Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 44
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: Using the work of Samuel Haughton, commentators Frederick Charles Cook and Josh McDowell argued that the death of Jesus in the Gospels could not have been fabricated, as the text displays medical knowledge not available at the time. Haughton wrote that the description of the Gospel of John of the flowing of “blood and water” after the soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a sword was prescient.
Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged and sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripe-like lacerations and appreciable blood loss, setting the stage for hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the cross to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion, his wrists were nailed to the crossbar, and after the crossbar was lifted onto the upright post, his feet were nailed to the upright post.
The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus’ death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier’s spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, tells of how he had three acquaintances who had been crucified removed from their cross, but despite the best medical attention, two of three died anyway (Life 75:420-21). The extent of Jesus’ torture was such that he could never have survived the crucifixion and entombment.
Food for thought: The suggestion that a man so critically wounded as Jesus did, went on to appear to the disciples on various occasions in Jerusalem and Galilee is pure fantasy.
Declaration: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
