Crucified - Part 2

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:18-19).

Contrary to popular belief, a crucified victim’s feet was no more than 2-3 ft. off the ground. The soldiers and civilian crowd often mocked, taunted, and jeered the victim. The soldiers usually divided his clothes among themselves. Depending on the severity of the scourging, the length of survival on a cross usually ranged from 3-4 hours to 3-4 days. However, even if the scourging was relatively mild, the Roman soldiers could quicken death by breaking the victim’s legs below the knees. That was left up to the Roman centurion or the judge.

It was not uncommon for insects to crawl on, bite, or burrow into the open wounds, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of the dying victim. Birds of prey and predatory animals would often feed on the body before and after the person’s death. Roman law permitted the family of the victim to take the body for burial after obtaining permission from the Roman judge.

Since no one was intended to survive crucifixion, the body was not released to the family until it was certain the victim was dead. It was customary for one of the Roman guards to pierce the he heart with a sword or lance through the right side of the chest. The standard infantry spear, which was 5-6 ft. long could easily reach the chest of a man crucified on the customary low cross.

In the crucifixion of Jesus these customary practices were observed despite what Hollywood depicts in the movies. Was the scourging and mocking of Jesus consistent with historical records? Yes. Was His crucifixion consistent with historical records? Yes. In His case, Jesus was brutally beaten in the Roman Praetorium without any intervention from the chief priests. They were happy to see Jesus savagely scourged because they hated Him so. 

The crucifixion of Jesus lasted approximately 6 hours. While this may be attributed to (1) the severity of the scourging that left Jesus near death before being crucified, (2) the approaching Sabbath wherein Jewish law prohibited a Jewish person to hang on a cross during the Sabbath, and (3) the thrusting of the Roman lance/spear into His heart insuring His death, we know that the death of Jesus came as the result of the grace, mercy, love, and will of the Father. After having become sin for us on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), and after having drank the full cup of God’s wrath for sin (Matthew 20:22; 26:42; John 18:11), Jesus willingly died the atoning death for sin. (Matthew 27:50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (Luke 23:46) And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 

“Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul through Your death on the cross. May I come to understand the depth of Your love for me as I continue to meditate on Your cross. Amen.”

Pastor