The Last Few Hours Of Christ

By Luke Quinn

The Cross: Understanding What Jesus Endured

The story of the cross is more than just a moment in history—it’s the greatest demonstration of love and sacrifice. From the Garden of Gethsemane to the grave, Jesus endured unimaginable pain, betrayal, and torture to save us from our sins. Today, I want to take you through three key moments of this journey:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

2. The Scourging

3. The Crucifixion

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

The night before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was coming—He knew the pain and suffering He would endure.

Luke 22:39-44 (NKJV):

“And He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

This detail in verse 44 describes a rare medical condition called hematidrosis, where extreme stress causes blood vessels around sweat glands to rupture, mixing blood with sweat. It’s reported only a handful of times in medical literature and happens under unimaginable stress.

Even in His agony, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will. He chose the cross because of His love for us.

2. The Scourging

After His arrest, Jesus was handed over to Pilate and then Herod. Although Pilate initially wanted to release Him, the crowd demanded His crucifixion and chose to free Barabbas instead.

Luke 23:16-18 (NKJV):

“Therefore I will punish Him and release Him… But they cried out all together, saying, ‘Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!’”

Jesus was scourged—one of the most brutal forms of torture in Roman punishment. Scourging involved tying the victim to a post and whipping them with a “cat of nine tails,” a whip embedded with metal, bone, and spikes. Each lash would tear into the skin, requiring around 180 stitches per strike to close the wound. Multiply that by 39 lashes, and it would take nearly 2,000 stitches to close the wounds.

Roman citizens were protected from this punishment; it was reserved only for slaves and the worst criminals. Jesus endured this torture for us.

3. The Crucifixion

Carrying part of His own cross, Jesus was led to the place of crucifixion. The cross itself was estimated to weigh 125-150 pounds, and the journey would have been grueling after the scourging.

Luke 23:26 (NKJV):

“And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.”

The nails used in crucifixion were driven into the wrists, not the palms, because the palms could not support the weight of the body. By driving the spikes through the wrists, the Romans avoided major arteries but struck the nerves, causing excruciating pain. The same precision was applied to the feet, where a spike was driven between the bones, causing intense agony but preventing immediate blood loss.

Hanging on the cross was a slow, torturous process. Crucifixion victims could inhale but had to pull up against the nails in their hands and push up with their feet to exhale. Every breath was agony.

The Death of Jesus

Unlike many crucifixion victims, Jesus did not die from exhaustion or suffocation. The Roman soldiers would often break a victim’s legs to hasten death, but this wasn’t necessary for Jesus.

John 19:36 (NKJV):

“For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’”

To confirm His death, a soldier pierced Jesus’ side, and blood and water flowed separately—evidence that Jesus had already been dead for some time.

Luke 23:44-47 (NKJV):

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour… Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”

The cross was not designed to kill quickly. Victims could hang for days before dying. But Jesus chose to give up His life at the perfect moment. No one took His life—He laid it down willingly to save us.

Why Did Jesus Go Through This?

Many people don’t truly understand what Jesus went through—from sweating blood in the garden, to the scourging, to the agonizing hours on the cross. He faced betrayal, mockery, unimaginable pain, and death. But He did it for one reason: love.

Jesus gave His life to save us from our sins and to give us the chance to spend eternity with Him.

John 15:13 (NKJV):

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

What Does This Mean for Us?

The story of the cross isn’t just a historical event—it’s personal. Jesus’ sacrifice offers us forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life.

If you’ve ever wondered how much God loves you, look at the cross. Every drop of blood, every moment of suffering, was for you. Jesus chose the cross because He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post helps you understand what Jesus truly endured and how great His love is for you. From the garden to the grave, He gave everything so that we could be saved.

If you’ve been feeling distant from God, remember this: His sacrifice was for you. He is ready to forgive, restore, and bring you into a relationship with Him.

Thank you for reading, and may God bless you! Remember how loved you are by the One who gave it all.