The Physical and Psychological Impact of Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Today is “Good Friday,” which is called “good” because of the hindsight that, in Friday’s mourning, Resurrection Sunday is coming. During this day, it is nice to look back and see how events happened and what Jesus went through. How did Jesus suffer from the Last Supper until His death? How did He die?
Throughout the four Gospels, the Bible gives us a chronological order of events. In preparation for Passover, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Over the next few days, He would deliver His final teachings and be questioned by the religious leaders, as they were trying to catch Him in His teachings.
The Passover meal is eaten about an hour and 15 minutes before sundown. In 33 AD, Friday's date was the 3rd of April on the Julian calendar. In April, sunsets occur at around 7:09 p.m. in Jerusalem. In 33 AD, Friday’s date was the 3rd of April on the Julian calendar. In April, sunsets occur at around 7:09 p.m. in Jerusalem. Jesus must have been eating at about 5:54 p.m, All the events of the Last Supper and the Upper Room Discourse (John 14-17) happen during this time. Then, Jesus takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives. By this point, it has become night, past 6 pm, meaning it's 'early morning' on Friday according to the Jewish tradition of determining days. Jesus prays and sweats blood, the process (hematohidrosis) caused by fear, as He knew what was ahead and the trials to come. He was already stressed beyond belief and sleep-deprived. He returns to find His disciples sleeping. According to John 18:2, Jesus brought His disciples here often. Then, during His arrest, nine of the eleven flee. Jesus is tried before the Sanhedrin, in whose courtyard Peter denies Jesus. Peter was in the courtyard because John was acquainted with the High Priest. By this point, it is daybreak, and Judas hangs himself.
During His time at the Sanhedrin, Jesus was struck by an officer of the High Priest, spat on while blindfolded, had His beard pulled out (Isaiah 50:6), mocked, and struck on the head by fist. When Jesus is taken to Pilate, Pilate tells the crowd of people that he will simply punish Jesus. The punishment is flogging, which is a horrific ordeal. The Romans would use a scourge, which was composed of bones, metal spikes, and metal balls; sometimes a hook was at the end of the rope. The process required the back and shoulders to be exposed. The whipping led to exposed muscles, excessive bleeding, and torn flesh. This punishment was so gruesome that it often left the victim half-dead. But if the verdict was crucifixion, it was the job of the Centurion to halt the flogging when the victim was near death. The Jews had a law to only deliver 39 lashes (Deuteronomy 25:3). The Romans probably didn't have a stopping point it was against the law for a Roman citizen to be flogged.
The Crown of Thorns was a mockery unique to Jesus, as the "King". According to Matthew and Mark, the soldiers struck His head after the Crown of Thorns was placed. The thorns would've gone deep into His already fragile skin and scalp. By this point, His heart was very strained from all the blood loss. His blood would start to clot on His back, with the temporary placement of the robe. Afterward, His body would've been sent into shock due to the amount of trauma. Then, He was tasked with carrying the crossbeam to Golgotha. He was helped along the path since the soldiers were ordered to get Him through the crucifixion process. The nails went through His wrists and ankles. With His wrists restrained His shoulders would pop out of their sockets. Breathing became a very difficult process, as He would've needed to raise His legs to breathe. This process made each one of His 7 statements very insightful. His back would've been against the rough wooden beam. These are just the physical ailments.
We will never understand everything Jesus went through on that day, in which darkness reigned. As He was experiencing physical pain, He was also battling with the Accuser in the spiritual realm. Then, as darkness fell over the earth, He discovered the worst pain of all: being alone. The unity of the Father and Son was broken as Jesus took on all the sins from the past, His present time, and our current time. God promised that if one trusts in Him, He will not abandon them (Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5).
Jesus knew all of this would happen if He went through with what God had sent Him to do, and He did it anyway. He experienced separation from God so that people do not have to ever go through such an experience. He died in place of each person who does not want to live in eternal suffering.
Certainly, the crucifixion was one of, if not the most, horrific and gruesome ways to be executed. The word excruciating in English is thought to mean “out of the cross” in Latin.
Remember that what comes on Sunday would not have happened if Jesus had not died first. Considering the advancement in medical science, it is remarkable to understand what He went through. Taking a perspective, He would have been near death at multiple stages of the process. For if He did not die, Christians would still view themselves as lost sheep without guidance and they would have no hope in their faith.
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