The Ten Stages of Christ’s Suffering:  Stage 7

Stage 7:  They crucified Him

Let us close our eyes and attempt to imagine some small portion of the pain, torture, and torment that our Savior experienced for us.  Our hearts should wail in praise, admiration, and appreciation for His sacrifice.  How can any man, woman, or child come to a complete understanding of what He did for us without falling on our face before Him in humble submission and the deepest heartfelt gratitude?  How can we not love Him, obey Him and live for Him because of His sacrifice?  As I meditate upon what Jesus did for me on the Cross at Calvary, my heart wails.

Cry out in thanks o heart of mine

Cry out in praise and Hymn

For Jesus suffered for the sinful things that I did

He bore my sins so grim.

O wondrous and matchless Son of God

You died that I might be set free.

I Thank you, dear Savior, dear Son of God

For You hung on that cross for me!

What exactly is crucifixion?  According to Dake’s Annotated Bible, crucifixion is one of the cruelest and shameful deaths ever devised.  It was a Roman practice inflicted only upon slaves and the worst criminals.  And yet, our Lord and Savior who knew no sin, neither was their guile found in His mouth, was subjected to this torture.

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

An African-American spiritual that we sang as children during Easter has a stanza that says:

They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to a tree

They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to a tree

They crucified my Savior and nailed Him to a tree 

And the Lord shall bear my spirit home.

As we review the details of the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior for our salvation, the details are tough to relate.  However, lest we forget what He experienced for us, we must periodically re-visit His excruciating experience. 

Life in the Spirit Study Bible explains the details of Christ’s crucifixion in this manner:

When Jesus arrived at Golgotha’s hill, the cross beam of the cross was laid on the ground and Jesus was placed on it.  His arms were stretched along the beam and a heavy, square wrought-iron nail was driven through His hands (or wrists), first into the right, then into the left hand, and deep into the wood.  Next, Jesus was lifted up by means of ropes or ladders, the crossbeam was bound or nailed to the upright beam and a support for the body was fastened on it.  Lastly, his feet were extended and a larger piece of iron was driven through them. Pg. 1473

Matthew 27:33-37 describe his crucifixion:

³³ And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

³⁴ They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

³⁵ And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

³⁶ And sitting down they watched him there;

³⁷ And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.

Verse 35 of the 27^th chapter of Matthew tells us that the Roman soldiers attempted to give Christ vinegar and gall to drink. This prophecy was spoken in Ps. 69:21 and Pr. 31:6: 

²¹They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.  

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Dake’s Annotated Bible relates that vinegar with gall is a stupefying potion intended to intoxicate the victim and alleviate suffering.  Jesus, however, “refused the drink so as to suffer the full penalty for sin, sober and in His right mind.” Note e pg. 56