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The Cross of Christ

The Christian cross has become a decorative fashion item to many people today. The cross however was one of the cruelest forms of torture execution ever devised.

The Sweating of Blood [ Gospel of Luke 22:39-46]

For Christians, the symbol of the cross is central to faith. The suffering and passion of the Christ began in the garden of Gethsemane. Here Jesus experienced a phenomena known as 'Haematidrosis', where a person sweats blood. It is rare and is brought on by extreme psychological distress accompanied by great emotions of anger or fear.

The Flogging [ Gospel of John 19]

The Christ was then flogged by Roman centurions. Scourging was a legal requirement before every execution. The condemned was stripped naked, tied to a post and scourged with a flagrum. A flagrum was a whip with a short handle to which were attached several thick thongs. Balls of lead and small bones of sheep were inserted to the thongs near the end. This would cause deep contused wounds leading to considerable blood loss weakening the condemned. Jesus was also cudgelled in the face. This treatment led to dreadful heart pain, anguish, fever, intense difficulty in breathing and de-hydration.

The Crown of Thorns [ Gospel of John 19]

Because Jesus had claimed to be the King of Heaven, he was mockingly dressed in a purple robe and given a crown of thorns to wear. The crown was made from a Lote tree (Zizyphus Spina Christ). The thorns on this tree are very long and sharp. The Romans used to keep them in the praetorium to catapult into enemies. The crown of thorns would have pierced the entire scalp of Jesus and would have been driven into his skull using a stick, causing much blood loss leading to severe physical weakness.

The Journey to Calvary [Gospels of Matthew 27, Luke 23, John 19]

Jesus was re-clothed and travelled from the praetorium to a place called Calvary. He had to carry the patibulum, the horizontal beam of the cross weighing about 110 pounds. Already weakened by the ordeal, he fell and a man called Simon of Cyrene was made to carry it. On arrival at Calvary Jesus was stripped and nailed to the patibulum with nails about a few inches in length in his hands a a single nail through both feet which were placed one on top of the other on top of a sedile which increased the suffering. The nails would have gone through the median nerves (motor and sensory nerves) causing horrific pain both then and at the slightest movment throughout the ordeal of crucifixion. His clothes were divided and gambled for.

The Suffering on the Cross [The Gospel of John 19]

Intense thirst was experienced by victims of crucifixion due to blood loss and intense sweating. After a time violent contractions of the muscles would happen, we call this cramp. Cramp would begin in the forearms, then the arm spreading to the lower limbs and then the entire body. The victim would be in a permanent state of cramp throughout the ordeal. This cramp would eventually reach the inspiratory muscles leading to difficulty in breathing. The victim would slowly suffocate. the only way to alleviate the cramp and breathlessness was to stretch by pushing your feet on the sedile, which in itself led to pressure on the median nerves in the arms causing intense pain. this was the reason the Romans broke the legs of victims to enable them to die a quicker death through asphyxiation or heart failure. some people lasted for two days upon a cross.

The Spear [The Gospel of John 19]

The roman soldier thrusting the spear through the side of Jesus was an act of mercy. Jesus was already dead. Roman law stated a body could not be taken down from a cross until a spear had been thrust into the condemned making sure they were dead. The centurion had already come to believe that Jesus was the Christ. When Jesus Cried out from the cross "it is finished" the centurion realized who Jesus was. He thrust a spear into Jesus body so when the family asked Pilate for it it would be released for burial.

Why Did Jesus Die on a Cross?

Crucifixion was a common form of execution. Why is it the death of Jesus is so unique. There are a number of reasons.

The death of Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament

Jesus often spoke that he had come to die for the human race.

Every human being has broken God's laws. God could ignore this, forget it, or sort it out. The sentence that is due us, was paid for by Jesus on the cross. Jesus removed the problem that was separating us from God.

The Cross is.

1. The Revelation of God to Humanity.

Of the Power of God (Jesus was raised from the death, see last article by clicking back)

Of the Wisdom of God

Of the Character of God

Of the Love of God

Of the Judgement of God

2. The Proclamation of God to Humanity.

We either accept that Christ paid the price for our sin, or one day we pay for it ourselves.

3. The Invitation of God to Humanity.

God invites you to know Him. Christ has opened the door. You can step through. Take time to pray to God today.