By 9 a.m. on Friday, Jesus was hanging on the cross suspended between heaven + earth, as though unworthy of both.
Historians indicate that while hanging on the cross, naked + with their body in shock, most victims would lose control of their bodily functions, adding humiliation to the pain + a pool of blood, sweat, urine + feces would often gather at the base of the cross.[1]
The entire scene was repulsive + grotesque. This is why the Roman statesmen + philosopher, Cicero, wrote, “The idea of the cross should never come near the bodies of Roman citizens, it should never pass through their thoughts, eyes or ears.”
Victims of crucifixion would experience waves of nausea, fever, intense thirst, constant cramping + incessant, throbbing pain. Sleeplessness, hunger, dehydration + infection all took their toll. Sometimes, the victim would actually survive + linger for three days or more.[2]
Upon getting the cross into position, the soldiers attached a large sign or titulus to the cross above Jesus’ head with the following inscription, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19).
The intention was to add to the mockery + humiliation. The religious leaders were livid. “Change the language! Make it read, ‘He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” By this time, however, Pilate had it with this petty group of men, so he responded, “What I’ve written, I’ve written” (John 19:21-22).
What Pilate didn’t know + the religious leaders didn’t realize is the fact that Jesus is not only King of the Jews, but He is King of kings + Lord of lords!
According to Charles Spurgeon, the old Latin version of Psalm 96:10, contains an amazing statement written hundreds of years before Jesus went to the cross: “Tell it out among the heathen, that the Lord reigneth from the tree.”[3]
Jesus is + was King of kings + Lord of lords. In fact, John would later write,
“On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings + Lord of all lords.”
—Revelation 19:16 NLT
This “king” wasn’t crucified alone. There were three crosses on Golgotha that day. Jesus was crucified between two thieves (Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27–28,32, Luke 23:33, John 19:18). The Greek word Matthew uses for “revolutionaries, rebels or criminals” indicates that these men were not petty thieves, they were hardened criminals + outlaws. Some speculate that they may have even been Barabbas’ accomplices, which means, the cross Jesus was crucified on could have originally been intended for Barabbas.[4]
Even this was a fulfillment of prophecy:
He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many + interceded for rebels. —Isaiah 53:12b NLT
Crowds passed by + shouted insults at this man hanging from the cross. The religious leaders couldn’t resist the urge to take one last shot at Jesus, “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” —Matthew 27:42-43 MSG
Astonishingly, even the criminals joined in the chorus of mockery + ridicule. In the final moments of His life, Jesus became a person completely hated + utterly despised by everyone but His closest friends + family.
Reaching a point where they could take a break from the action, the four soldiers divided + gambled for Jesus’ clothes. John describes it like this in his gospel.
When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes + divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them + threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!) —John 19:23-24 MSG
There may have been five pieces of clothing for the soldiers to divide:
• leather sandals
• a headpiece (a cloth-like piece of material worn like a prayer shawl)
• a belt (probably made of cloth material, not leather),
• a robe-like garment, +
• a tunic
That was the traditional clothing for a Jewish man in that culture. Each soldier selected one of the top four items. Then, they gambled for the tunic. Once again, amazingly this was also in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy made hundreds of years before Jesus’ death:
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands + feet. 17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me + gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves + throw dice for my clothing. —Psalm 22:16-18 NLT
Jesus hung on the cross for approximately six hours—from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. Mark 15:24-25 says that it was 9 a.m. when Jesus was crucified. Matthew 27:45-46 says that “from noon to 3 p.m., the whole earth was dark.“
The length of survival for people who were crucified lasted anywhere from three to four hours to three or four days. The average length was approximately twenty-four hours. Survival length was usually related to the severity + extent of the scourging. However, if the scourging had been mild + the victim lingered, the Roman soldiers would sometimes speed the death of the victim by breaking his legs just below the knees. This was called crucifracture. It prevented the victim from pushing himself up to inhale + exhale.
According to the research paper that appeared in JAMA, it wasn’t uncommon for insects to land upon the open wounds or the eyes, ears + nose of a dying + helpless victim. Sometimes birds of prey would even land on a crucified victim + tear at their flesh.[5]
One third century historian described crucifixion like this: “Punished with limbs outstretched . . . they are fastened + nailed to the stake in the most bitter torment, evil food for birds of prey + grim picking for dogs.”[6]
Today’s Verse: On his robe + on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings + Lord of lords. —Revelation 19:16 ESV
Today’s Prompt: Have you ever given thought to how long six hours really is when you’re in excruciating pain?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful that Jesus was King of kings then, He is King of kings now + will be King of kings forever.
Today’s Prayer: Father, I don’t understand why Jesus would endure such pain + sacrifice. But I don’t need to understand it. I just need to accept it as the great gift + the great display of love that it is. Help me to never forget the loss + to always remember the gain. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] Mark Driscoll, Vintage Jesus, page 110. Also, Andrew Wilson, God Stories, page 168.
[2] John MacArthur, The Murder of Jesus, page 200.
[3] Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Volume 4, page 347, Psalm 96:10.
[4] John MacArthur, The Murder of Jesus, page 204.
[5] 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
[6] Quoted by Craig Evans, The World of Jesus + the Early Church + other works.