Crucifixion

‍Fulfilled Prophecies

• "They have pierced my hands and feet" (Ps. 22:16)
• "Mourning for whom they have pierced" (Zech. 12:10)
• "Pierced hands and feet, no broken bones, cast lots for clothing" (Ps. 22:16-18)
• "Pierced for our transgressions" (Isa. 53:5)
• "I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter" (Zech. 11:13)
• "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me" (Ps. 41:9; cf. John 13:18)

Medical Explanation

• Hematidrosis - an infrequent condition when a human sweats blood; usually accompanies a significant amount of stress
  • "And being in agony, he was praying very fervently; and his sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground" (Luke 22:44).
• Hypovolemic Shock - an emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss make the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body; this type of shock can cause confusion, weakness, rapid breathing, unconsciousness
  • "When they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus" (Luke 23:26).
• Median Nerve - a major peripheral nerve of the upper limb that can cause severe numbness, tingling, and pain
  • "And they crucified him, and divided up his garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take" (Mark 15:24).
• "Excruciating" - means "from the cross," there wasn't an adequate word to describe the pain of crucifixion, so they invented a new word
  • "In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking him among themselves and saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself'" Mark 15:31).
• Asphyxiation - meaning "without a heartbeat" or "stopping of the pulse" is a condition of a severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body
• Respiratory Acidosis - a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxides the body produces and causes the heart to beat more rapidly
• Cardiac Arrest - cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively; a prolonged rapid heartbeat causes water to gather around the heart
  • "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34).
• Pericardial Effusion - "fluid around the heart" is an abnormal accumulation of flux in the pericardial activity

The 7 Statements

1. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
2. And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
3. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to his disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home (John 19:26-27).
4. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46).
5. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst" (John 19:28).
   1. He refused the initial offering of the "wine mixed with myrrh" (Mark 15:23), which would serve as a sedative for Jesus.
   2. He later received the sour wine to fulfill Psalm 69:21: "They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst, they gave me sour wine to drink."

1. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30).
2. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit!" And having said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46).

Response

• Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for those who trust in Him.
• What is your response?
  • Reject (I don’t want to follow Jesus)
  • Receive (I am now ready to follow Jesus)
  • Rejoice (I am thankful I’ve been following Jesus)