Definition of Crucifixion of Jesus

Crucifixion was the most common procedure for executing those sentenced to death in Ancient Rome. With this punishment Roman authorities were looking for a double purpose: the execution of a condemned man and the psychological punishment of the population. For this reasonWhen the Jews asked Governor Pilate to order the crucifixion of Jesus, they were asking for him to be sentenced to death.

The death of Jesus on the cross

The body was placed on a T-shaped cross and its limbs were nailed down with large pointed nails. Contrary to what is claimed, the nails went through the wrists and not hands, forcing Jesus to strain his back muscles to breathe.

His two feet were nailed together using a large nail. In this position he held out for a little over three hours and finally died.

Minutes before he passed away he no longer bled

It is estimated that during his agony he lost 3.5 liters of blood. In addition to his nails, the Romans placed a crown of thorns on his head and a soldier drove a spear into his chest.

To the margin of torture physical, he suffered emotionally from Judas's betrayal, from the rejection of the people of Israel, and from seeing his mother while he was dying. Before his crucifixion he was forced to carry his own cross by walking approximately two kilometers. Meanwhile, the soldiers who arrested him whipped and insulted him.

Those directly responsible for his execution were three: Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Judas. The first was the Jewish high priest who maintained good relations with the Roman authorities. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea and allowed Jesus to be finally crucified.

Judas was the apostle who betrayed him for thirty plant coins.

Jesus' words to one of the thieves who accompanied him to the crucifixion

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark the last sentences of Jesus on the cross are mentioned. All of them are known with a denomination generic, the Seven Words.

At the same time that he was tortured on the cross, the Romans punished two thieves along with him. One of them was Dimas and he is known as the "good thief". When the two thieves and Jesus met on their respective crosses, Dimas turned to Jesus to ask him to remember him when he reached his Kingdom.

Jesus responded by telling him that at the end of the day the two of them would be together in Paradise.

Photos: Fotolia - Renata Sedmakova