The Cross Was Brutal: What Jesus Endured for You
Key Takeaways
➤ Christ's Atoning Sacrifice: 1 Peter 2:24 emphasizes that Jesus bore our sins on the cross, taking on the punishment we deserved to enable us to die to sin and live righteously. His suffering brings spiritual healing.
➤ Grace Despite Betrayal: The trials and suffering of Jesus illustrate His unwavering grace, even as He faced betrayal, injustice, and denial by His followers. His love extends to us, just as it did to Peter, despite Peter's denial.
➤ Jesus' Sacrifice and Final Words: Despite the brutal torture, Jesus spoke seven profound statements from the cross, including prayers for forgiveness and expressions of trust in God. His final words, "It is finished!" (John 19:30), marked the completion of His mission to conquer sin and death. His resurrection three days later confirmed His victory, fulfilling the prophecy and securing eternal life for believers (Jude 1:3).
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” - 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
Judas, one of His disciples, was possessed and betrayed Jesus (Luke 22:3-6).
Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem during Passover. They ate together, and then, after the last supper, Jesus took three disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-37). He prayed in there, and it was during this time that Luke, the physician, noted that Jesus’ sweat had become like blood (Luke 22:44).
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by a detachment (σπεiρα) of soldiers (John 18:12, NIV).
A detachment is normally a group of 200-600 Roman soldiers.
Matthew 26:47–56 and Mark 14:43–50 suggest that there was a mob, too, which would make the enormous number of soldiers more reasonable.
Judas betrayed the Son of Man with a kiss, and the disciples left Him.
Trial 1
It was shortly after midnight that they then took Him to Annas (John 18:13).
Annas was the former high priest and had held that position for a time. He had been regarded as such by the Jews for many years. He was not a high priest when Jesus was brought to him, “but Annas would seem to have been secretly regarded by the Jews as the real high priest, and respect to him in that capacity was the more easily offered because, according to Josephus, five of his sons and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, had succeeded him in the sacred office.”[1]
Trial 2
The trial before the scribes and elders at the house of Caiaphas the high priest (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:54; John 18:24). This took place before dawn.
Caiaphas was a member of one of the Jewish ruling sects called the Sadducees. These men were wealthy, had a high position, and were heavily involved in politics, especially regarding Rome. (Matthew 26:57)
The guards spat in His face, hit Him with their fists, and slapped Him while He was at the house of Caiaphas under trial (Matthew 26:67–68; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63–65).
Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times (Luke 22:31–34) before the rooster crowed. Peter found himself in Caiaphas’ courtyard, where he was questioned and accused by the high priest’s servants of being one of Jesus’ disciples at three separate times. Peter denied Jesus all three times, and immediately after the third time, the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69–75, Mark 14:66–72, Luke 22:55–62, and John 18:15–27).
In Luke 22:60–61, Peter denies Jesus for the third time; the rooster crows, and Jesus looks at him. There are a few Greek words that can mean “looked,” but Luke used έμβλέπω (emblépō). This word means “to look searchingly or significantly at a person.”[3] When Peter denied Him, Jesus looked intently and meaningfully at Peter. Remember, this took place where Jesus was being tried. He was close enough to look up at Peter, knowing what he was doing. Jesus still loved him enough to die for him. He also has this grace and love for you.
Trial 3
The Trial at Dawn (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:63–71): When the morning came, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, and the whole Sanhedrin had a more formal (and legal) trial to sentence Jesus to death. (This was Friday morning.)
Trial 4
The First Roman Trial (Matthew 27:2, 11–14; Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–32): Jesus was taken before Pontius Pilate at the Praetorium because an execution could not take place without permission from the Roman government.
The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy. By this time, he was presented to Pilate as a self-proclaimed king who could potentially challenge Roman rule. Rome did not prioritize prosecuting individuals for blasphemy against God, but allegations of treason or insurrection would have caught their attention, or so the Sanhedrin thought. Pilate said, “I find no grounds at all for charges in His case (John 19:6b, NASB).”
"The Gospels mention the praetorium as the location where Jesus stood trial before Pontius Pilate [procurator of Judea]. Therefore, the evangelists seem to indicate that the praetorium served as the official residence for Pilate, who was temporarily residing in Jerusalem during Passover festivities."[1] Jews were not able to enter Gentile buildings or homes with roofs because they would be made ceremonially unclean. (Gentiles did not follow the Mosaic law, which made their homes potentially unclean places.) The irony is that they did not want to enter Pilate's home for fear of being unclean but didn't mind breaking other laws to convict Jesus, etc., which also made them unclean.
The first law that was broken was regarding the accusation made against Jesus.
"If there is found in your midst... a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant... and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly (Deuteronomy 17:2-4).”
They tried desperately to make one up, even bringing in false witnesses, but their testimonies contradicted one another. See John 18:19-24; Mark 14:55-59). Finally, Caiaphas illegally put Jesus under oath in hopes of getting Him to say something he could twist. This is called forced incrimination. (see Matthew 26:64-66, 27:1)
The second law that was broken comes from a lack of evidence. In the Jewish custom of law, convictions were made based on the testimony of two or three testimonies.
"On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness (Deuteronomy 17:6).”
"A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses, a matter shall be confirmed (Deuteronomy 19:15).”
"At a time when the witnesses contradict one another, their testimony is void." (Sanhedrin 5:2)
"And afterward they bring in the second witness and examine him in the same manner. If their statements are found to be congruent, the judges, then discuss the matter." (Sanhedrin 29:2)
All three of Jesus' trials lacked a reliable witness with no contradicting testimony. (See Mark 14:53-63)
Trial 5
The Second Roman Trial: Pilate sent Jesus to Herod since Jesus lived in Galilea. He was under Herod’s jurisdiction (Luke 23:6–12).
Herod questioned Him at length, and Jesus did not respond (fulfilling prophecy—Is. 53:7). Herod and his soldiers mocked and ridiculed Him (Luke 23:8–11). They dressed Him in an “elegant robe” and sent Him back to Pilate. Luke 23:12 says, “That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other” (NKJV).
This is not Herod the Great who tried to kill Jesus at His birth. This was Herod Antipos, Herod the Great’s son, who had John the Baptist killed.
Trial 6
The Third Roman Trial (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:39-19:16a): The Second Trial Before Pilate.
Pilate had a tradition that during the Jewish festival (Passover), he would release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. (Matthew 27:15) Pilate offered Jesus the Messiah or a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. “Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night (Matthew 27:19, NLT).’”
Barabbas was a prisoner because he had stolen and committed murder (probably) during an insurrection.
Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin persuaded the crowd to cry out; they wanted Barabbas to be released. Pilate, seeing that a riot was beginning, took water, washed his hands, and said that he was innocent of Jesus’ death. Jesus’ blood was on their hands. (Matthew 27:25-26)
As we get into the physical tolls that happened to Jesus in more detail, there are parts that can be graphic. We will put a “WARNING” sign before these portions.
After the trials, Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged (John 19:1). Whipping was carried out as a legal prerequisite prior to each Roman execution. The only exceptions to this were women, Roman senators, and soldiers (unless they were deserters).
WARNING: A commonly used tool was a short whip known as a flagrum or flagellum. It was made up of several leather thongs, either single or braided, of varying lengths. Iron balls, or sharp sheep bones, were sewn into the whip. Sometimes, staves (narrow pieces of wood) were also used.
The Roman soldier inflicted severe injuries on the victim’s back by striking it forcefully. Often, the flagrum would have iron balls on the ends, causing deep contusions, while the leather thongs and sheep bones were sliced into the skin and tissues beneath. As the flogging continued, the cuts would become deeper and eventually reach the underlying skeletal muscles. The pain and blood loss would eventually lead to circulatory shock and would influence their survival time on the cross.
During the scourging, they would be stripped naked, and their hands would be chained to the top of a wooden post. Alternating soldiers whipped their backs and legs. The intention was to flog them into a condition close to death to speed up their death.
After the flogging, Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into his headquarters and gathered a battalion before Him. (Matthew 27:27)
(A battalion is around 120–200 Roman soldiers.)
They mocked Jesus by placing a crown of thorns on his head. A crimson and scarlet garment was placed on His shoulders, and a reed was in His right hand. (Matthew 27:29)
WARNING: They took the staff he held away from Him and used it to hit Him in the head while spitting on Him. They then ripped His robe off and put His other clothes back on Him. (Matthew 27:30-31)
The purpose of crucifixion was to inflict extreme pain and torture on the victim. Although the Roman government did not invent the crucifixion, it is said: “they perfected it.” The Romans would make a public display of this horrific punishment to serve as a powerful deterrent from opposing Rome’s authority. Crucifixion was an exceptionally dreadful punishment, typically reserved for the most heinous offenders, as it was a slow death with maximum pain.
The condemned were expected to carry their cross from the flogging post to the crucifixion site, which in Jesus’ case was located outside of the city walls. Naked, to add further shame and humiliation, they would balance the patibulum (top part of the cross) on the nape of their neck and on their shoulders. Their arms were then typically tied outstretched on the crossbar. Outside of the city walls, the upright wooden post was permanently stationed.
In ancient Rome, it was customary for the individual sentenced to crucifixion to be paraded through the streets before reaching the designated location for their execution. The journey to the site of the crucifixion was led by a complete Roman military escort, with a centurion leading the way. Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, which translates to Place of the Skull. (Matthew 27:33)
(They pulled a man from the crowd to carry Jesus’ cross. His name was Simon, and he was from Cyrene, a region in North Africa that had a large Jewish population. He was probably in Jerusalem for Passover.)
One of the soldiers would carry a sign known as a titulus, which displayed the criminal’s name and crime. This would then be placed on the top of their cross. Then, the guard would remain with the criminal until they died. Pontius Pilate wrote Jesus’ sign in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. It said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The chief priests told Pilate not to write that, but rather, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “I have written what I have written (John 19:19-22) .”
WARNING: Afterward, the criminal was positioned on his back on the ground, with his arms extended along the patibulum (the horizontal bar that formed part of the cross). The Romans preferred to fix the hands to the crossbar by nailing or tying, with nailing being the more common method.
After that, the Romans securely attached the criminal to the crossbar, which was then fastened to the fixed post. It’s interesting to note that archaeological findings from Jerusalem during this period provide evidence of bodies that were crucified. These findings indicate that the nails used for crucifixion were approximately 5-7 inches long, had a square shaft, and were about 1 cm across.
According to the evidence, the nails were inserted through the wrist instead of the palms. The feet were then nailed or tied with rope to the cross, and once the criminal was nailed to the cross, the titulus was attached to the cross just above the criminal’s head.
The crowd and soldiers mocked, taunted, and jeered, and then they cast lots for His robe. “So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it will be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture, “They divided My outer clothing among them, and for my clothing they cast lots (John 19:23-24, AMP).” This fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 22:18.
There were two (actual) criminals hanging beside Jesus. Matthew’s gospel calls them robbers, although the Greek word λήστής (lace-tace’) could also imply insurrectionist. This is a potential interpretation but not definitive. These criminals also “reviled Him in the same way,” mocking Him as those who “passed by deriding Him, wagging their heads” and telling Him to save Himself. (Matthew 27:36-44)
Jesus was on the cross for approximately six hours. Within that time, two people came to believe He was the Son of God. The thief on the cross beside Him (Luke 23:40-43) and one of the Roman soldiers who took part in His brutal execution (Matthew 27:54). Both are loved deeply by Jesus.
Christ spoke seven times from the cross. Write them out.
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (NKJV)
Luke 23:43 Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. (NKJV)
John 19:26-27 Woman, behold, your son!" "Behold, your mother! (ESV)
Matthew 27:46 or Mark 15:34 Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me? or Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is translated, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
John 19:28 I thirst. (ESV)
Luke 23:46 Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. (NKJV)
John 19:30 It is finished! (NLT)
It was not intended to allow someone to survive a crucifixion. While hanging on the cross, the convicted would have to pull up to breathe and talk. This would have caused excruciating pain. If the Roman soldiers wanted the criminal to die and they were taking too long, they would break the bones in their legs, leaving them unable to use their legs to lift themselves up to breathe, causing them to asphyxiate. To ensure the criminal was dead, traditionally, a spear wound to the heart would be performed by most Roman soldiers.
In order for Jesus to become the unblemished sacrifice we need, He had to die. (Hebrews 9:11-22) He was dead for three days.
On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave, conquering sin and death once and for all (Jude 1:3).
Over 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus throughout 40 days. On the final day, He ascended into Heaven. Before He left, He commanded one specific thing of all His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 which is called the Great Commission.
The betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus represent a harrowing journey of sacrifice and love. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, succumbed to possession and betrayed Him with a kiss during Passover. Arrested in Gethsemane, Jesus endured six unjust trials, marked by illegalities, false accusations, and brutal mistreatment by Jewish and Roman authorities. Flogged, mocked, and nailed to the cross, He bore unimaginable pain and ridicule. Through this agony, He demonstrated boundless grace, forgiving His executioners and offering hope to a repentant thief. His death fulfilled prophecy, paving the way for humanity’s redemption through His resurrection.
[1] Note: All pictures are taken from JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. The article they were taken from was: On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ which can be read here. By: William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv; Floyd E. Hosmer, MS, AMI
[2] Matthew D. Aernie, “Praetorium,” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
(some might call this a glossary)
TL/DR—Too Long/Didn’t Read
Gospel—The good news that Jesus Christ fulfilled all the Jewish prophecies and promises made, and through His resurrection, provides a means to salvation.
Sin—A departure from God’s standard.
Saducees—A sect of Jewish priests originating from the time of King David and Solomon. Ezekiel selected this family/group with control of the temple. The sect included high priests, Judean aristocracy, and wealthy individuals. They were heavily involved with Rome and politics. They did not believe in a resurrection after death, angels, or spirits (Acts 23:8) and held only the Torah as Scripture.
Pharisees—A sect of Jewish laymen, priests, and scribes formed after the Maccabean revolt (165-160 BC). They held to strict views of the purity laws (specifically washing, eating, tithing, and Sabbath & festival observances) and strongly believed they were the “kingdom of priests” mentioned in Exodus 19:6. We estimate that there were around 300 of them during Jesus’ time.
Sanhedrin—A council that made up the “supreme court” of the Jews. They were responsible for interpreting the religious law. They met in the temple in Jerusalem, and they met every day except during the Sabbath and Holy Days (Jewish festivals). It was comprised of 70 members and the high priests (a total of 71).