What Jesus Endured on the Cross for Us - *Warning Graphic!

His Death

Before the torture even began, Jesus’ was in such a state of emotional distress when He fell to His knees to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was described as “agony”. He was sweating great drops of blood (Hematohidrosis) (Luke 22:44), dehydrated and weakened from the loss of blood when the soldiers came to get Him. After an illegal trial by His own people, Jesus was spit on and severely beaten (Matthew 26:67). With contusions and hematomas all over His body, Jesus was turned over to the Roman soldier to be flogged. He was whipped mercilessly, causing fluid to accumulate around the lungs. Then a crown of sharp thorns was placed upon His brow, piercing His flesh; this crown was never removed and the pain He endured because of it never abated. In His weakened condition, and in horrible pain, Jesus was forced to carry His cross to Golgatha; He was so decimated that at one point, He dropped to the ground unable to carry it another step. A man in the crowd was conscripted to carry the cross for Him. At Calvary, Jesus was nailed to the cross where He eventually asphyxiated to death.

It was undeniable to John who saw it with his own eyes, and to the women who had also witnessed His agonizing crucifixion (Luke 23:55) that Jesus was dead. He was placed in a tomb and a huge stone was rolled in front of the entrance (Matt 27:60); guards were placed in front of it and a seal was set on the stone (Matt 27:65, 66). “This was no rag tag band of soldiery that was sent to guard the tomb. A Roman guard consisted of four to sixteen men, each man trained to protect six feet of ground. Together they were capable of defending themselves against an entire battalion.” [1] Despite seeming annihilation and His lifeless corpse being sealed behind a heavily guarded stone, Jesus was resurrected.

HIS RESURRECTION

Over the next 40 days, Jesus was seen by numerous people on many occasions, and He gave convincing proof that He was indeed alive(Acts 1:3). Beginning with the startling proclamation by Angels, Pastor and Professor John Phillips outlines the details of Jesus’ resurrection in an exciting Commentary:[2]

• An Angel announces Jesus’ resurrection to the women Matt 28:6
• The two Marys meet the resurrected Jesus Himself Matt 28:9
• Mary Magdalene speaks with the resurrected Christ John 20:16
• Disciples meet Jesus on the Road to Emmaeus Luke 24:13-22, Mark 16:9
• Jesus appears to Peter one-on-one, Luke 24:33
• Jesus appears to the Apostles Luke 24:36-44, John 20:19-23.
• Jesus appears to the Apostles a second time Mark 16:14, John 20:26-29
• Jesus meets disciples in Galilee Matt 28:9-10, 16-18
• Jesus makes breakfast for the Fishermen John 21:1-23
• Jesus appears to 500 believers 1 Cor 15:6v
• Jesus appears to James 1 Cor 15:7
• Jesus ascends to heaven before His disciples very eyes Luke 24:51

PROPHECY FULFILLED

His death and resurrection had been foretold, and He fulfilled these prophecies(1 Cor 15:1-10, 1 Cor 15:1- 4, Ps 16:10). “Christ’s resurrection [was] the divine remedy for [man’s] fall. For since death came through a man [Adam], the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man [God incarnate] (1 Corinthians 15:21)” [3]. The Son of God endured pain and suffering for us. At any point in time He could have said, “forget this! I’m out of here!” But He didn’t, instead, He suffered unimaginable agony so that we could be set free from the bondage of sin and death. We symbolically join Him in death and resurrection when we are Baptized.

Yes, Jesus died a horrible death, but He also rose again in victory. Why do so many souls not to accept this truth today? Perhaps because of the “deep corruption within the church, that [has] undermined its authority as the guardian and arbiter of truth.”[4] Critical questions we must ask ourselves: are we carrying the message of His uncorrupted love and salvation? Are we calling on Jesus’ resurrection power to help us carry the message of the cross today? If not, what’s stopping us?” We can call on His mighty resurrection power right now!

[1]John R. Cross Stranger on the Road to Emmaeus, (AB, Canada: GodSeed International Publisher, 1996), 222.

[2]John Phillips Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1986), 15

[3]Merrill F. Unger Revised by Gary N. Larson The New Unger’s Bible Handbook (Chicago IL: Moody Publishers, 2005), 526

[4]Steve Wilkens, and Mark L. Sanford, Hidden Worldviews: Eights Cultural Stories that Shape Our Lives (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2009), 81.