Quote of the Day – A Doctor at Calvary

We all know the story of Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, 1980 years ago. If you have not seen Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, you may not appreciate the prolonged pain and suffering. In the following account of events on that fateful day, supported by Scriptural references, a medical doctor describes the medical aspects of Jesus’ case to show us the human dimension of this “excruciating” sacrifice. Dr. David Teraska’s compilation is reprinted here with permission. Medical Aspects of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ   Researched, Complied, and Presented by David Terasaka, M.D., ©1996 Photo downloaded from http://www.123rf.com Jesus spent the last hours before the crucifixion at several places in Jerusalem.  They began with a “Last Supper” in the upper room of a house in southwest Jerusalem.  While there, The Son of Man told the disciples His body and His blood were to be shed for them (Matthew 26: 26-29), after which he left the city for the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was then arrested there and brought to the palace of the High Priest where Annas, a former High Priest, and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, the current High Priest, questioned him.  Soon after, He was tried by the Sanhedrin and found guilty of blasphemy for proclaiming Himself the Son of God.  They immediately sentenced Him to death.  Since Romans alone could execute criminals, Jesus was sent to Pontius Pilate at the Antonia Fortress. Pilate, finding no evidence of criminality, sent Him to King Herod, who returned Jesus back to Pilate.  Pilate, yielding to the pressure of the crowd, ordered the so-called King of the Jews flogged and marched outside the city walls to be crucified at a place known as Golgotha in Aramaic and Calvary in Latin. THE HEALTH OF JESUS AND DEMANDS OF THE ORDEAL It is reasonable to assume that Jesus was in good health prior to the ordeal He faced in the hours before His death.  Having been a carpenter and traveling throughout the land during His ministry would have demanded good physical condition. Before the crucifixion, however, his body was stressed: forced to walk 2.5 miles over a sleepless night, during which He suffered great anguish through His six trials, was mocked, ridiculed, severely beaten, and ultimately abandoned by His friends and Father (Edwards). THE UPPER ROOM OR CENACULUM The events began in an upper room of a house at what we now call the Last Supper, where Jesus, in instituting the first communion, predicted His body and blood would be given up for the sins of the world. (Matt 26:17-29)  Today in Jerusalem, one can visit the Cenacle or Cenaculum (Latin for dining hall), a room built over what is believed to be the site of the Upper Room (Kollek) located on the southwestern aspect of the old city. GETHSEMANE (Translated from Hebrew as “Oil Press”) Luke 22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. “the Spirit of God…. crushed” From the upper room, Jesus went outside of the city walls where he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The garden has many ancient olive trees even today, some of which may have grown from the roots of the trees living in Jesus’ time.  (All trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 A.D. Olive trees can regenerate from their roots and live for thousands of years.) The name “Gethsemane” comes from the Hebrew Gat Shmanim, meaning, “oil press” (Kollek).  Since “oil” is used in the Bible to symbolize the Holy Spirit, it may be said that the garden is where “the Spirit of God was crushed” (Missler).  It was here that Jesus agonized in prayer over what was to occur.  It is significant that this is the only place in the King James Version where the word “agony” is mentioned (Strong’s concordance).  The Greek word for agony means to be “engaged in combat” (Pink).  Jesus agonizes over what He is to go through, feeling that He is at the point of death (Mark14: 34).  Yet He prays, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Of medical significance is that Luke mentions Jesus as having sweat similar to blood.  The medical term for this, “hemohidrosis” or “hematidrosis” has been seen in patients who have experienced, extreme stress or shock to their systems (Edwards).  The capillaries around the sweat pores become fragile and leak blood into the sweat.  A case history is recorded in which a young girl who had a fear of air raids in WW1 developed the condition after a gas explosion occurred in the house next door (Scott).  Another report mentions a nun who, as she was threatened with death by the swords of the enemy soldiers,” was so terrified that she bled from every part of her body and died of hemorrhage in the sight of her assailant”  (Grafenberg).  As a memorial to Jesus’ ordeal, a church, which now stands in Gethsemane, is known as the Church of the Agony.  (Also called the Church of the Nations because many nations donated money to its construction (Kollek). ABANDONED BY MAN Matthew 26:56: “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Psalm 22:11: “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.” While in Gethsemane, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Jews.  His disciples desert Him, even Peter, at the expense of running away naked (Mark 14:51-52).  He is bound (John 18:12) then brought back to the city to the court of the High Priest, close to the upper room. ILLEGAL ASPECTS OF THE TRIAL OF JESUS Following are illegal aspects of the trial of Jesus: Trials could occur only in the regular meeting places of the Sanhedrin (not in the palace of the High Priest) Trials could not occur on the eve of the Sabbath or Feast Days or at night. A sentence of ‘guilty’ might only be pronounced on the day following the trial. THE ISSUE OF WITNESSES Deut 19:15: “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed.  A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Deut 17:6: “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” Mark 14:56: “Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.” While in the court of the High Priest, Jesus was questioned by Annas (John 18:13) and struck by a soldier (John 18: 22).  He was then brought to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin who sought to put Jesus to death by the false testimony of many witnesses .  The witnesses brought against Him did not agree. The law could put no one put to death without the agreement of two or three witnesses. Although the witnesses did not agree, He was found guilty of blasphemy when He told them of His identity as the Son of God. He was sentenced to death. Jesus suffered ridicule from the palace guards, who spat on Him, beat Him and slapped Him on the face.  (Mark 14:65.)  During the trial, Peter denies Him three times. The proceedings of Jesus’ trial violated many of the laws of His society. Among some of the other broken laws were (Bucklin): 1. Any arrest could not be made at night. 2. The time and date of the trial were illegal because it took place at night and on the eve of the Sabbath.  This time precluded any chance for the required adjournment to the next day in the event of a conviction. 3. The Sanhedrin was without authority to instigate charges.  It was only supposed to investigate charges brought before it.  In Jesus’ trial, the court itself formulated the charges. 4. The charges against Jesus were changed during the trial.  He was initially charged with blasphemy based upon His statement that He would be able to destroy and rebuild the Temple of God within three days, as well as His claim to be the Son of God.  When He was brought before Pilate, the charge was that Jesus was a King and did not advocate paying taxes to the Romans. 5. As stated above, the requirement of two witnesses in agreement to merit the death penalty was not met. 6. The court did not meet in the regular meeting place of the Sanhedrin, as required by Jewish law. 7. Christ was not permitted a defense.  Under Jewish law, an exhaustive search into the facts presented by the witnesses should have occurred. 8. The Sanhedrin pronounced the death sentence.  Under law, the Sanhedrin was not allowed to convict and put the death sentence into effect.  (John 18:31.) Today, one can visit the palace of the High Priest where you can stand in the midst of the ruins of the courtyard.  A model of the structure in Jesus’ time is available for viewing. PILATE’S VERDICT Christ before Pontius Pilate, Mihály Munkácsy, 1881 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The Sanhedrin met early the next morning and sentenced Him to death.  (Matthew 27:1)  Because the Jews were not, and the Romans were, able to carry out an execution, Jesus was brought before Pilate.  The charge was now changed to an allegation that Jesus claimed to be King and forbade the nation to pay taxes to Caesar.  (Luke 23:5)  In spite of all the charges, Pilate finds nothing wrong.  He sends Jesus to Herod.  Jesus is speechless before Herod, except to affirm that He is King of the Jews.  Herod sends Him back to Pilate.  Pilate is unable to convince the crowds of Jesus’ innocence and orders Jesus put to death.  Some sources state that it was Roman law that a criminal that was to be crucified had to be flogged first (McDowell).  Others believe that Jesus was flogged first by Pilate in the hope of getting Him off with a lighter punishment (Davis).  In spite of his efforts, the Jews allow Barabbas to be released and demand that Jesus be crucified, even crying that, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25)  Pilate hands Jesus over to be flogged and crucified. It is at this point that Jesus suffers a severe physical beating (Edwards).  During a flogging, a victim was tied to a post, leaving his back entirely exposed.  The Romans used a whip, called a flagrum or flagellum that consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands.  The number of strikes is not recorded in the gospels.  The number of blows in Jewish law was set in Deuteronomy 25:3 at 40, but later reduced to 39 to prevent excessive blows by a counting error (Holmans).  The victim often died from the beating.  (39 hits were believed to bring the criminal to “one from death”.)  Roman law did not put any limits on the number of blows given (McDowell).  During the flogging, the skin was stripped from the back, exposing a bloody mass of muscle and bone (“hamburger”: Metherall).  Extreme blood loss occurred from this beating, weakening the victim.  Perhaps to the point of being unconscious. ROMAN SOLDIERS MOCK AND BEAT JESUS Matthew 27:28-30 (The soldiers) stripped him and put a scarlet robe on Him and the twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him.  “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.  They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.  The Roman soldiers then beat Jesus.  In mockery, they dressed Him in what was probably the cloak of a Roman officer, which was colored dark purple or scarlet.  (Amplified Bible)  He also wore the crown of thorns.  Unlike the traditional crown that is depicted by an open ring, the actual crown of thorns may have covered the entire scalp (Lumpkin).  The thorns may have been 1 to 2 inches long.  The gospels state that the Roman soldiers continued to beat Jesus on the head.  The blows would drive the thorns into the scalp (one of the most vascular areas of the body) and forehead, causing severe bleeding. THE CROWN OF THORNS AND THE ROBE Genesis 3:17-18: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  “Isaiah “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “  Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  The significance of the scarlet robe and crown of thorns is to emphasize Jesus’ taking the sins of the world upon His body.  The Bible describes sin by the color of scarlet (Is 1:18) and that thorns first appeared after the fall, as a sign of the curse.  Thus, the articles that He wore are symbols to show that Jesus took on the sins (and the curse) of the world upon Himself.  It is not clear that He wore the crown of thorns on the cross.  Matthew describes how the Romans removed His clothes after the beating, and that they put His own clothes back on Him (Matt 27:31). THE SEVERITY OF THE BEATING Isaiah 50:6: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” Isaiah 52:14: “…  Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness–“ The severity of the beating is not detailed in the gospels.  However, in the book of Isaiah, it suggests that tormentors pulled out His beard.  (Isaiah 50:8).  It is also mentions that Jesus was beaten so severely that His form did not look like that of “a son of a man” i.e. that of a human being.  The literal translation of the verse reads, “So marred from the form of man was His aspect, that His appearance was not as that of a son of a man.”  People were appalled to look at Him (Isaiah 52:13).  His disfigurement may explain why He was not easily recognized in His post resurrection appearances (Missler).  Today, one can visit a site known as the Lithostrotos, traditionally believed to be the floor of the Antonio Fortress.  (Although recent excavations may cast doubt on this theory (Gonen).  The floor is marked for games once played by the Roman soldiers. From the beating, Jesus walked on a path, now known as the Via Dolorosa or the “way of suffering“, to be crucified at Golgotha.  The total distance has been estimated at 650 yards (Edwards).  A narrow street of stone, it was probably surrounded by markets in Jesus’ time.  He was led through the crowded streets carrying the crossbar of the cross (called a patibulum) across His shoulders.  The crossbar probably weighed between 80 to 110 pounds.  A guard of Roman soldiers, one of which carried a titulus, a sign that announced His crime of being “the King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, surrounded him.  On the way, He was unable to carry the cross.  Some theorize that he may have fallen while going down the steps of the Antonio Fortress.  A fall with the heavy patibulum on His back may have led to a contusion of the heart, predisposing His heart to rupture on the cross (Ball).  Simon of Cyrene (currently North Africa (Tripoli)), who apparently was affected by these events, was summoned to help. The present Via Dolorosa was marked in the 16th century as the route over which Christ was led to His crucifixion (Magi). As is the location of Calvary, the true location of the Via Dolorosa is disputed.  Much tradition as to what happened to Jesus is encountered on the Via Dolorosa today.  There are 14 stations of  ‘events’ that occurred and nine  churches on the way today.  The stations of the cross were established in the 1800s (Magi).  Today, there is one section of the path where one can walk on the stones that were used during Jesus time. SUFFERING ON THE CROSS Psalm 22:16-17: Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.  I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.” The crucifixion event is prophesied in several places throughout the Old Testament.  One of the most striking is recorded in Isaiah 52:13, where it says that, “My servant will act wisely. He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.”  In John 3, Jesus talks about His fulfillment of that prophecy when He says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”  He refers to the events recorded in Numbers 21:6-9.  The Lord had sent a plague of fiery serpents on the people of Israel and they bit the people so that many of the people died.  After the people confessed their sin to Moses, the Lord for gave them by having a bronze serpent made.  Bronze is a symbol for judgment and the serpent is a symbol of the curse.  Whoever was bitten by a serpent and then looked at the bronze serpent, was saved from death.  These verses are prophecies that point to the crucifixion, in the Jesus would be (lifted up) on the cross for the judgment of sin, so that whoever believed in Him should not die (an eternal death), but live an eternal life.  II Corinthians 5: 21 amplifies this point, in that “He (the Father) made Him who knew no sin (the Son) to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(Pink)  It is interesting that the sign of Aesculapius that is the symbol of the medical profession today, had its roots from the making of the bronze serpent.  (Metherall)  Indeed, Jesus is the healer of all!  Jesus is led to the place of the skull (Latin Calvary, Aramaic: Golgotha) to be crucified.  The actual location of Calvary is also in dispute.  At the end of the Via Dolorosa, there is a “T intersection”.  If one turns left, we go to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  If one turns to the right, one goes to Gordon’s Calvary.  The Church of the Holy sepulcher has long been believed to be the traditional site of the crucifixion. Gordon’s Calvary has a possible prophetic reason for being the actual site of the crucifixion.  In Genesis 22, Abraham is tested by God to sacrifice Isaac on the top of a mountain.  Realizing that he is acting out a prophecy that “God Himself will provide a Lamb”, Abraham calls the place of the event “Jehovah Jireh”, meaning, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”  If we take this as a prophetic event of Jesus’ death, then Jesus’ died on the high ground of Jerusalem.  Gordon’s Calvary is the highest point of Jerusalem, 777 meters above sea level.  (Missler: Map from Israel tour book)  Today, at Gordon’s Calvary, caves in the rock are situated which give the site the appearance of a skull. Jesus was then crucified.  Crucifixion was a practice that originated with the Persians and was later passed on to the Carthaginians and the Phoenicians.  The Romans perfected it as a method of execution which caused maximal pain and suffering over a period of time.  Those crucified included slaves, provincials and the lowest types of criminals.  Roman citizens, except perhaps for soldiers who deserted, were not subjected to this treatment.  (McDowell) The crucifixion site “was purposely chosen to be outside the city walls because the Law forbade such within the city walls…for sanitary reasons … the crucified body was sometimes left to rot on the cross and serve as a disgrace, a convincing warning and deterrent to passers b.”  (Johnson).  Sometimes, the subject was eaten while alive and still on the cross by wild beasts  (Lippies). The procedure of crucifixion may be summarized as follows: The patibulum was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it.  Nails, about 7 inches long and with a diameter of 1 cm (roughly 3/8 of an inch) were driven in the wrists.  The points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing shocks of pain to radiate through the arms.  It was possible to place the nails between the bones so that no fractures (or broken bones) occurred.  Studies have shown that nails were probably driven through the small bones of the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand would not support the weight of a body.  In ancient terminology, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand (Davis).  Standing at the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes, standing about 7 feet high (Edwards).  In the center of the stipes was a crude seat, called a sedile or sedulum, which served a support for the victim.  The patibulum was then lifted on to the stipes.  The feet were then nailed to the stipes.  To allow for this, the knees had to be bent and rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position.  The titulus was hung above the victim’s head. There were several different types of crosses used during crucifixion.  In Jesus’ time, it was most likely that the cross-used was a T shaped (or tau cross,), not the popular Latin, or t shaped cross that is accepted today (Lumpkin). PHYSICAL SUFFERING ON THE CROSS Psalm 22:14-15: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.  My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” Having suffered from the beatings and flogging, Jesus suffered from severe hypovolemia from the loss of blood.  The verses above describe His dehydrated state and loss of His strength. When the cross was erected upright, there was tremendous strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders, resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints (Metherall).  The arms, being held up and outward, held the rib cage in a fixed end inspiratory position which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath.  The victim would only be able to take very shallow breaths.  (This may explain why Jesus made very short statements while on the cross).  As time passed, the muscles, from the loss of blood, last of oxygen and the fixed position of the body, would undergo severe cramps and spasmodic contractions. ABANDONED BY GOD — SPIRITUAL DEATH Matthew 27:46: “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’  –which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” With the sin of the world upon Him, Jesus suffered spiritual death (separation from the Father).  Isaiah 59:2 says that sins cause a separation from God, and that He hides His face from you so that He does not hear.  The Father must turn away from His Beloved Son on the cross.  For the first time, Jesus does not address God as His Father (Courson). DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION: SLOW SUFFOCATION 1. Shallowness of breathing causes small areas of lung collapse. 2. Decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide causes acidic conditions in the tissues. 3. Fluid builds up in the lungs.  Makes situation in step 2 worse. 4. Heart is stressed and eventually fails. The slow process of suffering and resulting death during a crucifixion may be summarized as follows: “…it appears likely that the mechanism of death in crucifixion was suffocation. The chain of events that ultimately led to suffocation is as follows: With the weight of the body being supported by the sedulum, the arms were pulled upward.  This caused the intercostal and pectoral muscles to be stretched.  Furthermore, movement of these muscles was opposed by the weight of the body.  With the muscles of respiration thus stretched, the respiratory bellows became relatively fixed.  As dyspnea developed and pain in the wrists and arms increased, the victim was forced to raise the body off the sedulum, thereby transferring the weight of the body to the feet.  Respirations became easier, but with the weight of the body being exerted on the feet, pain in the feet and legs mounted.  When the pain became unbearable, the victim again slumped down on the sedulum with the weight of the body pulling on the wrists and again stretching the intercostal muscles.  Thus, the victim alternated between lifting his body off the sedulum in order to breathe and slumping down on the sedulum to relieve pain in the feet.  Eventually, he became exhausted or lapsed into unconsciousness so that he could no longer lift his body off the sedulum.  In this position, with the respiratory muscles essentially paralyzed, the victim suffocated and died  (DePasquale and Burch). Due to the shallow breathing, the victim’s lungs begin to collapse in small areas.  causing hypoxia and hypercarbia. A respiratory acidosis, with lack of compensation by the kidneys due to the loss of blood from the numerous beatings, resulted in an increased strain on the heart, which beats faster to compensate.  Fluid builds up in the lungs.  Under the stress of hypoxia and acidosis the heart eventually fails.  There are several different theories on the actual cause of death.  One theory states that there was a filling of the pericardium with fluid, which put a fatal strain on the ability of the heart to pump blood (Lumpkin).  Another theory states that Jesus died of cardiac rupture.”  (Bergsma)  The actual cause of Jesus’ death, however, “may have been multifactorial and related primarily to hypovolemic shock, exhaustion asphyxia and perhaps acute heart failure”  (Edwards).  A fatal cardiac arrhythmia may have caused the final terminal event (Johnson, Edwards). A LAST DRINK OF WINE VINEGAR John 19:29-30 “A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.”  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, `It is finished’.  “With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Having suffered severe blood losses from His numerous beatings and thus in a dehydrated state, Jesus, in one of His final statements, said, “I thirst.”  He was offered 2 drinks on the cross.  The first, which He refused, was a drugged wine (mixed with myrrh).  He chose to face death without a clouded mind.  Edersheim writes: “It was a merciful Jewish practice to give to those led to execution a draught of strong wine mixed with myrrh so as to deaden consciousness” (Mass Sem 2.9; Bemid.  R. 10).  This charitable office was performed at the cost of, if not by, an association of women in Jerusalem (Sanh. 43a).  The draught was offered to Jesus when He reached Golgotha.  But having tasted it…. He would not drink it.  ….  He would meet Death, even in his sternest and fiercest mood, and conquer by submitting to the full….  (P.880). The second drink, which He accepts moments before His death, is described as a wine vinegar.  Two points are important to note.  The drink was given on the “stalk of a hyssop plant”.  Remember that these events occurred at the Feast of the Passover.  During this feast, (Exodus 12:22) hyssop was used to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the wooden doorposts of the Jews.  It is interesting the end of this hyssop stalk pointed to the blood of the Perfect Lamb that was applied to the wooden cross for the salvation of all mankind (Barclay).  In addition, the wine vinegar is a product of fermentation, which is made from grape juice and yeast.  The word literally means, “that which is soured” and is related to the Hebrew term for “that which is leavened” (Holmans).  Yeast or leaven, is a Biblical symbol of sin.  When Jesus took this drink, (i.e. a drink which was “leavened”) it is thus symbolic of His taking the sins of the world into His body. CELEBRATION OF THE OPPOSITION SPIRITUAL WARFARE Psalm 22:12-13: “Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.  Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.” While He was on the cross, darkness covered the land (noon to three p.m.).  Jesus, in Luke 22:53, associates those who arrested Him with the power of darkness.  Where were the evil forces while Jesus was on the cross?  The verses above from Psalm 22 seem out-of-place when first read.  There seems to be no mention of “bulls” and “lions” around the cross.  The verses, however, have a deeper meaning  (Courson).  Bashan was an area to the east of the Jordan River that was famous for its fertility.  Cattle were raised there which grew to enormous sizes.  The people there worshipped demon spirits (associated with Baal) within the cattle.  In 1 Peter 5:8, Satan is described as “a roaring lion…seeking those who he may devour” These verses are thus suggestive of the spiritual activity of Satan and his demons, celebrating as Jesus was suffering on the cross. JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE John 10:17-18 “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.  This command I received from my Father.” Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last. The average time of suffering before death by crucifixion is stated to be about 2-4 days (Tenney), although there are reported cases where the victims lived for 9 days (Lipsius).  The actual causes of death by crucifixion were multifactorial, one of the most significant would have been the severity of the scourging (Edwards).  Jesus died a quick physical death (Pilate was surprised that He had died so soon (Mark 15:44).  While many of the physical signs preceding death were present, one possibility is that Jesus did not die by physical factors that ended His ability to live, but that He gave up His life of His own accord.  His last statement, “Into your hands I commit my Spirit” seems to show that Jesus’ death occurred by giving Himself up.  In John 10, He states that only He has the power to lay down His life.  He proved His power over death by His resurrection.  Truly, God is the one who has power over life and death. English: Statue of the Crucifixion of Jesus outside of Campion Hall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION HASTENED by the breaking of the legs, so that the victim could not push up to take a good breath. John 19:32-33: The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.  But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. CONFIRMED by a spear thrust into the right side of the heart. John 19:34: Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  Death in crucifixion was hastened by the breaking of the legs of the victim.  This procedure, called crurifracture, prevented the ability of the victim to take in a good breath.  Death would quickly occur from suffocation.  In Jesus’ case, He died quickly and did not have His legs broken.  Jesus fulfills one of the prophetic requirements of the Passover Lamb, that not a bone shall be broken (Exodus 12:46, John 19:36). To confirm that a victim was dead, the Romans inflicted a spear wound through the right side of the heart.  When pierced, a sudden flow of blood and water came Jesus’ body.  The medical significance of the blood and water has been a matter of debate.  One theory states that Jesus died of a massive myocardial infarction, in which the heart ruptured (Bergsma) which may have resulted from His falling while carrying the cross (Ball).  Another theory states that Jesus’ heart was surrounded by fluid in the pericardium, which constricted the heart and caused death  (Davis).  The physical stresses of crucifixion may have produced a fatal cardiac arrhythmia (Johnson). The stated order of “blood and water” may not necessarily indicate the order of appearance, but rather the relative prominence of each fluid.  In this case, a spear through the right side of the heart would allow the pleural fluid (fluid built up in the lungs) to escape first, followed by a flow of blood from the wall of the right ventricle (Edwards).  The important fact is that the medical evidence supports that Jesus did die a physical death. The story, of course, does not end here.  The greatest event that separates Jesus from all others is the fact that He rose again and lives today.  He intercedes for those who follow Him at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 7:25). APPEARANCE IN HEAVEN Revelation 5:6: Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. In eternity, Jesus will bear the marks of His crucifixion.  Rev 5:6 suggests that He appears in heaven with the marks as a Lamb “looking as if it had been slain”.  We know that when He appeared to Thomas that He bore the scars of the nails and the spear in His side (John 20:26-28) . It is also worth considering reasons as to why He was not immediately recognized after His resurrection.  In John 21:12, it is stated that the disciples did “not dare to ask Him His identity, because they knew that it was the Lord.”  It is possible that His resurrection body still has the marks of His beatings.  “The body of His glorification will be the body of His humiliation”  (Missler). Are we ready to meet Him?  What have we done with what He has given to us?  Today, He encourages us to consider the cost of the cross and to apply it to our own lives. FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST  Luke 9:23: Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” When He was on earth, Jesus stated that, “If any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily and follow me”  (Luke 9:23).  As we have seen, in Jesus’ time it meant going to your death, giving up and separating yourself from all that you had…your rights, your friends, your body and blood and even your “god”, to follow Him. We are challenged by the example of Simon of Cyrene.  Scripture mentions Him as being the father of Alexander and Rufus  (Mark 15:21).  Rufus (“a choice man in the Lord”) and Simon’s wife were both addressed by Paul in his letter to the Roman church  (Romans 16:13).  Here was a man, who indeed carried the cross…and made an impact for Christ in eternity.  What commitment are you willing to make to Him now? The Bible, God’s Word (II Timothy 3:16-17), relates how God once had a personal relationship with man.  God would talk and relate to man, just as you might relate to your best friend.  God created man to give him a meaningful and purposeful life. Man chose to go his own way by disobeying God.  (This applies to all men as in Romans 3:23).  This disobedience, called sin, caused a break in the relationship between man and God.  If a man casually seeks a relationship with God by his own efforts (religion), he will find nothing, because sin has broken the communication (Isaiah 59:2). Christianity is the story of God sacrificing His Son to restore a broken relationship. As stated in the above text, Jesus gave up His life to pay for the sins of mankind and taking the punishment for the sin upon Himself. Because He gave His life on the cross, any one who believes in Him will have a restoration of a personal relationship with God.  Jesus Himself claimed to be the only way to God (John 14:6) and only by the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ can man have a meaningful and purposeful life  (John 10:10). God desires that all men come to know Him in a personal way.  If you have never received Jesus’ gift of Himself for your sins, or have any doubts to how you can have a meaningful and purposeful life by the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, you can start by praying a simple prayer, such as this one: Dear Lord Jesus.  Thank you for dying on the cross for me.  I confess that I am a sinner before God.  I acknowledge that by your death and sacrifice you have paid the penalty of my sins for me.  Please come into my heart and become the Lord of my life.  As you gave your life, I give my life to you.  I will take up my cross and follow you, not as I will, but to follow Your perfect will for my life.  In Jesus ‘Name, Amen. If you have prayed this prayer, please let us know by e-mail.  It would be a real blessing to us. Or if you have any further questions about the work of Jesus on the cross, please send to: Dr. David Terasaka e-mail: terasaka@dreamscape.com. References Ball, D. A., “The Crucifixion and Death of a Man Called Jesus”.  J Miss St Med Assuf 30(3): 77-83, 1989. Barclay, William,  “The Gospel of John Volume 2” Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Pa., 1975. Bergsma, Stuart, “Did Jesus Die of a Broken Heart?”  The Calvin Forum, 14:165, 1948. Bible, Amplified Version,  Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1964. Bucklin, R., “The Legal and Medical Aspects of the Trial and Death of Christ”.  Med Sic Law.  10:14-26, 1970. Courson, Jon, “Why Psalms 22?”  (tape) Firefighters for Christ, Westminster California. Davis, C.T., “The Crucifixion of Jesus: The Passion of Christ from a Medical Point of View”.  Arizona Med 22:183-187, 1965. DePasquale, N. P. and Burch, G.E., “Death by Crucifixion”, Am Heart J 66(3): 434-435, 1963. Edersheim, A., “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah”.  Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Peabody, Massachusetts, 1993. Edwards, W.D., Gabel, W.J and Hosmer, F.E., “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ.”  JAMA.  255 (11), pp. 1455-1463, 1986. Gonen, R., “Biblical Holy Places: an illustrated guide”, Palphot Ltd. Israel 1994 Grafenberg, J. S.,”  Observ.Medic.”  Lib.III. p.458. Holman’s Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Publishers, 1991. Johnson, C.,”  Medical and Cardiological Aspects of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ”, Bol Asoc Med P Rico 70 (3) :97-102, 1978. Kollek, T. and Dowley, T. , “Next Year in Jerusalem”, Harvest House, Eugene, Oregon, 1995. Lipsius, Justus,  “De Cruce.  Libri tres, ad sacram profanamque historiam utiles.  (3rd part Tom III.  Opera Omnia.  Antwerp, 1614) Lumpkin, R.,  “The Physical Suffering of Christ”, J Med Asoc Ale 47: 8-10, 1978. Magi, G. “Israel,”  Casa Editrice Bonechi, Florence, Italy, 1992. McDowell, J., “The Resurrection Factor”.  Campus Crusade for Christ, Nashville, Tenn., 1981. Metherall, A.,  “Christ’s Physical Suffering” (Tape) Firefighters for Christ, Westminister, Ca. Missler, C., “Isaiah 53” (Tape) Firefighters for Christ, Westminister, Ca. Missler, C. “Israel Tour Book” 1995 Edition. Pink, A., “The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross”, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1958. Scott, C.T., “A Case of Haematidrosis”, Br Med J .1: 532-533, 1918. Strong, J., “Strong’s Concordance”, MacDonald Pub Co., McLean, Va. Tenney, S.M., “On Death By Crucifixion”, Am Heart J .68(2): 286-287, 1964. Webster’s Dictionary, Grossed and Dunlap, New York, 1974. Compiled by David Terasaka, M.D. ©1996.  All Rights Reserved, David Terasaka, M.D.  However, permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute free of charge for non-commercial purposes only. Return to Top Terasaka, David,  “Medical Aspects of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.”  Blue Letter Bible: 1 Jan 2000; 25 Mar 2013. <http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?  Author ID=3&contentID=3129&commInfo=8&topic=Crucifixion >

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Picture of the Day – The Beginning of Holy Week

Today is Palm Sunday. In Christian tradition, it celebrates Jesus’ peaceful entry on a donkey into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week. Jubliant crowds chanted praises and laid palm fronds before him. In Middle Eastern symbology, palms represent victory and eternal life. According to the gospel writers, the people quoted verses from Psalm 118 and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord… Hosanna in the highest.”

Enrique Simonet’s 1892 Painting of Jesus before Entering Jerusalem for Last Time

Picture Credit: Wikipedia

 

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Thought of the Day — Jesus In The Judean Wilderness

 

The wilderness of Judea, where Jesus fasted for 40 days before starting his public ministry, is boarded on the east by the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. From there, it stretches west 22 miles to Jerusalem. In Roman times, it was part of the province of Syria and governed by a procurator. As seen in this picture, the “wilderness” was a particularly desolate hilly place, devoid of water and sparse in vegetation. John the Baptist preached repentance in the Judean wilderness beside the tepid waters of the Jordan River.(Matthew 3). During his wilderness sojourn, Jesus was thrice tempted by the devil. (Mark 1, Luke 4, Matthew 4).

The Judean Wilderness Where the Devil Tempted Jesus

Photo Courtesy Free Stock Photos  (www.FreeStockPhotos.com)

Near the “wilderness'” eastern border is Qumran, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the setting for my novel, Eyewitness. Here is a short description of the desolate land, as observed by one of the novel’s characters, Joe Pantos, when returning to Jerusalem after translating the Jesus Scroll.

The road climbed through a lunar-like landscape. Monochrome cliffs gouged with sandstone canyons, dominated the land. Spreading as far as the horizon, jagged spires rose like castle turrets. In some places, Bedouin squatted, watching speckled sheep and skinny goats graze on sparse patches of grass. For the most part though, the land was lifeless.

Looking out the window, he thought, this country is as rough as it gets. He tried to imagine Jesus fasting alone out here after being baptized by his cousin John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Didn’t one of the gospels say Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness without food or water?

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Book Notes – Whatever Happened to Mary Magdalene?

Mary Magdalene (Public Domain Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In my novel, Eyewitness, Mary Magdalene plays a prominent role on Good Friday. Here is a brief description of her attempt to anoint Jesus before his entombment:

“‘Hurry, hurry,’ Joseph had urged, ‘the Day of Preparation is over. The Sabbath is upon us. We must be done before the evening watch.’

“Well that set off the Magdalene again. She screamed, ‘We cannot bury Jesus without anointing him!’

‘No time. No time,’ Joseph retorted. ‘Bring Jesus in now; wrap him in this shroud.’

‘I have oils in my bag,’ cried the Magdalene, ’Myrrh and aloe. From Nicodemus. It will only take a few minutes.’ When he said no, she threw herself down, crying hysterically and writhing on the ground. Her breath grew strained, her legs twitched, and her fists bent into knots. She went into a seizure.”

“Poor thing,” said Leah.

“They all turned to the Nazarene’s mother for direction. Unruffled, she said, ‘Mary will recover as soon as her nervous energy is spent. My son would sometimes hold her and kiss her temple when she fell into a fit, like this one. Then it would pass.’”

Jacob said Nicodemus had nodded compassionately. ‘John,’ Jesus’ mother said, ‘hold Mary so she does not hurt herself.’

“Joseph then directed the women to continue with the preparations. Before long, the Magdalene calmed. She lay lifeless in John’s arms before reviving and blinking rapidly. The mother kissed the Magdalene on the forehead.

I heard her say, ‘We’ll come back after the Sabbath. You will be the first to see Jesus again.’”

***

In Mark’s Gospels, we learn Jesus cleansed Mary Magdalene  of “seven demons.” (Magdalene itself is most likely a reference to the town of Magdala, a fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee]. Immediately afterwords, we are told she sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him preach. Later on, Matthew and Mark say she witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. They are joined by John in confirming she was the first witness to the resurrection. She discovered the empty tomb on Easter morning and is the first to see Jesus after his death.  “I have seen the Lord,” she tells the apostles. And then? Nothing except snippets in the Gnostic Gospels of Thomas, Philip, and Mary. And, of course, 2,000 years of legends, culminating in the fantastic proposition that she fathered Jesus’ child and ended up in Provence, France.

What really happened to Mary of Magdalene?  Certainly, the leadership of the early Christian Church was dominantly masculine. Many theologians believe this accounts for silence about her in the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of Paul. The one exception is the Gospel of John. He emphasizes her special role in the early Church, calling her the “apostle of the Apostles.” In recent times, both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have recognized Mary of Magdalene’s unique relationship with Jesus. In John Paul’s words, she exemplifies Jesus’ power to change one’s life if we “ask for His help.”  Regarding the events of the crucifixion and resurrection, he makes it clear that Christ “entrusted divine trust” not just to “men but also to women.”  In a 2006 speech, Benedict reiterates Mary’s contribution to Christianity after Jesus’ cured her of a tormenting illness and made her the first witness to the resurrection.

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The First Easter – Resurrection at Jesus’ Tomb

In this scene from my novel, Eyewitness, Samuuel bar-Hezekiah, counsel to the high priest, Caiaphas, learns of an explosion of light at Jesus’ tomb on the Sunday morning after the crucifixion. Skeptical at first, he is increasingly drawn into the strange events that mark the beginning of Christianity.

Resurrection of Christ (Public Domain Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

This Sabbath rest proved the most restless of my life. The night air entered our windows on a cool northwesterly breeze from the Great Sea. Perfect sleeping weather and yet I could not sleep for the longest time. When I finally dozed, nightmares tormented me: I dreamed I saw the Nazarene at the sepulcher. He held me transfixed in his gaze. Even in darkness, his clothes glowed like the sun. In my dream, he seemed alive even though glimmering like a heavenly spirit. Fright overcame me and I tried to flee. Even asleep, my legs flew about the bed. Twice Leah woke me. She said I was kicking like a dog had my ankle.

I rose an hour before dawn with the moon shining in our west window. No sense trying to sleep anymore. I decided to check Jacob. Of course Leah feared my venturing outside at that ghostly hour, but she could not talk me out of it. At the hillside cemetery, I crossed the dew-soaked grass and found Jacob beneath the olive tree. Wide awake.

The night had been quiet. The guards had kept the fire burning and Jacob could see the tomb silhouetted in the embers whenever he peered at it. Roman horsemen with lanterns had stopped three times. Relieved, we chatted for a while. The early morning air was still; the only sound, the bleating of sheep in a nearby pasture. I almost fell asleep during a pause in our talk.

“Uncle, go home,” urged Jacob. ”Nothing happened. Josiah will relieve me in a few hours. If you give me breakfast, I’ll give you a full report.”

I smiled, “You have a deal.”

It was still dark when I arrived home. In our bed, Leah slumbered. No sooner had I rested my head on the feather pillow than I too fell asleep.

The sun had just risen when a loud knocking awoke me.

Leah un-pegged our door and shrieked. Something had happened at the burial chamber. I knew it. Throwing on a tunic, I ran to the front room.

Jacob lay on a couch in our sitting room, injured. Leah looked at me as she held a wet cloth to a ragged gouge on the boy’s brow. At once Jacob propped himself on an elbow and spoke breathlessly.

“Uncle, forgive me. I had no chance.”

“Calm yourself,” I urged. “What happened?”

“Our worst fear!” he cried hysterically. “An earthquake hit the cemetery. The ground trembled around us.”

I gasped in disbelief.

“The crypt rattled for several minutes. The guards were transfixed by fear, their swords drawn: Bright light streamed through the cracks in the stone. A hundred suns seemed vexing to get out. One of the guards touched the stone. He screamed. It felt hot as a blacksmith’s forge. He fell back in astonishment and fumbled for his whistle.

“Was anyone else about?”

“Nobody.” Jacob blurted. He winced as Leah adjusted the cloth on his forehead.

She scrutinized the wound and said it needed closure.

“I know,” said Jacob, “but let me finish.” Leah nodded and opened her sewing basket.

“Just as the guard put the whistle between his lips, he shot backward and fell down. Dirt and stones flew in all directions. We were engulfed in blinding light. A rock hit me in the head. When I woke, the guards were gone. The giant stone was thrown aside as if it were a child’s toy.”

“Not just rolled aside?” I asked skeptically.

“It was a good 50 cubits from the chamber.”

“How is that possible?” asked Leah.

Jacob caught his breath and whimpered, “I felt blood streaming on my cheek.”

“Oh my poor boy!” Leah cried, touching her heart.

“I approached the tomb.” Jacob stared off into space.

“And…” I prompted.

“Empty!”

“Oh, God help us,” I sighed, contemplating the pandemonium to come.

“Gone?” asked Leah incredulously.

“Just the shroud and strips of linen remained, folded on the slab where the Nazarene had lain.”

I bit my lip, dreading the future.

***

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Good Friday – The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Here is a second Holy Week excerpt from my novel, Eyewitness.

In this scene, Samuel bar-Hezekiah, counsel to the chief priest, Caiaphas, describes the scene at Golgotha, where the Romans have just crucified Jesus and two thieves.

***

Dismas the Good Thief is on the left with an angel, Christ is in the middle, while Gestas is on the right with a devil (Public Domain Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Arriving at the forsaken grotto, called Golgotha in Hebrew by the Jews and Calvara in Latin by the Romans, I noticed the sky had turned a brooding gray. Thunder cracked in the distance.

Three men hung on crosses. The Nazarene was in the middle, a few cubits higher than his ill-fated companions. Above his head, the soldiers had nailed a papyrus, now flapping like a cheap pennant in the wind. The words in Latin, Hebrew and Greek read:

            Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

            The Nazarene panted in short breaths; his crowned head bowed. I recognized two petty crooks, Dismas and Gestas, flanking him. They had recently been arrested again for picking the pockets of festival visitors. This time they were not getting off easy. Unlike Jesus, they writhed and moaned in agony. Sporadically, our Jewish king heaved his chest outward to catch a full breath. Nearby two women clutched one another, sometimes sobbing aloud.

I counted a dozen curiosity seekers at the bottom of the hill. They chatted indifferently and occasionally heckled the Nazarene when he spoke out. The Roman execution squad knelt on a weathered wooden platform, playing dice.

The Nazarene sensed my presence. He raised his head and stared at me.

“Ahh,” he seemed to say. I shivered and pulled my cloak tight around me. The expression on the Nazarene’s face unnerved me: It matched precisely the image on Seraphia’s cloth. I found myself staring at the deep cut on his chin and then visualizing the picture. Like one surprised by a magician’s trick, I kept asking myself, How did they do that? Surely the painter could not have guessed at the crown of thorns, the battered right eye, or that gash.

I soon found my nephew Jacob sitting on a nearby stump. We talked about the events of the day. The dry wind and dust had parched my throat and I kept coughing. Jacob un-pegged a lambskin and we shared a cool drink of well water. Just then a strong gust of wind blew my cloak above my belt and the sky blackened. The ground rumbled. It scared us and energized a tall woman with tangled red hair, who howled like a jackal.

“Who’s that?” I asked.

Jacob answered, “Mary of Magdalene.”

“Magdalene?”

“They say the Nazarene drove seven tormenting devils from her.”

“And the women with her?”

“The slim one is the Nazarene’s mother,” Jacob pointed to her between an old woman in a black shawl and the Magdalene. The older woman is the mother’s cousin.”

“The mother is quite calm,” I said.

Jacob agreed. “Most of the time she seems to be praying to heaven.”

“Maybe she is in shock.”

Jacob said, “I talked to her a while ago…told her I was sorry…that many of us wished it had not ended this way. Crying lowly, she thanked me.”

All this time, I kept an eye on the Nazarene, recoiled by the scene unfolding before me. The poor fellow pursed his lips and muttered, “I am thirsty.”

The Magdalene woman left her companions and rushed the hill, cursing the Romans in Aramaic. They laughed contemptuously at her. “Give him water!” she screeched, “you Roman pigs. Have you no pity? Give him water or you will burn in an unquenchable fire.”

Humoring her, one of the soldiers soaked a sponge in vinegar. He impaled it on a long reed that reached the Nazarene’s lips.

I remember thinking the woman seems deranged.

“She better watch out for the one-eyed Roman. Sadistic bastard. He licked the copper spikes in front of the Nazarene.”

The thought of a nail being driven through a man’s wrist made me queasy. I leaned forward to steady myself. About then, I heard the soldiers guffawing at something amusing. One extended a hand for the Magdalene…

… Wrenching herself free, she screamed crazily and slid off the hill on her backside. The soldiers laughed raucously and slapped one another on the back.

Jacob and I wore expressions of revulsion on our faces. “Typical Roman humor,” said my nephew.

Of course he was right. I have always enjoyed a good laugh despite my position in the temple. High on our list is making fun of the Romans (behind their backs of course) and our own religious bigots, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. While Jewish humor is often self-deprecatory, the Roman sense of humor is always crude and juvenile. While a Jew might shed a sad tear at another’s misfortune, the Roman will laugh until tears fill his face. Yet theirs is the high culture and ours the low one. Ask yourselves, what kind of people would pack a picnic lunch and bring children to an amphitheater to see an unarmed man, chained to a post, fight a hungry lion?

Not seeing the Nazarene’s followers about, I asked, “Where are his disciples?”

“The young guy with the fuzzy hair may be one. I’m not sure. The Nazarene asked the same question. ‘The men are afraid,’ the older woman told him. The Nazarene just shook his head and said, ‘So be it. You brave women and young John are my true heirs.’”

“How much longer?” I wondered aloud.

“Not long,” replied Jacob, “especially for the Nazarene.”

“He has lost a lot of blood.”

“Yes, but he still thinks he’s divine,” said Jacob. “He promised to take one of the crooks to paradise today.”

The Nazarene quivered with muscle spasms when he lifted his chest to breathe. It pained me to watch him. The poor man was in deep shock and struggling to get air into lungs. After one last strenuous effort, he slumped forward without a whimper and I thought he was dead. A silence fell over the crowd; his mother stepped forward. She stood erect as a temple column, her hands clasped together. Somehow the Nazarene summoned the strength to lift his head, look momentarily at his mother, and in Aramaic cry heavenward, “Father, I put my spirit into your hands!”

Several bystanders mocked him, asking if he still thought he was the son of God. His head slumped on his chest for the last time and he became still. His mother dropped her hands and sobbed. Almost at once, the storm exploded with a dreadful crash. Lightning struck all around us. Each flash lit us up like ghostly phantoms in an otherwise blackened sky. Swirling winds blew fig leaves and powdery dust into our faces as raindrops, as big as shekels, splattered us. The ground shook so hard we thought the earth would open and swallow us alive. Even the soldiers were frightened. The centurion poured a bowl of water and held it above his head, begging Jupiter to spare his men from the storm’s fury. Almost immediately his infidel prayers were presumably answered. A sliver of afternoon sunshine slanted through the clouds and the wind died down.

“Awful way to die,” someone said as he turned to go home.

Just then a donkey cart came bumping up the rocky road. Joseph of Arimathea, a well-regarded member of the Sanhedrin and an old friend of mine, stepped out of the shadows. He waved at me.

“What in Judah is he doing here?” asked Jacob.

I shrugged, clueless. Joseph, dressed in a priestly white robe, handed the centurion a sheet of papyrus. Pilate had given Joseph permission to bury Jesus.

Jacob turned to me and asked, “Is he dead?”

Nodding in agreement, I asked the centurion to follow custom and ensure the condemned men were dead before the bodies were removed. He regarded me coldly before ordering the soldiers to dispatch the criminals. With clubs, they bashed the forearms and shin bones of the squirming thieves. The Nazarene seemed dead. Nevertheless one of the soldiers pierced his side with a Roman pilum.

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Inspirational Message – The Star of Bethlehem

Image via Wikipedia

After Jesus was born, Matthew tells us a star led a trio of wise men from the East to Jerusalem. For them, the star meant one thing only: the King of the Jews had been born. And they had journeyed far to bring him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew’s text (2: 9-10) reads: “… and there ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped  over the place where  the child lay. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy…”

In the real world, stars do not stop dead in their tracks. Each night, they rise in the east  and set in the west or circle around the poles of the earth. For 2,000 years, people have debated the question: was it a supernatural sign or just a natural phenomenon? Since no one else, including King Herod, saw or appreciated the significance of this star, religious scholars tend to agree that it was a” supernatural manifestation from God,” or as aptly stated in the 19th Psalm, “the heaavens declare the glory of God.”

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Inspirational Video — The Birth of Jesus

Here is a YouTube video, taken from a 1977 NBC TV movie, Jesus of Nazareth, depicting the birth of Jesus.

It is often acknowledged to be the best of many recreations of the Nativity. Excuse the brief advertisement at the start of the video; the secular intrusion is worth it.

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Newsmagazine Publishes Expose – The Real Jesus

Public Domain Image via Wikipedia

U.S. News and World Report has just published a special edition, “Secrets of Christianity — The Real Jesus.”

Articles, framed by inspirational artwork and contemporary photos, retell Jesus’ story in lieu of new archaeological discoveries and scientific research. The bottom line is that old texts, newly unearthed artifacts, and scholarly investigations tend to confirm not debunk New Testament gospels and letters.

The magazine is available at newstands until February 2012.  Here is a link to the online version of the magazine.

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Christianity-U-S-World-Report/dp/1931469482

Quote of the Day — Jesus Tells Us How to Live

Image via Wikipedia

“Teacher, [a Pharisee asked Jesus] which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version  of  The New Testament

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