Minimal Fact #1: Jesus Died By Crucifixion

In his book The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, New Testament scholar and leading expert on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Dr. Gary Habermas outlines a simple yet highly compelling approach to demonstrating that the Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead is the most likely explanation for the events that occurred nearly two millennia ago in Judea. Having thoroughly studied the historical, scientific, psychological, and religious evidence linked to the resurrection of Jesus, Dr. Habermas has formulated a minimalistic argument for the legitimacy of the resurrection that he calls The Minimal Facts approach. Throughout this week leading to the celebration on Easter Sunday, we will be analyzing Habermas’ minimal facts approach as well as opposing explanations against the resurrection. We must remember, explanations are only as good as the evidence behind them and how they correspond to reality. Keeping this in mind, it is my goal to demonstrate using Dr. Habermas’ minimal facts approach that the resurrection is the best explanation of the remarkable events recorded in the New Testament literature and that the opposing theories do not hold up to scrutiny. Having laid the groundwork for the task at hand, to show that the resurrection was a true historical event, let us dive into our first minimal fact that Dr. Habermas uses in his case.

Minimal Fact #1: Jesus died by crucifixion.

It is recorded in each of the four gospels that “Jesus was executed by crucifixion” (Habermas, 2004).

"They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left... From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink. But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.”

- Matthew 27:33-38, 45-50

'They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull). They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get. Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews. They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left... 'When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.” Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee, these women followed him and took care of him. Many other women had come up with him to Jerusalem.”

- Mark 15:22-27, 33-41

“Two others — criminals — were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews... It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”

- Luke 23:32-38, 44-49

“Then he handed him over to be crucified. Then they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews... After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so, they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.”

- John 19:16-19, 28-30

In the ancient Roman world, “crucifixion was a common form of execution” used to “punish members of lower class, slaves, soldiers, the violently rebellious, and those accused of treason” (Habermas, 2004). The practice of crucifixion resulted in the excruciating and humiliating death of many by asphyxiation. Numerous ancient historians such as Josephus and Cicero record the horrors of crucifixion in the ancient world (Habermas, 2004). The Roman historian Tacitus “refers to it as the ‘the extreme penalty’” (Habermas, 2004). Cicero states that “the very word ‘cross’ should be far removed not only from the person of a Roman citizen but from his thoughts, his eyes, and his ears” (Habermas, 2004). Therefore, we can conclude that crucifixion was a common and horrific form of execution present in the ancient Roman world at the time of Christ.

As we saw above, each of the gospels records that Jesus died by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans. In addition to the gospel account found in the New Testament, there are multiple extrabiblical sources that record Jesus’ death as well. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus states that “when Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified” (Habermas, 2004). Tacitus records that “Christus (Jesus)... suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate” and Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata writes that having been accused of blasphemy Jesus “was crucified on that account” (Habermas, 2004). Mara Bar-Serapion asks in one his letters “what advantage came to the Jews by the murder of their wise King...” (Habermas, 2004). Moreover, the Jewish Talmud “reports that ‘on the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged’” (Habermas, 2004). Yeshu refers to the Hebrew name Joshua which in Greek is known as Jesus, and “being hung on a tree was used to describe crucifixion in ancient antiquity” (Habermas, 2004). So, what are we to make of the vast evidence related to the crucifixion and death of Jesus?

I think the most reasonable conclusion we can come to is summarized by “highly critical scholar of the Jesus Seminar, Dominic Crossan” who states that the crucifixion and death of Jesus “is as sure as anything historical can ever be” (Habermas, 2004). Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus did die by crucifixion as the gospels record. That being said, we have our minimal fact needed to demonstrate that Jesus resurrected from the dead, which is that Jesus died on the cross. In a later post I will discuss and refute a theory the suggest that Jesus never did die on the cross and which skeptics say would eliminate the possibility of a resurrection. Stay posted for that and come back tomorrow for the next minimal facts related to the resurrection of Jesus.

References:

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Dr. Gary Habermas