Eighteen Jewish laws are broken in order for Jesus Christ to be put to death. Herod and Pilate shuffle him back and forth because neither wanted the political responsibility of his death. Finally Pilate must deal with the problem. His solution (although he feels Jesus is innocent) is to ask the crowd what they want. They answer, "Crucify him."

Crucifixion is just a word. How often do any of us actually think about all that it entailed? Do we remember that those who ridiculed him set a "crown" on his brow that was actually thorn canes twisted together and those thorns were each up to six inches long? Do we realize the beating that he received was one that left him weak and close to death? The beating was carried out by a strong-armed soldier who enjoyed his work. He used a scourge (or whip) with several tails and each tail had sharp bits of bone or metal woven into it. These served the purpose of not only tearing the flesh, but slicing through muscle and arteries. As Isaiah 52:14 describes:

"As many were astonished at thee: his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"

Most people died from this torture. Jesus did not. Isaiah 50:6 says, "I gave my back to the smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting". With his flesh hanging in ribbons Christ is now ordered to carry a hundred pound cross six hundred and fifty yards to Golgotha, a hill outside the city. He is now forced to lie on the cross as soldiers strip him and prepare to drive the long spikes into his wrists and feet. The rusty spikes are driven in between the cerpal bones of the wrist (in Rome they considered the wrist to be part of the hand) because done any other way the weight of his body would have too quickly ripped the tender flesh between his fingers. One foot is placed upon the other and a single spike attaches both to a small platform ingeniously slanted down and away from the body. This serves the purpose of making it necessary for him to constantly try to pull up with his upper body to halt the sliding forward of his feet. But with his upper body wracked with the searing pain it would be all but useless. Now they stand the cross up, carry it a few feet and drop it into the waiting hole, jarring him and making every nerve scream in agony.

Gerald H. Bradley, M.D. descibes the effects of the crucifixion from a medical perspective:

"This was the most agonizing death man could face...He had to support himself in order to breath...The flaming pain caused by the spikes hitting the median nerve in the wrists explodes up his arms, into his brain and down his spine. The spike burning through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet jerks his body erect, then the leg muscles convulse and drive his body downward...beating him against the cross. Air is sucked in, but cannot be exhaled until the buildup of carbon dioxide in the lungs and blood stream stimulates breathing to relieve the cramps. Exhaustion, shock, dehydration and paralysis destroys the victim. The heart is barely able to pump the thick blood as each of the billions of cells die one at a time...Finally, in death, the blood coagulates and separates into serum and clotted blood cells."

"It is finished" Jesus said. (John 19:30) “...because I lay down mylife, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power ot lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (Jn.10:17-18) Thus was our redemption accomplished. To try to add anything to it would not only be presumptuous but blashphemous. Yet everywhere we turn popular sentiment tries to tell us exactly the opposite. "We must earn our way. Work for it. Do good. Hopefuly, it will be enough." It's simply not true. The scriptures tell us "Jesus Christ...is our hope." (I Tim.1:1) His sinless sacrifice covered all our transgressions. What could we possibly do that could "add" anything to absolute perfection? Any and all "goodness" comes from God alone as he works through us to accomplish his will. (Luke 18:19) Good works come as a result of the Lord's saving grace. They are not a means to merit the Lord's favor or a yardstick by which we are to measure spiritual maturity. Let's keep our eyes on the perfect sacrifice. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Heb.12:2).

by Debbie Rucker