Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 237
? 230 the Cross for 2½ to 3 hours. At the most the Messiah was on the Cross for 3½ hours. But when people would remain alive on the same Cross for as long as seven days, how could he die in 3½ hours, or, in less time than that, particularly when his own followers stood guard on him. doing their best to mitigate his suffering and trying to save him. AFTER THE CROSS However, when the Messiah was taken down the Cross, Joseph Arimathides approached Pilate and asked to be given the body. Pilate ordered that the body of Jesus be given to Joseph Arimathides (St. Matthew 27:58). Then Joseph Arimathides placed him in a sepulchre which was not like any of our graves. If one is placed in one of our graves he would die of suffocation, for, it is made in a different shape. That sepulchre was an open cellar hewn out in a rock (St. Matthew 27:60). Joseph Arimathides laid Jesus in that sepulchre and rolled a great stone to its door, (St. Matthew 7:60), so that people may have no suspicion and at the same time, there may remain some inlet for air. All these facts make it clear that it was absolutely impossible for the Messiah to die. A man would breathe his last while rising from his seat, or would kick off while halting in his walk, but this is a different thing. The point under discussion is that, generally in the circumstances,