THE ROAD TO GOLGOTHA
Despite having being flogged, gone without food and weak, Jesus was forced to carry the wood that was to be used to crucify him.
From
the beating, Jesus walked on a path, now known as the Via Dolorosa (the
way of suffering), to be crucified at Golgotha. The total distance has
been estimated at 650 yards. A narrow street of stone, it was probably
surrounded by markets in Jesus' time.
He
was led through the crowded streets carrying the crossbar of the cross
(called a patibulum) across His shoulders. The crossbar probably weighed
between 80 to 110 pounds. He was surrounded by a guard of Roman
soldiers, one of which carried a titulus, a sign which announced His
crime of being "the King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.
On
the way, He was unable to carry the cross. Some theorize that he may
have fallen while going down the steps of the Antonio Fortress (where He
was flogged). A fall with the heavy patibulum on His back may have led
to a contusion (rupture if vessels) of the heart, predisposing His heart
to rupture on the cross.
Simon of Cyrene (currently North Africa (Tripoli)), who apparently was affected by these events, was summoned to help.
SUFFERING ON THE CROSS
Psalm
22:16-17: Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me."
Jesus
was then crucified. Crucifixion was a practice that originated with the
Persians and was later passed on to the Carthaginians and the
Phoenicians.
The
Romans perfected it as a method of execution which caused maximal pain
and suffering over a period of time. Those crucified included slaves,
provincials and the lowest types of criminals.
THE PROCEDURE OF CRUCIFIXION
The
procedure of crucifixion may be summarized as follows: The patibulum
was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails, about 7 inches
long and with a diameter of 1 cm ( roughly 3/8 of an inch) were driven
in the wrists.
The
points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing shocks
of pain to radiate through the arms. It was possible to place the nails
between the bones so that no fractures (or broken bones) occurred.
Studies
have shown that nails were probably driven through the small bones of
the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand would not support the
weight of a body. In ancient terminology, the wrist was considered to be
part of the hand.
Standing
at the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes,
standing about 7 feet high. In the center of the stipes was a crude
seat, called a sedile or sedulum, which served a support for the victim.
The patibulum was then lifted on to the stipes. The feet were then
nailed to the stipes. To allow for this, the knees had to be bent and
rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position. The
titulus was hung above the victim's head.
For the beginning and concluding part of this update, read HERE