The Story of Christ's Death

As we approach Good Friday, let us take some time to reflect upon the death of Christ.  The following is a step-by-step summary of the crucifixion.

Scholars believe Jesus was crucified on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33.  

He was betrayed by His disciple, Judas, for thirty pieces of silver, who handed Him over to the Jewish leaders.  Mt 27:3; Lk 22:3-4

The Jewish leaders condemned Him to death.  They spat in His face, beat Him, and mocked Him.  Mt 26:57-68

Then the Jewish leaders handed Him over to Pilate, the Roman governor, for crucifixion, since the Jews were not allowed to carry out capital punishment.  Mt 27:1-2

Pilate saw that Jesus, being from Galilee, was in Herod’s jurisdiction, and sent him to be tried by Herod.  Herod and his soldiers just mocked Him and sent Him back to Pilate.  Lk 23:6-12

Pilate’s custom at every Passover was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.  He gave them a choice between Barabbas, a notorious criminal, or Jesus.  The Jews chose Barabbas, so Pilate sentenced Jesus to crucifixion.  Mt 27:15-26

First, the Romans flogged Him (severely whipped).  Mt 27:26.  Learn more about flogging.

Then the Roman soldiers stripped him and mocked Him by putting Him in a purple robe, placing a crown of thorns on His head, and placing a staff in His right hand.  They spat on Him, and kept beating Him on the head with a stick.  Then they put His own clothes back on Him and led Him away to be crucified.  Mt 27:27-31; Mk 15:19

He was forced to carry His cross to a hill outside the city called Golgotha (Latin Calvary; The Skull).  Lk 23:33

Because He was so weak, they forced a man named Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus carry the cross.  Mt 27:32; Mk 15:21

At Golgotha, He was stripped, and His hands and feet nailed to the cross.  Jn 19:23; Jn 20:25; Acts 2:23; 

He was crucified at 9 am.  Mk 15:25

He was crucified between two criminals.  Mk 15:27

Pilate had a sign made and posted on the cross that said, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Jn 19:19

The soldiers cast lots for His clothes.  Jn 19:23-24

As He hung on the cross, people yelled insults at Him and mocked Him.  Mt 27:39-44

From noon until 3 PM, darkness came over the whole land.  Mt 27:45

At 3 P.M., He said, “It is finished,” and died.  He was on the cross for six hours.  Jn 19:30

Scholars believe He died of asphyxiation and cardiac arrest.  Asphyxiation is a fatal lack of oxygen, which would have led to cardiac arrest – His heart stopped beating.

At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks split; the tombs were opened and many dead people came to life and went into Jerusalem.  Mt 27:51-53

Since the Jews wanted the bodies taken down and buried before sundown, the Roman soldiers broke the legs of the two men crucified beside Jesus.  But when they came to Jesus, they didn’t break His legs because He was already dead.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and blood and water came out.  Jn 19:31-37

Learn more about Roman crucifixion.