Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 136
from the cross after about six hours, there is every probability of his supposed death having been only a death-like swoon, from which after the descent from the cross Jesus recovered again in the cool cavern, covered as he was with healing ointments and strongly scented spices. On this head, it is usual to appeal to an account in Josephus who says that on one occasion, when he was returning from a military recognisance on which he had been sent, he found several Jewish prisoners who had been crucified. He saw among them three acquaintances whom he begged Titus to give to him. They were immediately taken down and carefully attended to. One was really saved but the two others could not be recovered. (A New Life of Jesus by D. F. Strauss, Vol. I, page 410) When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he was in good health and was a young man of 33 years. He remained upon the Cross for not more than six hours at the outside and probably for a much shorter period. This could not in itself have brought about his death. The two malefactors who had been put upon the cross along with him were taken down at the same time and as they were alive their bones were broken, as is written: Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. John, 19:31, 32) The demand of the Jews that the legs of those who had been 128