History of Good Friday: the Crucifixion of Jesus

HISTORY OF GOOD FRIDAY

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For centuries, pilgrims have walked the Via Dolorosa, “the way of sorrow” in Jerusalem, following Jesus’s path on Good Friday. Starting at the judgment seat of Pilate at the Antonia Fortress in the eastern part of the city, immediately north of the Temple, the path follows fourteen “Stations of the Cross” to the final destination at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of the crucifixion and burial. Several years ago, I walked this road. Though historically anachronistic – some of these roads did not exist in Christ’s time – the walk nevertheless leaves one with a profound sense of historical gravitas.

Crucifixion on Good Friday

Following Pilate‘s sentence, Jesus was led away to be crucified. Crucifixion was a form of torture and execution developed by the Persians between 300 and 400 B.C. and practiced by many ancient societies, including Carthage, India, Scythia, Assyria, and Germanic tribes. The Phoenicians were probably the first to use a transverse cross-beam rather than just an upright stake in the ground. From the Phoenicians, the Romans adopted this practice as the primary means of execution of rebellious slaves and provincials who were not Roman citizens.

Incidentally, this is why Jesus could be executed by crucifixion, but the Apostle Paul, who was a Roman citizen, could not and was instead beheaded. During the Jewish revolt in A.D. 66, the Romans crucified 3,600 Jews, many of them from the aristocracy.

The Cross on Good Friday

The victim was first scourged with a flagellum to weaken him before hanging him on the cross. Near the top of the cross was the titulus or inscription that identified the criminal and the cause of his execution.

Above Jesus’ cross in Greek, Hebrew (Aramaic), and Latin were printed the words:

“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

The Latin acronym INRI comes from “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum.”

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus’ middle name was not “H,” as in “Jesus H. Christ.” Instead, this belief stems from a misunderstanding of the letters “IHS.” This is not an acronym or monogram but an abbreviation of the Greek word for Jesus, Ἰησοῦς. It is capitalized as IHSOUS and should properly be written with a line above the ‘h’ to indicate an abbreviation.

Death by crucifixion was painful and protracted. It seldom occurred before thirty-six hours, sometimes taking as long as nine days, and resulted from hunger and traumatic exposure. If it was decided to hasten the victim’s death, his legs were smashed with a heavy club or hammer. However, Jesus died within just a few hours. Rather than dwelling on this painful death, the New Testament recounts that:

“they crucified him.”

Good Friday?

Why is it called Good Friday? What good was there — for a good man, who had done nothing wrong — to be hung on a cross?

B.C. Comic strip by Johnny Hart

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com

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