Seeking archaeological, historical and scientific info on the Passion of Jesus

Hi,

Please don't tell me to watch the movie. I'm seeking archaeological, historical and scientific information regarding the Passion of Jesus. I'm sure there are links there somewhere that deal with the (unfortunately) gruesome details. I was meditating on what my Lord went through for my sake during last night's prayer, and was deeply moved by the extent of His sufferings for me.

Years ago I heard or read a pretty revealing description, but all I have to go on is my memory of what I learned at the time. I have been given a sort of stewardship over a couple of babes in the Lord in Thailand, and I feel the Spirit moving me to talk to them more about this. I know they watched the movie based on John's Gospel recently. When a Buddhist (or in this case, ex-Buddhist) watches this they think, "This man must have done some terrible things in his life to receive this karmic reward." This is an attitude that I know the Lord has corrected in them, but I feel a little more correction would be in order at this time.

In a related matter, does anyone agree with me about this? - Even though the suffering was as extreme as mortal man could ever expect, I feel that this was for us to witness from a human, physically oriented view, and as horrendous as it was, paled by comparison with 1. His being 'Made sin' for us. i.e. The completely sinless Lamb of God was forced to bear the filth of all our sins - all my sins. and 2. It was the only time in all eternity that the Light of the Father was withheld from His Son.

Thus, the cup of suffering that Jesus asked whether the Father might take from Him would be more the bearing of our sins, and the disfellowship by the Father, and of inestimable importance, but more for our eyes, was the brutal treatment and death He endured.

Also, do any of you have any thoughts regarding the period of darkness that fell when Christ was on the cross". Did Jesus - against Jewish law at the time - endure two sessions of whippings, not one? I can’t remember the scriptural references to this. I seem to remember a harmony of the Gospels between Matthew and John bears this out. Correct or no?

Is this heretical? I don't know where I got this view from, but it has been my view for many years. Is there any scripture that you can think of that would directly support (or refute) this view.

Thank you for your kind consideration of this topic. I have tried to do some web searches for some discussions of this most crucial of events, but almost all the links that I turn up deal with Mel Gibson's movie and the book it was based on.

Thanks again,

Jeffrey

I know there is a chapter in Lee Strobel's book [i]The Case For Christ[/i] that deals with some scientific details behind the Passion. Unfortunately I gave my copy away to a co-worker otherwise I would scan that chapter and post it here. You can find the book [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310209307/104-2344859-3378317?v=glance&n=283155]HERE[/url].

I never heard of the two sessions of whipping before, seems unplausible though because from what I understand a Roman scourging was enough in itself to kill a man.

I think it's good to remember that the gospels don't really go into much detail about the physical sufferings of Jesus. "and they crucified Him" is as far as it goes really. Do we need to go alot deeper than that? As you mentioned, the mystery of the darkness and the words "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" are beyond comprehension and unfortunately are largely undealt with in the movie.

In Christ,

Ron

Hi Jeffrey,

Here is a couple:

http://www.csun.edu/~hbeng151/icc/studies/account.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion

http://www.religiousstudies.uncc.edu/jdtabor/crucifixion.html

Also, do any of you have any thoughts regarding the period of darkness that fell when Christ was on the cross". Did Jesus - against Jewish law at the time - endure two sessions of whippings, not one? I can’t remember the scriptural references to this. I seem to remember a harmony of the Gospels between Matthew and John bears this out. Correct or no?

We have had some discussions on this, would have to dig them out. Try some searches here in the mean time.

and as horrendous as it was, paled by comparison with 1. His being 'Made sin' for us. i.e. The completely sinless Lamb of God was forced to bear the filth of all our sins - all my sins. and 2. It was the only time in all eternity that the Light of the Father was withheld from His Son.