Every step Jesus took in His earthly life was leading Him to the place the Greeks called “Topos Kranion,” in the Hebrews it is called “Golgotha,” and the Romans called it “Calvary.” It was known to all as “The Place of the Skull” (John 19:17) (Luke 23:33). All through the Gospels Jesus had said this was His destiny (Matthew 16:21) (Matthew 17:22-23) (Matthew 20:28) (Matthew 26:2).
He had been arrested, tried and convicted in a mock trial. False witnesses had been called against Him and He had been abused by the guards. He had been taken to Pilate where He was beaten by Pilate’s soldiers . He was sentenced to die and suffered along the Via Dolorosa, “The Way of Suffering” (650 yards long) where He carried His cross along with Simon the Cyrene.
Crucifixion was probably the most horrible form of capital punishment ever devised by man. ‘It’s said to have originated with the Persians in about 522 B.C. Later it was used by the Greeks, but the Romans were most noted for the practice. The prophetic details in connection with the crucifixion of Jesus are amazing. Of course we have seen this in (Isaiah 50:6) (Isaiah 53).
A thousand years before Jesus’ birth, David, speaking on behalf of the coming Messiah, described the the crucifixion of Jesus (Psalm 22)
- His bones were out of joint – (Psalm 22:14)
- It was common to break the legs of the victim – but they did not break Jesus’ legs because He was the anti-type of the Passover lamb
- Read: (Exodus 12:46) (John 19:33)
- He is ridiculed by the people – (Psalm 22:7-8) (Matthew 27:39-44)
- Saying – “He saved others” – “He trusted God” – (Matthew 18:11) (John 3:16-17)
- He is poured out like water (extreme perspiration) – (Psalm 22:14)
- His heart was struggling to beat – (Psalm 22:14)
- His hands and feet were pierced – (Psalm 22:16)
- His garments would be divided – (Psalm 22:18)
- They would he given vinegar and gall (myrrh) to ease the pain, a mixture to numb the body and the mind in order to lessen the awareness of the one who is being crucified crucial when you think of the crucifixion itself
The prospective crucifixion victim was first subjected to scourging, beating with a three-thong whip (fashioned of plaited leather, and studded with bone and metal). The victim was stripped naked and then was secured with leather ties. He was then beaten from his upper back to the lower extremities of his legs. The flesh was then flayed from the muscle, in which eventually muscle would be shredded from the bone. The bones of the back, including the spinal column might well be exposed in a bloody mass. The severe scourging, with its intense pain and blood loss, most probably left Jesus in a pre-shock state. The physical and mental abuse meted out by the Jews and the Romans, as well as the lack of food, water, and sleep, also contributed to his generally weakened state. Therefore, even before the actual crucifixion, Jesus’ physical condition was at least serious and possibly critical.” At the death site, he criminal would be made to lie upon the ground, with the crossbeam under his upper back. The arms were then attached by nails. The nails almost certainly were driven through the wrists, since the palm tissue “cannot bear the weight” of the body. The nails were 7” long and 3/8” in diameter and driven through the median nerve in order to cause massive spasm to wrack His body. The feet were nailed also. The actual cause of death was the loss of blood volume and the inability to breathe due to the extension of the body. The victim, unable to support his body so as to inhale/exhale easily, eventually suffocated; he usually died within 36 hours, though he could survive for days. Jesus lived only 6 hours.
And yet Jesus remained conscious of all that was happening so He could save you for those whom He would save. He took the full pain (wrath) of the cross fully aware of what He was doing for the Father. Give the LORD praise for His Death, which He made It possible for you to be alive.
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