Crucified - Part 3

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).

Each wound suffered in the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus was intended to produce intense pain and agony. The scourging of Jesus was intended to weaken Him to the point of death. Blood loss was considerable leading to a severe drop in blood pressure, fainting, and organ failure. The open wounds would invite contamination from the instruments of scourging and from dust and dirt. The wooden cross would also become a source of contamination in the open wounds.

On the cross, each breath inhaled and exhaled would cause the body to rub against the rough wooden cross, further irritating the open wounds with splinters, etc. further contributing to blood loss. Suspended on a cross with outstretched arms, the weight of His body would cause the muscles in His chest, arms, and rib cage to spasm and eventually freeze. The muscles around the diaphragm that regulated breathing would spasm and freeze. This would cause suffocation. The iron spikes driven through the wrists and feet facilitated the inhaling and exhaling of air into and out of the lungs as Jesus would pull Himself up on the spikes to open the lungs for air, then pushing Himself down and against the wooden stipe to force air out of His lungs. Each act of pulling and pushing would send shock waves of pain through the damaged nerves in the arms, legs, and back.

The actual cause of death by crucifixion varied somewhat with each case, but the two primary causes were shock from organ failure due to blood loss and/or asphyxiation due to  inadequate oxygen levels in the blood from the inability to breathe properly. Other factors included dehydration, stress-induced heart arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure with the rapid accumulation of fluid around the heart and in lungs. Death by crucifixion was excruciating beyond comprehension.

Some scholars attribute the death of Jesus to some or all of these factors. In many Christian circles the cause of Jesus’ death is more ‘romantic’, stating Jesus died of a broken heart. Yes, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus into the hands of the elders of Israel. Yes, the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah. Yes, the chief priests condemned Him to die. Yes, the Romans physically crucified Jesus. Yes, it was for our sin Jesus died on the cross. While He suffered many of the attributes of crucifixion mentioned, in reality it was God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who were responsible for the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Matthew 26:53-54) . . . Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus? 

“Thank You, Lord God, for the wonderful plan of salvation that was set in motion before the foundation of the world. Thank You that Your provision for our redemption was perfectly planned and executed that we might be rescued from sin, death, and hell. Amen.”  

Pastor