61 The Crucifixion

JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

Mark 15:23-24

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take (KJV).

They offered wine drugged with myrrh to help reduce the pain. Myrrh was a narcotic, which was frequently given by women to the condemned to lessen the excruciating pain of the crucifixion. Jesus chose to not take it. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy.

Psalm 69:21.

21They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (ASV, 1910)

Further as they crucified Him they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. He was crucified naked adding to the humility of the execution. As this was transpiring they did not realize that they were again fulfilling prophecy.

Psalm 22:18

18They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots (ASV, 1901).

Crucifixion was an extremely cruel and painful form of punishment primarily reserved for non-Roman citizens. It was usually carried out on slaves, violent criminals, and prisoners of war. Enhancing the shame and as a deterrent to crime the victims were executed publically and naked. Jesus experienced the maximum amount of shame any person could endure (Hebrews 12:2). Slave and lower class women were also executed in this manner. Depending on the severity of flogging, some victims survived on crosses several days. Usually there were no major arteries severed so death came not by blood loss, but from hypovolemic shock or exhaustion asphyxia or heart failure, or a combination of the above