Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 234
? 227 whether it is of any therapeutically value or not, but the people at that time were under the impression that wine and myrrh mitigated pain. This incident also shows that the centurions on guard were at heart his followers and wished to do their best to mitigate his sufferings. Again, as I have stated before, he was put on the Cross on Friday in the afternoon and the Sabbath started with the eventide. In present times the day start after 12 midnight but, according to the Islamic calculation the next day begins immediately after sundown and it was the same with the Jews. Thus the Jewish Sabbath started with the sunset and the belief was current among the Jews that if anyone remained on the Cross on the Sabbath-day, this brought down the wrath of God. Accordingly, hardly a couple of hours had passed when Pilate pointed out to them that the Sabbath-day was drawing nigh and if he remained on the Cross, they would incur the wrath of God. At the same time God caused a severe storm to blow and there was darkness over the whole land (St. Mark, 15:33). Seeing this the Jews feared all the more, lest they should incur the wrath of God, if he remained on the Cross whilst the Sabbath set in. Therefore, they besought Pilate that he might be taken off the Cross (St. John, 19:31). Suppose he was taken off the Cross barely half an hour or three quarters of an hour before the Sabbath day set in, it would necessarily reduce the period of his crucifixion to some extent. Suppose the sun set at 7 and he was