Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 97
this cup from me. . We believe that the prayer of Jesus was accepted and that the cup of an accursed death was removed from him. Jesus claimed that God heard his prayers. He admonished his disciples:. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will. (Mark, 11:24). Again:. For everyone who asks receives, and to him who knocks it will be opened. For what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a serpent. (Matthew, 7:8-10). . If we were to think that the supplication of Jesus which he made with crying and weeping and in extreme humility and agony was not heard, it would appear to have been meaningless for him to assure others that their prayers would be heard. . Jesus acknowledged that his prayers were heard as is written:. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: Father I thank. Thee that Thou hast heard me. And I know that Thou hearest me always. (John, 11:41, 42). There is positive proof that his prayer was heard as he had desired and God saved him from death upon the cross as is written:. In the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears. unto Him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared. (Hebrews, 5:7) 4. It is written:. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (John, 19:34). This shows clearly that Jesus was only unconscious at the time and had not died. It was assumed that he had expired, or his death was announced according to Pilate's plan in order to put off the Jewish priesthood. It appears that a soldier who was not aware of Pilate's plan pierced the side of Jesus with a spear and blood and water poured out from his side. This is proof that he was alive at the time. A corpse does not bleed. . In the phrase: at once there came out blood and water, the expression at once is significant. It shows that the body of Jesus bled immediately on its being pierced. If blood drips 100