Rufus Journey to Crucifixion
Part 1
Jerusalem, 39 A.D.
We had a long Journey to Jerusalem, I never been here before, but I heard so much about it. I am from a city of Cyrene, Roman Empire, just turn 18 recently and my family sent me to Jerusalem for better opportunities. My cousin Mark lives in Jerusalem, and I will be staying with him. We arrived at Damascus gate towards the evening to where our final stop was. I sit down to drink some water, “how am I going to find my cousin?” I thought. Then someone tap me on my shoulder, I turn around, it was my cousin Mark. I haven’t seen him in two years. He moved to Jerusalem when he was 18 and was working as a Carpenter. We hugged, it was so good to see him.
“Come on let’s go to my place, I bet you are really tired from the road” he said to me
“Yes of course” I replied as we walked into Jerusalem.
“Tell me about you, Jerusalem, it feels like I haven’t seen you forever” I started the conversation.
“Things are good, been slammed with work, I am glad you came, you can help me. I live not far from here on street called ‘Via Dolorosa’ and that’s where my shop it at as well.” My cousin continued. “Remember uncle Simeon, your dad, told us a story how he helped that prisoner who was led to crucifixion in Jerusalem?”
“Yea, how can I forget” I said, as I remembered when I was younger, my dad went to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem, when he came back he told us a story of how he helped a man that was led to crucifixion. He described the crucifixion process to us, it was scary but interesting.
“Well this is the road that leads to Golgotha where they crucify rebels once in a while, this is where it happened” said Mark.
It was incredible to walk on the street that dad told me about in his story.
As we come along a crowded road, we notice a Roman Centurion on horseback approaching us. Because of the many people on the road, we do not immediately see who is following him or what they are doing. As the people in front of us step to the side of the road, a group of Roman soldiers behind the centurion comes into view.
"Move out the way, clear the path," the soldiers yelled.
Of course, Mark and I step off the road also to let the soldiers pass.
Then we notice for the first time that the soldiers are forcing three men with roughhewn crossbars on their shoulders to walk along behind the centurion’s horse. They were almost completely naked wearing nothing except the small loincloth. Every time their prisoners slow a bit, the soldiers lash them with whips. As I take in the horror of this scene, I am filled with pity for them. I cannot take my eyes off them as they approached us.
“You want to see the crucifixion?” Mark asked
“I never witness one, I would be interested in doing so” I replied.
We followed them and came to Golgotha, the place where these three are to be crucified.
Two soldiers pushed the first prisoner backward on the ground, so that he is flat on his back. Then, as I watch, one soldier was holding a spike. He set the spike right on his wrist and presses it downward into his arm, and then he slams the heavy mallet down, AGHHHHHHHHHH the man screamed in agony. The soldiers hammer six-inch-long iron nails into the condemned men’s writs, pinning them to the crossbar. The soldier moved over to the other wrist and once again the prick of the spike was felt against his wrist followed by a sudden explosion of intense pain, once again he screamed in agony as his body jerked on the ground.
The soldiers attached chains to each end of the crossbeam and he was slowly pulled up the vertical post and fixed in position towards the top. Before long he was dangling in the air hanging on his nailed wrists as the cross beam climbed the vertical post towards its final position. The prisoner was screaming in pain as the full weight of his dangling body was held by nails. The cross beam finally reached its destination and was secured firmly in place. His naked nailed body hung from the cross awaiting the next stage of his crucifixion.
Two soldiers grabbed his legs and positioned his feet against the side of the stipe. The nails were placed at his heel and several violent hits from the hammer drove the spike through the bone and into the hard wood. More screams from him as he shook his cross, violently, cursing the soldiers that had put him there. Then they nailed the second and the third man in the same manner.
I have never seen anyone being crucified before. It is a terrible sight. We stay there for a while; I’m not sure how long. The three condemned man screamed in agony as they hang from the cross naked. Then, Mark and I left the crucifixion scene to go back to Jerusalem. We walk slowly and in silence, the terrible crucifixion scene indelibly imprinted in our minds.
When we came home, Mark showed me a small little room that I will be staying in and I retired to the room and try to sleep. I took my robe and sandals off and tried to fall asleep, but I was not able too. The terrible image of the crucifixion scene keeps appearing in my mind as I toss and turn. I cannot get any rest, The horrible beating! The bloody back! The cruel nails! As I was laying, I was not able to take off my head the scene of men stretched and hanging naked on their crosses.
Then this though cross my mind, “I wonder how it feels to be crucified? How does it feel to walk through the streets carrying the crossbeam and knowing the destiny that awaits you? How does it feel to be nailed to the cross? How does it feel to be left hanging naked on the cross for everyone to see?”
Soon I found myself with my hands stretched in crucifixion pose and I began to imagine myself being on the cross. I couldn’t fall asleep until late in the night. The thoughts completely occupied my mind, I decided that I need to find out for myself.
To be Continued…
