Discovering the Biblical Jesus Author: Daniel L. Akin Price: $5.95

Crucifixion, which probably began with the Persians, was perfected by the Romans as a form of torture designed to produce a slow death with maximal pain and suffering. It was one of the most humiliating and cruel forms of execution. Roman law protected Roman citizens from crucifixion, except perhaps in the case of the desertion of a soldier.

The condemned man was forced to carry on his shoulders his own crossbar (called a patibulum) from the place of his scourging to the place of his crucifixion. He was usually naked unless prohibited by local customs. The processional to the place of crucifixion was led by a military guard, who would not leave the site until they were sure that the victim was dead. To prolong the crucifixion, a wooden block, serving as a crude seat, was often attached midway down the main vertical post. At the place of execution the victim was thrown to the ground with his arms outstretched. The hands were nailed or tied to the crossbar. The Romans appear to have preferred nailing.

After the hands were nailed and the arms were fixed to the crossbar, the victim was lifted onto the main post. The feet were then nailed to the cross. The soldiers and the crowd often taunted and jeered at the victim, and Scripture indicates that Jesus’ crucifixion was no different. Survival on the cross lasted from three or four hours to three or four days, depending on the severity of the scourging. However, the Roman soldiers sometimes hastened death by breaking the legs below the knees. To ensure that the victim was dead, the guards often pierced the body with a sword or a spear.

What would a medical analysis of this treatment reveal? Scourging served to weaken the condemned man. Blood loss probably continued throughout the crucifixion. The wrists were nailed to the cross to support the weight of the body hanging from them. The probability of painful injury is certain. “The driven nail would crush or sever the rather large sensorimotor median nerve. The stimulated nerve would produce excruciating bolts of fiery pain in both arms.” When the feet were nailed to the front of the cross with an iron spike through the first or second intermetatarsal space, numerous nerves would have been injured.

In addition to excruciating pain throughout the body, respiration, particularly exhalation, was impaired. People did not die from blood loss when crucified. They died from asphyxiation.

The weight of the body, pulling down on the outstretched arms and shoulders, would tend to fix the intercostal muscles in an inhalation state and thereby hinder passive exhalation. … Adequate exhalation required lifting the body by pushing up on the feet and by flexing the elbows and adducting the shoulders. However, this maneuver would place the entire weight of the body on the tarsals and would produce searing pain. Furthermore, flexion of the elbows would cause rotation of the wrists about the iron nails and cause fiery pain along the damaged median nerves. Lifting of the body would also painfully scrape the scourged back against the rough wooden stipes. Muscle cramps and paresthesias of the outstretched and uplifted arms would add to the discomfort. As a result, each respiratory effort would become agonizing and tiring and lead eventually to asphyxia.

After being scourged and mocked, at about 9:00 a.m. Jesus was taken to be crucified. He was so weak that He could not carry the crossbar from the Praetorium where He was scourged to the site of crucifixion approximately 1/3 mile away. Simon of Cyrene was made to carry Christ’s cross, and the processional made its way to Golgotha. Here Jesus and two thieves were crucified. He was taunted throughout the crucifixion. He spoke seven times from the cross. Because speech requires exhalation, these short, terse utterances must have been particularly difficult and painful. At about 3:00 p.m. that Friday, Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.

Death by crucifixion was the most horrible death imaginable; yet that is what the Son of God endured for sinners like you and me. These are the terrible, tragic facts of Jesus’ death. However, the marvelous accomplishments of that death are the occasion for worship and thanksgiving.

For information about Christ leading up to this point, read The Last Hours of Christ, Part One: The Trials and Scourging.