Sorrowful Mysteries
2nd Sorrowful Mystery- The Scourging
3rd Sorrowful Mystery- Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
4th Sorrowful Mystery- Jesus Carries the Cross
5th Sorrowful Mystery- The Crucifixion of our Lord
Agony in the Garden: March 31 - April 1, 33/Nisan 12, 3793
Jesus’ Exodus begins
Our Father
And He came out and proceeded as was his
custom over the ravine of the Kidron, to the Mount of Olives; and the
disciples also followed him (Jn 18:1). They came to a garden, a place named Gethsemane; and He said to them: “Pray that you may not enter into
temptation.” (Lk 22:40).
Jesus
tells his disciples: "Stay here, while I go over there and pray." (Mt 26:36). (HM-1)
Entering the garden with Peter, James, and John; Jesus says: "My soul is sorrowful
unto death; remain here and watch with me." (Mt 26:38, Mk 14:34).
Jesus
asked for prayer! Jesus also asked them to keep watch (likely so that He would
not be surprised at the arrival of Judas). And He went a little beyond them,
about a stone’s throw, and fell to the ground, praying, that if it were possible, the
hour might pass him by. (HM-2)
 |
| Garden of Gethsemane |
Jesus knew what was coming. He knew that he would be crucified and that it was required in order to complete the fulfillment of the sacrifice of the Pascal Lamb: in the first century A.D., the Passover lambs in the Temple were not only sacrificed; they were, so to speak, crucified. As the Israeli scholar Joseph Tabory has shown, according to the Mishnah, at the time when the Temple still stood, after the sacrifice of the lamb, the Jews would drive “thin smooth staves” of wood through the shoulders of the lamb in order to hang it and skin it (Mishnah:Pesahim 5:9). In addition to this first rod, they would also “thrust” a “skewer of pomegranate wood” through the Passover lamb “from its mouth to its buttocks” (Mishnah Pesahim 7:1). As Tabory concludes, “An examination of the rabbinic evidence … seems to show that in Jerusalem the Jewish paschal lamb was offered in a manner which resembled a crucifixion.” This conclusion is supported by the writings of Saint Justin Martyr, a Christian living in the mid–second century A.D. In his dialogue with a Jewish rabbi named Trypho,
Justin states: For the lamb, which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of a cross. For one spit is transfixed right through from the lower parts up to the head, and one across the back, to which are attached the legs of the lamb.
Jesus knew that He would be scourged and He would be crowned with thorns. Jesus had undoubtably carried a crucified Paschal Lamb from the Temple and had seen men crucified by the Romans. Jesus knows what is coming and stress is building.
His sweat becomes as drops
of blood falling to the ground (Lk
22:44). That is a medical condition called hematidrosis brought on by extreme stress. Hematidrosis causes the sweat glands to rupture making the sweat bloody and causes the onset of traumatic shock. Traumatic shock is the body’s self-destruct mechanism, wherein the air spaces in the lung (alveoli) rupture and the air tubes (bronchi) spasm. The
ruptured alveoli can no longer oxygenate the blood. The lungs begin to fill with the fluid from the ruptured cell tissue. This will, if the stress and/or
pain does not cease, ultimately cause the individual to “drown”
in cell tissue. (HM-3)
Fear that is anguish based on the unknown, is from the devil. Jesus does not fear
his passion; because the torment is not unknown. He knows exactly what is
coming and that knowledge is causing the stress.
Jesus was
praying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup
from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mk 14:36).
That
cup was the 4th cup, the “Cup of Acceptance”, that He had omitted
from the Seder meal: the cup He would
drink from the cross. Jesus
came back to where He had left Peter, James, and John and found them sleeping.
He said to Peter, “Simon, are you
asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” (Mt 26:40). “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into
temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away again a second time and
prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink
it, your will be done.”
Again, He came and found them sleeping,
for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. He
left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing
once more (Mk 14: 42-44). This
time an Angel came to console him (Lk
22:43).
Three times He is tempted and all three times He turns
to his father. All three times He submits his will to his father’s will. He
chooses three times to undergo torture and death! “There is no greater love
than to lay down your life for a friend.” (Jn 15:13).
Jesus' suffering was in reaction to the Devil's temptations. Remember that at the beginning of his ministry Jesus went out into the desert and remained forty days. At the end, when He was weakest, the devil came and tempted him three times. Then it says: "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time." (Luke 4:13) and in Matthew it says "Then the devil left him and behold angels came and ministered to him" (Mt 4:11).
It is now the opportune time: the devil came to show Jesus exactly what He was going to suffer causing the onset of traumatic shock. “The effects of the hematidrosis, and the severe anxiety associated with it, are weakness, depression, mild to moderate dehydration, and mild hypovolemia (low blood and fluid volume) due to sweat and blood loss—all of which would have greatly weakened Jesus prior to His crucifixion.” The angels ministrations fortified him against what was about to happen.
Jesus came back to the apostles the third time and found them sleeping from sorrow (Lk 22:45), and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; look, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” (Mk 14:43-46).
The sleeping disciples had exhausted themselves in
fear of what might be coming. Jesus lets them know they are not supporting him;
but He is gentle about it. He understood. (HM-4)
Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew
the place, for Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Judas
then, joined by the temple guards, their officers, servants of the priests (who were sent by the chief priests), and the elders of the people, came there with lanterns, torches, swords and clubs (Jn 18:1-3, Mt 26:47). The group are all Jews, they have all heard of Jesus, and they know that Jesus is a great prophet. They are very hesitant to come forward being familiar with the story of King Ahaziah’s attempt to
arrest Elijah: two captains and their groups of 50 men sent by King Ahaziah were destroyed by fire at the word of the prophet. (2Kng 1)
Now Judas had given the crowd leaders a signal, saying, “Whomever
I kiss, He is the one; seize him and lead him away under guard.”
Upon arriving, Judas immediately went to Jesus, saying, “Rabbi!”
and kissed him.
Jesus said to him: “Friend, why are you here? (Mt 26:50) Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a
kiss?” (Lk 22:48)
The
crowd is afraid of Jesus. Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming
upon him, then steps forward right
in front of the crowd, asking: “Whom do you seek?”
They
answer: “Jesus of Nazareth”.
At
Jesus’ response, the ones in front, in fear at both Jesus’ use of God’s name
and the boldness of Jesus stepping toward them, take a step back, thinking of
the fire of Elijah. The step back causes them to fall over those in the back
who were still moving forward.
After
they get back to their feet, Jesus asks again: “Whom do you seek?”
When
they reply, Jesus answers: “I told you ‘I AM’; if you seek me, let these men
go.” This was to
fulfill the word which He spoke: “Of those whom You have
given Me, I lost not one.” (Jn 18:4-9). (HM-5)
Meanwhile Peter has jumped up, drawn a sword, and cut
off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave (Jn 18:10).
Jesus calls out: “No more of this!” (Lk 22:51).
Jesus then said to Peter: “Put your sword back into
its sheath. For all
those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot
appeal to my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions
of angels? How then
will the Scriptures be
fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way? (Mt
26:52-54). Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (Jn 18:11).
Jesus was being arrested and his focus remained on the
cup of acceptance! (HM-6)
Notice
that while Jesus was stopping Peter and curing Malchus nobody in the crowd reacted to Peter’s attack.
Apparently, no one wanted to be the first aggressor
toward the prophet! (HM-7)
Jesus healed Malchus (Lk 22:49-51) and saw to it
that his disciples were not also taken (Jn
18:8-9). The crowd
has been attacked by Peter and yet they were so afraid of Jesus that even though
Jesus made it easy for them: “No one takes my life from me” (Jn 10:18). They did exactly as Jesus has said: after all, they just watched Jesus re-attach an ear
and heard Jesus tell Peter he has access to 60,000 angelic warriors (the sources
of the fire that consumed the two captains and the 100 men). (HM-8)
And Jesus said to
the chief priests
and officers of the temple [guard] and elders who had accompanied the
crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you
would against a robber? I sat
teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid a hand on me.” (Mt 26:55, Lk 22:52);
but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.” (Lk 22:53)
And the disciples all left him and fled. (HM-9)
So, the temple guards, the commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested
Jesus, bound him, and led him to Ananus first (Jn 18:13); for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high
priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised
the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on
behalf of the people. (Jn 18:14)
Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known
to the high priest. He entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,but Peter was standing at the door outside.
So, the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to
the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
Then the
slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are also one of this man’s disciples, aren’t you?”
He said,
“I am not.”
Now the
slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it
was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
(Jn 18:15-18) He then sat down with the officers to see the outcome
(Mt 26:58).
The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have
spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who
have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said” (Jn 18:19).
When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You
answer the high priest?” (Jn 18:22)
Jesus answered him,“If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly,
why do you strike Me?” (Jn 18:19-23)
So, Ananus, once he received word that a
quorum of the Sanhedrin was assembled at Caiaphas’ palace, sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest (Mt 26:67, Mk 14:53, Jn 18:24).
Simon Peter again followed the crowd as it moved to the high priest’s palace. There
was a fire there also, so, Peter stood beside it warming himself. One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said: “Did I not see
you in the garden with him?”
Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
And
after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter: “Surely you
are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.”
But he began to curse
and swear: “I do not know this man you are talking about!”
While Peter was still speaking, the cock crowed a second time and Jesus turned and looked
straight at Peter. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him: “Before a
rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and
wept bitterly. (Mt 25:69-75, Mk 14:66-72, Lk 22:54-62, Jn 18:15-18 & 25-27). If Peter denies Jesus when under stress; how much more, should I be praying not to undergo a test? (HM-10, GB, OMJ)
Reflections on the Agony in the Garden
Can you not spend one hour with me?
The
surest way to fall asleep is to start a rosary. It is far better than any
sleeping pill. If I focus on just saying the Hail Mary’s I can usually get
through the rosary but that isn’t what the rosary is about. We are asked to
think about the Mysteries while we say the Hail Mary’s. During your agony in
the garden you asked for prayer and everyone fell asleep. I am willing to try
but without your help I can’t stay awake either. My mind wanders over all the
events of the day just passed and the day to come. My focus shifts from you to
me. Even you asked your Father to find another way to do what you knew had to
be done, but you then said “Your will be done”. Lord I know that if I submit
to your will everything will turn out for the best but it is so hard to trust.
It is so hard to surrender to you, to stop trying to control everything. Your
will is usually that I grow up and growing up usually hurts! Lord thank you
for the Holy Spirit. Ask him to give me the knowledge to see your will, the
wisdom to understand what I need to do, and the fortitude to stay awake and
face the growth I need to make to learn to love as you love.
Jesus loves in spite of our betrayals?
Did
Jesus love Peter any less because he denied him? Jesus knew Peter would do it
and simply asked Peter to care for his church. Did Jesus love Zacchaeus or
Matthew any less because they were tax collectors. Jesus loves me as I am but because
He loves me, He calls me to become something more. He calls me to become what
God intended for me. Mary help me to understand your son. Teach me to respond
to that kind of love. Help me to learn to love as Jesus loves, so I too can
help to bring others to your son.
Do I judge others or let love trump the
law?
Jesus,
you are to be the judge but when you encountered sinners you didn’t judge them
you loved them, healed them and then told them to go and sin no more. If you
won’t judge how can I. Help me to see you in everyone I meet. Each person is
precious to you. You have created each for a unique purpose. Help my
encounter with each person to further each along the path to fulfilling your
plan for them.
The final temptations
After Jesus’ Baptism, He went out into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil. He underwent three temptations:
- To turn stones into bread – a temptation to use his power for himself.
- To throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple – a temptation to force God to miraculously save him, thus providing a huge spectacular sign making it easy to get the awe of the people.
- To worship the devil – a temptation to shortcut the whole thing and become king of all.
After Jesus rebuked the devil, he left Jesus to return at a more opportune time. Jesus was then consoled by an angel. Now here in the Garden as Jesus contemplates his immediate future it is the opportune time and once again Jesus is tempted three times. Jesus prays three times Lord remove this cup from me but not my will. Your will be done! And once again after the third temptation an angel came to console him.What were those three temptations? Think about it. I don’t know but my guess would be:
- Is death really necessary?
- Use your power to eliminate the pain.
- Come down from the cross and there by claim your victory over death.
What do you think?
The Trial of Jesus
The
Jews had a great regard for life. When there was a capital offense, two trials
were required before someone could be condemned to death. The second trial
began the day following the first trial and had to start over from scratch.
Only when someone had been condemned twice was he executed. The book of Daniel
describes what was supposed to happen when someone was condemned: Suzanna was
tried and found guilty on the basis of two witnesses. But because someone
spoke up in her defense on the way to her execution, they rushed back to re-try
her, even though the someone was a young boy (Dn: 13:28-62). If you look carefully at the
Gospels three of them mention that Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin in the
morning (the second trial.) In fact, while John only describes events at
Ananus’ house, Matthew and Mark describe the first trial at Caiaphas’ palace,
and Luke describes the second trial.
There
is an ongoing debate about the legality of the trial of Jesus. There are those
who maintain that Jesus was tried as a Mesith. A Mesith is a
someone who subverts the nation by causing the people to worship some other
god. Such an individual is tried without any of the benefits of, or protection
normally provided the accused under the law. For this to be the case Jesus
would have had to be found guilty under the law of that charge. Pilate said to
the Jews: “You
brought this man to me as one who incites the people to
rebellion (sounds like a Mesith), and behold, having examined him before you, I have found no guilt in
this man regarding the charges which you make against him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent him
back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him” (Lk 23:13-15). That statement may imply the Jesus was found guilty of being a
Mesith; but the charge was both ludicrous and irrelevant so that both Pilate
and Herod ignored it. However, Jesus
was also tried and condemned for blasphemy; as Pilate was told: “We have a law and by that law he ought to die, because
he has made himself the Son of God” (Jn 19:7).
What
likely happened was that the Sanhedrin originally intended to try Jesus as a
Mesith. His arrest and trial would only be legal if He was tried as a
Mesith. The witnesses kept contradicting each other so that after several
hours they had nothing on which to condemn Jesus as a Mesith. So, as Matthew
states: “Now the chief
priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony
against Jesus, so that they might put him to death. They did not find any, even though
many false witnesses came forward” (Mt 26:59-60). Thus,
they failed to be able to condemn him as a Mesith. Then Caiaphas used a double
meaning to trap Jesus.
Caiaphas
knows the Christ (Messiah) was to be a son
of David: which made him a “son of God” as all the Davidic kings were sons of
God by adoption. The high priest puts
Jesus under oath (Jesus must answer) and since Caiaphas knows that Jesus is in
fact the Messiah he knows that Jesus will answer in the affirmative. Now for
the high priest to put Jesus under oath and demand the answer to his question
should have had the whole proceeding thrown out but the trial has begun as a
trial for a Mesith for which that could actually be considered legal if they
condemned Jesus as a Mesith. When Jesus responds Caiaphas tore his garment.
Many scholars claim that the tearing of Caiaphas’ garment was illegal (Lev 21:10) and invalidated
his role as High Priest. However, the restriction only applies to when he is
in the temple wearing his ceremonial robes, which was not the case here. Even
then the violation would only have had him publicly scourged not relieved of
his office. Caiaphas screamed “blasphemy!” Because everyone heard Jesus’
response they are now all witnesses to what they are calling blasphemy.
Caiaphas
has suddenly changed tactics to charge and condemn Jesus for blasphemy. Since
the members of the Sanhedrin who are present are now all witnesses to the
blasphemy, they have no problem finding Jesus guilty of that charge. However,
the charge of blasphemy requires two trials with one on the next day to support
condemnation. By rationalizing the use of the Temple calendar, they can have the
second trial later in the morning at which they will condemn Jesus to death (Mt 27:1, Mk 15:1, Lk 22:66).
Jewish law provided that a final decision for acquittal could come on the first day but a decision for condemnation could only come after a 2nd trial on the next day, except in the case of a trial for a Mesith. Blasphemy is of course a crime against the Temple, so they rationalized the use of the Temple calendar.
While the Israelites measured the day from sunset to sunset, the Temple measured it from sunrise to sunrise. The difference was due to the serving priests’ need to finish the sacrifices that were still in process after sunset. The change in serving priest occurred at sunrise. Needing two trials, on successive days, to legally condemn Jesus to death; they rationalized the days based on the temple day since the first trial ended before sunrise and the charge was now blasphemy.
Many
of the events of the trials, provided us by the Evangelists, were provided
because the described events or interactions, rendered the trials invalid and
should have resulted in the acquittal and release of Jesus. Some examples:
1.
Questioning the accused by
Ananus. Note
that Jesus said to Ananus: “Why do you question me?” (Jn 18:19). It was illegal
to do so!
2. Striking the accused (Jn 18:22
3. Capital cases are to begin with
the case for the defense[15].
4. Only in a trial for a Mesith does
it begin with the case for the prosecution. They began as a trial for a Mesith
and did not start over when they had failed to convict, and tactics changed.
5. They never had the case for the
defense at either trial.
6. The High Priest questioned Jesus
(Mk 14:55). Talmudic law prohibits
direct questioning of the defendant. The Talmud indicates that a man does not
belong only to himself; just as he has no right to cause physical harm to others, so he has no right to
inflict injury on himself. This is why it was determined that
the confession of the defendant had no legal consideration. This rule, which
has its own formal substantiation, served courts for centuries as a powerful
weapon against attempts to extract confessions by force or persuasion. Not only
can no man be forced to incriminate himself through his own testimony, but
self-incrimination has no significance and is unacceptable as evidence in
court. That Caiaphas sought such a confession from Jesus, even to the point of placing him
under oath, is ordinarily seen as nullifying the proceedings.
7. At face value, Caiaphas’
statement that we have no further need of witnesses, should have also
invalidated the trial. Mishnaic law specifies the need for two or three qualified witnesses agreeing
as to what had been seen or heard.
However Caiaphas may have been referring to the fact that all the assembled members of the Sanhedrin are witnesses to the blasphemy.
8. In capital cases the
Sanhedrin was not allowed to render a unanimous verdict of guilty[19], yet we are told
“they all condemned him as deserving death” (Mk
14:64)
9. The trial in the morning before
the Sanhedrin was the second trial on the charge of Blasphemy (Mt 26:65, Mk 16:63). There was no
case for the defense, they directly interrogated the defendant, and they
unanimously found Jesus guilty.
The Trials before the
Sanhedrin
At
Caiaphas’ palace the Sanhedrin first condemned Jesus to death. To condemn
Jesus required a trial on two successive days.
Matthew and Mark describe the first trial.
Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to
obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put him to death. They did not find any, even though
many false witnesses came forward.
But later on, two came forward, and said: “This man
stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in
three days.’”
The high priest
stood up and said to Jesus: “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are
testifying against You?”
But Jesus kept silent (Mt 26:59-62).
During
that first trial, various false witnesses have come forward but their testimony
is conflicting, finally, two witnesses actually agree and Jesus ignores them.
In frustration, the high priest said to Jesus: “I adjure you by the living God,
tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Mt 26:63).
Not able to convict Jesus with false witnesses, Caiaphas uses a double
meaning to trap Jesus. Caiaphas knows the
Christ (Messiah) was to be a son of David: which made him a “son of God” as all
the Davidic kings were sons of God by adoption. The high priest puts Jesus under oath (Jesus must answer) and since he
knows that Jesus is in fact the Messiah he knows that Jesus will answer in the
affirmative.
Jesus acknowledges that He is the Messiah and the Son
of God: “You have said so” [what you say is true], and then He provides two
Messianic quotes: “but I tell you: from now on
you will see the ‘Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ (Ps 110:1) and ‘coming on
the clouds of heaven’ (Dn 7:13)” (Mt 26:64).
The
high priest tore his robes
and accuses Jesus of blasphemy: claiming to be the “Son of God” (Mt 26:65). Caiaphas
thinks he has trapped Jesus. They all agree he deserves to die: the first
trial.
Although
striking the accused was illegal under Jewish law, the soldiers felt free to
strike Jesus once He has been condemned. Now that they are safe, no fire has come down from heaven, they are
repaying Jesus for the fear they had felt earlier. The men who were holding Jesus in
custody were mocking him and beating him, and they blindfolded him and
were asking him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things
against him, blaspheming (Lk
22:63-65). The scribes and priest in
their hatred of Jesus make no attempt to stop them. (Mt 26:67-68, Mk 14:65, Lk 22:63-65, Jn 18:22).
Later the same morning the Great Sanhedrin met as was
normal on Wednesday. The Great Sanhedrin met daily. It did not meet on the Sabbath, festivals, or festival eves.[25] Friday would be a festival eve. Jesus
could not have been taken before the Sanhedrin on Friday! During
the Wednesday morning meeting, the Sanhedrin held the second trial required to
put a man to death (Mt 27:1, Mk 15:1, Lk 22:66).
Luke’s
account of the trial is an account of the second trial. During that trial,
they didn’t bother with the witnesses they get directly to the point: they
said: “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
Jesus
replied to them: “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question you,
you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at
the right hand of the power of God.”
They
all asked: “Are you the Son of God, then?” (Lk
22:70).
To
which Jesus answers: “You say that I am.”
Then
they said: “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his
own mouth.”
(Lk 22:66-71).
Scourging – April 2, 33/ Nisan 13, 3773
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised
for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with
his stripes we are healed." (Is 53:5)
Our Father
Jesus was taken to Pilate later Wednesday morning. The Jews intended for him to die
Wednesday or Thursday thereby avoiding the Temple Passover Festival. They could
not allow his disruption of temple commerce to go unpunished, thereby undermining
the authority of the priests. They led Jesus to the Praetorium, but the Scribes and priest did not enter so that
they would not become un-clean (Jn 18:28).
Therefore, Pilate went out to them and said: “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
They answered and said to him: “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him to you” (Jn 18:29-30).
So, Pilate said to them: “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”
The high priest then informs Pilate
that they have found Jesus guilty of a capital crime under their law and have
thus condemned him to death. By Roman law, they cannot execute Jesus, so they are
asking Pilate to execute him. The Jews said to Pilate: “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke,
signifying by what kind of death He was about to die (Jn 18:31) and to fulfill the prophecy of
Caiaphas that is was better for one man to die…(Jn 18:14) (HM-1)
Pilate
informs the Jews that under Roman law they do not condemn a man without first
examining him.
Pilate takes Jesus inside and bluntly asks: "Are
you a king of the Jews?" (Mt
27:11, Mk 15: 2, Lk 23:3, Jn 18:33).
Jesus answers: “Do you say this on your own or have
others told you about me?” Jesus wants to clarify for Pilate that this was a
claim made by the Jews not by Rome.
Pilate
answered: “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed
you over to me. What have you done?” (Jn
18:35).
Jesus
responds: “I am a King, but my kingdom, [the
Kingdom of God], is not of this world.”
Jesus then points out his kingship is non-violent thus
no threat to Rome: “If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants
[would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it
is my kingdom is not here.”
Pilate
said to him: “Then you are a king?”
Jesus
answered: “You say I am a king. For this I was born [as a first-born male in a
stable used for the paschal lambs, inspected by the Levitical shepherds, and
found without blemish, thus qualified for the paschal sacrifice: for his crucifixion. He was born the Lamb of God! He was also selected by the people, on lamb
selection day, as the Paschal Lamb for this Passover!] and for this I came into
the world, to testify to the truth. [Jesus’ message, the truth, is the Kingdom
of God]. Everyone who belongs to the truth [the Kingdom of God] listens to my
voice.”
Pilate
said to him, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:33-38).
Little
does Pilate know that before him stood the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6). (HM-2)
After examining Jesus, Pilate
realized that Jesus was innocent of everything but being hated by the high priest. Pilate said to the chief priests and the
crowds: “I find no guilt in this man”
(Lk 23:4).
But they kept on insisting, saying: “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place” (Lk 23:5).
When Pilate heard that,
he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that Jesus
belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in
Jerusalem at that time (Lk 23:6-7).
Jesus was probably taken to Herod Wednesday afternoon.
Herod was delighted to see Jesus for he had wanted to see him
for a long time, because he had been hearing about him and was hoping to see
some sign performed by him. Herod interrogated Jesus at length (Lk 23:8-9) trying to get him to work a miracle but he failed to get Jesus to even respond to him.
The chief priests and the
scribes were standing there, accusing him vehemently. And Herod, with his
soldiers, after treating him with contempt and mocking him, dressed him in a gorgeous
robe and sent him back to Pilate Wednesday
evening.
Now Herod and Pilate became
friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with
each other (Lk 23:10-11).
Herod
had killed John the Baptist; he was not about to kill another prophet. He
would leave that to Pilate.
Jesus
was likely held overnight under guard near the praetorium. Dressed in an
expensive robe and not yet judged by Pilate, the soldiers would have showed him
some respect.
In the meantime, Pilate had gone home and tells his
wife about the holy man the high priest wants to have executed. They conclude the
priests are envious of Jesus (Mk 15:10). (HM-3)
On
Thursday morning upon arrival at the praetorium Pilate finds that Jesus has
been returned by Herod and the Jewish leaders are back demanding his execution
before the Friday festival. But Pilate
can "find no guilt in him." (Lk
23:4, Jn 19:4-6). Pilate needs
to identify a capital offense if he is to condemn Jesus.
Pilate summoned the chief
priests and the rulers of the people: He tells the Jews that there is no capital offense;
that even Herod found him innocent of any capital crime (Lk 23:13) “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to
rebellion, and behold, having examined him before you, I have found no guilt in
this man regarding the charges which you make against him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent him
back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him. Therefore, I will punish him and release him.”
(Lk
23:13-16) (HM-4)
A messenger then interrupts as Pilate’s wife has sent
him a note. The note tells him: “Have nothing to do with the holy man for I have
suffered much over him today in a dream.” (Mt 27:19).
Pilate
wants to figure out how to save Jesus. He thinks that a solution may be to
appeal to the crowd: for he knows that the priests fear the crowds (Mk 12:12). If he has
Jesus scourged, then maybe the Jews’ envy will be satisfied and they will stop
demanding that He be crucified. Pilate realizes that he needs to satisfy their
envy or releasing Jesus will just cause the priests to find another way to kill
him.
A scourging
should also elicit sympathy from the crowds. Pilate may then be able to release Jesus on Passover as the festival prisoner
release. Pilate announces that he is having Jesus scourged (Lk 23:16, Jn 19:1). (HM-5)
Pilate informed the soldiers that they should not kill
Jesus because he wants to release him Friday. Jesus was likely scourged
Thursday afternoon. The scourging was done by two men each using a flagellum.
The lead balls on the leather strips were made to bruise and at the same time
to tear the skin. (HM-6)
While Jewish law restricted the number of blows in a
scourging to 39 (Deut 25:3), Roman law had
no such restriction. The objective of the soldiers was to mark his entire body
below his head. Looking at
Jesus on the Shroud we can see that they succeeded.
A member of the team that studied the shroud in 1978 counted
the markings: 124 lashes. The shroud image as shown in this document (following
the Sorrow Mysteries) is in black and white, it is yellow and brown on the
original. But consider the black and blue bruising on his body that resulted from each
of the strokes of the flagellum! With each stroke, 6 lead balls traveling more
than a hundred miles an hour (161 kilometers an hour) strike his body!
Anywhere, below his neck, that was not bleeding was bruised. (HM-7)
The
scourging beginning at the ankles and moving up to the shoulders would cause
penetration of the skin (bleeding) with trauma to the nerves, muscles, and skin;
reducing the victim to an exhausted condition, with shivering, severe sweating,
frequent seizures, and a craving for water.
When they finished, Jesus was bleeding or black and blue from his ankles to his
shoulders.
Those
who died from scourging died from traumatic shock that was accelerated by blows
of the lead balls to the chest. Traumatic shock causes the rupture of the
alveoli in the lungs.
Direct blows to the chest bruises the ribs and physically damages the alveoli,
thereby accelerating the progress of traumatic shock. If you compare the
ventral and dorsal images of the Shroud, (shown following the Sorrowful
Mysteries), you should notice that there were fewer blows to the chest. That
was required to keep Jesus alive as requested by Pilate. That there are intersecting blows to the chest from both the right and the left shows that Jesus was upright: scourging was not at a pillar. He may have been tied to two pillars but the scourging covered both the front and the back. Neither did the soldiers want to stop to pick Jesus up every time his legs collapsed. (HM-8)
“He was flogged across the back, chest, and legs with a multifaceted flagrum with bits of metal on the ends. Over and over again the scorpiones dug deep into the flesh, ripping small vessels, nerves, muscles, and skin. The weight of the scorpiones carried the leather thongs to the front of the body, ripping the flesh there as well. His body became distorted with pain, causing Him to fall to the ground, only to be jerked up again. Seizure like activities occurred, followed by tremors, vomiting, and cold sweats. Screams echoed out at the conclusion of each stroke. [The beating with the lead weights on each of the straps did severe damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver, and spleen.] His mouth was dry and His tongue stuck to the roof of His mouth. He was reduced to a wretched state because Pilate wanted to appease the mob so they would not demand that he be crucified.”
.
A detail
examination of the Shroud of Turin shows the marks from the scourging are very
distinct. They are not obscured by blood. It has thus been established that
Jesus’ body was washed prior to burial and that the bloodshed from the
scourging was washed off
: Jesus could not have been scourged on Friday!
After the scourging, Jesus was likely placed in a dry
cistern 12 to 15 ft. deep with smooth sides. Jesus was lowered into the
cistern with a rope looped around his chest and pulled up to his arm pits. The
cistern had no sewage facilities causing Jesus to spend the night standing in sewage
with the other criminals. (HM-9)
Meanwhile
that evening Pilate sent a message to the priests, summoning them to the
praetorium on Friday morning to resolve the issue of Jesus (Lk 23:13). Had Pilate
not ordered the priest, they would not have come back until at least Monday.
The priests didn’t want to execute Jesus on Friday or Saturday because of
Passover and Sunday was the Feast of First Fruits. It was not religious
conviction that would deter them but rather the fear that the crowds from the
rest of Judea and Galilee, who loved and admired Jesus, would riot (Mk 14:2).
When they were summoned by Pilate on
Thursday evening, the high priest realized that Pilate would attempt to release
Jesus to the crowds on Friday. So, the high priest ordered everyone to pass
the word to be at the praetorium in the morning and that the priests
wanted [Jesus] Barabbas released (Mk 15:12). They didn’t even need to mention Jesus the Nazarene. (HM-10, GB,
OMJ)
Reflections on the Scourging
He gave him no answer
Jesus
responded to the Jews and Pilate’s questions but not to Herod. “He gave him no
answer” (Lk 23:9).
Two wrongs don’t make a right; it
identifies a coward
Pilate
knew that you were guiltless. He knew that the high priest out of envy sought
your death. Rather than respond like Gallio (Acts 18:12-17); Pilate sought
to placate the Jews by having you scourged and then crowned with thorns. That
led ultimately to a confrontation in which out of fear of a conflict that could
lead to his own loss of status; he allowed you to be executed. How many times
out of fear of offending someone have I failed to do your will? Our culture
today has made that which is wrong right and that which is right wrong just as
you said it would do. Help me to be motivated by fear of offending You; rather
than fear of those who are offended by the truth. Give me the wisdom to be
able to love the sinner while hating the sin. Make me your instrument to draw
people back to you.
Jesus spent the night with Barabbas,
Dismas, Gestus, and others, only one responded
You
spent Thursday night in the cistern with the other prisoners. You could not
lay down as there was nowhere on your body that was not bruised and cut, except
the bottom of your feet and your head. The floor was covered with sewage with
the only clean spaces occupied by someone else. As you stood in the dark you
spoke with the others present. As the newest person dropped into the cistern
you were probably questioned by those already present. You must have struck up
a conversation with Dismas because you made a huge impact on him. All the
others present heard the conversation you were having with him but only Dismas
responded. Please give me the grace to respond to you in whatever disturbing
disguise you come to me in.
Crowning with Thorns - April 3, 33/ Nisan 14, 3793
“I gave my back to those who
beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from
buffets and spitting." (Is
50:6)
Our Father
Jesus was scheduled by Pilate to be brought out the
first thing Friday morning, so he could affect his release. He was taken from
the prison (cistern) before the morning briefing; so as not to risk a delay
should soldiers need to be lowered into the pit to put the rope on him to lift him
out or worse needed to clean him off before taking him to Pilate because he had
fallen.
Today in Jerusalem there are Spina Christi trees. As the soldiers, sent to retrieve Jesus, were taking him to the morning briefing from the cistern that served as the public jail for both the Romans and the Jews; they likely encountered a Spina Christe, jujube tree. Although not possibly the same tree that stood in Jesus time likely a descendent of the one standing in his day. One of the soldiers likely saw the thorns as they passed with Jesus and said: “Let’s make the King of the Jews a crown.” The new growth was 3’ (1 m.) long, green and very supple with thorns up to 2 1/2” (6 cm.) as it was only April 3rd. By June the new growth will be 4’ (1.2 m.) long and have 4” (10 cm.) thorns.
Jesus was thus present when
the cohort met for its normal morning briefing in the praetorium (Mt 27:27). The soldiers on night duty
were going off shift and the soldiers coming on duty were getting briefed: the
whole cohort
(Mk 15:16-19), never less
than 480, nor greater than 1000 men, was present. It
was at this briefing early Friday morning that the soldiers decided to have fun
at the expense of the "King of the Jews." Jesus was crowned with
thorns. (HM-1)
 |
| Thorns and Sugar Cane Reeds |
The soldiers formed a crude crown (more like a cap)
from thorns of the Christ's Thorn Jujube, commonly called a Spina Christi tree, (Zizyphus Spina species). It was spring, and the new growth was supple and easily woven together to form a painful
equivalent to the laurel wreath shown on Caesar’s head; but with thorns
that varied from one inch (25 mm.) to 3 inches (75 mm.) in length. The branches used were green with white thorns not as typically shown on images of the crucified Jesus. They put a purple robe on him and forced the crown down onto on Jesus’ head.
In his bound hands, they place a reed, as a scepter, in mockery of his kingship. Kneeling before him in derision, they spit on him (Is 50:6), and cry out:
"Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mt 27:29).
Taking the wild sugar cane, Saccharum
biflorum, from his hand they strike him on the head (Mt 27:28-30), driving the
thorns further into his scalp and then they pull a few hairs from his beard. (There
is missing hair on the right side just under his lip and from the center of his chin.) The
cap of thorns digs into the trigeminal nerve (which carries facial pain
sensation to the brain – think exposed nerve: like a root canal without anesthetic)
and into the greater occipital nerves (causing extreme headaches) especially as
he was struck with reeds, contributing to traumatic shock. “His cheeks and nose became reddened, bruised, and swollen [from the blows with the reed]. Severe stabbing, lancinating pains that felt like electric shocks or red-hot pokers traversed His face, immobilizing Him so He was afraid to turn lest the pain might recur, a condition medically known as trigeminal neuralgia or tic douleroux. His face became distorted, and He tensed His whole body so that He would not move, for every movement activated little trigger zones, bringing on agonizing attacks.
 |
| Head Wounds and Nerves |
Head wounds bleed profusely. The wounds from the thorns
were still leaking blood when Jesus died 8 hours later. That would indicate
that the thorns were continually being pushed into the nerves as He turned his
head or leaned back while on the cross; keeping the wounds from closing. We
have all felt the pain of a thorn or splinter but consider that the splinter is
going right into a nerve where the nerve bundle enters the brain! (HM-2)
The soldiers incurred what was thought to be a minimal
risk in torturing Jesus. The soldiers could torture any prisoner; with the
exception that if the prisoner was condemned to death he had to be alive to be
executed. The execution was both a
state event and an example to the people. If a tortured, condemned prisoner died before execution; the soldier doing the torture, or the centurion assigned to the crucifixion detail would take the prisoner’s place and an execution would still be held. The risk was thought to be minimal as the
soldiers were told that Pilate intended to release Jesus. (HM-3)
At this point the severe pains from the trigeminal neuralgia, and the multiple strikes to Jesus’ head region and to the crown of thorns, added to the trauma already received from the brutal scourging and beating at the home of Caiaphas, thereby deepening the degree of traumatic shock. Concomitantly, the blood loss and sweating from the hematidrosis, the increased sweating during the trigeminal neuralgia attacks, the blood loss from the penetration by the thorns, and the sweating and vomiting caused by the flogging all added to the degree of hypovolemic shock. At this time, there would be significant fluid buildup around His lungs (pleural effusion), which was slowly developing due to the severe beating to the chest during the flogging. At this stage, Jesus would be progressively weaker, light-headed, ashen in color, somewhat short of breath, and unsteady on His feet, and He would experience intermittent episodes of sweating.
[36]
Jesus was then taken to Pilate at the appointed time.
Pilate’s strategy to release Jesus is to satisfy the envy of the priests and
scribes by showing them a beaten and humiliated man while at the same time
obtaining the sympathy of the crowd. (HM-4)
When
Jesus arrived, Pilate was moved at the sight of Jesus scourged and crowned with
thorns. He took him before the people and unintentionally spoke to the crowd
in the words of the prophet Zechariah saying: "Behold the Man" (Jn 19:5, Zech 6:12).
The verse in Zechariah says: "Behold the man whose name is Branch; and he shall grow up in his
place, and he shall build the temple of God" (Zech 6:12).
“Branch” is the primary symbol of the
Messiah used also by Isaiah: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Is
11:1); and Jeremiah:
“See the days are coming when I will raise up a righteous branch for David; as King,
he shall govern wisely, he shall do what is right in the land” (Jer 23:5).
A
typical rabbinical teaching technique is to start a quote: “Behold the Man” and everyone fills in the rest of the
quote: “whose name is branch….”.
Pilate
said: “Behold the Man.”
And
the priests and scribes, knowing the next line, all heard: “Behold the
Messiah.” (HM-5)
The
high priest had put Jesus under oath during his trial before the Sanhedrin and then asked Jesus
specifically if He was the Messiah. When Jesus answered, they had screamed: “Blasphemy!”
Pilate was looking to elicit sympathy for Jesus and to
satisfy the blood lust of the scribes and priests, but Pilate unknowingly called Jesus the Messiah. Instead of getting sympathy, Pilate inflamed the hatred of
the scribes and priests. (HM-6)
Not realizing what he had just done, Pilate
then offered to release Jesus as the customary prisoner released during the
festival. However, the crowd was primarily temple sympathizers, organized by
the priests: it was after all preparation day and the devout Israelites were at
home preparing for Passover. Led by the scribes and priests the crowd did as
they were instructed and screamed for Barabbas.
The name Barabbas means “son of the father” (a name for a man
who does not know his father’s name). The crowds were then given a choice
between Jesus, “the son of an unknown father,” and Jesus (Mt 27:16), “the Son of God the Father.” Jesus Barabbas was released (Mt 27:18). (HM-7)
Pilate still wanted to release Jesus,
so he said: “Then what shall I do with Jesus” (Mk 15:12)
The crowd, led by the scribes and priests, yelled: “Crucify him.”
Pilate said: “Take him yourselves and
crucify him, for I find no crime in him.” (Jn 19:6).
The Jews answered Pilate: “We
have a law and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son
of God.” (Jn 19:7).
(HM-8)
When Pilate heard these words, he was even more afraid as
Caesar Augustus’ title was the “son of god” thus this would imply a claim to usurp Caesar’s role. Pilate went back into the praetorium to determine if Jesus was a revolutionary. He asked Jesus: “Where are you from?”
But Jesus didn’t answer.
Pilate said: “You will not speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the power to release you, and the power to crucify you?”
Then Jesus responded: “You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you from above; therefore, he who delivered me to you has the greater sin.” (Jn 19:7-11)
Jesus chooses to allow events to play out. Jesus had an opportunity to plead his case but makes no attempt to do so: “No one takes my life from me” (Jn 10:18). (HM-9)
Pilate sought to release Jesus, but
the chief priests cried out: “If you release him you are no friend of Caesar because He claims to be king and we have no king but Caesar.”(Jn 19:12).
Now that’s a threat! Pilate will now have to formally
acknowledge the kingship of Jesus or there is no crime against Rome to justify
his execution. Pilate in frustration sat down on the judgment
seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha” (Jn 19:13). When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he washed
his hands in front of the crowd saying: “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.
And all the people
said: “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” (Lk 23:24-26)
Thus, Pilate relented to the will of the priests and scribes (Mt 27:24). Jesus was led off to be crucified.
In a murder for hire who is to blame? Beware of anyone who
blames only the Jews or only the Romans: both are guilty! I too am guilty: it
was also for my sins that he died. Remember Jesus had said: “No one takes my life from me. I lay it down of my own accord”(Jn 10:18).
Pilate is faced with a choice: risk his position in a
political confrontation or sacrifice his conviction that Jesus does not deserve
to die. When I am faced with a choice between the world and its pleasures and my convictions; how will I choose? (HM-10, GB, OMJ)
Reflections on the Crowning with Thorns
Who prompted Pilate to say: “Behold the
Man”?
Was
it a coincidence that Pilate said exactly the wrong thing? I don’t think so.
The devil was so consumed with hatred for you he must have figured that was
exactly the thing that would insure your ultimate condemnation. Was it a coincidence
that the high priest realized that Pilate would attempt to release Jesus and
then ordered a crowd to be present? Lord the devil is so much smarter than I, that
I must keep asking you to protect me. Don’t let me stumble into the traps he
sets for me. Don’t let me through weakness become a tool of the devil. Thank
you for my guardian angel.
He who delivered me to you has the greater
sin. Who is “he”?
You
said to Pilate: “He who delivered me to you has the greater sin.” Who is
“he”? Was it Judas who delivered you to the Jews or was it Caiaphas who
engineered a trial to find you guilty of blasphemy? Or was it me along with
all who have sinned? I am awed by your refusal to defend yourself. You
resolutely set about allowing yourself to be arrested, beaten, scourged, and
crowned with thorns and then still refused to defend yourself. My ego is so
big I can’t conceive of allowing anyone to accuse me of something I did not do;
let alone allow myself to die the cruelest death there is without any protest.
Help me to awaken to the spiritual dimension so that I can begin to see as you
see. Help me to see beyond the physical.
Carrying the Cross - April 3, 33/Nisan 14, 3793
If anyone would come after me
let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, Lk 9:23)
Our Father
The scourging that was the
“normal part of crucifixion” occurred just prior to carrying the cross piece
(patibulum). The condemned will die
by torture: so much pain that the person dies by drowning in his own cell
tissue (the burst alveoli). Crucifixion could take days, so to accelerate death
on the cross, the condemned was scourged primarily on the back and chest to inflict
maximum pain as well as to damage the alveoli thus accelerating traumatic shock.
Jesus was the only person known to have suffered a full body scourging and a
crowning with thorns, prior to crucifixion. Jesus had already been more
thoroughly scourged and the soldiers now had a vested
interest in keeping Jesus alive. The soldiers escorting Jesus to Golgotha
know how much Jesus bled during the crowning of thorns and they have seen the bruising
and blood caked on his body from the earlier scourging. They are worried that
Jesus won’t even make it to Golgotha; less than a mile (1.6 Km) away. We know He was
not scourged Friday because if He had been scourged, then there would be life
blood on his back from the scourging. (HM-1)
One
condemned to death on the cross had the patibulum tied to his extended hands
and positioned on his back across his shoulders. He then had to carry the patibulum,
weighing between 50 and 75 lbs. (22.7 and 34 kg.)
(depending on the size, type of wood,
and how dry the wood was), to the place of execution. (HM-2)
Jesus meets the weeping women and says: ‘Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For
the days are surely coming when they will say, “Happy are the barren, and the
wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will
begin to say to the mountains: “Fall on us”; and to the hills: “Cover us.” For
if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ (Lk 23:26-31). (HM-3)
Jesus
as a prophet is warning the women that if the high priest does this to the
innocent (Jesus) then the guilty will surely be burned, as in fact happened
when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD.
Note that the destruction of Jerusalem was less than a
generation from Jesus’ crucifixion. We legalized the killing of the innocent
in 1973. (HM-4)
The
Stations of the Cross indicate that Jesus met his mother along the way
to Golgotha. There is no mention in any ancient texts of her specifically meeting
Jesus as He carried the cross, but it is likely she was with the weeping
women. We do know that Mary was present at the foot of the cross and that there were other women nearby (Mt 27:55-56); the question
is one of timing. When did she arrive, after Jesus or with Jesus? It makes no
difference: the meeting, whenever it occurred, caused untold anguish to both. Mary sees her son; beaten and bloody. The anguish felt at
seeing a loved one suffer when there is nothing that can be done to alleviate
the pain is incredible and yet it is even worse when the one suffering is
completely innocent. Mary sees Jesus’ physical suffering and Jesus sees Mary’s
anguish. (HM-5)
The bruises on Jesus’ knee,
and the skin scraped off
his nose show that he fell once carrying the patibulum. Falling
with his arms tied to the patibulum insured that He would land on his face. When he fell, the weight of
the patibulum falling onto to Jesus’
shoulder and back may have damaged the nerves in his right shoulder. Jesus’ face is now covered
with dirt, mud, blood, sweat and spittle. (HM-6)
When
Jesus fell, the soldiers became very concerned that he may die. The soldiers
rushed to remove the heavy patibulum from his shoulders and back. Rather than
take the time to untie the ropes or try to lift both Jesus and the patibulum, a
soldier used his sword to hack through the ropes. Freeing Jesus from the
patibulum they began to help him to his feet.
Normally a civilian would not be allowed near the
condemned. However, since they need to get Jesus to the cross before He dies,
anything that helps is going to be allowed. Bernice, the woman who had the
hemorrhage cured by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, steps forward and wipes
Jesus’ face with her veil. Tradition calls her Veronica but that is just Latin
for “true image” which is what the soldiers, who saw it, reported to Pilate. There
was a “true image” of the man’s face on her veil. The story of Veronica does
not come from the gospels but rather from the annals of Pilate, which is sometimes
called the gospel of Barnabas: not inspired writing but an historical document. (HM-7)
That the soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus
carry his cross indicates the level of concern. They feared that Jesus may die
before being crucified. (Mt 27:32, Mk 15:21, Lk 23:26). The patibulum
was placed on Jesus and Simon’s shoulders. The patibulum’s weight that Jesus
now had to carry was now between 30 and 40 lbs. (14 and 18 kg.).
Instead of carrying it across his back which crossed over the cuts on his
shoulder from the scourging, the edges of the beam now dig into the cuts from
the scourging and begin to tear into the shoulder muscles.
When St. Padre Pio was asked in 1947 by Karol Wojtyla,
St. John Paul II, which of Jesus’ wounds hurt the most he responded without
hesitation: “The wound in the shoulder from carrying the cross.”
Cutting the ropes to remove Jesus from the cross-piece,
meant Jesus’ hands would be nailed to the cross when He got to the place of
execution (the rope pieces are now too short to re-tie).
On the bumpy, uphill road to Golgotha Jesus continued to stumble and fall gasping for breath because of the buildup of pleural fluid around the lungs. His perspiration added to the hypovolemia (insufficient blood plasma). The escaping body fluids as perspiration are reducing the fluids available for plasma. Jesus’ veins and lungs are beginning to collapse. (HM-8)
The placard (Titulus) that Pilate had had written,
which would be placed on the cross, was carried in front of the condemned as he
carried the cross piece (Jn 19:19-20). It announced
the crime for which the prisoner was being punished. It read: "Jesus the
Nazarene, King of the Jews". Nazareth is the Hebrew word for “Branch town". Thus, it can be read: "Jesus the Branch, King
of the Jews" reminding us again of Zechariah’s “Behold the man whose name
is Branch” (Zech 6:12)!
The
placard was written in:
| Hebrew |
ישוע הנצרת והמלך היהודים
|
| Latin |
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudæorum
|
Greek
ἰησοῦς ναζωραῖος ßασιλεύς ἰουδαίων
·
Hebrew: Yeshua HaNatzeret V'HaMelech Hayehudim [YHVH - which in Hebrew spells the name of
God: “I Am”]. It should be noted that Hebrew is read from right to left as shown in the Hebrew script above but it has been written here as a transliteration so we can pronounce it from left to right.
·
Latin: Iesus
Nazarenus Rex Iudæorum
[INRI - which is on the top of our
crucifixes]; and in
·
Greek: iEsous
ho nazOraios ho basieus tOn ioudaiOn”
[INBI];
Jesus
in frustration when arguing with the Pharisees had said: “When you have lifted
up the Son of Man then you will know that I am" (Jn 8:28).
Now
the Titulus has YHVH: “I am” just as Jesus foretold. That, as indicated in the
introduction, can also be read “Behold the hand, behold the nail” (HM-9)
The
priests objected to Pilate’s wording not so much because it clearly proclaimed
Jesus the Messiah (Jn 19:21) but that it
proclaimed that Jesus was God! Pilate however would not/could not change it
because the kingship of Jesus was the crime for which He was condemned. Anyone
can claim to be king, that is not a crime, but being a king is a crime against
Rome. (HM-10, GB, OMJ)
Reflections on Carrying the Cross
Veronica voluntarily came to Jesus aid
without fear of the repercussion to herself.
Without
thought for herself, Bernice took off her veil and stepped forward and wiped
your face. She did it because the mud and blood on your face had obscured your
vision. She did it because it was the right thing to do. It was so bold that
the soldiers stepped back and allowed her to help. Give me the wisdom to see
the right thing to do and the fortitude to imitate Bernice and just do it. It
is so easy to rationalize: we can’t touch the condemned, we will get hit or
worse arrested. I am more like the rest of the crowd who stays behind the
line or worse just stays away while babies are aborted and women ruin their
lives because they have been lied to. Have mercy on all those who are in agony
because of an abortion.
Jesus said we must pick up our cross daily.
My
cross is the things I hate to do. It is the things I do only when I have to.
Yet you, Jesus, chose as your cross the most painful suffering possible. Help
me to see the value in the little crosses you gave me. Help me to choose to
follow your example. Help me to see the beauty in the trials that come my way.
Padre Pio said the wound that hurt the most was the wound from carrying the
cross. Yes Lord I can relate to that, although my cross is nothing compared to
yours but please help me to carry my cross it gets so heavy sometimes.
Crucifixion - April 3rd, 33/Nisan 14th, 3793
The Exodus of a Priest, Prophet, and King
"There were many who were
appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured, beyond that of any man, and
his form marred beyond human likeness" (Is 52:14).
Our Father
When they arrived at the summit of the hill called the "Skull", someone offered Jesus wine to drink that had been mixed with gall. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. Jesus had been offered something to reduce or eliminate the pain, but He refused it (Mt: 27:34).
Jesus tunic was placed back on him after the scourging and was stuck to his body just as a bandage sticks to a wound. Criminals were crucified naked to increase their shame, degradation, and vulnerability. The soldiers stripped Jesus of his garments. When they ripped his tunic from him it ripped the dried blood from his chest and back leaving his body raw from the scourging, exposing a man who no longer resembled a man. A man who was red and black and blue from his ankles to his shoulders. The soldiers
divided his garments between themselves. Jesus’ tunic
was woven without seam, making it rare and thus valuable, so they cast lots for
it (Ps 22:18; Mt 27:36; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:34; Jn 19:23-24). A tunic woven
without seam is what Moses prescribed to be worn by the high priest as he ascended the altar to offer sacrifice (Ex 28:31-32). Jesus ascended
Golgotha to offer himself as the sacrificial victim for the Paschal offering: “No one takes my life from me” (Jn 10:18). He went to his
crucifixion dressed as the High Priest! Jesus is the true High Priest offering
himself, the Lamb of God, on the cross. (HM-1)
Jesus was almost 6 inches (152 mm) taller than the
average man of his day. The upright portion of the
cross was permanently fixed into the ground, so it could be reused and would be
stable (not fall over with the writhing of the condemned).
There was a notch, mortise, in the upright into which a corresponding notch in the patibulum would
be placed and the two pieces securely
held together with a rope (allowing for reuse of the patibulum as well as the
upright). So, the height of the cross was fixed, and Jesus was
6 inches (152 mm) too tall and his arms were too long. To compensate they
stretched his arms as far as possible before nailing him to the patibulum.,
That way his body would not hang down as far. A 7
inch (180 mm) nail was driven into each of his hands at an angle so that it entered
low on his palm and exited on the back of his wrist. (The same way you would put a nail in the wall to hold a heavy picture.) A nail, driven as shown below into the area of the crease formed when the thumb touches the little finger, will separate the small bones in the hand without breaking them (Ex 12:46, Nm 9:12).
While Dr. Frederick T. Zugibe, M.D., Ph.D. was studying the shroud, he had a patient come in after accidentally having a large needle driven though her hand. He was amazed that not only did it exit exactly where the exit wound was on the shroud; it also entered exactly where Padre Pio and St Francis of Assisi had the entry wounds on their hands. When x-rayed it showed that no bones were broken and as nails would easily have held the weight of the body on the cross.
3 comments:
A Case for Tradition
The following thoughts were provided by Fr. Joe Vieira the Pastor of Holy Nativity Catholic Church in Payson, Arizona; an Ordinariate Rite Roman Catholic Church. I have added this to the site via comments on the Sorrowful Mysteries so that others may follow the example and add their own reflections:
We also believe the Tradition that makes up our faith. The story of Veronica is a classic example. The story of Vericonica is part of tradition which we are supposed to believe. However it is also supported in history and is tied to the woman, Bernice, who had the hemorage cured by touching the hem of Jesus' tunic. See http://www.shroud.com/pdfs/iannone2.pdf for a detailed discussion of the subject.
If you read in the historical background of this document the section on Names it points out that a significant event in a person’s life may very well bring a name change. Remember Sarai, Abrahams wife’s name was changed from Sarai (quarrelsome) to Sarah (princess) after she gave birth to Isaac. The reason that we don’t find reference to Bernice as the person who wiped Jesus’ face with her veil is likely that she was never called Bernice after that event.
Remember that she had timidly just touched Jesus’ clothing believing she would be cured. Suddenly she is the center of attention as she has been cured. She had incredible faith in Jesus to have believed that it only required contact with him. Afterwards she had to have been very grateful and probably joined the other devout women who traveled with Jesus and his disciples. So now as Jesus is about to be crucified, she has joined the other women to follow Jesus to his death.
When Jesus fell under the weight of the patibulum, the cross piece, about 75 lbs. He falls face forward into the dirt. Instinctively he would have brought one arm around in an attempt to plant the edge of the patibulum into the ground to break his fall; if he had enough time to react. Either way He was going to land face first. The 75 lb. patibulum falling onto his back. His face was wet with blood from the crown of thorns which continued bleeding all day, as well as from sweat resulting from the traumatic shock, and spit. When the soldiers removed the patibulum from his back and grabbed each arm to lift him to his feet, Bernice could see that Jesus’s face was covered with mud. He likely could not even open his eyes. She boldly stepped forward and wiped his face without regard for her own life. Touching the condemned was punishable by instant death. She was rewarded with an image on her veil that startled the soldiers, they reported the event to Pilate. That was for her a life changing moment. From timid to bold. She was likely not called Bernice again but was called by the phonetic equivalent to the exclamation uttered by the soldier who saw the image on her veil: ver iconica "true image".
We can see another excellent example drawn from the Stations of the Cross. While it is very unlikely that Jesus fell three times under the weight of the cross, it is very likely that He fell multiple times. Jesus had lost a lot of fluid: blood during the scourging, the crowning with thorns, and the sweating that accompanies traumatic shock. He would have been very weak by the time he carried the patibulum. We can tell that he fell to his knees after being nailed to the patibulum, while attempting to carry the patibulum to the stipes (the upright portion of the cross). We know that because dirt was found on the shroud at the point where the shroud was in contact with Jesus’ knees. Jesus’ tunic would have covered his knees as carried the cross. That is until He was stripped of his garments prior to being nailed to the cross. The significance of the number of falls is a spiritual one. Just as Jesus fell multiple times and He kept getting up and continued his journey to his death so we are encouraged to keep getting up after we fall into sin.
One other spiritual example is when Jesus cried out "Eli, Eli lema Sabachthani". Jesus had switched from Aramaic to Hebrew which caused those present to think that He was calling out to Elijah, while actually He was naming a prayer. The people spoke in Aramaic but prayed in Hebrew. Matthew and Mark provide us with a translation from the Hebrew: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” Which by tradition has been taken to imply that just as we have frequently felt forsaken by God so did Jesus. However, by this time, Jesus was almost dead. His lungs were nearly filled with fluid and talking would have been very difficult and yet He still said “I thirst”, “It is finished”, and “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” Notice the length of the sentences, the last one is the longest.
What Jesus was doing when He said “Eli,Eli lema Sabachthani" was naming the prayer we know as Psalm 22 that He was about to fulfill by saying: “I thirst”, drinking the wine, and then saying “It is finished”: thus completing the Seder Meal. Psalm 22, written by David 300 years before the first man was ever crucified, and a 1000 years before Jesus was crucified foretells a crucifixion which will provide a deliverance that will be proclaimed to all generations. Jesus is pointing out to his Mother and the apostle John that he is finishing the last supper, the Seder Meal: a Todah for a great deliverence, and fulfilling the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Our salvation is complete. That is not what is expected from someone who feels forsaken. But let us not forget that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit inspired David to write that first line, the name of the psalm: “My god, My God why have you forsaken me.” The Holy Spirit knew that it would be centuries before we understood what was happening and many souls would be aided by the thought that Jesus felt forsaken.
Absolutely beautiful and moving. Thank you.
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