By Sam Shamoun
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is arguably the most analyzed and consequential event in Western history. For Christians, it represents the pivotal moment of atonement and the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. Historically, it serves as a stark example of Roman judicial execution in the 1st century.
This document reconstructs the narrative based on the four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), integrating historical context and theological perspectives.
1. The Chronology of Good Friday
The events of the crucifixion unfold rapidly over a period of roughly 15 hours, beginning late Thursday night and concluding on Friday evening.
The Arrest and Religious Trials (Late Thursday – Early Friday)
Following the Last Supper, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and seized by a temple guard detachment.
The Hearing before Annas: Jesus was first taken to Annas, the former High Priest and power behind the religious elite.
The Trial before Caiaphas: He was then bound and taken to Caiaphas, the ruling High Priest. Here, the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council) sought false testimony. When asked if He was the Messiah, Jesus replied in the affirmative (Mark 14:62), leading to a charge of blasphemy.
The Morning Verdict: At daybreak, the Sanhedrin formally condemned Him and decided to transfer Him to Roman authority, as they lacked the legal power to execute capital punishment.
The Civil Trials (Early Morning, approx. 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM)
Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, at the Praetorium.
First Appearance before Pilate: The Jewish leaders changed the charge from blasphemy (a religious crime) to sedition (a political crime), accusing Jesus of claiming to be a King and opposing taxes to Caesar. Pilate found no guilt in Him.
Audience with Herod Antipas: Hearing Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent Him to Herod Antipas (ruler of Galilee), who was in Jerusalem for Passover. Herod mocked Jesus but returned Him to Pilate without a verdict.
Final Sentencing: Back at the Praetorium, Pilate attempted to release Jesus via the Passover custom of pardon. He offered the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist and murderer. The crowd, incited by the chief priests, chose Barabbas and demanded Jesus be crucified. Pilate washed his hands of the matter and ordered the execution.
The Passion and The Way of the Cross
Scourging: Jesus was subjected to the flagrum, a Roman whip with leather thongs embedded with lead or bone. This brutal punishment often killed victims before they reached the cross.
Mockery: Soldiers placed a purple robe on Him, forced a crown of woven thorns onto His head, and struck Him, mocking Him as the “King of the Jews.”
Via Dolorosa: Jesus was forced to carry the patibulum (the horizontal crossbeam) to the place of execution. Weakened by blood loss, He collapsed, and the soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene, a passerby, to carry the cross the rest of the way.
2. The Crucifixion at Golgotha
Time: Approximately 9:00 AM (The Third Hour)
Location: Golgotha (Aramaic for “The Place of the Skull”), also known by the Latin Calvary.
The Act of Crucifixion
Jesus was stripped of His garments and nailed to the cross by His wrists and feet. Roman nails were typically iron spikes, 5 to 7 inches long. Above His head, Pilate ordered a titulus (sign) to be placed, written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (INRI).
He was crucified between two criminals (often traditionally named Dismas and Gestas).
The Seven Last Words
During the six hours He hung on the cross, the Gospels record seven specific statements made by Jesus:
Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Salvation: To the repentant thief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Relationship: To Mary and John: “Woman, here is your son,” and “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
Abandonment: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) — A quotation of Psalm 22.
Distress: “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)
Triumph: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) — From the Greek Tetelestai, an accounting term meaning “paid in full.”
Reunion: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
The Death and Phenomena (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
From noon until 3:00 PM, a supernatural darkness covered the land.
The Death: At approximately 3:00 PM, Jesus breathed His last.
The Temple Veil: The massive curtain in the Jewish Temple, separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was torn in two from top to bottom.
The Earthquake: The earth shook, rocks split, and tombs broke open.
The Centurion: A Roman officer guarding the site, witnessing the manner of death and the earthquake, declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
3. Historical and Medical Context
Roman Crucifixion
Crucifixion was designed by the Romans not just to kill, but to torture and humiliate. It was reserved for slaves, pirates, and enemies of the state (insurrectionists).
Cause of Death: Death was usually slow, resulting from a combination of hypovolemic shock (from scourging), exhaustion, and eventual asphyxiation. To breathe, the victim had to push up on their nailed feet to relieve tension on the diaphragm. Eventually, exhaustion would prevent this, leading to suffocation.
Crurifragium: To hasten death, soldiers would break the legs of the victims so they could no longer push up to breathe. The Gospel of John notes that while the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves, they found Jesus already dead and did not break His legs, fulfilling the prophecy that “not one of his bones will be broken.”
The Spear
To verify death, a soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear. Blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). Medically, this is often interpreted as evidence of pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart) and pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), consistent with heart failure or rupture following severe physical trauma and shock.
4. Immediate Aftermath and Burial
Because the Sabbath began at sundown on Friday, there was an urgency to bury the body.
Joseph of Arimathea: A wealthy member of the Sanhedrin and a secret follower of Jesus, Joseph boldly asked Pilate for the body.
Nicodemus: Another religious leader who had visited Jesus by night, Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes (about 75 pounds) for the burial.
The Tomb: They wrapped the body in linen cloths with the spices and laid it in Joseph’s own new tomb, cut out of rock, located in a garden near Golgotha. A large stone was rolled across the entrance.
5. Theological Significance
For Christians, the crucifixion is not a tragedy, but a willing sacrifice.
Atonement: It is viewed as the ultimate sacrifice where Jesus took the punishment for the sins of humanity upon Himself (Substitutionary Atonement).
Reconciliation: The tearing of the Temple veil symbolizes that the barrier between God and humanity has been removed, allowing direct access to God.
Fulfillment: The event is seen as the fulfillment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, specifically Isaiah 53 (“The Suffering Servant”) and Psalm 22.
The narrative concludes not with death, but with the expectation of the Resurrection on the third day (Easter Sunday), which validates the claims made by Jesus during His trial.
Sam Shamoun is a world renowned apologetic preacher
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