The Crucifixion

Crucifixion was a brutal death, meant to send a warning to others: don’t cross Rome, or you will be made to suffer, and suffer mightily.  Although the crucifixion of Jesus is the most famous example of this type of execution, the Romans had been using it for hundreds of years.

Essentially, the method of execution was slow suffocation. The nailing to the cross in itself was not life-threatening, but it forced the victim to lift up his chest to take a breath, and eventually—after several days—he would be too exhausted to do so.  (And oftentimes the soldiers would break the victim’s legs so as to hasten the process.) 

The cross would be on public display, bearing a sign that proclaimed the crime.  In Jesus’ case, the sign read “This is Jesus, King of the Jews” since he hadn’t been executed for any recognized capital crime. (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:25; Luke 23:33; John 19:18)

To add insult to injury, the condemned criminal would be forced carry his cross-beam to the place of execution—the route being called Via Delorosa, which you can still see marked on the streets of Jerusalem to this day. Every year, many Christian pilgrims retrace Jesus’ steps, and the crowds are especially large on Good Friday. 

It is interesting that all four Gospels give a detailed, hour-by hour account of the crucifixion. We are told that Jesus kept falling as he walked the Via Delorosa, and so the Roman guards enlisted an onlooker to carry his cross—Simon of Cyrene. (Luke 23:26)

All four Gospel writers tell us that Jesus was crucified on a Friday. He was raised up on the cross at 9 o’clock in the morning and died at 3 o’clock in the afternoon—unusually fast for such an execution. (Mark 15:25-34)

Jesus was crucified between two criminals, and the Gospel of Luke gives us an interesting insight: one criminal lambasts Jesus, wondering why he won’t save them, but the other rebukes the first, and asks, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus tells him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

We are told that the earth reacted to Jesus’ death; darkness covered the land for three hours, and the curtain in the temple was torn in two. (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44)

The Gospel of Luke then tells us there was a member of the Sanhedrin named Joseph of Arimathea, and that he’d disagreed with the Council’s actions. Joseph went on his own to ask Pilate for custody of Jesus’ body, and permission was granted. Joseph then wrapped the body in linen-cloth before placing it in a tomb cut in the rock, “one in which no one had yet been buried.” (Luke 23:50-54)