The Tomb of Jesus — Page 15
15 thought it needful to invoke miracle in order to explain so sudden an end. The same surprise is discovered in the narrative of Mark. Pilate was astonished that Jesus was so soon dead. ,,17 "The ordinary sufferings incidental to crucifixion have been minutely analysed by. Richter, the Batholines, Gruners, etc. , and are often injudiciously exaggerated, in order to account for the speedy occurrence of the. Saviour's death. Richter's explanation of them, as quoted in a note of the Pictorial Bible on John, chap. 19, v. 18, is somewhat fanciful and overstrained; yet, after all, the author acknowledges that they were not calculated to occasion rapid death, and concludes as follows:The degree of misery is gradual in its increase, and the person crucified is able to live under it commonly until the third, and sometimes till the seventh day. Pilate, therefore, being surprised at the speedy termination of our Saviour's life, inquired in respect to the truth of it of the centurion himself who had the command of the soldiers. (Mark, chap. 15, v. 44). Concurring in this opinion, the editor of the Pictorial Bible observes, It be added that no act in the ▬▬ may ― punishment of crucifixion was in itself mortal, the 17. Renan, The Life of Jesus, p. 371, The Modern Library Edition.