Don't Know Much About the Bible - Kenneth C. Davis [166]
In spite of the Gospel “spin” on Jesus’ death sentence, and Pilate’s handwashing, the Roman Pilate was ultimately responsible for Jesus’ execution. He may have been reluctant, not so much out of goodness as disinterest in a Jewish matter. What forced his hand was the threat of political pressure from Rome. When Jesus was accused of treachery toward Rome, Pilate could not simply overlook the charge. Doing so would have endangered his own political neck. It is ultimately on this charge of claiming kingship, a direct challenge to the emperor, that Pilate sentenced Jesus to death. Jesus was condemned and executed as a nationalistic freedom-fighter who threatened Rome, not for claiming to be the Messiah. And though the Gospels report that Pilate turns Jesus over to the Jewish crowd, his execution was clearly carried out by Roman soldiers, a fact confirmed by the Roman historian Tacitus (c. 55-117 CE), who wrote in discussing the Christians, “Christ, the originator of their name, had been condemned to death by Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.” This is one of the few references to Jesus’ death outside Bible sources.
How does crucifixion kill you?
Many first-century Jews died, just like Jesus, on a cross. Some estimates of the number of Jews crucified in this time for a variety of crimes run as high as one hundred thousand. But not at the hand of other Jews. Crucifixion was not a Jewish form of execution. It was exclusive to the Romans, and it was an extreme penalty, generally reserved for cases of runaway slaves or rebellion against Rome. Whether the Jewish people of Judea knew of it or not, an uprising of slaves against Rome led by the gladiator-slave Spartacus in 71 BCE had resulted in some six thousand crucifixions, the bodies left to decompose as a grim warning. In Jesus’ own time, in the nearby town of Gamala, an insurrection by Jews had met with a similar Roman response.
Jesus’ Crucifixion, according to historical evidence, was typical of Roman executions on the cross. The condemned man was often scourged, or flogged, to leave him weak and bloodied. He would next have to carry the beam of his own cross through the streets. At the place of execution, his arms were tied to the crossbeam. Sometimes, as in Jesus’ case, the hands were also nailed in place. The beam was raised by ropes onto the upright and then nailed in a T shape. The titulus, or notice of death, which the victim had worn around his neck, was then set on the cross above the victim’s head. The victim’s feet were nailed into place. Jesus’ death is somewhat unusual in that it came within hours, a fact that surprised Pilate. Some crucifixion victims lingered for days, and they were left for the vultures. Death resulted from hunger, exposure, and loss of blood. Sometimes it was hastened with a blow to the legs, causing the victim’s weight to crush the lungs, bringing about suffocation. Other cases show that the victim was lanced to accelerate death, and this was true of Jesus. A Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side and water and blood flowed out.
BIBLICAL VOICES
Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:24)
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Woman, here is your son…. Here is your mother. (John 19:26-27)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34)
I am thirsty. (John 19:28)
It is finished. (John 19:30)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
This is the order traditionally given to the “last words” (“utterances”) of Jesus spoken on the cross.
PLOT SUMMARY: THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION
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