written by Pat Thompson
The gospel writers do not provide much detailed description of Jesus’ crucifixion. They knew that their readers were already well aware of what happened when someone was crucified because most of them had either seen a crucifixion or the dead victim of one still hanging on his cross.
It was in the Sixth Century B.C. that the Persians came up with this excruciatingly painful death. Later the Roman began making frequent us of it. Why crucifixion? It was a cheap form of execution, and it served as a great deterrent to would-be criminals. The Romans, for example, crucified Sparticus and his 6,000 all along the Appian Way so that those who traveled this main road from Rome to the seaport would have clear knowledge of what happened to those who dared to rebel against Rome.
The gospels don’t tell us much about Jesus’ crucifixion, but they do indicate that even Jesus’ tormentors must have know that this was a tortuous punishment because they offered “wine mingled with myrrh,” a drink that would have alleviated the pain, “but he did not take it.” (Mark 15:23) Thus we wee that Jesus again chose to bear the full weight of the punishment due for our sins.
Later Jesus says, “I thirst” and is offered sour wine, often compared to vinegar. Pope Benedict reminds us that Jesus also thirsts for our love, but we sometimes respond “with a sour heart,” not generously giving our love and gratitude to Him.
