Religion & Spirituality
In God’s timing, Jesus allowed himself to be arrested and crucified (Matt. 16:21; 20:18, 19). Because of the humiliation and brutality, the Romans rarely crucified other Romans except for treason or rebellion, and almost never women. After Jesus was whipped, beaten, and tortured he was nailed to a cross and hung there for six hours before he died. Before taking him down, a guard pierced his rib cage and heart to make sure he was dead (John 19:33, 34). God allowed a crucifixion, so death was certain to everyone. Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus down from the cross, washed his bloody body, wrapped him in linen, put fragrant oils and spices on him and laid him in the tomb. Because Jesus was buried on Friday at sundown before the Jewish Passover (Saturday), no Jews were allowed to deal with dead bodies until sunup on Sunday. Sometimes, God allows the impossible to show what He can make possible!