The Romans didn’t invent crucifixion, but they had perfected it as a form of torture + capital punishment. By the time of Jesus, it had become the favorite method of execution throughout the empire. In fact, the Jewish historian Josephus indicates that Titus crucified so many people when He leveled Jerusalem in 70 A.D. that there was no wood left for crosses + no place left to put one up![1]
Crosses with dead + dying men on them were a common sight around Jerusalem + a constant reminder of who was in charge.
Eventually, crucifixion was considered so barbaric, that it was banned by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, around 351 A.D.
The specific details of Jesus’ crucifixion aren’t completely known. The Gospels don’t give us a detailed account. But here’s what we can put together from what we do know . . .
Crucifixion was designed to produce a slow + excruciatingly painful death. In fact, the word “excruciating” comes from the Latin word, “excruciare” + means “to crucify” or “ . . . out of the cross . . . ” It speaks of unbearable pain or extreme agony. The pain experienced on the cross was so intense + severe that a word had to be created to describe the magnitude of it.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, observed numerous crucifixions + described it as “the most wretched of deaths.”[2] So much so that it was reserved for slaves + non-Romans convicted of the most notorious crimes. It was designed to maximize the victim’s pain + suffering + prolong the process of dying. It was one of the world’s most cruel, degrading, disgraceful, despicable + disgusting forms of torture ever invented. Historian Will Durant wrote, “ . . . even the Romans . . . pitied the victims.”[3]
Crucifixion was a government sanctioned, even government encouraged, opportunity for executioners to carry out on real people their most sadistic, brutal + viciously inventive fantasies . . . [4]
Jewish people considered crucifixion a sign that a person had been cursed by God. Perhaps this is another reason the religious leaders insisted that Jesus be crucified. They wanted people to think of Jesus in the worst possible of ways.
“…anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” —Deuteronomy 21:23
Interestingly, it wasn’t until the fourth century that the cross became a symbol of faith. In fact, C.S. Lewis once remarked that the cross didn’t become common in art until everyone who had seen the horrors of crucifixion had died off.[5]
There were four pieces that made up a cross:
• The Patibulum or the Cross Piece, was the horizontal cross bar that the victim’s arms were tied or nailed to. Again, it probably weighed somewhere between 75-125 pounds. This is the part of the cross that Jesus + Simon carried.
• The Simplex or post was the vertical beam of the cross + it probably weighed between 150-75 pounds. This was the vertical post that the cross beam was attached to + that Jesus’ feet were eventually nailed to.
• The Titulus was the sign that was nailed to the cross announcing the crime the person had committed. During the process of execution, the Titulus was often fastened around the neck of the convicted criminal or carried ahead of him by a solider. Once the cross was secured, it was placed above the head of the victim after he had been nailed to the cross to announce to the world his crime.
• The Sedile or Wooden Seat was positioned about midway up the simplex. It was a “seat” that served to lengthen the agony of the crucifixion.
Here’s an example from the article that appeared in JAMA:
According to archeological discoveries, by the time of Jesus’ crucifixion nailing the hands + feet to the cross was ordinary + quite common.
Jesus was likely stretched out completely naked on the cross as it lay flat on the ground. Experts say that He was probably stretched out about six inches beyond His normal arm span so that both shoulders were dislocated.[7]
Then, five to seven inch long spikes or nails were driven just below the palms of Jesus’ hands, through His wrists + the largest nerve extending from His hand, creating the continuous sensation of pain every moment Jesus hung on the cross. In Jesus’ day, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand. The ligaments + bones in this area were capable of supporting the weight of a person’s body.
Fig 4. Nailing of wrists. Left, Size of iron nail. Center, Location of nail in wrist, between carpals + radius. Right, Cross section of wrist, at level of plane indicated at left, showing path of nail, with probable transection of median nerve + impalement of flexor pollicis longus, but without injury to major arterial trunks + without fractures of bones.[8]
After the hands were nailed, the feet were twisted into a painful + unnatural position, placed on top of one another + a single spike was driven through both feet. None of the nail wounds would have been fatal, but they would all increase the severity of the pain a victim felt while hanging on the cross.
Fig 5. Nailing of feet. Left, Position of feet atop one another + against stipes. Upper right, Location of nail in second intermetatarsal space. Lower right, Cross-section of foot, at plane indicated at left, showing path of nail.[9]
Isaiah wrote, “But he was pierced for our rebellion . . . ”
Hebrew scholars say that the word “pierced” is the strongest, most vivid word available to describe the violent, gruesome + agonizing death Jesus endured.
The word means “pierced through.” This happened to Jesus. His body was pierced in at least five places: both hands, both feet + then in His side. This doesn’t even include what must have occurred when a “crown of thorns” was forced onto His head.
After the victim’s body was attached to the prone cross, soldiers would elevate the cross + carefully slide the bottom of the vertical post into a deep hole. Once the post + hole were aligned, the soldiers would drop the cross into the hole, so that when it hit rock bottom the full weight of the victim’s body would immediately be carried by the nails that had just been driven into the wrists + feet. This would heighten the sensation of pain + likely cause several bones to be pulled out of joint (Psalm 22:14).
My life is poured out like water + all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. —Psalm 22:14 NLT
Today’s Verse: My life is poured out like water + all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. —Psalm 22:14 NLT
Today’s Prompt: Have you ever wondered how the cross—a symbol of brutal torture + excruciating death—became a symbol of Jesus’ triumphant sacrifice + God’s all-powerful victory?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful that what the enemy meant for evil, God turned into His, + our, ultimate good.
Today’s Prayer: Father, the vivid imagery in Psalm 22:14 hurts my heart in such a way I pray that I never forget that Jesus’ life was squeezed out of Him, so that I can have eternal life with You. May I feel the weight of His sacrifice, so I can feel the weight of His love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] John MacArthur, The Murder of Jesus, page 198.
[2] Mark Driscoll, Vintage Jesus, page 108
[3] Josh McDowell + Sean McDowell, Evidence for the Resurrection, page unknown.
[4] Greg Gilbert, Ibid, pages 71-72.
[5] https://www.waterfromrock.org/2011/04/18/april-18/
[6] William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, M Div; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI, JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association March 21, 1986, Volume 256 Copyright 1986, American Medical Association
[7] Dr. Alexander Metherell quoted in The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, page 198.
[8] William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, M Div; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI, JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association March 21, 1986, Volume 256 Copyright 1986, American Medical Association
[9] William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, M Div; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI, JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association March 21, 1986, Volume 256 Copyright 1986, American Medical Association