History
Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution,
where the victim was tied or nailed to a large
wooden cross and left to hang there until dead.
It is widely considered a not uncommon but extremely
dishonorable and painful form of judicial execution
in the Roman Empire, though similar methods were
employed in other ancient cultures such as Persia.
Yehohanan Ossuary
The remains were found
in an ossuary with the crucified man’s
name on it. The ossuary contained a heel with
a nail
driven through its side. The nail had olive wood
on it indicating that he was crucified on a cross
made of olivewood or on an olive tree. Why Yehohanan
was crucified may never be known. He may have
been a criminal; many authorities, though, believe
he was among thousands of Jewish patriots whom
the Romans crucified after they revolted against
the empire in A.D. 70. His bones serve as a testimony
to an especially brutal method of execution.
Romans Mention Crucifixion in
Their Own Writings
Seneca the Younger - (4 BC–AD
65)- Roman philosopher
"Can anyone be found who would prefer wasting
away in pain dying limb by limb, or letting out
his life drop by drop, rather than expiring once
for all? Can any man be found willing to be fastened
to the accursed tree, long sickly, already deformed,
swelling with ugly weals on shoulders and chest,
and drawing the breath of life amid long-drawn-out
agony? He would have many excuses for dying even
before mounting the cross."
-Seneca, Epistles (to Lucilius), 101
Psalm 22 - The Book of Psalms dates to at
least 1000 BC
This psalm is clearly the crucifixion
of Christ written hundreds of years before
he ever walked the earth.
Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the
assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet. They part
my garments among them, and cast
lots upon my vesture.
The Messianic Prophecies
Just How Bad Was Jesus Really
Beaten?
According to the testimony of the historian Josephus the movie the Passion of
the Christ accurately portrays the level of brutality Christ suffered.
"At this the multitude had great indignation;
and when Pilate was come to Jerusalem, they
came about his tribunal, and made a clamor
at it. Now the Jews were so badly beaten, that
many of them perished by the stripes they received,
and many of them perished as trodden to death,
by which means the multitude was astonished
at the calamity of those that were slain, and
held their peace." Josephus
- The Wars of the Jews- Book 2 Chapter 9
Scriptures
Mark 15:14 Then
Pilate said unto them, Why, what
evil hath he done? And they cried
out
the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Psalm 22:16 For
dogs have compassed me: the assembly of
the wicked
have inclosed me: they pierced
my hands and my feet. They part
my garments among them, and cast lots upon
my vesture.
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