How Long Did It Take For Jesus To Die?

Why Jesus Died So Quickly on the Cross

The ″Swoon Theory″ is one of the most prominent non-Christian theories for the Resurrection, and it is one of the most widely accepted.After all, if Jesus didn’t truly die on the cross, His supposed ″resurrection″ is nothing more than a miraculous ″resuscitation.″ Those who question Jesus’ death sometimes refer to the short period of time he spent on the cross prior to dying as a source of skepticism.Death for crucifixion victims often occurred gradually as a result of their suffering, exposure to the elements, and a lack of food or drink.The crucifixion of Jesus, on the other hand, only lasted six hours; this was an unusually quick death, given that other historical accounts of the crucifixion describe it as lasting several days.

Even Jesus’ early death is described as an anomaly in the Biblical account of his life.According to the Apostle John, the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus were still alive six hours after they were crucified.As a result, ″the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then the legs of the other″ to ensure they died before the Sabbath began (John 19:31-34).So, why did Jesus die on the cross in such a short period of time?Is it possible to be certain he died at all?

  • Given His identity and claims, Jesus’ pre-crucifixion experience was out of the ordinary.
  • As we go through the events leading up to the crucifixion, we begin to understand why Jesus died so fast on the cross: They smacked him in the head with a rock.
  • Keep in mind that Jesus was crucified by the Jewish authorities, who had mistreated Him in the days leading up to His death.
  • This was not the case for every person who died as a result of crucifixion.
  • Jesus’ treatment began with physical violence right from the commencement of his ministry.

In John 18:21-22, an officer hit Jesus when he refused to respond to the high priest in the manner that had been anticipated by them.″Can you tell me why you are questioning Me?Anyone who has heard what I said should be questioned; they are aware of what was said.″ When Jesus finished speaking, one of the officers standing nearby snatched him in the ribs and asked, ″Is that how you respond to the high priest?″ They slapped him in the face and smacked him in the face with their hands.

  • A continuation of the physical abuse of Jesus was permitted because of His claims of Deity.
  • Not every prisoner made these types of statements, to be clear.
  • In response to Jesus’ assertions, His captors treated him even more severely, torturing and ridiculing Him both verbally and physically.
  • 14:65 (Matthew 14:65) Then some of them began to spit at him and blindfold him and beat Him with their fists, while others exclaimed to Him, ″Prophecy!″ And the cops greeted Him with a smack across the cheeks.
  • He was beaten and humiliated.

Another unexpected turn of events occurred when Pontius Pilate received Jesus from the Jewish authorities and looked to be distressed by the decision to sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion.In reality, Pilate found nothing worthy of crucifixion and made an unsuccessful attempt to appease the enraged Jewish mob by having Jesus severely scourged: He went out to the Jews once again and told them, ″I see no blame in Him.″ John 18:38-40, 19:1, 4-6 But you have a tradition that I release someone for you at Passover; do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you instead?″ As a result, they called out once more, this time screaming, ″Not this Man, but Barabbas.″ Now Barabbas was a thief on the streets.When Pilate found out who Jesus was, he scourged Him…Once again, Pilate appeared in front of the crowd and declared to them, ″Behold, I am bringing Him out before you so that you may know that I do not find any crime in His person.″ Jesus then emerged from the tomb, adorned with a crown of thorns and a purple garment.

″Look, here’s the Man!″ Pilate said to them.So when the leading priests and officers saw Him, they yelled out, ″Crucify, crucify!″ as they rushed towards Him.He told them, ″Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I see no wrongdoing in Him.″ Pilate was a Roman senator.Pilate scourged Jesus brutally in an attempt to appease a mob that wished to assassinate Jesus.The severity and extent of Jesus’ scourging were most likely harsh enough to appeal to the demands of the assembled throng.

The brutality of the whipping was probably best depicted in Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ.It was common practice for the Romans to whip or lash their enemies with a multi-stranded whip or lash that had chunks and pieces of stone or bone in the lash points.Victims were bloodied and seriously damaged after being beaten with a Roman scourge.

Given Pilate’s eagerness to placate the Jewish mob that had gathered to demand Jesus’ death, he subjected Jesus to a violent beating that came just short of a death sentence.To the point of death, it seems conceivable that Jesus was scourged to death.It was a reed that they used to beat him in the head.As punishment for the scourging, the soldiers continued to ridicule and beat Jesus physically.It was then that they smeared a crown of thorns on his head and thrashed Him with a reed: Matthew 27:30 (KJV) And after weaving a crown of thorns for His head, they placed a reed in His right hand, and they prostrated themselves before Him and ridiculed Him, saying, ″Hail, King of the Jews!And they spat on Him, and then they took the reed and began to beat Him on the back of the head.

They coerced him into carrying his cross on his back.Despite the fact that Jesus was severely injured at this point, the Roman soldiers insisted that He carry His cross to the location of the crucifixion regardless of his condition.Given the circumstances, it was evident that He would be unable to complete the assignment.The following is the effect of Simon of Cyrene’s being forced into action to assist Jesus in carrying the cross: Matthew 27:32 (KJV) At that point, the soldiers discovered a Cyrenean called Simon, whom they pushed into service to carry His cross for them.

They nailed Him on a cross.Following that, Jesus was crucified beside the two criminals.His journey to the cross, on the other hand, was quite different from theirs.These causes, which were unique to Jesus’ identity and statements, motivated his pre-crucifixion beatings: Matthew 27:32 (KJV) As soon as they had nailed Him to the cross, they divided His clothing among themselves by drawing lots.And after taking their seats, they proceeded to keep watch on Him in that location.

It was written above His head, ″THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS,″ and the allegation against Him was leveled against Him.Because of his one-of-a-kind pre-crucifixion experience, Jesus died far more swiftly than the previous crucifixion victims.Therefore, his death is feasible and predicted to occur sooner rather than later.To send a tweet, simply click here.

Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was subjected to a major and one-of-a-kind beating.The circulatory shock and heart failure that would have occurred in anyone who had been beaten as hard as Jesus had been in the hours leading up to his crucifixion were very certain to occur in such a short period of time.Even John’s observations of water gushing from Jesus’ side after he was stabbed by the soldier (John 19:31-34) are compatible with this type of dying.Because of his one-of-a-kind pre-crucifixion experience, Jesus died far more swiftly than the previous crucifixion victims.

Therefore, his death is feasible and predicted to occur sooner rather than later.The fact that Jesus died on the cross and was actually risen rather than resuscitated gives us reason to be confident in his resurrection.More information about the trustworthiness of the New Testament gospels and the case for Christianity may be found in Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels, which is available for purchase online.

  1. This book teaches readers the ten principles of cold-case investigations and then applies these concepts to the claims of the gospel authors in order to investigate them.
  2. There is an accompanying Cold-Case Christianity DVD Set (with Participant’s Guide) that may be used to assist individuals or small groups in examining the facts and making the case for Christianity.
  3. J.
  4. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective who has appeared on Dateline.

He is also a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and Adjunct Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.He is the author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, as well as the founder of the Case Makers Academy for children.Sign up for J.

Warner’s Daily Email Updates.

How long was Jesus on the cross?

Answer to the question Jesus was nailed on the cross for almost six hours.″He was ridiculed by the top priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.″ The critics pointed out that he had saved others, but that he was unable to save himself!He’s the king of Israel, after all!Allow him to come down from the cross at this time, and we will believe in him.

He places his faith in God.Allow God to rescue him now if he so desires, for he has stated, ″I am the Son of God.″ (Matthew 27:41–43; Mark 10:41–43).The crucifixion was a way of carrying out the death punishment in the ancient Roman Empire for people judged guilty of a deadly charge.Crucifixion was often reserved for the most heinous of offenses, such as slavery, foreigners, insurrectionists, and those who had committed crimes against humanity.In order to destroy Jesus and keep their authority, the Jewish theocrats planned a strategy to persuade Roman authorities that Jesus had to be slain, which they executed (Mark 14:1; cf.

  • John 19:12; 19:15).
  • The Jewish authorities accused Christ of inciting revolt and establishing Himself as King, charges that he denied and denied again.
  • This allegation of rebellion is what led to Jesus being crucified on a Roman crucifixion rather than being stoned to death, which was the old Jewish way of death.
  • Crucifixion was intended not just to kill, but also to deter others from engaging in illegal activity.
  • Crucified people had to be humiliated, and they were frequently left to hang entirely nude.

The cross had a stigma attached to it, and Jewish law stated that it was a curse (Galatians 3:13; 5:11).The term ″excruciating″ comes from the Latin phrase ″out of crucifying″; crucifixion was considered a ″excruciating″ method of death since it was a particularly slow and painful method of dying.Following their nailing to a cross, some persons may be able to survive for several days afterward, depending on the circumstances.

  • Understanding how long Jesus was crucified for is complicated by the fact that two different systems of marking time are utilized in both the Bible and the New Testament.
  • The Jewish calendar is used by Matthew, Mark, and Luke to keep track of time.
  • The Roman system is used by John.
  • In accordance with Jewish tradition, Mark writes, ″They crucified him and divided his clothing among themselves, casting lots for them to choose what each should receive.″ When they crucified Jesus, it was the third hour, according to Mark 15:24–25 (New International Version).
  • According to this, Christ’s crucifixion began at nine o’clock in the morning.

Matthew, who also used the Jewish method of timekeeping, states that ″from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the country″ (Matthew 6:6-9).(Matthew 27:45, ESV).That is, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 P.M., there was complete darkness.This was the final three hours that Jesus spent on the crucifixion.

Then, at the conclusion of that period, ″after Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he surrendered his spirit″ (Matthew 27:50).After then, a Roman soldier made certain of His death (John 19:34), and Jesus’ corpse was removed from the scene of the crime.For a total of six hours, Jesus had been hanging on the cross, beginning at roughly 9:00 a.m.and ending at 3:00 p.m.The Gospel of John includes the fact that Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate was taking place at ″around the sixth hour,″ according to Roman time (John 19:14, ESV).

Since the Romans began counting their hours at midnight, the ″sixth hour″ would begin at 6:00 a.m., or six hours after the sun rises.As a result, using the Roman numeral system, ″around the sixth hour″ equals approximately 6:00 a.m.Pilate has sentenced Jesus to death.

Then, according to the Jewish calendar, ″the third hour″ is equal to 9:00 a.m.The crucifixion is about to commence.″the sixth hour″ is equivalent to 12:00 p.m.(noon).The night has come.″the ninth hour″ is a reference to 3:00 p.m.

Jesus is put to death.Putting everything together, Jesus’ trial came to a close about 6:00 a.m.Approximately three hours later, his crucifixion began, and He died approximately six hours after that.Return to the previous page: Questions regarding Jesus Christ What was the length of Jesus’ time on the cross?

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How did Jesus Christ die?

″Jesus pleaded with the Father, saying, ‘Father, pardon them, for they do not know what they are doing.’″ —Luke 23:34 King James Version A large number of medical specialists, historians, and archaeologists have conducted in-depth investigations into the execution that Jesus Christ chose to undergo.His execution was universally acknowledged to have been one of the most grueling and agonizing types of lethal punishment ever created by man.A brief account of some of the facts we know about his final hours from historical sources, archaeology, and medicine is provided below…

Severe stress, even before the abuse began

When Jesus was crucified, he carried the entire world on his shoulders.It is apparent that he was experiencing bodily symptoms linked with great stress even before the crucifixion began.During the night before his execution, his followers claimed to have witnessed Jesus on the Mount of Olives in ″agony.″ Not only did he appear to have been up the whole night, but he also appeared to be sweating heavily.The amount of stress he was under was so high that small blood vessels in his sweat glands were rupturing and erupting as large crimson droplets that fell to the ground (see Luke 22:44).

Hematohidrosis is the medical term for this sign of extreme stress.(Read on to find out more…) Jesus was physically weary and on the verge of falling into shock if he did not receive fluids immediately (which he apparently did not).This is the individual who was subjected to torturous treatment by the Roman troops.

Torture by beating with Roman scourges

An artist’s rendition of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and execution Following a prior defeat at the hands of the Jews, it was now the Romans’ time.Batterings inflicted by Roman troops are well-known for being extremely bloody, resulting in lacerations across the body.The whips used by the Romans were meant to remove flesh from the bodies of their victims.These beatings were intended to be excruciatingly painful to the point of death.

It would also cause fluid to accumulate around his lungs as a result of the procedure.As an added precaution, a crown of thorns was pressed into his scalp, which had the potential to severely irritate important nerves in his head, causing growing and terrible pain as the hours passed.When combined with Christ’s already-stressed state, these beatings were simply enough to bring him to his death.His body was strewn with bruises, cuts, and a lot of blood.Having gone for several hours without food or water, and having lost fluids via excessive perspiration and significant bleeding, Jesus would have been seriously dehydrated by now.

  • A state of ″shock,″ as physicians refer to it, would very likely be induced by this horrific torment, and shock is lethal.
  • Apart from that, Jesus was compelled to carry the wooden plank on which he would be crucified.
  • If you were in that situation, imagine what it would be like to be carrying a huge weight.
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Crucifixion

The pain and damage inflicted by crucifixion were intended to be so devilishly acute that one would constantly wish for death, yet may linger for days without relief.The victim was hung entirely naked in front of the audience.Doctor Frederick Zugibe claims that piercing of the median nerve of the hands with a nail causes pain so unbearable that even morphine cannot alleviate it: ″severe, searing, scorching anguish, like lightning bolts traveling the arm and into the spinal cord.″ A nail puncturing the plantar nerve of the foot would have a similar debilitating effect.It should also be noted that the body is positioned on a cross in such a way that breathing becomes incredibly difficult.

The intended, torturous effect was described by Frederick Farrar as follows: ″For indeed, a death by crucifixion appears to include everything that pain and death can have of horrible and ghastly—dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds—all intensified just up to the point at which they According to one doctor, it is ″a symphony of pain″ that is generated by every movement and every breath; even the slightest wind on his skin can cause him to scream in excruciating pain at this point.Doctor Frederick Zugibe, the medical examiner, believes Christ died as a result of shock caused by the loss of blood and fluid combined with traumatic shock from his injuries as well as cardiogenic shock, which caused Christ’s heart to fail.At the ninth hour (the time at which a sacrificial lamb was slaughtered in the Jewish temple every day), Jesus called out in a loud voice, ″Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?″ (Lord, Lord, do you hear me?) ″My God, My God, why have You deserted Me?″ says the song, which is translated.and passed away shortly after declaring, ″It is ended.″ This is most likely the time at which the priestly ram’s horn would have been sounded in the temple on that particular day, signaling that the priests had concluded the sacrifice of the lamb for the sins of Israel.At the same time, the enormous, thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies room from the rest of the building was pulled apart from top to bottom.

  • — Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46 are two passages to consider.
  • Thompson claimed that Jesus died not from tiredness, beatings, or the 3 hours of crucifixion, but rather from pain of the mind that caused a rupture of the heart.
  • James Thompson’s theory was supported by the evidence.
  • The events that occurred after the Roman soldier pierced Christ’s left side serve as evidence in his case.
  • Blood and water gushed out of the spear in a frenzied burst (John 19:34).

However, Thompson feels that this is also evidence of heart rupture, which further proves that Jesus was already dead when the cross was pierced.According to renowned scientist Samuel Houghton, only the combination of the crucifixion and the rupture of the heart could create this outcome.There is no doubt that it was excruciatingly agonizing beyond words.

  • According to the Bible, it is apparent that Jesus selected and willed the moment of His death.
  • That moment was not brought about by pain, mental stress, a heart attack, or any other circumstance, but rather by His command.
  • He is both totally human and entirely divine, despite the fact that He is fully human.
  • As God, He could not die as a result of external forces, but only as a result of His own free choice and desire.
  • ″If you are the Christ, save yourself and us,″ said a felon standing next to him at the end of the performance.

This sinner had no idea that the man he was chatting to was freely hanging on the gallows.He was speaking to our Creator, who was capable of releasing all of the power in the cosmos and beyond, as well as effortlessly saving himself from certain death.It was not because he was helpless that Jesus stayed in this state of suffering and disgrace, but rather because of his immense love for humanity.He was crucified in order to offer the necessary means of redemption for you and me.

Visit this page if you would want to learn more about developing a personal connection with Christ.… Alternatively, you may visit our Good News main page.What questions do you have?Is Jesus Christ the answer?(ChristianAnswers.Net/gospel) — Go You may view an illustrated account of Jesus’ life and death by clicking here (click here).

Or, better yet, begin at the very beginning of God’s tale in order to comprehend what God accomplished and why Jesus died.Go… (ChristianAnswers.Net/godstory) At ChristianAnswers.Net/jesus, you can find a wealth of additional information and data regarding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.Jesus’ death is described in length in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – each of these disciples documented what happened, with more or less detail depending on their primary emphasis.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the most well-known of these gospels.

More information

  • What is the meaning of crucifixion? Answer: Did Jesus truly do it when he was sweating blood? Answer: The following is a biblical description of Christ’s death and resurrection on the final day: According to the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
  • How did Jesus die? On what sort of cross was he crucified? Answer: Jesus Christ HUMBLED himself to the point of death for the benefit of humanity. What is the method and why is it used? Did Jesus only faint and then recover from his wounds, or did he suffer a complete and total loss of consciousness? What is the answer? If Jesus is God, how is it possible that he died? If Jesus died on the cross, how is it possible that he is still alive today? Answer: ARCHAEOLOGY—Have any burial places been discovered for the persons who were engaged in Christ’s life and death, and if so, where? Answer: What is the significance of the DIFFERENT INSCRIPTIONS on the cross? In the answer, please tell me what the inscription ″INRI″ means. In response, God’s justice is demonstrated via the following: the fall of man and sin, the Redeemer and redemption, a ransom, debtor and debtors, grace, justification, gospel, salvation, and the last judgment.
  • What does Islam have to say about Jesus’ crucifixion and death? The answer is a crown of thorns.

SOURCES

  • Professor Ramsay MacMullen of Yale University, Professor James Strange of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Frederick Zugibe, medical examiner, in ″How Jesus Died: The Final 18 Hours,″ a video release by Campus Crusade.

Paul S.Taylor of Christian Answers is the author of this article.Copyright 2000, 2003, Films for Christ, Inc., All Rights Reserved—except as noted on the attached ″Usage and Copyright″ page, which grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches, and schools—except as noted on the attached ″Usage and Copyright″ page, which grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing

Relive Jesus Christ’s Final Hours of Passion and Suffering

Christians pay particular attention to the passion of Jesus Christ throughout the Easter season, particularly on Good Friday.The Lord’s final hours of anguish and death on the cross lasted around six hours in all.This chronology of Jesus’ death lays down the events of Good Friday as they are recounted in the Bible, including the events that occurred right before and immediately after the crucifixion of Jesus.Many of the actual timings of these occurrences are not recorded in Scripture, which is an essential point to emphasize.

The chronology that follows depicts a rough timeline of what happened in the following events.Take a look at this Holy Week Timeline for a more comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and for the opportunity to walk those steps alongside him.

Timeline of Jesus’ Death

Preceding Events

  • In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26.20-30
  • Mark 14:17-26
  • Luke 22:14-38
  • John 13:21-30)
  • Jesus is betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26.47-56
  • Mark 14:43-52
  • Luke 22:47-53
  • John 18:1-11)
  • The Religious Leaders Condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:1-2
  • Mark 15:1
  • Luke 22:66-71
  • John 18:1-11)

Good Friday’s Events

Before the religious leaders could execute Jesus, they required the approval of the Roman government to carry out their death sentence.Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, who determined that there was no basis for charging him.Pilate ordered that Jesus be sent to Herod, who was present in Jerusalem at the time.Jesus refused to answer Herod’s inquiries, and as a result, Herod had him returned to the custody of Pilate.

Despite the fact that Pilate deemed Jesus to be innocent, he was afraid of the people and condemned him to death.Jesus was beaten, insulted, stripped naked, and crowned with thorns as a punishment.He was forced to bear his own cross and was dragged away to the cross of Calvary.

6 AM

  • When Jesus is put on trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-14
  • Mark 15:2-5
  • Luke 23:1-5
  • John 18:28-37), it is called the Crucifixion.
  • Herod was summoned by Jesus (Luke 23:6-12)

7 AM

  • Jesus is brought before Pilate (Luke 23:11)
  • Jesus is sentenced to death (Matthew 27:26
  • Mark 15:15
  • Luke 23:23-24
  • John 19:16)
  • Jesus is crucified (Matthew 27:26
  • Mark 15:15
  • Luke 23:23-24
  • John 19:16)

8 AM

Jesus is led away to the cross of Calvary (Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

The Crucifixion

To secure Jesus to the crucified, soldiers drove stake-like nails into Jesus’ wrist and ankle joints, securing him to the cross.He was given the title ″The King of the Jews″ and an inscription was erected above his head.For roughly six hours, Jesus hung on the cross, until he exhaled his last breath.Soldiers took turns drawing lots for Jesus’ garments while he was hanging on the cross.

Onlookers hurled obscenities and jeered at the performers.Two criminals were nailed on the cross at the same time.At one time, Jesus addressed Mary and John directly.After then, the area was enveloped in darkness.At the moment Jesus surrendered his spirit, an earthquake rocked the ground, causing the temple curtain to split down the middle from top to bottom.

9 AM – ″The Third Hour″

  • Jesus is crucified, according to Mark 15:25. ″It was the third hour when they nailed Jesus on the cross″ (NIV). When Jesus awoke, it would have been nine o’clock in the morning, according to Jewish time
  • Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34)
  • the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing (Mark 15:24)
  • then the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing again (Luke 23:35).

10 AM

Jesus is slandered and mocked by the people.″And the people who were passing by yelled insults at him, shaking their heads in scorn.″ Matthew 27:39-40 ″So!Is it true that you can demolish the Temple and reassemble it in just three days?So, if you truly are the Son of God, please save yourself and come down from the cross today!″ (NLT) Mark 15:31 – The senior priests and professors of religious law, as well as the people, derided Jesus and his followers.

It was said that ″he saved others,″ but ″he can’t save himself!″ they sneered.(NLT) Luke 23:36-37 – The soldiers made fun of him as well, by bringing him a glass of sour wine to drink.″If you are the King of the Jews, spare yourself!″ they cried out to him from the crowd.One of the prisoners who hanged there shouted obscenities at him in Luke 23:39, according to the New Living Translation: ″Isn’t it true that you’re the Christ?Save yourself as well as us!″ (NIV)

11 AM

  • Jesus with the Criminal – Luke 23:40-43 – Jesus encounters a criminal. The other criminal, on the other hand, scolded him. ″″Don’t you have any fear of God,″ he said, referring to the fact that they were both serving the same sentence. We are being punished fairly, since we are receiving the consequences of our actions. This individual, on the other hand, has done nothing wrong.″ ″Jesus, please keep me in mind when you come into your kingdom,″ he continued. ″I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise,″ Jesus said in response to his question. (NIV)
  • [See also] Jesus’ words to Mary and John (John 19:26–27)

Noon – ″The Sixth Hour″

  • Darkness Covers the Land (Mark 15:33)

1 PM

  • In Matthew 27:46, Jesus pleads with the Father for help. And at about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying, ″Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?″ (Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? ″My God, My God, why have You deserted Me?″ says the speaker. (NKJV)
  • In John 19:28-29, Jesus declares that he is thirsty.

2 PM

  • It Is Completed – John 19:30a – After tasting it, Jesus declared, ″It is completed!″ (NLT)
  • Luke 23:46 – Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ″Father, into your hands I submit my spirit.″ ″Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.″ When he had finished speaking, he took his last breath. (NIV)

3 PM – ″The Ninth Hour″

Events After Jesus’ Death

  • When there is an earthquake and the Temple veil is torn in two, it is recorded in Matthew 27:51-52. The temple’s curtain was split in half from top to bottom at that same time. The ground trembled, and the rocks cracked open. The graves were opened, and the bodies of many holy individuals who had died were brought back to life by the might of God. (NIV)
  • ″Surely he was the Son of God!″ said the Centurion. Jesus is nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:54
  • Mark 15:38
  • Luke 23:47)
  • The soldiers break the thieves’ legs (John 19:31-33)
  • The soldier pierces Jesus’ side (John 19:34)
  • Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matthew 27:57-61
  • Mark 15:42-47
  • Luke 23:50-56
  • John 19:38-42)
  • Jesus is raised from the dead (Matthew 28:1-7
  • Mark 16:
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How Long Was Jesus on the Cross?

Anyone who is familiar with the Easter story recognizes that Jesus’ death on the cross was a horrific event for a variety of reasons, including his humanity.There are few things that can be said about the crucifixion that do not make you cringe at the physical and mental suffering that Jesus went through, let alone witnessing it in person through a Passion Play or film such as ″The Passion of the Christ.″ Although we are familiar with the events surrounding Jesus’ death on the crucifixion, we may not fully comprehend the length of time Jesus was forced to suffer the agony and humiliation of the cross.It is possible, however, to discover the solution by investigating the Easter tale through the lens of numerous stories in the Gospels.Commencing with the Gospel of Mark, we discover that Jesus was crucified at around 9 a.m.

on a wooden beam and then hanged on a cross for three hours: 22 They took Jesus to a site known as Golgotha (which literally translates as ″the place of the skull″).He refused the wine laced with myrrh that was presented to him at that point.24 And then they nailed him on a cross.After dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to choose which item would go to which person.25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Jesus on the cross.

  • Mark 15:22–25 (KJV) The following is the information provided by Luke’s Gospel on the timing of Jesus’ death: 42 Because the sun had ceased shining, it was now approximately midday, and darkness fell over the entire region until three o’clock in the afternoon.
  • And the temple’s curtain was split in two by the earthquake.
  • 46 When Jesus cried out in a loud voice, he was saying, ″Father, I submit my spirit into your hands.″ When he had finished speaking, he took his last breath.
  • Luke 23:44-46 Jesus was nailed on the cross about nine o’clock in the morning, and He died at approximately three o’clock in the evening.
  • As a result, Jesus was crucified for almost 6 hours.

An interesting side note: the Romans of Jesus’ day were very skilled at prolonging the duration of their torture procedures.According to historical records, it was usual for victims of Roman crucifixions to hang on their crosses for two or three days before eventually dying.This is why the soldiers shattered the legs of the criminals who were crucified on Jesus’ right and left sides; by doing so, they rendered it difficult for the victims to extend their legs and take a breath, resulting in asphyxia for the innocent victims.

  • So, what caused Jesus to die in such a short period of time, only six hours?
  • We don’t know for certain, but there are several possibilities.
  • One hypothesis is that Jesus was subjected to a tremendous amount of suffering and abuse at the hands of the Roman soldiers before being nailed on the cross of Calvary.
  • Alternatively, it is possible that the shock of being loaded with the whole weight of humanity’s wickedness was too great for Jesus’ body to carry for an extended period of time.
  • What ever the case may be, we must never forget that nothing was taken away from Jesus on the cross.

All He did was offer His life consciously and freely so that everyone might have an equal shot at experiencing forgiveness from the consequences of their sins and spending an eternity with God in paradise.This is the central message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How Did Jesus Die?

According to the gospels, Jesus died less than six hours after he was nailed to the crucifixion and hung there.This occurred far sooner than was common since victims of crucifixions often lived for significantly longer periods of time, at least 24 hours and occasionally several days after the crucifixion.Mark 15:44 says that the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate was taken by surprise when he discovered that Jesus had already died on the cross.Consequently, there has been much conjecture regarding how he died in the later stages of his life.

In historical crucifixions, the most common cause of death is not totally understood, according to medical specialists.According to an ancient notion, the permanent posture on the cross would allow blood to steadily pool in the legs, and the lack of blood everywhere would gradually lead to death as a result of the lack of blood.One flaw with this hypothesis is that the victim was seldom entirely immobilized while he or she was nailed to the cross.Despite the fact that his ankles and hands were in fixed places, he was able to move up and down vertically by bending his knees to some extent.Modern thinking is that the sufferer had to push himself up with his legs in order to maintain a free breathing position, and that he would progressively suffocate when his muscles grew too weary to keep pushing himself up any longer.

  • This notion is backed by the fact that Roman troops were known to have accelerated death by breaking the legs of their victims on several occasions.
  • However, regardless of the reason, it was common for the victim to die considerably more than six hours after being struck by lightning.
  • As a result, many analysts believe that a supernatural influence had a role in Jesus’ death.
  • In the case of wounds or injuries, one apparent potential is that of infection.
  • A crown of thorns was placed on his head, according to the accounts in the gospels, before Jesus was nailed on the cross by the Romans.

Furthermore, according to the Gospel of John, nails were used to fasten him to the crucifixion.If the flogging was particularly cruel, or if the other wounds were very serious, an extensive loss of blood might have resulted in the victim’s death rather quickly.While it is true that severe blood loss usually results in unconsciousness and a slow death, the gospels state that Jesus was fully cognizant throughout the suffering and died suddenly.

  • As a result, it is unlikely that significant bleeding was the reason.
  • The cause of an unexpected death can be attributed to a variety of factors, including a heart attack, a ruptured heart, a stroke, shock, or a blood clot.
  • According to some scientists, the last of them, a blood clot, was the most likely cause of Jesus’ death on the cross.
  • However, there isn’t enough information to make a definitive statement regarding the situation.
  • John 19:34 tells that once the Roman soldiers discovered that Jesus was dead, one of them stabbed him in the side with a spear to make sure.

However, if the tale is genuine, Jesus was already dead at the time of this event.There is no mention of this episode in the other gospels.Some have speculated that Jesus himself picked the time of his death by ″just dying″ or, more likely, by ceasing the beating of his own heart, as some have indicated.An alternative explanation is that God didn’t want to see him suffer any longer and compassionately brought the agony to a close.

What’s ‘true’ about Jesus’ cross?

  • Could bits of a tree survive millennia? The genuine cross phenomenon began with Ruler Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Or are they shards of forgeries that speak to our innate desire to believe in something?

Science and archaeology provide new insights into ancient objects that may be related to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.″Finding Jesus: Fact, Faith, and Forgery″ airs on CNN US on Sundays at 9 p.m.ET/PT and is available on demand.(CNN) In July of 2013, Turkish researchers unearthed a stone box in a 1,350-year-old church that looked to contain a piece of Jesus’ crucifixion, bringing the oldest of Jesus relics legends back to life.

″We have discovered something sacred in a chest.It’s a fragment of a cross, actually ″Gülgün Körolu, an art historian and archaeologist who is in charge of the excavation crew, shared his thoughts.She believed at the time that the chest acted as a symbolic casket for relics of a holy person, specifically those associated with Jesus’ crucifixion.

    And then, silence.

It was discovered afterwards that the box that had housed purportedly holy things had been inexplicably empty, which caused the latest relic of the cross on which Jesus died to become stuck in the middle of the process.The newest story of the ″real cross,″ which serves as a strong symbol of faith for more than two billion people throughout the world, is representative of the difficulties encountered in the search for Jesus’ relics.To state that something has the odor of the ″real cross″ might suggest that it is either a matter of divine certainty or a blatant forgery.Is it possible that remnants of the genuine cross of Jesus are still among us today?

Is it possible for tree pieces to live for millennia?Maybe they’re forgeries in their own right, but they speak to our desire for belief.Emperor Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, is credited with initiating the real cross phenomenon.He entrusted his mother, Saint Helena (c.246-330 CE), with the task of locating Jesus’ relics in the Holy Land.

  • When Helena arrived to Jerusalem in 326 CE, the city was still reeling from the devastation wrought by the final Jewish War, which took place between 132 and 335 CE.
  • Following Israel’s defeat, the Roman Emperor Hadrian constructed a pagan temple over Jesus’ tomb at Calvary, which was considered a grievous insult to the nascent faith.
  • Helena ordered the deconstruction of this heathen temple and immediately began digging beneath it in search of relics associated with Jesus.
  • During their excavation, her team discovered three distinct crosses – a revelation that is obviously related to the Gospels, which teach us that Jesus was crucified with two other prisoners.
  • According to the historian Rufinus (c.

340-410), Helena arranged for a dying local lady to be brought to the spot in order to determine which cross belonged to Jesus.Nothing occurred as the unwell woman pressed her hand on two crosses.Then she came into contact with the third – and she recovered.

  • The actual cross of Jesus has now been shown to the world.
  • When Helena carved it up, she left part of it in Jerusalem and transported the rest across the Mediterranean to Europe, where it multiplied to the point that Protestant reformer John Calvin observed: ″If all of the pieces that could be found were gathered together, they would fill a large shipload of cargo space.
  • Despite this, the Gospels attest to the fact that a single man was capable of carrying it.″ Was Calvin, however, exaggerating in order to bolster his own changes inside Catholicism?
  • How could we possibly know what the genuine cross was constructed of, or what it looked like, since neither the Gospels, nor the Romans, cared to tell us what it looked like?
  • This is where science comes in.

A registry of all known components of the real cross was created by French architect Charles Rohault de Fleury in 1870.In his investigation, he discovered that the Jesus cross weighed 165 pounds, was three or four meters tall, and had a cross beam that was two meters broad.He estimated that even if all of these pieces of the crucifixion were put together, they would only equal to a third of the cross on which Jesus died, according to his calculations.De Fleury came to the conclusion that the actual cross was built of pine wood based on the bits he was permitted to inspect under a microscope.

Also studied under a microscopical microscope were four cross particles, which were part of 10 fragments of the actual cross that were accompanied by documentation confirmations from Byzantine emperors.These fragments originated from some of Europe’s most important churches, including Santa Croce in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris, and the Cathedrals of Pisa and Florence.However, it was determined that they were all constructed of olive wood by scientists.Consequently, the debate arose as to whether the cross of Jesus was crafted from olive wood or pine.A confusing reality for archaeologists is the scarcity of leftover wood from the huge record of Roman crucifixion that has been discovered.

While researchers unearthed the heel bone of a crucified man with the nail still attached in 1968, they were unaware that the Romans had executed tens of thousands of people by crucifixion, including as many as 500 people per day during the siege of Jerusalem from 66 to 70 CE.Israel Hershkovitz, an anatomy and archaeology professor at Tel Aviv University who spoke at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, said that the heel bone of the crucified man was discovered in a Jewish burial tomb in a northern suburb of Jerusalem, close to Golgotha – the hill where the Romans crucified people.The guy, whose ossuary, or burial box, identified him as Yehohanan, was in his mid-twenties when he died on the cross, according to the inscription on the box.

In addition to having a fine set of teeth and lacking in bulky muscle, he was most likely born from a wealthy family, as most crucifixion victims were much too modest to end up in tombs – with the exception of Jesus, who was placed in a tomb by the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea.Given the fact that other people buried in the same tomb as Yehohanan had ties to the Temple, it’s probable that he was slain by the Romans for some political infraction.Yehohanan was nailed on the cross with a 4.5-inch nail still embedded in his right heel bone, and a piece of a board was still attached to the nail’s head when he was executed.In Hershkovitz’s opinion, the fact that the length of the nail is relatively small indicates a great deal about Roman crucifixion techniques.″The nail was too short (to penetrate through) two heel bones, thus it was inevitable that each foot was hammered individually to the cross,″ says the author.The reason, Hershkovitz believes, that crosses were not fashioned from olive trees is that people relied on the olive tree for sustenance and would not hack them down to create crosses if they did.

Even more crucially, they would be unsuitable for the task at hand due to the structural characteristics of the tree itself (see below).There are many gaps in the wood of the olive tree, making it impossible to sustain the nails against the weight of the victim.Olive trees do not grow tall and straight, but instead branch everywhere.″ The olive tree is the tree that is least suited for this situation.We have a variety of different types of local oaks that are better suited for the job.″ Today, there are even more ″true cross″ fragments on display around the world, including on Mount Athos, in Rome, in Brussels, in Venice, in Ghent, in Paris, in Spain, and in Serbia – and even in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, where a fragment of the true cross was brought over as part of the family chapel that Theodore Boal had built for his French bride after she was married there.

eBay has numerous options if you wish to possess a piece of the cross on which Jesus died – some of which have original wax seals to preserve its ″purity,″ while others come with certificates attesting to the pieces’ genuineness and authenticity.

The continuous emphasis on the authenticity of real cross fragments, argues Mark Goodacre, a professor in the Department of Religion at Duke University, has been detrimental to understanding the meaning of the cross, he claims.″The thing about the cross is that you always have to remember that it’s about the person who is nailed to it; the wood itself is only a tool of torment at the end of the day,″ says the author.Michael McKinley and David Gibson are the co-authors of ″Finding Jesus: Faith.Fact.

Forgery.: Six Holy Objects That Tell the Remarkable Story of the Gospels,″ which was published in 2012.

See also:  Why Does Jesus Have A Lasso

The Science of the Crucifixion

Dr.Cahleen Shrier, associate professor of biology and chemistry at the Department of Biology and Chemistry, delivers a special lecture on the science of Christ’s crucifixion on a yearly basis.She goes into depth on the physiological processes that a typical crucified victim went through, and she instructs her pupils on how to see Christ’s death on the cross in a fresh light.Although the exact actions depicted in this scenario may not have occurred in Jesus’ individual situation, the tale is based on historical evidence of crucifixion techniques that were in use at the time of Jesus’ death.

Please be advised that the material that follows is realistic and graphic in nature.Understanding that Jesus would have been in superb physical condition from the beginning is critical.He participated in physical labor because he was a carpenter by trade.In addition, he traveled throughout the countryside on foot for much of the duration of His ministry.His stamina and strength were most likely extremely well developed at the time of his death.

  • Keeping this in mind, it becomes evident exactly how much He suffered: If this torment could break a guy in such good form, it must have been a horrifying experience for him.

Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:37-42, Luke 22:39-44

Following the celebration of the Passover, Jesus leads His followers to the Garden of Gethsemene to pray.During His frantic prayer concerning the events that would take place, Jesus sheds blood droplets.There is a rare medical illness known as hemohedrosis, which occurs when the capillary blood veins that supply the sweat glands get damaged or destroyed.Blood that has been released from the vessels combines with the perspiration, resulting in the body sweating blood droplets.

This condition is caused by mental pain or extreme anxiety, a state that Jesus conveys in his prayer, ″my soul is greatly saddened to the point of death,″ which means ″my soul is grieved to the point of death″ (Matthew 26:38).Because of the tenderness of the skin caused by hemohidrosis, Jesus’ physical state deteriorates gradually.

Matthew 26:67-75, Mark 14:61-72, Luke 22:54-23:25, John 18:16-27

Walking nearly two and a half kilometers from Pilate to Herod and back is a significant portion of Jesus’ journey. He hasn’t slept in days, and he’s been insulted and abused mercilessly (Luke 22:63-65). Aside from that, his skin is still sore as a result of the hemohedrosis. His physical state continues to deteriorate.

Matthew 27:26-32, Mark 15:15-21, Luke 23:25-26, John 19:1-28

Pilate ordered that Jesus be flogged in accordance with Roman law prior to his crucifixion.Tradition dictated that the guilty be stripped nude, and the flogging was applied to the area between the shoulders and the upper legs.There were numerous leather strips in the whip’s construction.Metal balls were positioned in the middle of the strips and struck the skin, causing severe bruising.

On top of that, sheep bone was attached to the ends of each strip for added strength.After making contact with Jesus’ skin, the bone penetrates into His muscles, ripping pieces of flesh away and revealing the bone beneath.After the flogging, the flesh of Jesus’ back is ripped into long ribbons.It is at this moment that he has lost a significant amount of blood, which causes his blood pressure to drop and sends him into shock.Jesus’ hunger is the normal response of His body to His suffering since it is a result of the body’s natural attempt to correct imbalances such as decreasing blood volume (John 19:28).

  • If He had consumed more water, His blood volume would have grown significantly.
  • A crown of thorns is placed on Jesus’ head, and a robe is draped over His back by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:28-29).
  • The garment aids in the formation of a blood clot (much like placing a piece of tissue on a cut after shaving) and so prevents Jesus from suffering more blood loss.
  • They strike Jesus in the head (Matthew 27:30), causing the thorns from the crown of thorns to press into his flesh and cause him to bleed profusely.
  • He also suffers injury to the facial nerve, which results in tremendous agony running down his face and neck as a result of the thorns.

Soldiers spit on Jesus as they ridicule Him, further demeaning His dignity (Matthew 27:30).They pull the garment from Jesus’ back, and the blood begins all over again.Jesus’ physical state grows increasingly precarious.

  • Jesus is clearly in shock as a result of the tremendous blood loss that has occurred without replenishment.
  • As a result, he is unable to bear the cross, and Simon of Cyrene is tasked with this responsibility (Matthew 27:32).

Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-41, Luke 23:27-49, John 19:17-37

The Persians created the crucifixion somewhere between 300 and 400 B.C.It is very probably the most agonizing death that civilization has ever devised in its history.Because crucifixion is recognized as a type of protracted, severe torture, the English language has derived the word ″excruciating″ from the word ″crucify.″ 1 Slaves, foreigners, revolutionaries, and the most heinous offenders were the only ones who received such a penalty.Those who died were nailed to a cross; nonetheless, it is likely that Jesus’ cross was not the Latin cross, but rather a Tau cross (T).

The vertical portion (the stipes) is firmly anchored to the ground surface.The accused only drags the horizontal portion (the patibulum) up the hill, which is a long distance.A sign (the titulus) is located on top of the patibulum, signifying that a formal trial for a breach of the law has taken place.In the case of Jesus, this is translated as ″This is the King of the Jews″ (Luke 23:38).Due to the fact that the accused must be nailed to the patibulum while still lying down, Jesus is flung to the ground, reopening His wounds and causing blood.

  • They fasten His ″hands″ to the patibulum with nails.
  • The wrist is included in the Greek definition of ″hands.″ It’s more likely that the nails pierced through Jesus’ wrists than through his hands.
  • If the nails were pushed into the flesh of the hand, the weight of the arms would force the nail to rip through the delicate flesh.
  • As a result, the upper body would not be nailed to the cross anymore.
  • When a cross is inserted in the wrist, the bones in the lower region of the hand sustain the weight of the arms, and the body stays nailed to the cross for the duration of the ceremony.

When the enormous nail (seven to nine inches long)2 strikes the hand, it destroys or severes the primary nerve supplying the hand (the median nerve).This causes Jesus to experience continual searing anguish up both of his arms.Once the victim has been tied, the guards will lift the patibulum and set it on top of the stipes that have already been laid in the soil.

  • During the lifting of the cross, Jesus’ whole weight presses down on His nailed wrists, causing His shoulders and elbows to become dislocated (Psalm 22:14).
  • 3 In this posture, Jesus’ arms are stretched to a minimum of six inches longer than they were at their starting point.
  • Most likely, Jesus’ feet were nailed through the tops of the columns, as shown in popular culture.
  • When the body is in this posture (with the knees flexed to roughly 90 degrees4), the weight of the body presses down on the nails, and the ankles support the weight of the body.
  • As opposed to the hands, the nails would not rip through the delicate tissue as they would have done with the hands.

A second time, the nail would inflict serious nerve damage (since it would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot) and excruciating agony.Breathing normally requires the diaphragm (the big muscle that divides the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity) to move down in order to take in air.The chest cavity is enlarged as a result, and air is drawn into the lungs automatically (inhalation).The diaphragm rises in response to the exhalation of breath, which compresses the air in the lungs and drives the air out (exhalation).

As Jesus dangles from the cross, the weight of His body presses down on the diaphragm, causing air to enter and remain in His lungs throughout the duration of His death.In order to breath, Jesus has push up on His nailed feet, which causes even greater suffering.During exhalation, air must flow through the vocal chords in order for them to function properly.From the crucifixion, according to the Gospels, Jesus communicated seven times.It is incredible that He lifts himself up to say ″Forgive them″ despite his anguish (Luke 23:34).

Suffocation occurs as a result of the difficulty in exhaling, which is a laborious process.Because of the buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood, there is a high concentration of carbonic acid in the blood.The body reacts immediately, causing the impulse to breathe to be triggered.

Meanwhile, the heart is beating quicker in order to circulate the available oxygen.The reduced oxygenation of the tissues (resulting from the difficulty in exhaling) causes tissue damage, and the capillaries begin to leak watery fluid from the blood into the tissues as a result.This leads in a build-up of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) and in the lungs (pulmonary effusion) (pleural effusion).The person is effectively suffocated by his or her collapsing lungs, failing heart, dehydration, and inability to provide sufficient oxygen to the tissues.5 The diminished oxygenation also causes damage to the heart itself (myocardial infarction), which ultimately results in cardiac arrest and death.Causing the heart to explode is a condition known as cardiac rupture, which occurs when the heart is under extreme stress.

6 The most likely cause of Jesus’ death was a heart attack.Suffocation occurs after Jesus’ death, as a result of the soldiers breaking the legs of the two prisoners who were crucified with Him (John 19:32).Death would therefore occur more quickly as a result of this.The fact that Jesus was already dead when they arrived meant that they did not have to break His legs (John 19:33).

The soldiers wounded His side, rather than His neck, to ensure that He was no longer alive (John 19:34).It is said that ″blood and water flowed forth″ (John 19:34), alluding to the watery fluid surrounding the heart and lungs, as a result of this action.As painful as the details of Christ’s death are, the depth of Christ’s anguish serves to demonstrate the actual magnitude of God’s love for His creation.Instructing students about the anatomy and physiology of Christ’s crucifixion serves as a constant reminder of the glorious evidence of God’s love for humanity that occurred on that fateful day at Calvary.As a result of this lesson, I am able to partake in communion, which is the commemoration of His sacrifice, with a thankful heart.

Every time I think about it, I am struck by the incredible awareness that Jesus, as a flesh and blood human being, felt every ounce of this punishment.What kind of love can a guy have for his buddies that is greater than this?

General Resources

″The Crucifixion of Jesus,″ by C.Truman Davis, is available online.Journal of Arizona Medicine, vol.22, no.

3, 1965, pp.183-187.Edwards, William D., and colleagues, ″On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,″ in The Physical Death of Jesus Christ, edited by William D.Edwards, et al.The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 255, number 11 (1986), pages 1455-1463.

  • Published on March 1, 2002

This Bone Is The Only Skeletal Evidence For Crucifixion In The Ancient World

  • Right: Yehohanon ben Hagkol’s calcaneus, which has a fixated nail in the middle. Image on the left shows a recreation of what the foot would have looked like around the time of the death. Image courtesy of Joe Zias, who graciously provided it.) For over a millennium, the Romans engaged in the practice of crucifixion, which literally means ″fixing to a cross.″ There were several reasons for using this method of execution, including deterring future offenses and humiliating the individual who was about to die. As a result of the fact that it was done to hundreds of people and featured nails, you’d anticipate that we have bone evidence of crucifixion. However, there is just one, solitary bone specimen of a Roman crucifixion, and even that is still subject to intense controversy among scholars. Crucification appears to have originated in Persia, but the Romans refined the practice to what we know it today, employing either a crux immissa (which looks similar to a Christian cross) or a crux commissa (which is a T-shaped cross made up of an upright post and a crossbar), depending on the situation. In most cases, the upright post was constructed first, and the victim was tied or nailed to the crossbar before being lifted to the top of the post. There was frequently an inscription placed above the victim, marking his specific crime, and victims were occasionally provided with a wooden support to sit or stand on while they were being executed. However, Seneca, the Roman philosopher, observed in 40AD that the process of crucifying someone varied greatly: ″I see crosses there, not just of one kind, but made in different ways: some have their victims with their heads down to the ground, some impale their private parts, others stretch their arms out.″ They were long and square in shape (about 15cm long and one-fourth inch thick) were used to secure victims to a crossbar by driving them into their wrists or forearms. It is possible to nail the feet to either side of the upright or to the crossbar once it has been installed in the frame. Nailings would have been driven through the heel bones in the first example, and one nail would have been hammered through the metatarsals in the center of the foot in the second case if the nailing method was used. The victim’s legs were occasionally fractured (crurifragium) in order to hurry his death
  • the subsequent complex fracture of the shin bones may have resulted in bleeding and fat embolisms, as well as substantial discomfort, which may have resulted in his death being brought forward. As with the guillotine in early modern times, crucifixion was an act performed in the public square
  • yet, in contrast to death by guillotine, crucifixion was a protracted and agonizing – physically torturous – death. Among other things, the Roman orator Cicero observed that ″of all penalties, it is the most

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