A Systematic View of Christ's Anatomy and Physiology

Hello again!

I do apologize for not writing for some time. As the corona virus expels confusion and cancellation of plans, I have been blinded as to what I can do regarding work. Nonetheless, I pray that everyone is doing well and is exceptionally healthy during these times. Praise God for cities who are just now beginning to recover and slowly open back up again. Surly we will see through this and anything else that is to come.

I wanted to share something that has kept me spiritually encouraged during this season of quarantine. That is, what our Lord experienced during his own hardships. If you have felt weak or fatigued spiritually, I am confident that this will give you an application to set your hopes on. I pray that you understand how much He has done for us, and that you would have a better grasp of the crucifixion altogether.

Blessings,

Dillon.

ex·cru·ci·at·ing /ikˈskro͞oSHēˌādiNG/ adjective

The etymology of the word "excruciating" comes from the 16th century Latin word Crux, which means "Cross". In this we can begin to understand just how severe the punishment of crucifixion was. And by using the four gospels, the old testament and the Greek language we can grasp a deeper heart warming and eye-opening personal discovery of what Christ has done for us.

I first want to make an outline for easier direction on this article.

We will start with the nature of Christ's death and why it happened and why is was necessary:

1. The purpose and necessity of Christ's death

2. Christ in the garden

3. Christ's 3 illegal Jewish and Roman trails

4. Christ's scourging

5. Finally, Christ's crucifixion

1. The Purpose and Necessity of Christ's Death

The purpose of Christ's death would be that of reconciliation between mankind and God. This of course would be because of our sin, which ultimately places mankind in a guilty position within a judicial sense when referring to the justness of God's character and being.

Throughout the Scriptures (Old Testament more importantly) we can see blood is the only means of redemption. This is shown in the Scriptures by animal sacrifice and the presuppositional need for atonement.

The Greek word for sin, "hamartia" or ἁμαρτία, means to "miss the mark". In other words, we have all missed the mark or fallen short of the correct manner by which God would have us live. We have acted wrongly, or have done something offensive to God. And by law, are guilty.

Following logically, we are all in need of a savior from the debt that we as mankind have made; through offensive acts that are not aligned with God's just nature.

We can all come to terms with this, but since we are speaking of the death and atonement of Jesus Christ it is only fitting to briefly address some of the theories regarding Christ's death (Hang in there, we will get to the good stuff in just a minute).

I. Christ The Victor Theory

This theory holds the the view that because of our sins, we were held in bondage to Satan at one point in time. But because of Christ's death on the cross, Jesus has overcome the dark powers of the world. Therefore, Jesus has liberated us from the bondage of Satan.

II. The Moral Theory

This theory says that Christ is a manifestation of God's love, in order that the moral influence of Christ's death would draw people to repentance.

III. The Satisfaction Theory

In this theory, we have wronged God and therefore have a debt to pay because of our actions. But because we are incapable of paying, Christ is sent as an offering for the payment of debt on our behalf.

IV. The Penal Substitution Theory

We are guilty before God and deserving of punishment. And because God is just, this punishment must be satisfied. So Christ, being sinless, took on the punishment and paid the penalty of the human race. Therefore, God can judicially give us pardon. (Christ became sin judicially, not ethically.)

V. The Ransom Theory

In this view, we were imprisoned by Satan. Therefore, a ransom needed to be paid in order to set us free. And because of our sin, Satan had all rights to imprison us. So, Christ died to pay Satan. Yet because Christ was sinless and God, He then was able to set all captives free. (This is not held by many Christians or theologians and it is an added part to Christ The Victor Theory.)

To learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5kttGA7S0s

In concluding this first point, we have the understanding of someone needing to pay our debt to God because we are sinful and have missed the mark. We, being unable to pay this price, have no way around this. Yet Christ being sinless took the punishment that belonged to the human race and satisfied the wrath of God. Thus, Christ's death was a vicarious substitution under divine law for us so that we would not have to pay the penalty of sin. (All of these theories except for the ransom one are attributes of Christ's death and atonement. They all have some part in the death of Christ.)

2. Christ in the garden

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all offer different literary views on what really happened in the garden. Using all of these historic accounts, this is what we can pull away from the beginning of Christ's sufferings.

Jesus brings Peter, James and John further into the garden. He tells them to keep watch and pray. After this, Jesus then prays for himself and what he will soon face. He is so anxious over the upcoming ordeal, he says that his soul is so sorrowful it is to the point of death. (Matthew 26:38)

Jesus fell down to the ground due to sorrow and grief. St. Luke then makes a physiological note of Jesus's sweat being like blood. Now there are many that do not hold to this view, and many that do. Some lay Christians just assume Christ sweat blood. But let's look at what our savior really went through physically.

There is a medical condition called "Hematidrosis". This is the condition to where due to extreme anxiety or stress, one could burst the tiny blood capillaries in the sweat glands causing sweat that is mixed with blood. Now this is a plausible medical condition, given that even an angel came down to give Christ strength in the garden, so it is not too far fetched to say that this could have happened. Although, many say that this is simply a simile used within the Scriptures to show the heaviness of Christ's sweat and stress, e.g. "LIKE drops of blood"

Nonetheless, Jesus's body is failing to stand because of the heavy amount of anxiety and stress that caused Christ's spirit to be overwhelmed by sorrow and death.

Once Jesus gets up, Judas and those who came to arrest him arrive. Even here in the midst of darkness, we can clearly see the gentleness and innocence by the kind of reply Jesus gives after Judas had kissed him on the cheek. (Kissing on the cheek was a common way of saying hello. Much like we do today with a handshake or hug. This was also the sign that Judas used to signal the arrest of Jesus.)

“Do what you came for, friend.” (Matthew 26:50)

At this moment, Jesus contends with questioning those who came to arrest him. But shortly after this, all of the disciples except for Peter and John abandoned Jesus. So on top of the betrayal, stress and anxiety we see everyone leave Jesus for dead. Even His closest friends and followers.

And with that, we conclude the first setting of Christ's process of death. And now move on to the more... blunt and gruesome trials of Christ.

3. Christ's 3 illegal Jewish and Roman trails

Firstly, Christ is brought to Annas.

Annas was the step-father to Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. This is the first Jewish trail of Jesus Christ. During the questioning, Jesus explains that He has preached openly and the priest could ask anyone of his teachings. While replying, Jesus is struck by an official for not speaking with "respect".

The second trial of Jesus Christ is done by Caiaphas, the high priest who is apart of the Sanhedrin. He questioned Jesus and then concluded his judgment by ordering the punishment of death.

The third and final trial of Jesus Christ is done by the Sanhedrin

(a judicial gathering of Jewish leadership). This is where Jesus says “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64) Now this is where Jesus is condemned by the Jews.

This is most likely a reference to Daniel 7:14 - "In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence."

This of course was judged as blasphemy and the sentence was now officially death. So, after the order, officials spit in Jesus face and struck him repeatedly while bound. All the while mocking him, asking Jesus to prophesy of who hit him.

Now the Jews had no right to do this act under their law, so they needed a civil order. So, they bring Jesus to Pilate which was in the Hall of Judgement, which usually opened at the start of a new day. 6 A.M. (Jesus had been tossed around trials, betrayed, beaten, mocked, spit on, and abandoned since 3 A.M.)

This is the first of 3 Roman trials, Pontius Pilot.

Pilot could not find any legal charge on Jesus, so he pleads with the Jewish leaders and people. They will not have him let go for anything. So Pilot sends Jesus to Herod to see if there are any charges to be made since Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction.

The second Roman Trial of Jesus Christ is Herod.

Herod was excited to meet Jesus because he had heard many things about him. But because he was silent, Herod became angry and had his men mock and dress him in a robe and finally sent back to Pilot.

The final Roman trail of Jesus Christ, Pilot again.

While Pilot is trying to plead with the people, they scream "Crucify!" Under pressure from the crowd, Pilot says that Jesus is their responsibility and not his. And in doing so, orders Jesus to be crucified and scourged. ("Flogged") Which brings us to our fourth point:

4. Christ's scourging

The scourging process had a pole to which the victim would be tied to. And a Roman legionary would take an instrument called the Cat O' Nine Tails. This tool was made of several or nine lashes that had metal balls at the end alone with shards of bone. This was used to lash at the victim's back. There is OT law that states no one should be whipped more than 39 times but we are not too sure how many times Jesus was. Below are some pictures to help illustrate what Jesus went through.

At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally, the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. (https://www1.cbn.com/medical-view-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ)

After this, Jesus was mocked even further by having a crown of thorns twisted and pushed into his scalp which is one of the most vascular parts of the body. Then he is given a cane and the roman soldiers then bow down and mock Jesus as king of the Jews. After more beating and spitting, Jesus is then tied to the patibulum. Which is a part of the cross that is a heavy wooden-beam. It is depicted in many churches and movies that Jesus carried the entire cross, this is simply historically false. It would be impossible given that the cross is an odd 300 pounds. The lack of blood loss Jesus has undergone would rule out even the possibility of this happening. Rather, a man named Simon has to help Jesus carry the patibulum because of the blood loss Jesus has experienced. From no sleep, dehydration and blood loss Jesus is having trouble making the 650 yard carry to Golgotha. (Keep in mind that this is 6 football fields long.) They eventually make it to that wretched hill...and then it gets worse.

5. Finally, Christ's crucifixion

Given that I am not a Physiologist, I have found objective information that will help us understand just how much of a debt Jesus paid on that cross. (Link to info at bottom)

On the cross, Jesus's legs were flexed at about 45 degrees. Which makes it impossible to hold yourself up without cramping out the inner thigh muscle.

Because of this, the weight of his body had to be transferred somewhere. And that would be his wrist's, arms, and shoulders.

Within minutes of the crucifixion, Jesus's arms, shoulders, and wrist's were dislocated.

This happened so this could be fulfilled:

Psalm 22:14, “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint.”

Because of the suspended weight not being able to lean on his limbs, the weight had now caused traction forces on the pectoralis major muscles of His chest wall. This made his chest and ribcage poke out at a position where it made it exceedingly difficult to exhale.

In order to breathe, Jesus had to push down on the nails through his feet.

The pain from His two shattered median nerves in His wrists exploded with every movement.

Jesus had to drag his body 12 inches up and down the cross by pushing through the pain of severed nerves and wood in order to breathe.

This process dragged on for hours.

His blood oxygen level began to fall, and He developed Hypoxia (low blood oxygen). In addition, because of His restricted respiratory movements, His blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level began to rise, a condition known as Hypercapnia. This rising CO2 level stimulated His heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen, and the removal of CO2

The twin forces of Hypoxia (too little oxygen) and Hypercapnia (too much CO2) caused His heart to beat faster and faster, and Jesus developed Tachycardia.

By about noon Jesus’s heart probably began to fail and Jesus’s lungs probably began to fill up with Pulmonary Oedema. This only served to exacerbate His breathing, which was already severely compromised.

Because of the increasing physiological demands on Jesus’s heart, and the advanced state of Haemopericardium, Jesus probably eventually sustained Cardiac Rupture. His heart literally bursted. This was probably the cause of His death.

Nonetheless, Jesus gives up his spirit after finishing his mission. As you can see, this process was designed my Rome to be horrible. They had perfected the element of torture within the context of the cross.

I hope and pray that this at least made you think of what Christ had to endure for us. Given that this is a mere cursory examination of his sufferings rather than a deep study. So there is oh so much more he has done.

Peace to you,

Dillon B. Corbett

Τετέλεσται - To finish.

(https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/jesus-christ-the-anatomical-and-physiological-details-of-6-hours-of-pain-and-death-by-crucifixion/)