A MODERN DOCTOR LOOKS AT THE CRUCIFIXION

 In the Journal of the American Medical Association, March 21, 1986 (p. 1455 ff.), readers were treated to an astonishing nine-page essay entitled "On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ."  The extensive, investigative, and extraordinary material was written by William D. Edwards, M.D., Wesley J. Gabel, M. Div., and Floyd E. Hosmer, M.S., AMI.  I would recommend reading the entire article.  However, here is the summary:

 Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and roman trials, was flogged, and was  sentenced to death by crucifixion.  The scourging produced deep stripelike  lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for  hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to  carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha.  At the site of crucifixion, his  wrists  were nailed to the patibulum and, after the patibulum was lifted onto  he upright  post (stripes), his feet were nailed tot he stripes.  The major  pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal  respirations.  Accordingly, death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock  and exhaustion asphyxia.   Jesus’ death was ensured by the thrust of a  soldier’s spear into his side.  Modern medical interpretation of the historical  evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.