What does the Bible say about Jesus’ Crucifixion?
The Roman Empire is well-known for its inhuman treatment of slaves and criminals. They used public executions, torture, death by wild animals, and such crucifixion. The public’s fear of these horrendous punishments kept them from disobeying the government. The Romans viewed Jesus as a troublemaker and political threat, but they didn’t think it warranted his death. Prodded by the Jewish leaders, they eventually crucified him beside two other criminals. Of course, for Christians, his death was significant, because it had been predicted in the Old Testament thousands of years before that he would suffer and die for the sins of others. If you’re curious about Jesus’s crucifixion, here are 50 Bible verses to help you better understand why Jesus had to die.
What was crucifixion?
The Persians were the first to use crucifixion between 300 and 400 BC. It’s thought to be the most painful way to die created by man. The English language derives the word “excruciating” from the word “crucifixion.” Like the word, it’s a painful, slow death used for criminals and revolutionaries. It involved tying or nailing a person to a crossbeam laid across a permanent, large vertical stake.
Once the accused was put on trial, a sign was placed above their head to indicate that they’d been tried in a formal court proceeding and had broken the law. The Carthaginians, Persians, and Romans also used crucifixion. Surprisingly, crucifixion is still used in some countries today.
When Jesus was hung on the cross to be crucified, the sign that hung above his head didn’t tell about Jesus’ court proceeding or what he’d done to break the law. This sign over his head simply explained who he was.
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:38 RSV)
Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (John 19:19 NASB)
A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:38 NLT)
What did Jesus experience when he was crucified?
When someone is crucified, they are laid across a wooden beam and nailed or tied to it through their hands or wrists. The beam is raised, which puts weight on the nailed hands, causing them to rip and bleed. The person hanging on the cross experiences difficulty breathing, which leads to damaged tissue and capillaries, resulting in the leakage of blood into the tissues. This results in a buildup of the fluids around the heart and lungs. All this combined will cause the person to die of heart failure or arrhythmia, shock, pulmonary embolism, or dehydration.
Although scripture doesn’t go into great detail about what Jesus experienced before and during his crucifixion, some verses allude to the physical trauma he experienced.
Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. (John 19:1-3 RSV)
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”(John 19:28 NIV)
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30 RSV)
There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(Luke 23:32-34 NKJV)
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture,
“They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (John 19:23-24 RSV)
Besides the physical trauma Jesus underwent from crucifixion, he experienced hatred and ridicule from the crowds standing around the cross, who taunted and laughed at him.
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27 39-40 NLT)
Not only did the crowds mock him, but one of the thieves who was being crucified next to him joined in the mockery.
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”(Luke 23:39 ESV)
In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Luke 23:39 NIV)
Those closest to Jesus witnessed his death. They were overwhelmed with sadness, and some felt confused since they still didn’t understand the totality of why he would die or that he would rise again, as he promised.
So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag′dalene. (John 19:25-26 RSV)
Why Was Jesus Crucified?
When Jesus was arrested, he was unlawfully accused and tried in what’s often called a kangaroo court, which is a rigged court held by people who try someone without any evidence.
And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15:10-15 ESV)
Jesus’ death by crucifixion is probably one of the best-known cases in history. It’s at the heart of Christianity. Scripture tells us that he died on the cross for the sins of the world.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:2 NKJV)
In Scripture, the word “propitiation” means to turn away God’s wrath towards sin. Jesus’ death satisfied God’s wrath towards sin. He reconciled us to God.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin, and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NLT)
But He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.
(Isaiah 53:5-6 NASB)
For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. (Psalm 22:16 ESV)
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. (John 19:17-20 NIV)
Did Old Testament Verses Predict That Jesus Would Be Crucified?
Old Testament verses predicted Jesus’ death by crucifixion and resurrection.
“Now if a person has committed a sin carrying a sentence of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 NASB)
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him. (Hosea 6:2 NASB)
Other events surrounding the crucifixion were also predicted in the Old Testament.
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.(Psalm 22:16-18 NLT)
“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 NASB)
What does Jesus’ death mean to us?
Scripture tells us that we are all sinners, separated from God. Jesus’ death gave us a way to come to God with our sins forgiven.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 NASB)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29 NIV)
Jesus’ death made it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus’ death on the cross stand forgiven and free from the penalty of death.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous,[a] forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NET)
According to Scripture, not everyone will believe, but see faith in Jesus’ death for sins as foolish and ignorant.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV)
For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 NET)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV)
Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12: 37-38 ESV)
Conclusion
Crucifixion is a harsh, excruciating way to die. It was used for centuries in ancient society, and surprisingly, it’s still used in some countries today. One of the best-known crucifixions in history is that of Jesus. His crucifixion has significant meaning to Christians around the world because, according to Scripture, his death took away the sins of the world. Not everyone believes that Jesus is the savior of the world. Those who disbelieve consider it foolish and ignorant. For those who have been saved, Jesus’ death provides a way to know God and have a relationship with him. Hopefully, these verses will help you believe in Jesus as your Savior.
