Jesus Carried The Cross-beam To Golgotha.

Jesus Carried The Cross-beam To Golgotha

The Cross used during Christ's time was a "Low Tau Cross" made of two parts:

1. The Patibulum, the Cross-Bar, which the prisoner carried to the place of execution.

2. The Stipes Crucis which was already in place, an upright heavy beam inserted into the ground.

The Shroud shows a wide area of bruises over each anatomical shoulder area. The patibulum weighed approximately 80 pounds, and Jesus carried this on His shoulders to Golgotha. It may be clearly seen on the Shroud that the wounds from the Scourging have been opened up in the process. There is also widespread bruising over both scapular regions.

Jesus fell three times whilst carrying the heavy patibulum, tied to his arms. The Shroud shows that he sustained fractured nasal cartilages, and a laceration to His left knee. Matching dirt (Travertine Aragonite) from Jerusalem is also found on the Shroud, at these two sites. For full details please see The Shroud of Turin Proves the Resurrection on this web site.

The Crown Of Thorns, And The Mocking Of Jesus.

In Matthew 27:27-30 we read,

"Then the soldiers of the procurator took Jesus into the praetorium, and gathered together about him the whole cohort. And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet cloak; and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed into his right hand; and bending the knee they mocked him, saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat on him, and took the reed and kept striking him on the head." 

The crown of thorns was not a crown at all. It was probably a bush roughly applied, and tied on with rope. The beating with the rods to the head covered with this crown would have caused severe bleeding to this very vascular area.

The thorns probably came from the Lote Tree, the Zizyphus Spina Christi. This wild bush still grows freely all over the Holy Land, and was probably used by the Roman soldiers as firewood.

This bush had thorns between one to two inches long. There are over 70 scalp wounds visible on the Shroud. It is probable that the clump of thorns was removed before Jesus' seamless tunic was put back onto His body, and then reapplied during the Crucifixion. The blood trickling down from the newly opened head wounds suggest that the thorns were reapplied before the Crucifixion.

Following the scourging and mocking, Jesus had sustained the following injuries, clearly visible on the Shroud:

1. His beard had been ripped off (See Isaiah 50:6), with severe bleeding from His face.

2. He had severe bleeding from His scalp from the crown of thorns.

3. He had lacerations over His right orbit, from punching and beating with rods.

4. He had fractured nasal cartilages, from beating with rods.

5. He had sustained bruising of both cheeks from punches.

This was all in complete fulfilment of the following prophecy in Isaiah 52:14, "Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men."

Jesus was virtually unrecognisable on the Cross.

The Roman Scourging.

The Roman Scourging

We read, in John 19:1, that "Pilate, then took Jesus and had him scourged." 

Scourging of criminals prior to Crucifixion to weaken the criminal was standard practice by the Romans. The Shroud of Turin reveals the use of a Roman scourge with 3 bar-bells. There were two soldiers. The Roman instrument used is called a flagrum, which is a short whip with 3 separate leather thongs, each terminating in a metal dumb-bell. Thus one lash would cause 3 separate wounds.

On the Shroud the scourging leaves circular dumb-bell shaped wounds all over the body. Jesus was draped over a pillar, and His naked body exposed to the flagrum. His arms were stretched and his back bent.

The Turin Shroud reveals wounds all over the body. Wounds are found on the back, the chest, the abdomen, the arms, the legs, and the pelvis.

Two Soldiers administered the Scourging

Early researchers on the Shroud realised that the marks on the Shroud came from two separate sources. They concluded this because the angles of the marks fan out from two points. One set of marks came from Jesus' left side, while another set came from Jesus' right side. The only requirement for soldiers administering a Roman scourging prior to Crucifixion was that the victim survived.

The number of lashes on the Shroud is excessive - about 120 lashes. Crucified victims commonly took up to 3 days to die, but Jesus took 6 hours to die - an indication of the severity of the scourging. This is possibly why Jesus was too weak to carry the Patibulum, which weighed 80 - 100 pounds

The Pulling Off Of Jesus' Beard 


According to Isaiah 50:6, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."In fulfilment of prophecy, Jesus' beard was pulled off.

The early Dehydration of Jesus

Jesus had not drunk any fluids since the night before, at the Last Supper. Following the Scourging,

- His body was shredded, with muscle and subcutaneous tissue exposed.

- His beard had been pulled out.

- He would already have been severely dehydrated, in the early stages of cardio-respiratory collapse.

Jesus Christ Stood In Our Place At The Six Trials.

In Matthew 27:13-14 we read, "Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" And He answered him not one word, so that the governor marvelled greatly." 

Why did Jesus say "not one word"? Because Jesus was standing in our place, and we are all guilty.

The Timing Of The Night Before The Crucifixion.

Jesus was actually "tried" six times during the night before the Crucifixion. Jesus was probably having the last supper at about 6 pm at the start of the Passover celebrated by the Essenes, which was celebrated on a different day from the Passover ordained by the Sanhedrin.

Jesus was probably staying at the home of the Essenes in Jerusalem, of whom John the Baptist was a member. A clue to this is found in Mark 14:12-16,

"Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?" And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water ; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."

So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover."

In the culture of the day it was most unusual for a man to carry water. The Essenes were however a strict male only religious group who distanced themselves from the corrupt Sanhedrin, and were mostly based in Qumran on the shores of the Dead Sea. The fact that the disciples met a man carrying water makes it highly likely that Jesus was in fact staying with the ultra Orthodox Essenes.
The start of the Passover celebrated by the Essenes was at 6 pm, so it was likely that Jesus and His twelve disciples were sitting down for the last supper by 6 pm.

Jesus had a great deal to say during the Last Supper, as recorded in John Chapters 14 -16.

It seems unlikely that Jesus appeared at Gethsemane before about 9 pm at the earliest, and probably nearer 10 pm.

The timing of the trials can be pinpointed with some accuracy by the crowing of the rooster, as recorded in Matthew 26:74, 75, "Immediately a rooster crowed . And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly." 

A rooster normally crows about 1 hour before daybreak, which was possibly at 5.00 am at that time of year (April of 33 AD). Thus the three religious trials occurred some time between Jesus' arrest at 10.30 pm approximately, and Peter's denial of Jesus at approximately 4.00 am.

Jesus was actually nailed to the Cross on the "third hour" which is 9 am. Thus the three secular trials of Jesus probably took place between 5 am and 7 am, to allow for time for the Scourging, and the Carrying of the cross to Golgotha between 7 am and 9 am.

Caiaphas Prophesied About The Crucifixion.

Caiaphas had previously prophesied that Jesus would die for the people. It is recorded in John 11: 49-50,

"And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.'"

The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion From Bible Prophecy.

The exact date of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is pinpointed with amazing accuracy in Daniel 9:23 - 27. This amazing work on the book of Daniel was first worked out by Sir Robert Anderson, Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard. He wrote an excellent book, "The Coming Prince", which has become one of the most important books in Biblical Eschatology.

The most mathematically amazing Scripture in the Bible is found in Daniel 9: 25-26. In this Scripture the angel Gabriel is foretelling the exact date when Jesus Christ, the anticipated Messiah, would come to Jerusalem. This prophecy is mathematically correct to the very day. There is simply no other book on planet Earth which predicts the future with such stunning accuracy.

Daniel 9: 25-26
"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself."



- For a concise explanation of this we have quoted from the New American Standard Bible, the New Open Bible Study Edition, page 942:

- The vision of the sixty-nine weeks in Daniel 9: 25, 26 pinpoints the coming of the Messiah.

- The decree of Daniel 9: 25 took place on March 4th, 444 BC (recorded in Nehemiah 2: 1-8).

- The sixty-nine weeks of seven years equals 483 years, or 173,880 days (using 360-day prophetic years)


- This leads to March 29th, A.D.33, the date of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem"

- This is checked by noting that 444 BC to AD 33 is 476 years, and 476 times 365.24219 days per year equals 173,855 days.

- Adding 25 days for the difference between March 4th and March 29th gives 173,880 days"

- It should be noted that the Babylonians used a 360 day calendar, which must be converted to our current Solar Years, of 365 days.

- These 360 day years are commonly called prophetic years.

Thus, the exact day when the Messiah would come to Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, was predicted by Gabriel to the very day.

His means of arrival was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9,

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey".

The conclusion from Daniel 9: 23-27 is that the Bible is completely supernatural.

The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion According To Phlegon, A Secular Greek Historian.

From the work of Phlegon we can work out the date of the Crucifixion.
The Crucifixion is widely reported by numerous ancient writers. However, unlike the New Testament, of which there are 25,366 early copies, many of these ancient writer's manuscripts are fragmented.

We do however have important sections of Phelgon's work, which are critical in dating the Crucifixion.

Phlegon of Tralles

Phlegon of Tralles was a first century secular Greek historian born not long after the Crucifixion. He inadvertently dated the darkness at noon on the day of Crucifixion in his work, The Olympiades.

Phlegon's greatest work was the writing of a history book, called The Olympiades. The Olympiades can be used as a useful means of establishing a time-line.

We only have fragments left to us of this monumental work and quotations of it from other writers.
One such quotation is as follows, "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nicæa."

Africanus quoted a section of Phlegon's work as follows: "During the time of Tiberius Cæsar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the Full Moon."

We believe that the period of darkness referred to by Phlegon is the same period of darkness referred to in the New Testament, since the event is unique.

There is only one period of darkness lasting for three hours in the history of the world. 

- We believe that the event referred to by Phlegon is the same event that is recorded in the New Testament.

- The timing of this "eclipse" referred to by Phlegon is similar to the event described in the Gospels.

- Thankfully we have a more detailed fragment from Phlegon's Olympiades: "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the 6th hour the day was changed into night and the stars were seen in the heavens. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nicæa." 

- We know from the Bible that on the day of Crucifixion the Sun was darkened for three hours, and there was a great earthquake.

- As explained, we believe that the darkness referred to by Phlegon is the same darkness referred to in Matthew 27:45.

- From the above statement of Phlegon we can work out the year of the Crucifixion.

The dates of the Olympic Games, recorded in Phlegon's Olympiad

In ancient Greece the Olympic Games were held in the July of the first year of each Olympiad, which was a 4 year period running from July to June of each succeeding year.

The 202nd Olympiad has been calculated to run from July AD 29 to June AD 33. The diagram below will help to clarify this.

The 202nd Olympiad Calender



Calculations for the date of the Crucifixion

- Each year of an Olympiad began on 1st July.

- We know that Jesus was crucified in the Spring, at the time of the Passover.

- Phlegon had specifically stated in his Olympiades: "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the 6th hour the day was changed into night and the stars were seen in the heavens."

- Using the above information we can work out that the period of darkness occurred in 33 AD.

- We can therefore calculate with great accuracy that the three hour period of darkness, and also the Crucifixion, had to be in the Spring of A.D. 33.

- As several of the early Fathers quoted Phlegon, there seems no reason to doubt his word.

- Another historian, Philipon (with Origen), confirms the historicity of Phlegon's statement by writing, "And about this darkness - Phlegon recalls it in the Olympiads...Phlegon mentioned the eclipse which took place during the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, and no other (eclipse), it is clear that he did not know from his sources about any (similar) eclipse in previous times ...and this is shown by the historical account of Tiberius Caesar." 

- Therefore the year of the crucifixion is A.D 33.

Conclusion

There is more historical evidence to support the three hour period of darkness, and therefore of the Crucifixion, in 33 AD than almost any other ancient event in history!

The Three Period Of Darkness Is Confirmed By Many Historians.

The darkness that covered Israel for three hours was recorded by three of the four Gospel writers.

1. "Now from the sixth hour there occurred darkness over all the land until the ninth hour", Matthew 27:45.

2. "Now when the sixth hour had come, it became dark over all the land until the ninth hour," Mark 15:33.

3. "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour, the sun failing" (Luke 23:44-45).

The three evangelists testify that the darkness lasted three hours, and it 'covered all the land'.

The Sun failed

Luke says that 'the Sun failed.' The words used here are the Greek words, "tou heliou ekleipontos". The word "Helios" is translated "the Sun". The word "Ekleipo" is translated as 'to fail, to come to an end.'

Thus the cause of the darkness was a failure in the Sun's light. This distinguishes the event from the mere darkness of dense thunderclouds that can cause near night-time conditions. Storms like this are unusual for Palestine, especially at Passover time. Furthermore, there would have been mention of prodigious rainfall.

There was no eclipse of the Sun on Crucifixion day

We should not think that the strange darkness was caused by an extended eclipse of the Sun, for that could not have occurred on the day of the Crucifixion. An eclipse of the Sun only occurs when the Moon is directly between the Sun and the Earth, thus blocking out its light. The day of the Crucifixion was the day before the traditional Passover, which was on the 14th Nisan. On the 14th Nisan there was a full Moon, as was always the case at Passover time. The Moon was therefore on the far side of the Earth away from the Sun.

Furthermore, no eclipse of the Sun can last more than seven and a half minutes in any one place, and this strange darkness lasted for three hours. A supernatural event caused darkness to fall during Christ's death. Thus for three hours a strange darkness covered the land. The sky was clear, and the stars appeared. People would be asking themselves whether 'the end of the world' had come.

The period of darkness was prophesied in Amos

The Jews knew from their Bible that 'the day of the Lord' would be 'a day of darkness'. In Amos 8:9 we read, "On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the Sun to go down at noon, and darken the Earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasting into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations."

This darkness speaks of a time of God's judgement upon sin.

Extra-Biblical historical evidence to support the three hour period of darkness

The following great number of ancient writers recorded the three hour period of darkness at the time of the Crucifixion.

Tertullian

Tertullian lived at the beginning of the 3rd century, and recorded the three hour period of darkness at the Crucifixion.

Lucian

Lucian, the martyr of Nicomedia who died in A.D. 312, recorded the three hour period of darkness at the Crucifixion.

Thallus

Thallus, a historian writing in AD. 52, wrote to deny any supernatural elements accompanying the Crucifixion . Though his writings are lost to us, we have the quotations of other later writers. The writing of Thallus shows that the facts of Jesus' death were known and discussed in Rome as early as the middle of the first century, to the extent that unbelievers like Thallus thought it necessary to explain the matter of the darkness as something natural. He took the existence of Christ for granted. Neither Jesus, nor the darkness at his death, were ever denied. At the time of his writing, unbelievers had already been explaining the darkness at the time of the Crucifixion as a purely natural phenomenon.

Julius Africanus

Julius Africanus, a Christian historian, writing about A.D. 221, refers to Christ's Crucifixion and the darkness that covered the earth prior to His death saying, "Thallus, in his Third Book of Histories, explains away this darkness as an eclipse of the sun, unreasonably as it seems to me. For the Hebrews celebrate the Passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the Passion of our Saviour falls on the day before the Passover. But an eclipse of the sun takes place only when the Moon comes under the Sun. And it cannot happen at any other time but in the interval between the first day of the new moon and the last of the old, that is, at their junction: how then should an eclipse occur when the Moon is almost diametrically opposite the Sun?"

Julius Africanus also stated that, "During the time of Tiberius Cæsar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the full Moon."

Origen

Origen had written that this idea of it being an eclipse was an invention of the pagans to discredit the Gospels.

Phlegon of Tralles

Phlegon of Tralles was a first century secular Greek historian born not long after the Crucifixion. He wrote an historical work called The Olympiades, which can be used to date the darkness at noon on the day of Crucifixion (see below).

Phlegon's work is referred to by Philipon, Julius Africanus, Joannes Philoponus, Malelas, Origen, Eusebius and Maximus.

Cornelius Tacitus

The Crucifixion of Jesus was noted by Cornelius Tacitus who was a Roman historian, born around 52-54 A.D. Tacitus stated that Jesus had been crucified by Pontius Pilate, and that Rome was in darkness during the reign of Tiberius the Caesar in AD.33.

Conclusion

There is more historical evidence to support the three hour period of darkness in 33 AD than almost any other ancient event in history!

The Blood Covenant In Relation To The Crucifixion.

God is a God of Covenant

This covenant is fulfilled at the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as we will see later. In Genesis 3, God introduced the idea of a blood sacrifice by clothing Adam and Eve with the skins of dead animals. Adam and Eve were effectively clothed with a blood sacrifice, which is a Biblical Picture of the Blood Covenant.

This is introduced in Genesis 3:21, "Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them."



The Rainbow looks forward to the Crucifixion

In Genesis 9:13, God introduces the Rainbow as a sign of the covenant, "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth"

God made a Blood Covenant with Abraham


In Genesis 15: 9-17 we are told that God made a Blood Covenant with Abraham. Abraham and a "burning torch" passed between the slaughtered heifer, goat, ram, dove and pigeon. When God caused Abraham to pass between the two halves of slaughtered animals this was a type of Blood Covenant. Jesus Christ was the Burning Torch that passed between the pieces.

Bible Prophecy Concerning The Crucifixion.

There are over 30 prophecies concerning the Crucifixion in the Old Testament. We shall just look at only a few examples:

1. The Crucifixion is prophesied in Genesis Chapters 3

The Curse on Satan in Genesis Chapters 3

It is recorded in Genesis 3:14-15, "So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."

2. The Crucifixion prophesied in Genesis Chapters 5

The Genealogy of Noah in Genesis Chapter 5 (from "The Bible: An Extraterrestrial Message" by Chuck Missler). The ancestors of Noah are recorded in Genesis 5. There are a total of 10 names, each with a specific Hebrew meaning. The English translations for the Hebrew words are recorded above from top to bottom.

Hebrew	English Meaning
Adam	Man (is)
Seth	Appointed
Enosh	Mortal
Caanan	Sorrow (but)
Mahalalel	The Blessed God
Jared	Shall Come Down
Enoch	Teaching (that)
Methuselah	His death shall bring
Lamech	The despairing
Noah	Comfort

"Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow, (but) the Blessed God shall come down, teaching that His death shall bring the despairing comfort." 

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rendered in the names of the ancestors of Noah! Nobody can choose the names of their parents or grandparents! This is one of the many proofs of the supernatural authority of the Bible. For further irrefutable evidence, see our presentation The Bible is Supernatural on this web site

3. The Crucifixion prophesied in Numbers 21

In Numbers 21:8-9 we read, "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived". 

This is a most unusual story! The tribes of Israel used to carry around a wooden standard, about 9 feet high, with an insignia of the tribe written on material hung on the Crosspiece. God told Moses to hang a bronze serpent on this wooden Cross bar instead of the standard. Bronze indicates judgement in the Bible, as also does a serpent. The Serpent on a Pole is the Holy Spirit's picture language for God's judgement on Jesus Christ on the Cross. 

If an individual was bitten by a snake (which is a type of Satan), there was a way to be healed. If the individual looked up to the bronze serpent on the pole they would be healed. Jesus Himself indicated the connection between the Crucifixion and the Serpent on the Pole in John 3:14-16:
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life".

4. The Crucifixion was prophesied in Psalm 22 (selected verses)

In Psalm 22 there are many verses which clearly look forward to the Crucifixion. The following are a selection of such verses: 

vs. 1: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 

vs. 6: despised of the people.


vs. 7: All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

vs. 8: He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

vs. 13: They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.

vs. 14: I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me.

vs. 15: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; you have brought Me to the dust of death.

vs. 16a: For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. 

vs. 16b: They pierced My hands and My feet;

vs. 17: I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.

vs. 18: They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

5. The Crucifixion prophesied in Isaiah 52

In Isaiah 52 there are many verses which clearly look forward to the Crucifixion. The following verse is an example:

vs. 14, "His face was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men"

6. The Crucifixion prophesied in Isaiah 53

In Isaiah 53 there are many verses which clearly look forward to the Crucifixion. The following are a selection of such verses:



vs. 3: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. …..he was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

vs. 4: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows

vs. 5: But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

vs. 6: the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

vs. 7: He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth

vs. 9: And they made His grave with the wicked - but with the rich at His death

vs. 11: for He shall bear their iniquities.

vs. 12: because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors