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| <~~~ BACK A: Well, I can name at least several cases where this was not the case at all. The well known historian Josephus persuaded Titus to take at least three people off the cross before they were dead (Autobiography, chapter 25; Wars of the Jews, IV, v.2). For those who think Jews had no influence over the Roman government, you should know that Josephus himself was a Jew. So there were definitely exceptions to the general rule of leaving crucified people hanging. Certainly Jesus' case could easily have been an exception, for he'd broken no Roman law. He was crucified because, in the Jews' minds, he'd blasphemed by claiming to be God's son. As you can imagine, this was a "high crime" in Jewish minds, and they wanted the severest form of punishment possible for it. My suspicion is that Pilate agreed to crucify Jesus because he wanted to avoid general bloodshed. The Jews lead many bloody uprisings during this time-and here was Pilate, faced with a very angry mob. But the Romans had no reason to want Jesus "shown off as an example." Perhaps they even reasoned that Jesus' followers might be more likely to lean toward violence if he was left hanging, for all to see. We don't really know. So why didn't the Jews leave him hanging? Well, the Sabbath was coming, and, in keeping with Jewish custom and law, he had to be buried. "His corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance." (Deut. 21:23) Remember, by having Jesus killed, the Jews were trying their best to follow the holy law. Likewise, they were trying to follow the law when they buried him. GOT A QUESTION? I invite you to ask it. What stumps you? I'll do my best to find an answer! To ask a question, email me at [email protected]. (c) 2003 by Kristina Seleshanko |
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