I was inspired by a previous world racer’s blog and I encourage you to check it out: http://lindsayheston.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=the-furious-longing
As believers in Christ, we believe in Jesus, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. Have you ever stopped to wonder what that really means? I think so many years after Jesus, we forget how brutal it was for him; and the immense pain he went through for us. I was reading a medical description of how Jesus’ crucifixion was carried out in those times and it really made me question how we live our lives. Here is a bit of the description….I warn you that it is gruesome.
First there is a flogging/whipping:
The prisoner is stripped of His clothing and His hands are tied to a post above his head.The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached to the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with fill force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back and legs.
At first the heavy thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows.
Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is stopped.
It then goes on to describe how he is untied and to mock him, they place a robe over his shoulders and make a crown with thorns. The thorns cut into his scalp causing him to bleed massively; and to add to the agony they rip off the robe that has now melded to his open wounds. Did I mention they also beat him in the head which drove the thorns deeper, causing the blood to flow down his face.
The walk to his death is excruciating as he is forced to carry the beam of his cross (110lbs or so). The wood pushes into his torn skin as he stumbles in shock and exhaustion.
It’s not over:
The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep inot the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The beam is then lifted in place at the top of the posts and the titulus reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” is nailed in place.The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet 
extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each. As he pushes Himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones through the feet.
extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each. As he pushes Himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones through the feet. Jesus is stuck this way for hours, the pain getting worse, fighting for breath, sharp pains tearing his body apart. As his chest fills with fluids, his heart is compressed, and pain richochets through his heart.
The End:
He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. With one last surge of strength, He once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” Apparently to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. Immediately there came out blood and water. We, therefore, have rather conclusive post-mortem evidence that Out Lord died, not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.
– Condensed from “The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ” by C. Truman Davis, M.S. March, 1965
So what are we doing today to redeem that pain, that anguish, that blood? Is sitting in a pew once a week and reading the bible every now and then good enough? What about doing something for the homeless once a year? Bedtime prayers? Now, I’m not knocking any of those actions…..I’m just putting it out there. We believe in Jesus, we believe he died for our sins, but what can we do for Him? How much do we sacrifice? He was whipped, humilated, mutilated, nailed, and basically murdered. What Can We Do For Jesus (WCWDFJ)? I think a big part of it is giving of ourselves (services, time, money, etc.), showing kindness to all, and just being present in the spirit. Serve him by being his hands and feet wherever you are….pray, love, rejoice, forgive, have faith and always keep him as the focus.
