–54; John 19:38–42
Mk 15:42When it was already evening, because it
was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), Jn 19:38aJoseph of Arimathea [Mt 27:57aa rich man from Arimathea named Joseph],
Lk 23:50aa good and righteous man, Mk 15:43ba prominent
member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, Lk
23:51awho had not agreed with their plan and action, Jn 19:38aa
disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate
that he might remove Jesus’ body.
Mk 15:44–45Pilate was surprised that He was already
dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. 45When
he found out from the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph, Jn
19:38bso he came and took His body away.
Jn 19:39–40Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at
night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes†. 40Then they took Jesus’
body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the
burial custom of the Jews.
41There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. And in the
garden was a new tomb in which no
one had yet been placed. 42So because of the Jewish preparation day,
since the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there. Mt 27:60bHe left
after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.[1]
Afterwards Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jewish leaders, boldly asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body down; and Pilate told him to go ahead. So he came and took it away. Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, came too, bringing a hundred pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Together they wrapped Jesus' body in a long linen cloth saturated with the spices, as is the Jewish custom of burial. The place of crucifixion was near a grove of trees, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because of the need for haste before the Sabbath, and because the tomb was close at hand, they laid him there.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What do you learn about Joseph of Arimathea? Why would he risk his reputation and status at this point?
What did Luke's account indicate about the women in Luke 23:55-56?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Jesus had apparently failed, but Joseph and the women did not abandon him. What do you learn from this for your life?
What does Jesus' crucifixion teach you about success, power, wealth and status?
What can the church (or Christians) do to make God's word from the cross relevant to our needy world?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Changed Lives
The Gospel writers described four particular people who were changed in the process of Jesus' death. The criminal, dying on the cross beside Jesus, asked Jesus to include him in his Kingdom (Luke 23:39-43). The Roman centurion proclaimed that surely Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 15:39). Joseph and Nicodemus, members of the Council and secret followers of Jesus (John 7:50-52), came out of hiding. These men were changed more by Jesus' death than by his life. They realized who Jesus was, and that realization brought out their belief, proclamation, and action. When confronted with Jesus and his death, we should be changed—to believe, proclaim, and act.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret followers of Jesus. Joseph was a leader and honored member of the Jewish Council (the Sanhedrin). Nicodemus, also a member of the Council, had come to Jesus by night (3:1) and later tried to defend him before the other religious leaders (7:50-52). They risked their reputations to provide for Jesus' burial.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Matthew 27:45-56
Mark 15:33-41
Luke 23:44-49
John 19:28-37
Supernatural
Events Surrounding Jesus’ Death
Matthew 27:45–54; Mark 15:33–39; Luke
23:44–48; John 19:28–30
Mt 27:45–49From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. 46At
about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ElÃ, ElÃ, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken
Me?” 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said,
“He’s calling for Elijah!…” 49But the rest said, “Let us see if
Elijah comes to save Him!”
Jn 19:28–30After this, when Jesus knew that
everything was now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He
said, “I’m thirsty!” 29A vessel full of sour wine was sitting there;
so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.
30When Jesus had received
the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” [Lk 23:46aAnd Jesus called out with a loud voice,
“Father, ‘into your hands I entrust My spirit’ ”]. Then bowing His
head, He yielded up His spirit.
Mt 27:51–53Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split
in two from top to bottom; the earth
quaked† and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also
were opened and many bodies of the
saints who had gone to their rest were
raised†. 53And they came out of the tombs after His
resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.
54When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw
the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said,
“This man really was God’s Son [Lk
23:47bThis man really was righteous].”
Lk 23:48All the crowds that had gathered for this
spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their
chests.[1]
Soldiers Pierce
the Side of Jesus
John 19:31–37
31Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to
remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They
requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken
away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and
of the other one who had been crucified with Him.
33When they came to Jesus, they
did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34But
one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water
came out. 35He who saw this has testified so that you also may
believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36For
these things happened so that the Scripture may be fulfilled: “Not one of His
bones will be broken.” 37Also, another Scripture says: “They will
look at the One they pierced.”
Whose death (family, friend or national figure) has affected you most? Why?
That afternoon, the whole earth was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o'clock. About three o'clock, Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink. But the rest said, "Leave him alone. Let's see whether Elijah will come and save him."
Then Jesus shouted out again, dismissed his spirit, and died.
And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke, and tombs opened, and many godly men and women who had died came back to life again. After Jesus' resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there.
The soldiers at the crucifixion and their sergeant were terribly frightened by the earthquake and all that happened. They exclaimed, "Surely this was God's Son."
And many women who had come down from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee).
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What is the meaning of the darkness (see Luke 25:53)? The torn curtain (Hebrews 9)? Jesus's prayer (Psalm 31:5)? The centurion's confession in Luke 23:47?
Describe the attitude with which Jesus met death in Luke 23:46
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
From the elements here, how would you describe to someone what Jesus's death was all about? How does it make difference in your view of sin and failure? Your confidence in God's love?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
The Cup
Jesus was not questioning God; he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22—a deep expression of the anguish he was feeling as he was taking on the sins of the world, which caused him to be separated from his Father. This was what Jesus had dreaded as he had prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from him (Matthew 26:39). The physical agony was horrible; even worse was the period of spiritual separation from his Father. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God. Jesus has gone through so much for you. What can you do for him?
We do not know how this darkness occurred, but it is clear that God caused it. Nature testified to the gravity of Jesus' death, while Jesus' friends and enemies alike fell silent in the encircling gloom. The darkness on that Friday afternoon was both physical and spiritual.
Direct Access
The tearing of the Temple curtain symbolized Christ's work on the cross. The Temple had three parts: the courts for all the people; the Holy Place, where only priests could enter; and the Most Holy Place, where the high priest alone could enter once a year to atone for the sins of the people. It was in the Most Holy Place that the Ark of the Covenant, and God's presence with it, rested. The curtain that was torn had closed off the Most Holy Place from view. At Christ's death, the barrier between God and man was split in two. Now all people can approach God directly through Christ (Hebrews 9:1-14; 10:19-22). Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, we have direct access to God. You can talk to God about anything, at any time. Stay close to him.
Christ's death was accompanied by at least four miraculous events: darkness, the tearing in two of the veil in the Temple, an earthquake, and dead people rising from their tombs. Jesus' death, therefore, could not have gone unnoticed. Everyone knew something significant had happened.
45 From noon until three in the afternoon
darkness came over all the land.46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried
out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this,
they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.
He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus
to drink.49 The
rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud
voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the
temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks
split52 and
the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised
to life.53 They came out
of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and
appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were
guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were
terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance.
They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.56 Among them were
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of
Zebedee’s sons.
Summarize main story: Describe the events of
the story in your own words.
· Review
and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
vLook at the question, “Why Have You
Forsaken Me?”
oPsalm 22My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me so far from my cries of
anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find
no rest.
oWhy did Jesus ask the question?
§It was our
sin that separated him from the Father.
·Isaiah 53:4Surely he took up our pain and he bore
our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are
healed.
·Psalm
22:22-24I will declare your name to my people; in
the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you
descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For
he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not
hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
·1
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome
it
Digging Questions:
·How will you respond to this question Jesus asked?
·What do these biblical texts tell you about God and
His nature?
·What is God calling us to do?
Take Away Challenges
·What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this
passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
·Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·What is God bringing to your attention in this
discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Jesus is Placed on the Cross
Matthew 27:35-44
Mark 15:25-32
Luke 23:32-43
John 19:18-27
Jesus Is Crucified
Matthew 27:35–37; Mark 15:25–26; Luke 23:32–34; John 19:18–24
Mk 15:25Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. Mt 27:36Then they sat down and were guarding Him there. Jn 19:19Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross [Mt 27:37aabove His head they put up the charge against Him in writing]. The inscription was: “JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Jn 19:20–21Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ”
22Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but toss for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says: “They divided My clothes among themselves, and for My clothing they cast lots.” And this is what the soldiers did.
Lk 23:34aThen Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”*
Intro Questions
After the crucifixion, the soldiers threw dice to divide up his clothes among themselves. Then they sat around and watched him as he hung there. And they put a sign above his head, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
Two robbers were also crucified there that morning, one on either side of him. And the people passing by hurled abuse, shaking their heads at him and saying, "So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well, then, come on down from the cross if you are the Son of God!"
And the chief priests and Jewish leaders also mocked him. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So you are the King of Israel, are you? Come down from the cross and we'll believe you! He trusted God—let God show his approval by delivering him! Didn't he say, 'I am God's Son'?"
And the robbers also threw the same in his teeth.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What attitudes and motives do you see in the crowd following this death-march? In the rulers? The criminals? The soldiers? the sign maker in Luke 23:38? In Jesus?
What aspects of the Gospel message do you see in Luke 23:40-43?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
When did the meaning of death of Christ begin to make sense to you? How would you explain the Crucifixion to a non-Christian friend?
Who in this story do you identify with most? With least? Why?
How do people today similarly reflect the profound misunderstanding expressed in Luke 23:35?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
The Way of the Cross
When James and John asked Jesus for the places of honor next to him in his Kingdom, he told them they didn't know what they were asking (Mark 10:35-39). Here, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate his Kingdom through his death, the places on his right and on his left were taken by dying men—criminals. As Jesus explained to his two position-conscious disciples, a person who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die. The way to the Kingdom is the way of the cross. Taking a stand for Christ may invite suffering and pain, but Jesus will be there with you, through it all.
The wine was offered to Jesus to help deaden his pain. But Jesus refused—he would suffer fully conscious and with a clear mind.
At the beginning of John’s Gospel, John the Baptist introduced Jesus by calling him the “Lamb of God” (1:29, 36). This odd phrase might refer to the sacrificial lamb that was killed daily in the Temple (Exod 29:38–46) or to the sacrificial lamb of Isa 53:7 (cp. Acts 8:32–35; Rev 5:5–14). Both rituals of sacrifice spoke of rescue and forgiveness from sin.
However, this was not all that John had in mind. John presented Jesus as the Passover lamb whose death marks the central event of the Passover season (see Exod 12:46; Luke 22:7; 1 Cor 5:7). In the first century, Jews made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem each spring to celebrate the Passover and to reread the story of the Exodus (see Exod 12–15). When Israel was being rescued from Egypt, the blood of a lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of each Jewish home in Egypt and saved those inside from death (Exod 12). Jews who came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover needed to supply a perfect young lamb for sacrifice. The animal could not be diseased or have broken bones.
Jesus used his final Passover meal to show that his sacrificial death would give new meaning to the festival (Mark 14:17–31). In John, the cross became an altar where Christ, the Passover lamb, was slain. Jesus’ legs were not broken (19:33), fulfilling a Passover rule (19:36; Exod 12:46). Blood ran freely from his wound (19:34), showing that his life was being exchanged for others. Just as a lamb died to save the lives of Jewish families at the Passover in Egypt, so, too, this one death of the Son of God on the cross serves to bring salvation to the world.
John 1:29, 36
Exod 12:1–13:16; 29:38–46
Num 9:1–14
Deut 16:1–8
2 Kgs 23:21–23
2 Chr 30:1–27
Ezra 6:19–21
Isa 53:7
Ezek 45:21–22
Matt 26:2, 17–19
Mark 14:17–31
Luke 22:14–30
Acts 8:32–35; 12:3–4
1 Cor 5:7–8
Heb 11:28
Rev 5:5–14
New Living Translation Study Bible. (2008). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:31 PM May 4, 2021.
Jesus is Led Away to be Crucified
Matthew 27:32-34
Mark 15:21-24
Luke 23:26-31
John 19:17
Simon Carries the
Cross to the Crucifixion Site
Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26–31
Lk 23:26aAs they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, Mk 15:21bthe
father of Alexander and Rufus, Lk 23:26b–27and laid the cross on him
to carry behind Jesus. 27A great multitude of the people followed
Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him.
28But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep
for Me, but weep for yourselves and your
children. 29Look, the days are coming when they will say,
‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never
nursed!’ 30Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on
us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31For if they do these
things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”[1]
Jesus Is
Crucified
Matthew 27:33–37; Mark 15:22–26; Luke
23:32–34; John 19:17–24
Lk 23:33aWhen they arrived at the place called The Skull [Jn 19:17Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called
Golgotha], they crucified Him there. Mt 27:34They gave Him wine
mixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it.
Which childhood chore (cleaning your room, mowing the lawn, caring for pets, doing the dishes), was your least favorite? Most favorite?
As the crowd led Jesus away to his death, Simon of Cyrene, who was just coming into Jerusalem from the country, was forced to follow, carrying Jesus' cross. Great crowds trailed along behind, and many grief-stricken women.
But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when the women who have no children will be counted fortunate indeed. Mankind will beg the mountains to fall on them and crush them, and the hills to bury them. For if such things as this are done to me, the Living Tree, what will they do to you?"
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
By now, how is Jesus faring ((see Mark 14:65; 15:15-19)? Why would someone have to help Jesus carry the cross?
Why would Jesus rather have no one weep for him (Luke :23:28-31; see 21:20-24)? Does Jesus address these women as his followers or as citizens of Jerusalem? How would you paraphrase what he meant by the proverb in Luke 23:31?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
How do you view the Crucifixion: Necessary evil? Cruel and unusual punishment? Sacrifice for sin? Triumph over injustice? Why?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
========== Simon's Service
Colonies of Jews existed outside Judea. Simon had made a Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem all the way from Cyrene in North Africa. Simon certainly never expected to carry a condemned man's cross to the execution site, yet the Roman soldiers forced him to do so. Simon alone is remembered for this particular act of service—carrying the crossbeam after Jesus, in his beaten humanity, was unable to do so. Small acts can have big effects. Simon could not have saved Jesus' life, but he did help carry the cross. At some point, it seems that Simon also came to believe in this condemned man as his Savior, for the Bible records that his sons, Alexander and Rufus, became well known later in the early church (Romans 16:13). Never discount the long-reaching effects of small acts of help and service.
==========
Luke alone mentions the tears of the Jewish women while Jesus was being led through the streets to his execution. Jesus told them not to weep for him but for themselves. He knew that in only about forty years, Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed by the Romans.
=========
The Cruelty of Crucifixion
The Roman cross consisted of an upright post implanted in the ground and a cross beam that the accused was required to carry. On reaching the place of execution, the victim was nailed or tied to the cross beam before it was raised into position against the post.
Crucifixion was so horrible that the Romans used it only for slaves and the lowest types of criminals. Citizens of the Roman Empire were never crucified. This method of capital punishment was designed not only to kill but also to torture and humiliate. Criminals were crucified naked, adding physical and mental humiliation to the ordeal. Death generally came slowly through loss of blood and exhaustion. Some victims survived on a cross for days in excruciating pain. But Jesus died within a few hours after being placed on the cross.
The New Testament does not dwell on the horror of what Jesus suffered, perhaps because in bearing human sin, He suffered so much more than crucifixion.
=========
Crucify Him
A medical doctor provides a physical description:
The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified.
As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain -- the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.
As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep relentless, and throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath.
Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.
It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues. The tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues.
Finally, he allows his body to die.
All this the Bible records with the simple words, "and they crucified Him" (Mark 15:24).
-- C. Truman Davis, M.D., M.S., Arizona Medicine, Vol. 22 No. 3 March 1965
