What is crucifixion?
Crucifixion was a common mode of punishment among heathen nations in early times. It is not certain whether it was used by the ancient Jews; probably it was not. The modes of capital punishment according to the Mosaic law were, by the sword (Exodus 21), strangling, fire (Leviticus 20), and stoning (Deuteronomy 21).
This was regarded as the most horrible form of death, and to a Jew it would acquire greater horror from the curse in Deuteronomy 21:23.
This punishment began by subjecting the sufferer to scourging. In the case of our Lord, however, his scourging was before the sentence was passed upon him, and was inflicted by Pilate for the purpose, probably, of producing pity to avoid a demand for further punishment.
The condemned person carried his own cross to the place of execution, which was outside the city, in some conspicuous place set apart for the purpose. Before the nailing to the cross took place, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh (the sopor) was sometimes given, for the purpose of deadening the pangs of the sufferer. Our Lord refused this cup, that his senses might be clear (Matthew 27:34). The spongeful of vinegar, sour wine, posca—the common drink of the Roman soldiers—was put on a hyssop stalk and offered to our Lord in contemptuous pity (Matthew 27:48; Luke 23:36). He tasted it probably to allay the agonies of his thirst (John 19:29).
The accounts given of the crucifixion of our Lord are in entire agreement with the customs and practices of the Romans in such cases. He was crucified between two “criminals” (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:32), and was watched by a party of four soldiers (John 19:23; Matthew 27:36, 27:54), with their centurion. The “breaking of the legs” of the crucified was intended to hasten death, and put them out of misery (John 19:31); but the unusual rapidity of our Lord’s death (John 19:33) was due to his previous sufferings and his great mental anguish. The omission of the breaking of his legs was the fulfillment of a symbol (Exodus 12:46).
He literally died of a broken heart—a ruptured heart—and hence the flowing of blood and water from the wound made by the soldier’s spear (John 19:34).
Our Lord uttered memorable words from the cross, including “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), as well as John 19:26, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, John 19:28, Luke 23:46, and John 19:30 (“It is finished.”).
Also see
- Did Jesus really die? Answer
- How did Jesus die? Learn the facts…
- On what kind of cross was Jesus crucified?
- Why the different inscriptions?
- What does the inscription “INRI” mean? Answer
- If the Bible is the Word of God, how can you explain the contradictions of the Bible? Answer
- Sweating blood—Did Jesus really do it? Answer
- Discover historical and biblical facts about Jesus Christ
- What does Islam teach about the crucifixion of Jesus? Answer
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