Jesus reached Calvary, meaning the “place of the skull”.
1. “DROP BY DROP” - HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET
JESUS reached CALVARY – the “Place of the skull.” (Mark 15:22)
Crosses were usually in two parts, and the cross bar was rough, unplaned, with spikes and an uneven surface. It weighed about 150 pounds. The cross bar was tied to the victim’s arms, and he was made to walk through the city to his place of execution in shame, as he staggered along.
The Romans practiced crucifixion for hundreds of years, and they perfected the art of causing minimal bleeding, with maximum pain. The spikes were not driven through the palm of the hand, because with the weight of the body, the spikes would rip the tendons of the hands through to, and right out between the fingers. Instead they drove the spikes through the middle of the wrist, where palm and wrist meet. The Radial artery is found on the thumb side, and the Ulnar artery runs from the little finger upwards. The spike was hammered in the middle between these two arteries, and right through the Median Nerve, which sent excruciating, and continuous electric-type shocks and pain at this point, causing the fingers to claw into a tight spasm. In this same position, was a very strong ligament called the Transverse Carpal ligament, that was strong enough to support the body.
The Romans did the same with the feet. Once the person had been hoisted up on the cross bar and secured to the upright post, they would drive large spikes through the feet, and hammer the feet to the foot piece of the cross. They hammered the spike between the first and second metatarsal bones (foot bones), again carefully calculating in order to miss the main artery to the feet, the Dorsal Pedis artery, but aiming for the Plantar nerve, once again sending painful shockwaves through the feet.
So, although Jesus lost a certain amount of blood where the spikes were inserted, He did not suffer severe hemorrhaging to warrant His death.
JESUS spoke precious words from the cross. The words that Jesus uttered were spoken in absolute agony. The weight of his body drew His diaphragm downwards, drawing air into the lungs, but in order to expire, the person had to push up with his feet and pull up with his hands. In the process his torn and tattered back would drag against the rough cross bar. Words can only be formed upon expiration, so each word that Jesus spoke caused the greatest pain and stress.
“FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” (Luke 23:34)
When our LORD JESUS uttered His final words – “IT IS FINISHED”, He gave up His life for us. No, He did not hemorrhage to death; He did not die of shock; the soldiers did not kill Him – He gave up His life – for you and for me!
2. JESUS’ LAST DROPS OF BLOOD
John 19:34 says, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” . . . . . after Jesus’s died, which was proof that the soldiers, when they pierced His side, did not kill Him. Jesus was dead already – because Jesus gave up His life for us!
“ . . . the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread . . . . also He took the cup . . . .” (1 Corinthians 11:23; 25)
Paul tells us that “the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, he brake it . . . . .” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24)
” . . . . and said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: ” (1 Corinthians 11:24)
“This do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)
“After the same manner also He took the cup . . . . This cup is the new testament in my blood . . . .” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
”This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
JESUS commanded us: “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”.
Each of us from the “COTACACHI BIBLE CLASS” can honestly say that Jesus is our Savior, the One who suffered for us, the One whose body was battered and bruised for us, and the One who shed His blood for us – “DROP BY DROP”.
“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”. We did just that!
No comments:
Post a Comment