Jesus On The Cross
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Jesus on the Cross is something many people take for granted.  We have heard the Easter story so often and look forward to the beauty of the Jesus suffered.

The Darkness and the Dawn By Charles R. Swindoll The two most significant events in human history are the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the poignant interactions of The Last Supper through the despairing events of Gethsemane and the seven last words of Jesus, you'll be challenged with a fresh perspective on the atoning work of Christ. In Part Two of The Darkness and the Dawn, Dr. Swindoll uncovers the secret of how Jesus' resurrection enables you to live triumphantly.

 

This article will give some graphic details provided by some medical scholars of what Jesus went through and suffered so that we might be saved from our sins and have eternal life.

 

 

The First Trauma of Jesus on the Cross

 

The night Jesus was arrested He was brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.

The Passion of the Christ, Widescreen DVD Destined to become a classic, The Passion of The Christ created quite the media hype before its premiere. Mel Gibson's stunning masterpiece portrays the final twelve hours of Jesus' life. This DVD of the international blockbuster film offers an unforgettable experience of the profound love of Christ's sacrifice. With amazing cinematography and stellar performances by a talented cast, The Passion of the Christ is Christian moviemaking at its best. This film features audio on Aramaic/Latin/Hebrew languages and English subtitles. Close-captioned. Rated R (scenes of graphic violence). Widescreen. Approx. 126 minutes.

 

 

Crucify Him!

 

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion.

 

 

Preparation for Scourging

 

Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Jesus was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head.

 

A flagrum (or flagellum) was used to whip or scourge Jesus. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

 

The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped.

Shaped by the Cross: Meditations on the Suffering of Jesus By Ken Gire

 

 

Scourging complete

 

The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

 

 

Mocking Jesus

 

After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds and once more begin to bleed.

 

 

Jesus On The Cross

 

When the cross bar of the cross is placed on Jesus’ shoulders, cutting even deeper into His already torn flesh and muscle, Jesus is unable to carry the cross.

 

Upon reaching Golgotha, a nail is driven through the depression at the front of each of Jesus wrists; it is a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail.

 

Then the left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.

 

Jesus on the cross is now crucified.

 

 

The Reality and Impact of Jesus on the Cross

Power and Purpose in the Wounds of Jesus: The Blessings We Receive from His Crucifixion By Samuel Mohanraj The enemy must have rejoiced as he watched Jesus being beaten, bruised, spat upon, scourged and finally crucified, but little did he know that those very wounds would bring peace and healing to the world. In Power and Purpose in the Wounds of Jesus, Samuel Mohanraj explains the prophetic and spiritual significance of each wound Jesus received that day. Discover anew the power of Jesus sacrifice and suffering.

 

At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled.

 

Jesus on the cross fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath.

 

Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered His last seven short sentences recorded before His death.

 

 

The Last Words of Jesus On The Cross

 

Jesus’ fifth words were “I thirst.”

Seven Last Words for Seven Weeks: Praying with Jesus on the Cross A Lenten Self-Retreat By Mary Sweeney, S.C. Beginning with the week of Ash Wednesday, this book invites the busy Christian to set aside time each day for prayer and reflection on the last words of Jesus. Paperback.

 

A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn't take any of the liquid.

 

The body of Jesus on the cross is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, "It is finished."

 

His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.

 

With one last surge of strength, Jesus on the cross once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, "Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit."

 

It is finished, Jesus on the cross dies.

 

 

What were some of the physiological effects of Jesus on the cross?

He Died for Me: A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ By Mark Marinella, M.D., F.A.C.P. * When you meditate on Jesus' death, do you ever wonder what he really went through? Offering a physician's view of Christ's last hours, Dr. Marinella provides historical background on crucifixion as a method of execution; and offers a medical analysis of the physical and physiological pain Jesus endured. A vivid portrait of God's love in action. 144 pages, softcover from Nordskog.

 

Flogging

 

·         Severe dehydration due to blood loss.

·         Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure).

·         Muscle tremors and sever muscle contractions and pain.

 

Nailing the Hands of Jesus on the cross

 

·         Paralysis of Median Nerve.

·         Unimaginable pain at first, then paralysis and numbness.

 

Nailing the Feet of Jesus on the cross

 

·         Paralysis of deep peroneal nerve of the feet.

 

Respiratory effects of Jesus on the cross

 

·         Inability to exhale fully.

·         Hypercarbia (increased carbon dioxide).

·         Muscle tetany creates a viscous circle. To properly exhale required lifting the body. Each respiratory effort required so much muscular effort that muscle fatigue would cause the victim to die by asphyxia.

 

Cause of death of Jesus on the cross

 

·         The primary cause of death by crucifixion is asphyxiation. That is, the victim slowly suffocates until dead.

·         Other contributing factors:

·         Hypovolemic shock

·         Exhaustion

·         Dehydration

·         Stress induced arrhythmias

·         Congestive heart failure

·         Pericardial and pleural effusions

·         Cardiac rupture.

 

 

Some Excellent Resources

 

A.D., DVD The stunning sequel to Jesus of Nazareth, this captivating epic vividly re-creates the turbulent years following the crucifixion of Christ. Witness the growth of the fledgling church, from Peter's first bold sermon at Pentecost to the martyrdom of Paul. Filmed on location in the Middle East and Europe with an all-star cast. Includes a 12-session on-disk study guide. Two DVDs, 6 hours total. Abridged Edition

 

 

The Crucifixion CD By John Stainer Written while Stainer was organist of St. Paul's Cathedral London in 1887, The Crucifixion remains a favorite of church choirs everywhere. Intended as a devotional work to be performed on Good Friday, it was probably modeled on the Passion music of JS Bach, but is more readily accessible. Stainer's The Crucifixion has provided some of our most moving hymns such as "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow," "All for Jesus," and the sublime "For God So Loved the World." Twenty selections, performed by St. Michael's Chamber Choir, recorded in Coventry Cathedral, England.

 

He Did This Just for You By Max Lucado You already know that Jesus suffered pain, humiliation, and death on the cross just for you. But do your friends and neighbors have that same assurance? This outreach edition of Max Lucado's life-changing message is priced so you can buy in bulk and give it away! Why not do it today - just for them. 64 pages, softcover from W.

 

The Murder of Jesus, Revised By John MacArthur An unprecedented conspiracy of injustice, cruelty, and religious and political interests sentenced a man guilty of no crimes to the most barbaric method of execution ever devised. The victim was no mere man. Jesus was God in the flesh. The Creator of life died. How did such a thing come to be? Who were the onlookers, the players, the fakes, frauds, and heroes? What was it like in the Upper Room that night, in the shadows of Gethsemane, or in the Praetorium awaiting Pilate's verdict? What is the meaning of the last words Jesus uttered as He gasped for breath on the cross? What if all the facts you know so well could come alive in your mind and heart as a living story, rather than as a 2000-year-old ancient account? By piecing together the narrative from the perspective of the participants, John MacArthur invites you to relive the most awesome injustice in the history of man, the unparalleled triumph of the sovereignty of God, and the passion of Christ.

 

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