Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 29
Chapter Two—The Judgment 29 1. The three hours’ suspension was insufficient to cause death. Sometimes the crucified man did not die until the third day. (b) Pilate wondered how Jesus could have expired so soon. 2 His wonder was due to his experience that the time was not long enough to cause death. Pilate, Joseph, and the centurion—all three—were sympathisers of Jesus. They naturally wished to save him from death. 2. The two thieves who remained on the cross for the same space of time as did Jesus were both alive, and to kill them their legs were broken. Jesus was spared this ordeal. 3 3. Blood and water flowed out immediately 4 when the soldier with a spear, pierced his right side, as the ancient pictures show; a sure sign of life and the circulation of the blood. ( b ) ‘The express office of the guards with their centurion was to prevent the removal of the body. This was necessary from the lingering character of the death, which sometimes did not supervene even for three days, and was at last, the result of gradual benumbing and starvation (Euseb. H. E. VIII, 8; Sen, Prov. 3), but for this guard the sufferers might have been taken down and recovered (as in the case of Sandokes: Herod VII, 194) as was actually done in the case of a friend of Josephus though only one survived out of three’ (Dictionary of the Bible by Sir William Smith and Rev. J. M. Fuller, M. A. Lond. 1893, Crucifixion. ) 2. Mark 15:44 3. John 19:32–33 4. John 19:34