There are several things that we need to observe in the murder of Jesus. He was always in charge of what was going to happen. He was perfect in every. He shed his blood as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His only concern was that for other people. It was his desire to fulfill all prophecies from the Old Testament. If he had not risen from the grave on Sunday, his death would have been like that of many others accused of criminal activities.
He was so mauled by the time he hung on the cross he was unrecognizable. Only one disciple, John, stood at the side of the cross and he was the only one who did not suffer martyrdom. Throughout his ordeal he had nothing to eat or drink since he observed Passover with his disciples the day before. Jesus was kept up all night as he was dragged from place to place to be judged by Jew and Gentile alike without any mercy.
The crown of thorns on Jesus did not just sit there. Nor were the thorns like that on a rosebush. These thorns were long and sharp. They tore into his scalp and forehead causing blood to rush down over his face. He was slapped, beaten, and shoved. He was beaten with a whip that is called the cat of nine tails because each length was a web of rocks, nails, and glass embedded in them. The beating was so severe that it ripped off the skin on his back. While hanging on the cross, the only way to breathe was to push up with his feet. Each time his back scratched over the unfinished wood of the cross it probably left splinters in his flesh.
Nails were placed in his wrist between the two bones that formed them. This meant the nails attacked his nerve endings sending jolts of pain up his arms far more than the shooting pain of neuropathy. One foot was laid upon another with the nails holding them together. When he pushed up, additional pain jumped into his calves and thighs. The blood pressure in his body rose dramatically with his heart suffering immensely. The sac that surrounded his heart filled with water which explains why when the soldier stabbed his side blood and water gushed forth. His beard had been pulled out by the roots. The rest of his face was bruised and swollen. His tongue enlarged for lack of hydration in his body.
Even before coming to the crucifixion in Golgotha, he was so weak that he could not finish carrying the cross. A bystander, who was from out of town, named Simon, was forced by a Roman soldier to carry the cross the rest of the way. When Jesus did carry the cross, the main beam that he dragged along the road jarred up and down over his shoulder as the cross bounced over cobblestones. This gives us a better understanding of Jesus saying that we must bear our cross if we are to follow him.
He felt the weight of sin on him. Jesus cried out from the abandonment he felt by the Heavenly Father. He bore disease, illness, and loneliness to a degree beyond measure. All during this time he was mocked, challenged to take himself down from the cross. He had that ability, but he chose to keep himself there above the heads of his murderers. His love was so great for mankind that Jesus refused what he could easily have done whether it would be to come down from the cross or curse or kill those in attendance to his crucifixion. Imagine the strength of his character that he chose to remain on the cross! His death and burial was a fulfillment of prophecy, also. (Isaiah 53)
It is interesting that the enemies of Jesus believed his prophecy of resurrection more than the disciples. Those who followed Jesus could not grasp the idea of him being resurrected. However, the enemies took him at his word requesting guards be placed over the tomb. It is always a challenge for us to come to the realization of his crucifixion that would motivate us in our Christian walk. Psalm 22 is a picture of death by crucifixion. The victim talks of the bones in his hands, arms, shoulders, and pelvis being out of joint. Profuse perspiration was caused by the intensity of his suffering. This is even more profound when a Jewish prophecy is fulfilled through our Roman crucifixion. It is because Christ suffered that we can realize the meaning of Psalm 23.This was not beautiful to see but beautiful to know the Christ who died for each of us.
Christian Writer 