Archive for April 11th, 2020


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Dear Grands,

John 19:36-37, “For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken.’ 37 And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’”

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday! (I don’t recommend the use of the term “Easter,” as it comes from a pagan goddess.) But, before the Resurrection of our LORD Jesus, it was necessary that He die on a cross. Why was that necessary? It is because the Father so willed it that our sins might be forgiven.

WHAT IS CRUCIFIXION?

The Romans learned crucifixion from the Carthaginians in North Africa. It is yet the most inhumane form of execution known to man. Here, a medical doctor provides a physical description:

The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.

The victim is now crucified.

As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain – the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again, he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.

As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep relentless, and throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath.

Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.

Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues. The tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues.

Finally, as He allows His body to die, He yields up His Spirit to the Father and cries, “It is finished! Into Thy hands I commit my Spirit.”

What wondrous love is this! He loved us that we might love Him and love one another. Have you committed your life to Him? My prayer is that you will trust Him as you read this Letter. Then, die to yourself, and live your life to His glory!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

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