Remember Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion Of Christ? That movie illustrated just how violent a crucifixion was. Crucifixion was a form of execution that originated in the East and was practiced by the Medes, Persians and Semitic peoples (with the exception of the Jewish people). Later the Greeks and Romans adopted the use of this form of execution. (T N S H R E. p. 312). It is believed that the practice of crucifixion originated with the Persians. “Alexander the Great, introduced the practice to Egypt and Carthage, and the Romans appear to have learned from the Carthaginians”. (JAMA. March 21, 1986, Vol. 255, No. 11., p. 1458). The Romans perfected this brutal form of execution, making it even harsher (p. 1458). It was customary for those to be executed by crucifixion to carry their own crosses following the scourging/flogging (pp. 1458-1459), (John 19:17, Matthew 27:32). This form of execution was for non-Roman citizens, and slaves.
First, there was the scourging. The Romans took this form of punishment and added their own brutality to the mix. During the scourging, the condemned criminals were tied to a post, stripped naked and beaten with a whip-like instrument. The flagrum or flagellum was a whip that had several leather thongs that were weighted at the tip of each thong with pieces of bone and lead (VDONTW p. 1009) or iron balls (JAMA p. 1457). The thongs varied in length (JAMA p. 1457). It was designed to tear the flesh of both the back and breast (VDONTW p. 1009). The flogging was done by either two soldiers simultaneously or alternately (JAMA p. 1457).
Then, there were the exceptions in severity. The maximum number of lashes was 39, according to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 25:3, II Corinthians 11:24) and it is not known whether or not or how often the Romans complied with this principle (JAMA p. 1458). Only women, Roman senators or soldiers were exempt from flogging (JAMA p. 1457). Roman soldiers who were deserters were the exception to this rule (JAMA p. 1457) . However, in Acts 22:25 the Apostle Paul questioned a centurion and asked him if it was legal to flog a Roman citizen without having been found guilty.
Third, there was the intense amount of suffering and insult. The amount of blood loss would determine the length of survival (p. 1457). Following the flogging and before the procession to the crucifixion site, soldiers often taunted their victims (p. 1457), (Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20). A crucifixion usually had a procession of Roman soldiers. One of the soldiers would carry what was called a “titulus” which was a sign that listed the crime of the Condemned that was usually attached over the head of the victims (p. 1459), (Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26). At the site of the execution, the victim, by law, was given a bitter drink of myrrh (gall) mixed with wine which served as a mild pain killer—analgesic (p. 1459), (Matthew 27:34). The criminal would then be thrown to the ground with his arms outstretched so that his/her hands could be either tied or nailed to the cross (p. 1459). The Romans preferred the nails that were from 5 to 7 inches long (p. 1459). The feet were then nailed to the cross. After the victim was completely nailed to the cross and suspended, the soldiers and civilian crowd often taunted and jeered him/her (Matthew 27:38-44). Next the soldiers would customarily divide up the clothes among themselves (Matthew 27:35, John 19:24, Psalm 22:18), (p. 1459).
Fourth, was the varying length of survival. The length of survival once crucified varied depending upon the severity of the scourging and loss of blood. The time of survival varied between three to four hours to three to four days (p. 1460). To insure that those that were crucified were dead, the Roman soldiers would traditionally pierce the victims in the right side of the chest so as to stab the heart (p. 1460), (John 19:34).
Fifth, was the intended purpose behind the brutality. The intended purpose of crucifixion was to cause a slow and “excruciating” (Latin for “out of the cross”) death (p. 1461). The preliminary scourging was intended to weaken the victim. The process of throwing the victim to the ground at the site of the crucifixion was designed to tear the wounds of the scourging open and become contaminated with dirt (p. 1460). The nerves involved from the piercing of the nails would cause fiery pain (p. 1460).
Crucifixion made breathing extremely difficult so that in order to exhale one had to lift his/her body up. But, to do so was extremely painful. Furthermore, lifting up the body would agitate the wounds of the scourging. Muscle cramps were also a problem. Each breathe was difficult. Insects and birds of prey would also aggravate the wounds of the victims (p. 1460). To hasten death, Roman soldiers would break the legs below the knees (p. 1460). All of these factors made the causes of death a multiple effort from exhaustion, dehydration and asphyxia which is the result of suffocation (p. 1461).
Family members were not permitted to remove the body from a cross until the person was dead (p. 1460), (Matthew 27:57-61. Mark15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42). The body could only be taken down with the approval of the Roman judge. Customarily, the bodies were left on the crosses to be devoured by predatory animals (p. 1460).
The one thing different about Jesus’s pain compared to all the pains of other crucified victims was that He had the weight of all of our sins on Him. His pain was therefore excruciatingly spiritual as well as physical (Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46)!
Read John 15:13-17 for finale!
Sources outside the Bible include the following.
1) Samuel Macauley Jackson. ed. The New Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia. Victor Schultze. “Crucifixion”. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1952.
2) Journal Of American Medical Association (JAMA). William Edwards, Wesley J. Gabel and Floyd E. Hosmer. “On the Physical Death Of Jesus.” 1986.
3) W. E. Vines. Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words. Unabridged Edition. McLean: MacDonald Publishing Company. no date.
Pastor John M. Williams, III