John 19:16-24. The Crucifixion

The crucifixion of Jesus has become sterilised and clean and we tend to be desensitised to its horror. It was an excruciating torture that resulted ultimately in death. Our word ‘excruciating’ is derived from this torture, ‘crux’ being Latin for ‘cross.’

In the same way that people become desensitised to videos showing suffering children in Africa or animals on the brink of extinction, so we are in danger of desensitisation of the most crucial event in the world’s history. Note again that our word ‘crucial’ is also derived from the Latin word ‘crux.’

The excruciating death of Jesus, the Christ, was horrific. It was not just the physical aspect, at that time Jesus also bore the weight of the sin of the world in himself and for the only time in his life experienced what it meant to be separated from his heavenly Father.

To suffer unjustly is particularly painful and that is what had happened to Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was extremely worried as he voluntarily faced the unfair prospect of a false trial and then crucifixion. He knew this was imminent, he could have run away, but instead he stayed the course that had been planned since eternity for him. He literally ‘sweated blood.’ Haemahidrosis is the medical name for this. It is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, and this can occur under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress.

Then Jesus was interrogated, humiliated and struck in the face when held captive by Annas and then Caiaphas, the former and current High Priests. He was transferred to the Romans. Pilate had him flogged which itself was a vicious treatment, particularly when he could find no fault in him. The victim was stripped naked and their hands tied to the top of a post. Then one or two soldiers repeatedly struck the back, buttocks and thighs with a ‘flagrum’. The flagrum was a type of ‘cat o’nine’ tails with a handle and nine leather thongs. The Roman flagrum had bits of bone, bronze or iron sewn at the end of the thongs which inflicted the damage. These cut the skin and underlying fat and muscle. There were reports of internal organs such as kidneys being exposed. There was much bleeding as blood vessels were damaged. Occasionally victims died from such a beating. Our English word ‘flagellate,’ meaning ‘cut to ribbons’ is derived from the flagrum.

Following this, Jesus was dressed in a purple robe, which was only allowed to be worn by senior Romans, had a crown of thorns thrust onto his head and then had a reed put in his hand as a sceptre so he looked like a comic king. The soldiers then went up to him again and again saying,

“‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ and they struck him in the face.” John 19:3

After this, Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd of Jews, insisting that neither he nor Herod had found Jesus guilty of any crime. ‘Ecce homo’, ‘Behold the man’, Pilate said. There was the God-man standing in front of the people he had created, physically broken yet victorious. Pilate sat in his judges seat which had been placed on the ‘stone pavement,’ an open area by the Fort of Antonia. He still insisted that Jesus was guilty of nothing, yet he delivered Jesus to be crucified.

Didn’t the Jewish leaders recognise that they were acting out the prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah?!

The gospels tell us little about the details of a crucifixion, possibly because, at the time, it was such a common way for the Romans to execute criminals and so put fear into the people. However, contemporary sources tell us that four Roman soldiers, called a quaternion, would be responsible for one condemned man. The victim had to carry the ‘patibulum’ or cross piece of the cross on his back. This must have been painful as his back had been lacerated by the flogging. The ‘patibulum’ could weigh 100 lbs. or more so it is not surprising that, as in Jesus’ case, a by-stander was commandeered to carry the ‘patibulum’ for him.

The early church father, Chrysostom, made the point that when Isaac had born the wood for his sacrifice on Mount Moriah (which later became the temple mount of Jerusalem) he was acting out, in a prophetic way, what the saviour of the world would later come to do.

One of the quaternion of soldiers would walk in front of the condemned man carrying a placard that listed the crimes committed. However the placard for Jesus simply said,

“Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.” John 19:19

In some churches this phrase, in Latin, is abbreviated to I N R I.

It was customary for this procession to take a tortuous route through the city as the Romans wanted as many people as possible to see that ‘crime does not pay.’

The site of crucifixion was normally just outside the city gate near a main road, where everyone could see. The ‘patibulum’ was put on the ground and the victim was thrown down on it and held with his arms outstretched. Large nails were then driven through the lower end of the forearm into the wood. The ‘patibulum’, with the condemned man nailed to it, was then hoisted up an upright post fixed in the ground and the two were joined, often by tying with rope, to form a crucifix. Often there was a small seat or ‘sedile’ on which some of the victim’s weight could rest. Without this they would die much too quickly! The victim’s feet would only be 18 inches from the ground. The knees were then bent and a further nail hammered through the arches of the feet to fix them in a bent position to the cross. The victim was then left to hang, still guarded by the quaternion, perhaps for several days, until eventually death came from exhaustion and asphyxiation. The longest record of a person surviving on a cross was 9 days. It was a rhythmic torture. The condemned man had to push up to breath and to do that was agony. Furthermore their arms and legs became cramped and thirst was a major factor.

When Jesus, the man who knew no sin, became sin for us, the pain was even worse. He was separated from his Father because he was also carrying the sin of each of us. C. S. Lewis commented on this scene in his book, ‘The Four Loves.’

“God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them. He creates the universe, already foreseeing – or should we say seeing? there are no tenses in God – the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath’s sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is the host who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be, that we may exploit and take advantage of Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves.”

The Two Thieves

John’s wording of the scene that he witnessed is significant.

“Here they crucified him, and with two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.” John 19:18

If the cross is a picture of the love of God for fallen humanity, the positioning of the cross of Christ in the centre of humanity is what God’s love is all about. It is probably the last thing that his enemies thought about. They wanted to humiliate him, make him as infamous as possible, and so kill off the belief that he was the Son of God. In the centre, crucified between two thieves, is exactly where he belongs. He is to become the world’s Chief Priest and in dying in this way he fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about how God’s Messiah would die, before returning to life. It is worth looking at the following passage about the coming Messiah, written by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before Jesus entered this world.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:7-12

Nothing could be clearer. The Messiah would enter this world to die for people’s sin.

Psalm 22 is another description of the death of God’s Messiah. Jesus cried out the opening words of this Psalm from the cross, confirming that he regarded this to be about him.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” Psalm 22:1

The Bible teaches us why Jesus was forsaken by his heavenly Father at the time. He bore our sins, the sin that God hates. That is why the sky went dark for three hours, it symbolised his anger at sin. This same Psalm of David, who was Jesus’ direct ancestor, has at its centre the following description about how the Messiah would die,

12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Psalm 22:12-18

This last phrase is significant and John picks up on this in his gospel.

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. John 19:23-24

This is yet another example demonstrating what Jesus and his disciples thought about the Jewish Scriptures, they considered them to be ‘the very words of God’ (Romans 3:2).

Dr. Barnhouse was a notable Christian teacher in the United States during the 19th century. He was in his study when he was informed that there was a man at the door who had come to see him and he was handed his visiting card. The visitor was the captain of SS Mauritania, then the largest passenger vessel afloat. Dr. Barnhouse went out to greet the captain.

“You have a very beautiful church here,” the captain started.

“Yes, we are very grateful for all that was done here a hundred years ago.”

“It is very much like the basilica in Ravenna, Italy, is it not?”

“It is an architectural duplication of that basilica, in fact, all those years ago, they brought workmen from Italy and the tessellated ceiling and the mosaics and the marble columns were made by Italian workmen. But that is surely not what you came to talk about. You didn’t come to talk about architecture, did you?”

“No. Twenty three times a year I have sailed the Atlantic and when I come down the bank of Newfoundland I heard your broadcast coming out of Boston. I came in this week and have twenty four hours in New York. I took a train and thought perhaps I might meet you and here I am!”

Dr. Barnhouse was always very straightforward.

“Sir, have you been born again?”

“That is what I came to see you about.”

At this point of the tour they had reached a blackboard in a prayer room. Dr. Barnhouse drew three ‘X’s on the Board.

Underneath the first one he wrote IN, and underneath the third one he wrote IN, but underneath the middle one he wrote ‘NOT IN’.

“Do you understand when I say that those men who died with Jesus had sin within them?

The captain thought for a second and said,

“Yes, I do. The Lord Jesus did not have sin in him”

Then over the first and third cross Dr Barnhouse wrote, ‘On.’ The captains brow wrinkled!

“Let me illustrate. Have you even shot a red light?”

“Yes, I am afraid I have.”

“Were you caught?”

“No.”

“In running the red light, you had sin in you – if you’d been caught you’d have had sin on you. Similarly the two thieves bear the penalty of God.”

Then he crossed out the ‘ON’ over one of the thieves and drew a red line to show that the eternal penalty for sin that the thief deserved, far worse than crucifixion, had been taken by Jesus. Consequently he was, in God’s eyes, free of any guilt because Jesus had become his substitute in God’s eyes.

“That thief believed that the Lord Jesus could and would take him with him to paradise. The other thief did not. So which one are you, Sir?”

The distinguished liner captain, a tall man fought tears from his eyes and said,

“By grace I am that first man.”

“You mean that your sins are on Jesus?”

“Yes, God has promised me that my sins are on Jesus.”

He shot out his hand and held onto Dr. Barnhouse.

“That is what I came all this way to find out. Thank you.”

They had lunch together and then the captain returned to New York and his ship as a radiant, rejoicing Christian.

The story of the two thieves is a brilliant illustration about how people become Christians. There is Jesus, hanging on that cross, but still concerned to win someone for Christ. He was gasping for breath and in excruciating pain yet he was still not concerned for himself because he knew his destiny was secure, that was in his Father’s hands. This illustration also makes it clear how a person can receive God’s forgiveness, only by putting your trust in the Lord Jesus.

It is an essential question all of us should ask ourselves, ‘Where is the responsibility for my sin resting? Is it still on me or has it been transferred to the King of Kings?’

The Inscription

The Jewish leaders did not like the inscription written to describe the crime of Jesus. No crime was mentioned. They repeatedly argued that two words should be added. They wanted ‘He said he was the king of the Jews’, but now Pilate refused go comply with their wishes, and he replied,

“What I have written, I have written.”

God put on Pilate’s tongue a profound and permanent truth, Jesus is King. This has been the recurrent message throughout Jesus’ life. Remember both Messiah and Christ mean ‘God’s anointed one’ or ‘Gods chosen king.”

1. In her pregnancy Mary was told,

‘The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end. .” Luke 1:32-33

2. At his birth, the shepherds heard the angels saying,

“Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

3. The wise men, when they visited King Herod were told the prophecy about the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2),

‘ . . . for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’

4. Jesus repeatedly told people that he was indeed the Messiah, the Christ. The Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus,

“‘I know that the Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared. ‘I who speak to you am he.’” John 4:25-26

5. When he entered Jerusalem on a donkey the excited crowds shouted,

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel.” John 12:14

The disciples later remembered another Old Testament prophecy,

“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9

6. Before Pilate, Jesus had no hesitation in explaining where his kingdom lay. Pilate said,

“‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.’” John 18:37

7. Now on the cross this inscription was placed over his head,

“The king of the Jews.” John 19:19-22

When the Lord Jesus returns, no-one will have any doubt that he is indeed ‘the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’ There will be no escaping or overlooking his kingship then, but for many it will be too late.

It is striking that this inscription was written in the main languages of the world of that day, Aramaic, Latin and Greek. Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection has eternal implications for all peoples of every nation. He is the ruler of his world and it is important for all people to recognise this, as one thief on the cross did, before it is too late.

It is ironic - he rules as king from that cross.

Winston Churchill was famous for his seemingly spontaneous witty comments. In fact he worked hard at memorising these so that he could use them in parliament. Thus he said of Clement Atlee, the Labout leader of the Opposition,

“He is a modest man who has much to be modest about.”

One day the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, who was an arrogant man, was walking past him. Churchill took his cigar out of his mouth and pointing towards the Chancellor, said,

“There, but for the grace of God, goes God.”

A devastating comment that unfortunately God could say about many of us,

“There, but for the grace of God goes a little paper God. There is one who tries to be the god and ruler of his or her own existence.”

The self-sacrifice of Jesus should prevent us from acting as gods. The apostle Paul, a naturally self-sufficient man, came to understand this. He wrote,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

The Christ on that cross demands that we recognise him to be our king. Pilate would not retract his inscription,

“What I have written, I have written.”

The Cost

Jesus repeatedly explained before his crucifixion that his followers must all ‘take up their cross and follow me.” People of those days knew what this meant from seeing condemned men on their way to die. Jesus said,

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ ” Matthew 16:24

To follow Christ means to die to selfish ambitions and live by obeying him and seeking his glory. It involves having a spirit of submission. Freely we have been given both forgiveness and eternal salvation, so freely we must all give our lives to him in response.

The German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was hanged by the Nazis, wrote in his book, ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ that ‘grace is not cheap.’ He rightly taught against those who spoke of ‘cheap grace’, which he defined as preaching an easy forgiveness without the need for repentance. Baptism without submission to the rule of Christ is meaningless. Grace demands discipleship to the Lord Jesus for the rest of our life.

True faith is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. We were bought with a price. God did not consider the life of his Son too high a price to pay for us. He died to win us back from lives of sin, often ‘respectable sin’, to live lives that centre on him and his rule.

BVP