When Jesus arrives at Golgotha, we are simply told,” they crucified Him.”

Crucifixion was an excruciatingly painful way to die.

11-centimetre-long nails – like railway spikes – were driven through the wrists and heels of the victim before hoisting the cross up into place using ropes.

The one crucified hung on the cross completely naked.

Because there was little loss of blood through the hands and the feet, the arteries of the person’s head and stomach became engorged with it, inducing a throbbing headache.

Tetanus would also begin to set in.

Breathing became a major issue, because of the awkward position of the victim. If he allowed his arms to bear his weight, he would be unable to breathe; but as he shifted the weight onto his feet, lifting himself up to breathe, he would not be able to bear the strain for long. Asphyxiation was the cause of death and on average it took 36 hours for the person to die.

Just prior to being crucified, our Lord was offered a drink of “wine mixed with myrrh.”

The myrrh was used as a drug to help deaden some of the effects of crucifixion, but Jesus refuses to drink it.

Jesus didn’t refuse the wine and the myrrh because He was a masochist. He knew that the pain He was about to endure was more than just physical. He is going to take upon Himself the sin of the whole world and He wants to be fully alert as He does so.

The leaders of the Early Church came to understand this. As brutal as death by crucifixion was, they were more concerned that we know – and believe – what Jesus’ death signifies. Peter summed up the crucifixion of Jesus like this:

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

He did it for you, He did it for me…

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 15:21