Good Friday 2026

In this Good Friday message, we take a look at the medical and spiritual ramifications of how and why Jesus was crucified. Click here for the recording of this 4/3/26 Service, and you can fast-forward to 3:19 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our Text: John 19.28-30

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, said, “ I am thirsty.”

29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.

30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “it is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

In the Text

• Jesus is aware that his mission had come to completion

• In fulfillment of Ps 69.21, he asks for something to drink, as he is thirsty

• A sponge is dipped in sour wine, impaled on a hyssop branch, and lifted to his mouth

• The leaves of hyssop were aromatic, and the branches used in OT purification rites- “purge me with hyssop…”

• After he drinks the sour wine, he states, ”It is finished” teleo- completed, fulfilled, perfected, same as v28

• He bowed his head

• He gave up (jn 10.18- “no man takes my life”) His spirit, pneuma- the eternal, nonmaterial part of a person that responds to God (stepbible)

• What had he just endured, for you and I? the excruciating process of crucifixion…6 parts

1. Pre-crucifixion Trauma (Scourging)

• Before being crucified, victims were typically scourged (whipped).

• The Cat of Nine Tails, laced with bone, stone and glass- 39x

• Caused deep lacerations, often exposing muscle and sometimes bone

• Significant blood loss (hypovolemia)

• Early onset of shock (low blood pressure, rapid pulse)

• Skin and soft tissue damage increased risk of infection and fluid loss

• By the time of crucifixion, the victim was often already in a weakened, pre-shock state.

2. Nailing / Suspension

• The victim was either tied or nailed to a cross, or both

• Nails were likely driven through the wrists (intercarpal space) rather than palms to support body weight

• Feet were nailed or tied to stabilize the body

• This caused:

  • Severe localized pain

  • Possible injury to the median nerve, producing intense, radiating pain (similar to severe nerve trauma)

3. Position and Breathing Mechanics

• The most critical medical factor was asphyxiation (inability to breathe effectively).

• The body hung with arms extended and elevated

• This position caused the chest to be held in an inhaled state

• To exhale, the victim had to:

  • Push up on nailed feet

  • Pull with nailed wrists/arms

• As exhaustion set in:

• Breathing became increasingly shallow and ineffective

• Carbon dioxide levels rose (respiratory acidosis)

• Oxygen levels dropped (hypoxia)

4. Progressive Physiological Collapse

a. Hypovolemic Shock

• From blood loss and dehydration

• Symptoms:

  • Rapid heart rate

  • Low blood pressure

  • Organ failure

b. Dehydration

• Exposure to sun and air

• Lack of fluids

c. Acidosis

• Build-up of carbon dioxide and lactic acid

• Leads to:

  • Cardiac arrhythmias

  • Decreased muscle function

d. Exhaustion

• Inability to continue pushing up to breathe

• Leads directly to respiratory failure

5. Cause of Death

• The immediate cause of death in crucifixion was most often:

• Hypoxic respiratory failure (asphyxiation)

• Contributing factors:

• Shock (from blood loss and dehydration)

• Acidosis

• Cardiac arrest

• In some cases:

• Death could be hastened by crurifragium (breaking the legs), preventing the victim from pushing up to breathe

6. Time Course

• Death could take hours to several days, depending on:

  • Severity of prior injury

  • Method of attachment (nails vs. ropes)

  • Environmental conditions

(chatGPT)

Additional thoughts on crucifixion

• First practiced by the Medes and Persians, then by the Greeks and Romans

• The height of the upright post will a little taller than the height of a man

• Victims usually did not die for 2-3 days

• A person suspended by the hands usually lost BP quickly

• Lack of blood to the brain and heart would follow quickly

• Ropes, nails or both were used to affix the arms

• Torture was ended by breaking the legs below the knees with a club

• The victim’s offense was usually published by a crier

• The romans were the chief practitioners of crucifixion, but legal only for slaves and degraded persons

• Romans typically left the bodies to rot as a warning

• The Julian calendar placed the date as apr 7, ad30

• Likely, only the patibulum was carried by Jesus, the upright post likely permanently affixed in the ground

• Given the likely length of the hyssop reed, Jesus’ Cross was probably 7-9ft

• He was likely on the cross from 9a-3p Friday, and had been up all night prior at trial

• The Jews wanted him dead prior to Sabbath/passover

• John records a spear thrust in His side to guarantee death

• Crucifixion was never practiced by the Jews; Dt 21.23 forbade bodies being allow to hang overnight

• Jews saw crucifixion as a curse by God, Dt 21.23

• Thus, it was their most serious obstacle to acknowledging Jesus as Messiah

• It is now the universal symbol of Christianity (ZPEB 1.1040-1042)