#5 Did Jesus Really Die On the Cross?

Did Jesus really die on the cross?

Yes. This used to be an area of debate, but is now generally accepted as factually true by all historians. As mentioned in post #1, there is documentation of Jesus’ crucifixion by several sources outside of the Bible. So, is it possible that Jesus could have survived his crucifixion somehow so that he only appeared to have risen from death? Look at the evidence and be the judge. Prior to his crucifixion Jesus was scourged by Roman guards. This type of beating, which was standardized by the Roman guards, has been well documented.

The usual instrument for Roman scourging was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals. After the man was stripped of his clothing, his hands were tied to an upright post. The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged either by two soldiers (lictors) or by one who alternated positions. As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues.  Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh.  Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock.

After this severe beating, a crown of thorns was then pressed into his head. Jesus was then forced to carry the wooden crossbar to the place of execution. This crossbar would have weighed between 75-100 pounds. The severity of his beating is evidenced by his inability to carry the cross the entire way. Instead, an onlooker was forced by the Roman guards to assist him for the remaining distance. Once at the location of execution, Jesus was nailed to the cross by his wrists then hoisted upright. His feet were then nailed to the post. This position makes it almost impossible to expand the lungs to breathe. The crucified person must to pull themselves up with their arms for each breath causing excruciating pain. Jesus remained in this position, struggling to breathe, for 3 hours. His death was confirmed by a Roman spear to the side of his chest bringing a flow of blood and water.

Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripe-like lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion his wrists were nailed to the patibulum, and after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post, (stipes) his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus’ death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier’s spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.

Journal of the American Medical Association 1986; 255:1455-1463