History channel devotion

The History Channel ran a special on Crucifixion a few days ago. It was very informative, but of course incredibly painful and sorrowful to watch. The amount of suffering associated with the cross is amazing.

They interviewed historians, anthropologists, and a few doctors. Two of the doctors participating in the special took the gospels as gospel-so that was kind of cool, especially for the History Channel.

One fascinating question raised was "what exactly killed Jesus?" A myriad of different things can lead to the death of one crucified (they went into the anatomy of the victim in grim detail), but some doctors really pointed ultimately to one oft ignored (though assumed) incident.

Suffocation, dehydration, exposure, blood loss, or simply 'dying from pain,' all could have killed Jesus, but the gospel accounts might indicate something else. Since Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus' cross, one could assume that Jesus had fallen (nowhere does it mention that Jesus fell in the accounts, so it is an assumption-but I think a good one). Jesus, carrying a cross bar of 100 lbs or so, would have obviously fallen on his chest, injuring his heart. This would have led to an aneurism.

Since the gospel accounts have Jesus shouting his last words, and then immediately dying, he probably didn't die of asphyxiation. There wouldn't have been enough air in his lungs to do that. But instead, he would have been able to feel his heart nearing the end of its beating, and know the end was about to happen (of course he knew everything though). This would have been consistent with an aneurism.

EXACTLY what killed him is not important as much it is fodder for science and experiment. It is important that there was no body for autopsy. However, the awful death and scorn of the Father should never cease to amaze us of the love of one who gave up His only Son that we should live. He that did not spare His own Son, how will he not graciously give us all things? It says that somewhere, you know (Romans 8:32).