The Crucifixion

INTRO

Cicero: “the cruelest and most terrible punishment”

Josephus: “the most pitiable of deaths” (Both in LBD)

Gospel writers do not explain what was involved in crucifying one; it was a common occurence under Roman rule.

DISCUSSION

The Procedure of The Crucifixion of Christ

Victim was tortured by various means—usually by flogging for a just man thought to be unjust (LBD; Mt 27:26)

Victim would carry the cross to the place of crucifixion (Jn 19:17; Mt 27:32)

Very public location—well-traveled road or hill

Sometimes at the scene of the crime

Fastened by ropes or nails to the crossbeam (Jn 20:25)

Lifted up.

Lifted up without clothing (Heb 12:2)

Crucifixion was a grueling and slow death (Mk 15:44-45). Could take days and the victims could become food for scavengers.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Fixing the Victim to the Stake

In the bitterest of torment, they have been fastened with nails, [to become] evil banquets for birds and terrible scraps for dogs”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Fixing the Victim to the Stake

Seneca describes a similar image: “Can anyone be found who would prefer wasting away in pain, dying limb by limb, or letting out his life drop by drop, rather than expiring once for all? Can any man be found willing to be fastened to the accursed tree, long sickly, already deformed, swelling with ugly tumours on chest and shoulders, and draw the breath of life amid long—drawn-out agony?”

Lifted up just above the victim’s height but not high enough where the dogs and other beasts could not get to them (Ps 22:16)

The death of the cross

Asphyxiation

Dehydration (Ps 22:15; Lk 22:44; Jn 19:28)

hypovolemic shock—blood loss leading to organ failure (Ps 22:14)

heart failure (Jn 19:34)

After death

Victims were either left for the animals, taken down and abused, given to the family for burial

Jn 19:38-41

The Purpose of the Crucifixion of Christ

To shame the individual

Heb 6:6 open shame, public humiliation

Celsus: “dishonorable and shameful way”

Ultimate folly (1 Cor 1:18; Phil 2:8) The punishment of slaves

Power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:22-24)

To deter crime

Crime placard placed above Jesus named his crime (Lk 23:38)

This is what happens to those who try to resist Rome

The Purpose of God in the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 2:23)

To glorify the Son (Jn 17:1) and to be glorified by the Son (Jn 17:4, 5)

To defeat death (Heb 2:9, 14-15)

To reconcile man back to God (Heb 2:17-18; Eph 2:14-16)

Exhortation

Look at Jesus! (Heb 12:2; 3:1)

Have you been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20)?