From jycnan@u.washington.edu Fri Apr 2 17:54:42 1999 Received: from mxu2.u.washington.edu (mxu2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.9]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.02/8.9.3+UW99.01) with ESMTP id RAA36024 for ; Fri, 2 Apr 1999 17:54:41 -0800 Received: from mailhost2.u.washington.edu (mailhost2.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.2]) by mxu2.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.02/8.9.3+UW99.01) with ESMTP id RAA00322 for ; Fri, 2 Apr 1999 17:54:41 -0800 Received: from jycnan (D-128-208-41-200.dhcp.washington.edu [128.208.41.200]) by mailhost2.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.02/8.9.3+UW99.01) with SMTP id RAA04455 for ; Fri, 2 Apr 1999 17:54:41 -0800 Message-ID: <001a01be7d73$c3150bc0$c829d080@jycnan> Reply-To: "Nancy J. Lee" From: "Nancy J. Lee" To: "Barnabas Project" Subject: Fw: "J.R. Graves" : The Crucixion Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 17:46:15 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.5 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Greetings!! Hope everyone had a grr-eat week. Well, I hate to send out mass e-mails to everyone.....but this is a very good forward. Hey, it kinda goes with the theme of this week, Easter!! Oh, and...this is quite long as well, so if you don't want to read it that's A.O.K.=) You can just delete it. Happy Easter everyone!! As always in Christ, Nancy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- >>I hope and pray that this affects you the way it did me. You're cheating >>yourself if you don't read the whole way through. God bless you as you >>discover more in depth what our Lord really did for us. Instead of >>remembering a hollow picture of a man on a cross, may our eyes be wet >>with >>allegiant, solemn rememberance of our Savior's anguish...for us. Dr. C. Truman Davis A Physician testifies about the crucifixion >>by Dr. C. Truman Davis >> >>THE TALE OF MURDER - EXECUTION STYLE >> >>About a decade ago, reading Jim Bishop's "The Day Christ Died," I >>realized >>that I had for years taken the crucifixion more or less for granted - >>that I >>had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim >>details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred >>to >>me that, though a physician, I didn't even know the actual immediate >>cause >>of death. The Gospel writers don't help us much on this point, because >>crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they >>apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary. So we have >>only >>the concise words of the Evangelists: "Pilate, having scourged Jesus, >>delivered Him to them to be crucified - and they crucified Him." >> >>I have no competence to discuss the infinite [psychological] and >>spiritual >>suffering of the incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But >>it >>seemed to me that as a physician, I might pursue the physiological and >>anatomical aspects of our Lord's passion in some detail. What did the >>body >>of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture? >> >>This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that >>is, >>torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who >>have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary >>colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive >>historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the >>subject. >> >>Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. >>Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world - >>to >>Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from >>the >>Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly >>developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of >>Roman authors (Livy, Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several >>innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient >>literature. >> >>For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the >>cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top in what >>we >>commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our >>Lord's day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T. In this cross >>the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is >>archaeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus in >>fact >>was crucified. >> >>Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance >>painters >>have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the >>upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at >>the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the >>patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of the >>execution. >> >>Many of the painters, and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show >>the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental >>work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones >>of >>the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven >>through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support >>the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about >>through >>a misunderstanding of Jesus' words to Thomas, "Observe my hands." >>Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as >>part of the hand. >> >>A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim's crime was usually placed >>on a >>staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later >>nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with >>its >>staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the >>characteristic form of the Latin cross we recognize and identify with >>today. >> >>But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. >>Of >>the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest >>physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. >>Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, "And >>being >>in agony, He prayed longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, >>trickling down upon the ground." >> >>Every [trick] imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away >>this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just >>doesn't happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the >>doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the >>phenomenon >>of hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great >>emotional >>stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat >>glands >>can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have >>produced marked weakness and possible shock. >> >>After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought >>before >>the Sanhedrin (ruling authorities) and Caiaphas, the High Priest. It is >>here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck >>Jesus >>across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas. The >>palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify >>them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face. >> >>In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted >>from a >>sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress >>Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius >>Pilate. >>You are, of course, familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to pass >>responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently >>suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned >>to >>Pilate. It was there, in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate >>ordered Barabbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and >>[subsequent] >>crucifixion. >> >>There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging >>as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not >>associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered >>Jesus to be scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence >>by >>crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the >>Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this "pretender" who >>allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews. >> >>Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the prisoner was >>stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It >>is >>doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law >>in >>this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty >>lashes. >> >>The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (flagellum) in his >>hand. This is a short of whip consisting of several heavy, leather >>thongs >>with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy >>whip >>is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, >>back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as >>the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissue, >>producing >>first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and >>finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying >>muscles. >> >>The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are >>broken >>open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in >>long >>ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding >>tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the >>prisoner >>is near death, the beating is finally stopped. >> >>The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone >>pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in >>this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His >>shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a >>crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with >>long >>thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape >>of >>a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious >>bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of His body. >> >>After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the >>stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns >>deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport, and >>the >>robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood >>and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in >>the >>careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were >>again >>being whipped the wound once more begin to bleed. >> >>In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy >>patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession >>of >>the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman >>soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via >>Dolorosa. In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the >>heavy, >>wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is >>too >>much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the >>lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human >>muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. He is further plagued >>by >>the salt content of sweat infiltrating his wounds causing massive >>stinging. >> >>The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart >>North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus >>follows, >>still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the >>650 >>yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. >> >>Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild, analgesic mixture. He >>refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground >>and >>Jesus is quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. >>The >>legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He >>drives a >>heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the >>wood. >>Jesus feels the agony of the nail's entry and exit through His flesh. >>Quickly, [the legionnaire] moves to the other side and repeats the >>action, >>being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some >>flexibility and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the >>top >>of the stipes and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the >>Jews" >>is nailed in place. >> >>[Jesus'] left foot is now pressed backward against [His] right food, and >>with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of >>each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. >>As >>He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, >>excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in >>the >>brain - the nails in the wrists are putting immense pressure on the >>median >>nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He >>places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again, there is the >>searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the >>metatarsal >>bones of the feet. >> >>At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the >>muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, surging pain. With these >>cramps >>comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by His arms, the >>pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to >>act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus >>fights >>to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon >>dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps >>partially subside. Spasmodically, He is able to push Himself upward to >>exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during >>these >>periods that he uttered the seven short sentences recorded: >> >>The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers casting dice for His >>seamless >>garment, "Father, forgive them...they know not what they do." >> >>The second, to the [repentant] thief, "Today, you will be with me in >>Paradise." >> >>The third, looking down as the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John, >>Jesus' beloved disciple, He said, "Behold your mother." Then, looking at >>Mary, He said, "Woman, behold your son." >> >>The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, "My God, my God, >>why >>have you forsaken me?" >> >>Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, >>intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from >>His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. >>Then >>slowly, another horrible agony begins...a terrible crushing pain deep in >>the >>chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress >>the >>heart. >> >>One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, verse 14, "I am poured out like >>water, >>and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in >>the >>midst of my bowels." >> >>It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical >>level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish >>blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to >>gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their >>flood of stimuli to the brain. >> >>Jesus gasps His fifth cry, "I thirst." >> >>One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: "My strength >>is >>dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; You have >>brought >>me into the dust of death." >> >>A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink >>of >>the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn't take >>any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel >>the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings >>out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, "It is >>finished." >> >>His mission of atonement has been completed. Finally, He can allow His >>body >>to die. >> >>With one last surge of strength, He once again presses His torn feet >>against >>the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His >>seventh and final cry, "Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit." >> >>The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews >>asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. >>The common method of terminating a crucifixion was by curifracture, the >>breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from >>pushing >>himself upward; thus, the tension could not be relieved from the muscles >>of >>the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves >>were >>broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that this was >>unnecessary [in that he had already died.]" >> >>Apparently, to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance >>through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the >>pericardium and into the heart. John 19:34 reports: "And immediately >>there >>came out blood and water." That is, there was an escape of water fluid >>from >>the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that our Lord >>died >>not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a >>broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the >>pericardium. >> >>Thus, we have had our glimpse - including the medical evidence - of the >>epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It >>has >>been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and >>depressed. How grateful can we be that we have the great sequel in the >>infinite mercy of God toward man - at once the miracle of the >>atonement...and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning. >> >> >>* * * >> >> >>Dr. C Truman Davis is a nationally respected Opthamologist, vice >>president >>of the American Association of Opthamology, and an active figure in the >>Christian schools movement. He is founder and president of the excellent >>Trinity Christian School in Mesa, Arizona, and a trustee of Grove City >>College. >> >>This work is (c) copyrighted by The Review of the NEWS, April 14, 1976. .