The Crucifixion and Events
Surrounding It
The Sanhedrin Court met in the early morning hours
and sentenced Jesus to death. (Remember, this
particular court had no authority to actually sentence
anyone. What’s happening is illegal!) And because the
Jews were not able to carry out an execution — but the
Romans were able to — Jesus, battered,
bruised, dehydrated and worn out from a sleepless
night, was led across Jerusalem to the area governed
by Pontius Pilate.
At this point, another illegal action took place: The
charges were changed during the trial! Jesus had
initially been charged with blasphemy based on His
statement that He could destroy and rebuild the Temple
of God in three days, as well as His claim to be God’s
Son. When he stood before Pilate, however, the charge
was changed to the Jesus’ claim to be a King and didn’t
agree with paying taxes to the Romans. (Of course,
Jesus had never urged anyone to refrain from paying
taxes. In fact, He had encouraged His disciples to pay
the government what the government requested.)
In spite of the charges, Pilate found Jesus to be not
guilty and shifted the responsibility to Herod. Jesus
stood silent before Herod, except to affirm that He is
King of the Jews. Herod, frustrated, sent Him back to
Pilate.
Pilate tried to convince the mob that He was unable to
find any crime Jesus had committed worthy of the death
penalty. The mob only became more volatile. Pilate,
afraid of losing his popularity with the people, finally
announced that Barabbas would be released, and
Jesus would be crucified.
More illegal happenings occurred: Christ wasn’t
permitted a defense. Under Jewish law, an exhaustive
investigation into the accusations presented by the
witnesses should have occurred. Jesus Christ was
condemned to be crucified.
The physical torture He suffered even before His death
was horrendous. After Pilate’s verdict to have Jesus
crucified, Jesus was stripped of His clothing, and His
hands were tied to a post above His head leaving His
back entirely exposed. The Romans used a flagrum (a
whip) made of leather strands. Small pieces of bone
and metal were attached to these strands. This heavy
whip was brought down with full force again and again
across the shoulders, back and legs of Jesus.
At first, the weighted thongs cut through the skin only.
But as the whipping continued, they cut deeper into
tissue, exposing a bloody mass of muscle and bone.
Extreme blood loss occurred from this beating. The
victims would often lose consciousness. When the
centurion in charge pronounced the victim was near
death, the beating finally ended.
Jewish law stated that no more than 39 blows were
permitted. Victims often died simply from this beating —
never making it to their crucifixion sentence. Roman
law, however, had no limits on the number of whippings
given.
Know It!
