Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 96
was not sufficient to bring about the death of a healthy young man. This was confirmed by the sudden outpouring of blood and water from his side when he was pricked with a spear. Pilate himself wondered whether the death of. Jesus had occurred so speedily. Then the legs of Jesus were not broken as was customary, while the legs of the two thieves who were crucified along with him were broken. (e) Though Pilate was not convinced that Jesus had died, he directed that his body be made over to Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, as is written:. When it was evening, there came a rich man from. Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of. Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of. Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. (Matthew, 27: 58-59). This is enough to convince any reasonable person that Pilate had recourse to every possible means to secure the deliverance of Jesus from death upon the cross. 3. It has been noted that Jesus took his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane and directed them to occupy themselves with prayer, but they went to sleep. Jesus himself prayed humbly, crying and weeping, in the following words:. Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done. (Luke, 22:42). Jesus spent the greater part of the night in prayer and supplication. He was in agony and his perspiration fell from him like large drops of blood. (Luke, 22: 44). The purport of the supplication of Jesus was that God. Almighty might safeguard him against the death which his enemies had designed to inflict upon him, not that he shirked laying down his life in the cause of God, indeed he was ever ready to do so, but in order that the purpose of his enemies may be frustrated and that God's will in respect of the safeguarding of His Messenger may be fulfilled. This is the meaning of his supplication: Nevertheless not my will, but. Thine be done. Had Jesus believed that his death upon the cross was in accord with God's design, he would certainly not have supplicated:. Lord, everything is possible for Thee, do Thou remove 99