Rome reserved crucifixion for the worst of the worst criminals.
Jesus was not found guilty of anything, but Pontius Pilate actually wanted to let him go free. The customs of the day allowed for the release of a prisoner on Passover. Pilate offered the crowd a choice between releasing a criminal named Barabbas or Jesus. They chose to release Barabbas and have Jesus curcified even though he had not been found guilty of anything against Rome.
Pilate bowed to political pressure.
Thereby fulfilling the scriptures of the Old Testament.
The Roman historian Tacitus, writing in the early second century, recorded that Christus—the founder of Christianity—“suffered the extreme penalty” during the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate. Tacitus was not a Christian and wrote about Christians with considerable hostility.
Before being taken to the cross, Jesus was scourged by Roman soldiers. The scourging was brutally severe, with a Roman whip designed to tear the flesh. The soldiers then placed a crown of thorns on His head, struck Him, spit on Him, and mocked Him as “King of the Jews.” [Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:3–5; Psalm 22:7–8]
Jesus was then forced to carry His cross toward Golgotha. Weakened by the beating, He eventually could not continue, and Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it for Him. [Isaiah 53:7]
At Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to the cross through His hands and feet and lifted up between two criminals. The soldiers divided His clothing among themselves and cast lots for His garments, fulfilling the words written in Psalm 22:16–18.
Those watching mocked Him. Religious leaders, soldiers, and even one of the criminals insulted Him, challenging Him to save Himself. [Psalm 22:7–8] Yet Jesus did not retaliate or call for rescue. He prayed for those crucifying Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Darkness covered the land. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” — the very words written centuries earlier in Psalm 22:1.
Jesus became thirsty, and He was given sour wine to drink, fulfilling Psalm 69:21. After hours on the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Then He said, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit,” echoing Psalm 31:5, and He died.
The soldiers came to break the legs of those being crucified to hasten their deaths. They did not break Jesus’ legs, because He was already dead. This fulfilled Psalm 34:20 and the Passover instruction concerning the lamb in Exodus 12:46.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. [Zechariah 12:10]
Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man. [Isaiah 53:9]
The crucifixion was not simply an execution. Christians believe that Jesus willingly endured this suffering for our sins, fulfilling the picture of the suffering Servant described in Isaiah 53:5–6:
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”
And then, three days later, the tomb was found empty.
