Crucifixion

Good Friday

     First, let me apologize--I think. It appears that yesterday's entry on Maundy Thursday did not make it to the blog screen. Furthermore, I can't find it. Perhaps that's God's way of telling me it wasn't very good. I still want to find it and post it. Here's hoping this one makes it.

     I will answer the questions from Stuart, Eston, and Jennifer on Monday's blog. On this Good Friday I want us to think about the crucifixion and tomorrow I'll write about the resurrection. Sunday we will in our distanced ways celebrate the resurrection.

     Crucifixion was the most horrible form of execution the ancient world conceived. The Romans did not invent crucifixion, but they made far more use of it than anyone else. Most infamously in the aftermath of the slave rebellion led by a gladiator named Spartacus in 71 B.C., the Roman government lined all the roads leading to Roman with miles of crosses bearing men in the process of dying. The Roman populace, and especially the slaves, who constituted about 60% of the populace, were duly terrified 

     Crucifixion was horrible for several reasons. Unlike beheading, burning, hanging, and drowning, all which accomplished death in a period of seconds, or at the most minutes, crucifixion took an extremely long time to kill its victims. Jesus' death on the cross was relatively brief but still three hours. The average time on the cross was two or three days. Some particularly strong and healthy men hung on their crosses for up to two weeks, if they were given water.

     Crucifixion caused excruciating pain by stretching out all the body parts and making them bear the whole weight of the body. The extreme stretching of muscles, tendons, connective tissues, etc. caused swelling. The swelling caused pressure on the nerves which caused pain. The longer the time on the cross, the greater the swelling and nerve pressure, and the greater the pain. The pain was unrelieved.

     Death came by suffocation. The lungs would eventually collapse and the victim would no longer be able to breathe.

     The body was hung on the cross by either nails or ropes. As far a we can tell, they were each used about equally. Jesus was not at all unique in being pierced with nails. The nails went into the wrists and ankles, not the palms or feet, as is usually portrayed in medieval art. 

     

     Of Jesus' words on the cross, the ones people most ask about are "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark15:34, Matthew 27:46). I do not believe that Jesus felt forsaken by God, even in this moment. Rather, Jesus is quoting scripture. He is quoting the first line of Psalm 22. He has the whole Psalm in mind. Just as if I would say, "The Lord is my Shepherd," you would immediately think of Psalm 23 and think of the entire Psalm, not just the first line which I quoted. Read all of Psalm 22. You will see from other images of the suffering Psalmist why this Psalm came to Jesus' mind as he was dying. Also noticed the end of the Psalm. Verses 25-31, the closing verses, exult the dominion of the Lord, bringing hope to all future generations. It was this hope for the future of all peoples that Jesus took from this powerful Psalm as he breathed his last. 

     Tomorrow, Holy Saturday, we will talk about the Resurrection. Sunday we will celebrate it. 

Faithfully,

Christian