Imagine this one:

The Flogging After his arrest, Jesus was struck about the face by one of the Temple guard. Then a cover was put on his face and he was further beaten about the face. Blows to the face such as these would cause severe facial bruising and cause his eyelids to be swollen almost shut. The result would have been that he was probably unrecognizable. This was foretold by Isaiah 700 years before. [Note: even if you doubt when Isaiah wrote the book that bears his name, remember the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek occurred about 250 years before Jesus birth, so this prophecy predates Jesus by at least 250 years. This is easily verified in any public library - Editor]

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (Isaiah 52:13-14) Flogging a victim before he was crucified was the Roman tradition. This involved a whip with several leather thongs, 18-24 inches long, with bits of metal, bone or glass embedded in the leather. The prisoner was usually flogged 39 times (forty minus one was a sign of Roman mercy).

The effects of flogging were staggering. Many people died as a result. The skin and muscle were shredded and torn from the back. Large volumes of blood were typically lost.

The Crucifixion Crucifixion was invented by the Persians between 300-400 BC. It was "perfected" by the Romans in the first century BC. The most common type of cross in the first century was a low Tau. It consisted of an upright pole permanently fixed in the ground, called the stipes; And a crossbar called the patibulum, which usually weighted between 75-100 pounds.

Fixing the Hands to the Cross For centuries, most artists rendered the crucifixion of Jesus with nails in His hands. However, anatomical studies have shown that this will not support the weight of an adult male. Archaeological discoveries have shown that the nails were placed between the radius, ulna, and carpal bones. By this manner no bones would be broken.

Fixing the Feet to the Cross After flexing the feet into an extreme position the feet were nailed, usually with one nail, to the stipe, between the second and third metatarsal bones. The result was that the individual was pinned in place with the knees bent, bearing full weight on the nails. This was an incredibly difficult position to maintain due to strain on the thigh muscles (try to stand with your knees flexed for just five minutes.)

Physiological Effects of Crucifixion Flogging Severe dehydration due to blood loss. Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure). Muscle tremors and tetany. Nailing the Hands Paralysis of Median Nerve. Unimaginable pain at first, then paralysis and numbness. Nailing the Feet Paralysis of deep peroneal nerve of the feet. Respiratory effects Inability to exhale fully. Hypercarbia (increased carbon dioxide). Muscle tetany creates a viscous circle. To properly exhale required lifting the body. Each respiratory effort required so much muscular effort that muscle fatigue would cause the victim to die by asphyxia. Cause of death The primary cause of death by crucifixion is asphyxiation. That is, the victim slowly suffocates until dead.

Other contributing factors:

Hypovolemic shock Exhaustion Dehydration Stress induced arrhythmias Congestive heart failure Pericardial and pleural effusions Cardiac rupture.

-- Prose (arpeggio69@hotmail.com), March 22, 2003

Answers

Prose - Your thread is one of the areas most people do not want to consider at all. The suffering of Christ was to such a degree that most of us would not have made it to the end.

During studying for a paper on the Shroud of Turin I came across a video of a scientific study of the " man of the shroud. He was so beaten that the team could not believe the strength of the individual involved.

Over a full ten percent of both flesh and muscle mass had been torn away. The " man " was thought to be 5' 10" and about 175 lbs. which by the way is the perfect form for a male athlete.

Thank you for bringing this to the attention of the members.

-- jean bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), March 22, 2003.

Thankyou Prose

"I beseech Thee, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, that Thy Passion may be to me power by which I may be strengthened, protected and defended. May Thy wounds be to me food and drink by which I may be nourished, inebriated, and delighted. May the sprinkling of Thy Blood be to me an ablution for all my sins. May Thy death prove for me unfailing life, and may Thy Cross be to me eternal glory. In these be my refreshment, joy, health, and delight of my heart: Thou who livest and reignest forever. Amen."

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), March 23, 2003.

If you love Me, pick up your cross daily, and come, follow Me.

Terrible Tortures of The Martyrs of Lyons:

Then finally the holy Witnesses suffered tortures beyond all description, Satan striving eagerly that some of the evil reports might be acknowledged by them. But the whole fury of the mob, the governor, and the soldiers particularly fell on Sanctus, a deacon from Vienne; Maturus, a recent convert yet a noble combatant; Attalus, a native of Pergamus, where he had always been a Pillar and foundation of the church; and on Blandina, through whom Christ showed that the things that to men appear vile and deformed and contemptible are with God of great glory, on account of love to Him,-a love which is not a mere boastful appearance, but shows itself in the power which it exercises over the life.

We were all afraid, especially her earthly mistress, who was herself one of the combatants among the Witnesses, that she would not be able to make a bold confession on account of the weakness of her body. But, Blandina was filled with such power, that those who tortured her one after the other in every way from morning till evening were wearied and tired. They admitted they were baffled. They had no other torture they could apply to her. They were astonished that she remained alive. Her whole body was torn and opened up. They said that even one of the forms of torture employed was enough to have destroyed her life, not to mention so many excruciating punishments. But the blessed woman, like a noble athlete, renewed her strength in her confession. Her declaration, "I am a Christian, and there is no evil done amongst us," brought her refreshment, rest, and insensibility to all the sufferings inflicted on her.

Sanctus also nobly endured all the excessive and superhuman tortures which man could possibly devise. For the wicked hoped, because of the continuance and greatness of the tortures, to hear him confess some of the alleged unlawful practices. But he opposed them with such firmness that he did not tell them even his own name, nor that of his nation or city, nor if he were slave or free. In answer to all these questions, he said in Latin, "I am a Christian." . . .He gave this confession to every question placed to him. Therefore the governor and the torturers determined to subdue him. When every other means failed, they at last fixed red-hot plates of brass to the most delicate parts of his body. And these indeed were burned, but he himself remained inflexible, unyielding, and firm in his confession. He was refreshed and strengthened by the heavenly fountain of the water of life which issues from the belly of Christ.5 But his body bore witness to what had happened. It was all wounds and welts, shrunk and torn up. It had externally lost the human shape. In him Christ suffering worked great wonders, destroying the enemy. He was an example to the others that there is nothing fearful where there is the Father's love, and nothing painful where there is Christ's glory. For the wicked after some days again tortured the Witness. They thought that, since his body was swollen and inflamed, if they were to apply the same tortures they would gain the victory over him, especially since the parts of his body could not bear to be touched by the hand. Possibly he would die from the tortures and inspire the rest with fear. Yet not only did no such thing happen to him, but even, contrary to every human expectation, his body unbent itself. It became erect during the subsequent tortures and resumed its former appearance and the use of its limbs. The second torture turned out through the grace of Christ a cure, not an affliction.

The rest of the story continues...http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/EARLYF/lyons.shtml

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 23, 2003.