At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death.  At the time Crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist,

not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There’s a tendon in the

wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breathe. Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross.

Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the

suffering, the courage. Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.

Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering?

Before the nails and the spear pierced His side Jesus was whipped

and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body.

The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face.

The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.  He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds.

Jesus had to endure this experience so that you can be integrated into the life of the Trinity and have redemption for your sins. He died for you.

Would you die for Him? Few of us will be privileged to die for Him, but we are all called to live for Him.