Koine Greek memory word
σταυρός stauros - cross
σταυρός stauros - cross
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION
If Jesus claimed to be God and He was taken and killed and then rose again, this would be an incredible point to verify He really was deity.
Therefore, many skeptics claimed Jesus never really died.
Therefore, many skeptics claimed Jesus never really died.
The Swoon Theory - a theory given in the early 19th century, a theory was thrown out that Jesus only fainted on the cross and was revived by the coolness of the tomb/cave
Drug Theory - Mark 15:36 - Jesus was given a drug in the vinegar which helped him pass out.
Bribe Theory - Matthew 27 theory that Pilate was paid off to let Jesus pulled down early.
India Escape Theory - This theory said that Jesus escaped, fled to India to become a Buddhist under the teaching of the Buddhists.
Drug Theory - Mark 15:36 - Jesus was given a drug in the vinegar which helped him pass out.
Bribe Theory - Matthew 27 theory that Pilate was paid off to let Jesus pulled down early.
India Escape Theory - This theory said that Jesus escaped, fled to India to become a Buddhist under the teaching of the Buddhists.
Well, did Jesus really die on the cross? What situations led up to the crucifixion?
Let's start with Jesus "sweating blood" in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is called hematidrosis. Alexander Metherell, MD explains it comes from high, high stress. Chemicals break down the capillaries int eh sweat glands, causing a small amount of bleeding in the glands.
Floggings consisted of at least 39 lashes but Roman soliders would exceed that depending on the mood. Sometimes the pine was exposed. The whips were braided leather strips with metal balls woven into them. Whipping might go from the shoulders to the buttocks.
This pain would be so bad that the victim would go into hypovolemic shock. Low blood loss causes this. The heart starts racing trying to keep up, blood pressure drops and the kidneys stop using urine in order to conserve liquid, causing extreme thirst.
Jesus was on the cross, calling out, "I thirst."
The spikes were five to seven inches long. The median nerve is hit, and is crushed by the driven nail. The median nerve is constantly racing pain. When we hit the funny bone it is temporary; this would be continual. This was through the wrist, which was considered part of the hand at that time. Pikes through the feet were similar in pain.
Arms would be pulled six inches farther than natural, with the shoulders being dislocated. Psalm 22 says "My bones were out of joint."
Asphyxiation starts because victim cannot breathe. He is supported by nails. The stress on the muscles force an inhaled position and the victim must fight to exhale. With a back that is shredded from the whipping, the victim is under no relief from pain as his back pushes against the rough wood of the cross. Carbon dioxide in the blood and it is called respiratory acidosis. The Co2 dissolves as carbonic acid, and the acidity causes irregular heartbeat.
Fluid collects around the heart (pericardial effusion) as well as around the lungs (pleural effusion). This is a tragic breakdown of the cardiac system.
Plus the Roman soldier stabbed Jesus into the side, going through the lung and the heart. Greek-wise, although the water flowed first, the Greeks put emphasis on what was more, which was blood.
They didn't need to break His legs the expert soldiers knew He was dead. In fact, if He escaped alive, the soldiers would forfeit with their own lives.
The prophecy was Psalm 34:20: "...he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."
The notes above are taken from lectures from Lee Strobel's Case for Christ series.
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