Conference yukon::christian_v7

	Dear friends in Christ:  On this most holy night,
	in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life,
	the Church doth bid her members, dispersed throughout
	the world, to gather in vigil and prayer.  For this is
	the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word
	and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory
	over death.

O God, through thy Son thou hast bestowed upon thy people the brightness
of thy light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal
feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we
may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.  Amen.

Christ yesterday and today
the beginning and the end         		By his holy
Alpha and Omega                                 and glorious wounds
all time belongs to him                         may Christ our Lord
and all the ages                                guard us
to him be glory and power                       and keep us.  Amen.
through every age for ever.  Amen.

May the light of Christ, gloriously rising,
dispel the darkness of heart and mind.

Rejoice now, all ye heavenly legions of Angels: all high things that
pass understanding: for the King that cometh with victory, let the
trumpet proclaim salvation.

Sing with joy, O earth, illumed with this celestial radiancy: and
enlightened by the eternal God, thy glory, believe and know that
thou has put away the darkness of all mankind.

So likewise let our Mother, his holy Church, welcome the bright
beams of light shed upon her: and let his holy courts be filled
with the praise of his people.

It is very meet and right, that with the service of our lips we
should glorify and should praise with heart and soul God the
invisible and almighty, and likewise his only-begotten Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord and Saviour, who paid for us to the eternal Father
the debt of Adam's transgression: and with his dear blood wiped
away the reproach of our former offenses.

Now therefore we sacrifice our Passover, wherein for us the very
Lamb of God is slain, by whose blood the doors of the faithful
people are made holy.

The night is come, wherein our fathers, the children of Israel,
were led forth out of Egypt; thou dividedst the sea, and madest
them to pass over as on dry land.

Yea, the night is come, that with the fiery pillar hath purged
away the darkness of our condemnation.

The night is come, whereby all that believe in Christ upon the face
of the earth, delivered from this naughty world and out of the shadow
of death, are renewed unto grace, and are made partakers of eternal
life.  The night is come, wherein the bonds of death were loosed, and
Christ harrowing hell rose again in triumph.

For wherefore should man be born into this world, save that being
born he might be redeemed?  How wonderful then, O God, is thy
loving-kindness unto us thy children!  Behold, what manner of love
he hath bestowed upon us:  who to redeem a servant, delivered up
his only Son!

The mystery therefore of this most holy night putteth to flight the
deeds of darkness, purgeth away sin: restoreth innocence to the
fallen, and gladness unto them that mourn: casteth out hatred,
bringeth peace to all mankind, and boweth down mighty princes.

Let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, how he saved his
people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to
the fullness of redemption.

The Story of Creation		Genesis 1:1-2:2			Psalms 33,36

O God, who in a wondrous manner didst create the race of man, and still more
wondrously hast redeemed the same: Grant us, we beseech thee, so steadfastly
to withstand all the crafts and devices of sin, that we may be found worthy
to attain everlasting felicity.  Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.  Amen.

The Flood		Genesis 7:1-5,11-18;8:6-18;9:8-13	Psalm 46

Almighty God, who has placed in the skies the sign of thy covenant with all
living things: Grant that we, who are saved through water and the Spirit, may
worthily offer to thee our sacrifice of thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.  Amen.

Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac	Genesis 22:1-18			Psalms 33,16

O God, Almighty Father of them that put their trust in thee, for the glory
of thy Name multiply, by the grace of the Paschal sacrament, the number of
thy children; that thy Church may rejoice to see fulfilled thy promise to
our father Abraham; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Israel's Deliverance at the	Exodus 14:10-15:1	       Song of Moses
Red Sea

O God, who has ordained that thy mighty works of old should enlighten even
this our present generation; who didst by the mighty defense of thy right
hand deliver one people from persecution in the land of Egypt to be a
figure of the salvation of all nations by the washing of regeneration:
Grant, we pray thee, that the fullness of all mankind, being delivered
from its present bondage, may be made sons of Abraham and worthy members
of thy true Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

God's Presence in a Renewed	Isaiah 4:2-6			Psalm 122
Israel

Salvation Offered Freely to	Isaiah 55:1-11			Psalm 42
All

A New Heart and a New Spirit	Ezekiel 36:24-28		Ecce, Deus

The Valley of Dry Bones		Ezekiel 37:1-14			Psalms 30, 143

The Gathering of God's People	Zephaniah 3:12-20		Psalms 98, 126

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light:  Look favorably on thy whole
Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of thy
providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole
world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and
things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being
brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, thy Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Through the Paschal mystery, dearly beloved, we are buried with Christ by
Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life.  I call
upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the
solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan
and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Church.

Celebrant	Dost thou reaffirm thy renunciation of evil and renew
		thy commitment to Jesus Christ?
People		I do.

Celebrant	Dost thou believe in God the Father?
People		I believe in God, the Father almighty,
		   maker of heaven and earth.

Celebrant	Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God?
People		I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord;
		   who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
		   born of the Virgin Mary,
		   suffered under Pontius Pilate,
		   was crucified, dead, and buried.
		   He ascended into heaven,
		   and sitteth on the right hand of
			God the Father Almighty.
		   From thence he shall come to judge
			both the quick and the dead.

Celebrant	Dost thou believe in God the Holy Ghost?
People		I believe in the Holy Ghost,
		   the holy catholic Church,
		   the communion of saints,
		   the forgiveness of sins,
		   the resurrection of the body,
		   + and the life everlasting.

Celebrant	Wilt thou continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
		in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People		I will, by God's help.

Celebrant	Wilt thou persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
		thou dost fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People		I will, by God's help.

Celebrant	Wilt though proclaim by word and example the Good News
		of God in Christ?
People		I will, by God's help.

Celebrant	Wilt thou seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
		thy neighbor as thyself?
People		I will, by God's help.

Celebrant	Wilt thou strive for justice and peace among all men, and
		respect the dignity of every person?
People		I will, by God's help.

Celebrant	May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
		hast given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and
		bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal
		life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Leader		Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Open their hearts to thy grace and truth.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Fill them with thy holy and life-giving Spirit.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Keep them in the faith and communion of thy holy Church.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Teach them to love others in the power of the Holy Ghost.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Send them into the world in faithful witness to thine
		abounding love.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader		Bring them to the fullness of thy peace and glory.
People		Lord, hear our prayer.

Each candidate is baptized with water in the Name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Celebrant	Let us welcome the newly baptized.
All		We receive you into the household of God: Confess the
		faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection,
		and share with us in his eternal priesthood.

	A l l e l u i a !   C h r i s t   i s   r i s e n !

	T h e   L o r d   i s   r i s e n   i n d e e d  !   A l l e l u i a !

Epistle: Romans 6:3-11	 THE GREAT ALLELUIA    The Holy Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10

Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen.  Sing his praise without delays, who takes
thee by the hand, that thou likewise with him may'st rise: that, as his death
calcined thee to dust, his life may make thee gold, and much more, just.
Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part with all thy art.  The cross
taught all wood to resound his name who bore the same.  His stretched sinews
taught all strings what key is best to celebrate this most high day.  Consort
both heart and lute, and twist a song pleasant and long; or since all music is
but three parts vied, and multiplied; O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
and make up our defects with his sweet art.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The strife is o'er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won,
The song of triumph has begun.	Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed:
Let shout of holy joy outburst.  Alleluia!

Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee,
From death's dread sting thy servants free,
That we may live and sing to thee.  Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, alleluia:
Therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread
	of sincerity and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

May the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserve thy
body and soul unto everlasting life.  Amen.

Jesus Christ is risen today,            But the pains which he endured,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Our triumphant holy day,                Our salvation have procured,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Who did once upon the cross,            Now above the sky he's King,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Suffer to redeem our loss.              Where the angels ever sing.
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing,       Sing we to our God above,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Unto Christ our heavenly King,          Praise eternal as his love,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Who endured the Cross and grave,        Praise him, all ye heavenly host,
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
Sinners to redeem and save.             Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
  A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!                 A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!

Although the preceding 17 notes were compressed in time to just over a
minute by a batch job which began as the fire was struck in the dark at
The Church of the Advent and thousands of other parishes, the final Alleluia
was not sung until three hours of highly participatory worship had been
completed.


	A l l e l u i a !     C h r i s t   i s   r i s e n !

	T h e   L o r d   i s   r i s e n   i n d e e d !     A l l e l u i a !

    John, I did not have the opportunity to read this until today.  Thank
    you for sharing this with all our brothers and sisters in Christ.  
    
    

    
    If anyone would like the medical viewpoint, as written by a medical
    doctor about crucifixtion and what Jesus experienced, copy the 
    following postscript file....
    
    TAPE::BADBOY:[X]CRUCIFY.PS
    

re -1 "insufficient iv etc"


sorry - am dialed in & am getting lots of junk chars.

             <<< Note 106.19 by TAPE::LKL "His Pain, Your Gain!" >>>

    
    If anyone would like the medical viewpoint, as written by a medical
    doctor about crucifixtion and what Jesus experienced, copy the 
    following postscript file....
    
    TAPE::BADBOY:[X]CRUCIFY.PS
    

Hi Lisa,

    I'm getting a file protection error on that file...

						Andrew

OUCH!!!!

Careful Chele .... I'll have to sit quietly awhile after a notescollision
like that. 

;-) 
							Andrew

re            <<< Note 106.22 by ICTHUS::YUILLE "Thou God seest me" >>>

>OUCH!!!!

thorry thir

I mean, 'scuse me...

    
    
    now try!
    
    

 I don't have a ps printer nearby :-(

Thanks Lisa - the file copied ok this time.

							Andrew

    >  TAPE::BADBOY:[X]
    
    I love the location, talk about obscure.
    
    Sparky

    The only printer I have available is an LA75, and I've long since lost
    track of the tool I used to have on MEIS that would translate .PS files
    for LA50-class printers...
    
    Is there someone out in notesland who would be willing to run off a
    copy of the paper and stick it into the mail to me?   
    
    Thanks, 
    
    	John Stock  RY84-31
    	Merck & Co., Inc
    	126 East Lincoln Ave.
    	Rahway, NJ 07065-0090
                      

    
The Crucifixion: A Medical View
by Dr. C. Truman Davis

"Several years ago I became interested in the physical aspects of the passion,
or suffering, of Jesus Christ when I read an account ofthe crucifixion in Jim
Bishop's book, "The Day Christ Died".  I suddenly realized I had taken the
crucifixion more or less for granted all these years - that I had grown
callous to its horror by a too-easy familiarity with grim details.  It finally
occurred to me that, as a physician, I did not even know the actual immediate
cause of Christ's death.  The gospel writers do not help much on this point.
Since the crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetimes,
they undoubtedly considered a detailed description superflous.  For that reason
we have only the concise words ofthe evangelists: "Pilate, having scourged
Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified...and they crucified Him."  Despite the
gospel accounts' silence on the details of Christ's crucifixion, many have
looked into this subject in the past.  In my personal study of the event from
a medical viewpoint, I am indebted especially to Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French
surgeon who did exhaustive historical and experimental research and wrote
extensively on the topic.  An attempt to examine the infinite psychic and
spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God in atonement for the sins of fallen
man is beyond the scope of this article.  However, the physiological and
anatomical aspects of our Lord's passion we can examine in some detail.  What
did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of
Torture?

The Method of Crucifixion

This question led first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself - that
is, the torture and execution of a person by fixation to a cross.  Apparantly,
the first known use of crucifixion was among the Persians.  Alexander and his
generals brought the practice of crucifixion to the Mediterranean world, to
Egypt and to Carthage.  The Romans evidently learned the technique from the
Carthaginians and, as with almost everything the Romans did, they rapidly
developed a high degree of efficiency and skill in carrying it out.  A number
of Roman authors, including Livy, Cicero and Tacitus, comment on it.  Several
innovations and modifications are described in the ancient literature.  Only
a few have some relevance here.  The upright portion of the cross, or stripes,
could have the cross-arm, or patibulum, attached two or three feet below its
top.  this is what we commonly thing of today  as the classical form over
the cross, usually named the Latin Cross.  The common form used in Jesus' day,
however, was the taucross, shaped like the Greek letter Tau or like or letter
T.  On this cross the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stripes.
There is excellent archaeological evidence that it was on this type of cross
that the Jesus was crucified.  The upright post of the cross, however, was
generally permanently fixed in the ground at the site of execution.  The
condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, apparently weighing about
110 pounds, form the prison to the place of execution.  Without any historical
or biblical proof, however, medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our
picture of Christ carrying the entire cross.  Many painters and most of the
sculptures of crucifixes also make a mistake in showing the nails driven
through the palms.  Roman historical accounts and experimental work have shown
that the nails werer driven between the small bones of the wrists and not
through the palms.  Nails driven through the palm will strip out between the
fingers when they support the weight of a human body.  This misconception may
have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus' words to Thomas, "Observe
my hands."  Modern and ancient anatomists, however, have always considered the
wrist as part of the hand.  A TITULUS, or small sign stating the victim's crime,
was usually carried at the front of the procession and later was nailed to the
cross above the head.  This sign, with its staff nailed to the top of the cross,
would have given it the characteristic for of the Latin cross.

GETHSEMANE

The physical passion of Christ began in Gethsemane.  Of the many aspects of His
initial suffering, the one which is of particular physiological interest is the
bloody sweat.  Interestingly enough, the physician, St. Luke, is the only
evangelist to mention this occurrence.  He says, "And being in agony, He
prayed the longer.  And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down
upon the ground"   Every attempt imaginable has been used by modern scholars
to explain away the phenomenon of bloody sweat, apparantly under the mistaken
impression that it simply does not occur.  A great deal of effort could be
saved by consulting the medical literature.  Though very rare, the phenomenon
of HEMATIDROSIS, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional 
stress, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with 
sweat.  This process alone could have produced marked weakness and possible 
shock. Although Jesus' betrayal and arrest are important portions of the
passion story, the next event in the account which is significant from a 
medical perspective is His trial before the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the High
Priest.  Here the physical trauma was inflicted.  A soldier struck Jesus across
the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas.  The palace guards
then blindfolded Him, mockingly taunted Him to identify them as each passed by,
spat on Him, and struck Him in the face.

BEFORE PILATE

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and worn out from a
sleepless night, Jesus was taken across Jerusalem to the Praetorium of the 
Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius
Pilate.  We are familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to shift
responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrach of Judea.  Jesus apparently
suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to
Pilate.  It was then, in response to the outcry of the mob, that Pilate ordered
Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion.  

There is much disagreement among the authorities about scourging as a prelude to
crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two.
Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as His full
punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to
the taunts by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caeser
against this pretender who claimed to be the King of the Jews.  It is doubtful
whether the Romans made any attempt to follow Jewish law in the matter of
scourging.  The Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes. The
Pharisees, always making sure that the law was strictly kept, insisted on only
thirty-nine lashes be given.  Preparations for Jesus' scourging were carried
out at Caesar's orders.

The prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above
His head.  The Roman legionnaire stpped forward with the Flagrum, or Flagellum,
in his hand.  This was a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather 
thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the end of each.  The
heavy whip was brought down with full force again and again across Jesus'
shoulders, back and legs.  At first the weighted thongs cut through the skin
only.  Then, as the blows continued, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous
tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of
the skin and finally spurting aterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying
muscles.  The small balls of lead first produced large bruises which were
broken open by subsequent blows.  Finally, the skin of the back was hanging
in long ribbons, and the entire area was an unrecognizable mass of torn,
bleeding tissue.  When it was determined by the centurion in charge that the
prisoner was near death, the beating was finally stopped.

MOCKERY

The half-fainted Jesus was then untied and allowed to slump to the stone
pavement, wet with His own Blood.  The Roman soldier saw a great joke in this
provincial Jew claiming to be king.  They threw a robe across His shoulders
and placed a stick in His hand for scepter.  They still needed a crown to make
their travesty complete.  Small flexible branches covered with long thorns,
commonly used for kindling fires in then charcoal braziers in the courtyard,
were plaited in the shape of a crude crown.  The crown was pressed into His
scalp and again there was copious bleeding as the thorns pierced the very
vascular tissue.  After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the
soldiers took the stick from His hand and struck Him across the head, driving
the thorns deeper into His scalp.  Finally, they tired of their sadistic sport
and tore the robe from His back.  The robe had already become adherent to the
clots of blood and serum in the wounds, and its removal, just as in the
careless removal of a surgical bandage, caused excruciating pain. The wounds
again began to bleed.

GOLGOTHA

In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans apparantly returned His garments.
The heavy patibulum of the cross was tied across His shoulders.  The procession
of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman
soldiers  headed by a centurion began its slow journey along the route that
we know today as the Via Dolorosa.  In spite of Jesus' efforts to walk erect,
the weight of the heavy wooden beam gouged into the lacerated skin and muscles
of the shoulders.  He tried to rise, but human muscles had been pushed beyond
their endurance.  The centurion, anxious to proceed with the crucifixion, 
selected a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross.
Jesus followed, still bleeding and sweating the cold and clammy sweat of shock.

The 650-yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha was finally 
completed.  The prisoner was again stripped of His loin cloth which was allowed
by the Jews.  The crucifixion began.  Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh,
a mild analgesic, pain-relieving mixture.  He refused to drink.  Simon was
ordered to place the patibulum on the ground, and Jesus was quickly thrown
backward, with His shoulders against the wood.  The legionnaire felt for the
depression at the front of the wrist.  He drove a heavy, square wrought-iron
nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.  Quickly, he moved to the other
side and repeated the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly
but to allow some flexion and movement.  The patibulum was then lifted into
place at the top of the stripes, and the titulus was nailed into place.  The
left foot was pressed backward against the right foot.  With both feet extended,
toes down, a nail was driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees 
moderately flexible.  The victim was now crucified.

On The Cross

As Jesus slowly sagged down with more weight on the nails in the wrist,
excruciating, fiery pain shot along the fingers and up the arms to explode in
the brain.  The nails in the wrists were putting pressure on the median nerves,
large nerve trunks which traverse the mid-wrist and hand.  As He pushed
himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He placed His full weight on
the nail thorugh His feet.  Again there was a searing agony as the nail tore
through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.  At this point,
another phenomenon occurred.  As the arms fatigued, great waves of cramps
swept over the muscles, knotting them in deep relentless, throbbing pain. With
these cramps came the inability to push Himself upward.  Hanging by the arms,
the pectoral muscles, the large muscles of the chest, were paralyzed and the
intercostal muscles, the small muscles between the ribs, were unable to act.
Air could be drawn into the lungs, but could not be exhaled.  Jesus fought to
raise himself in order to get even one short breath.  Finally, the carbon
dioxide level increased in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps
partially subsided.

The Last Words

Spasmotically, He was able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in life-
giving oxygen.  It was  undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the
sever short sentences which are recorded.  The first - looking down at the Roman
soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment: "Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do."  The second - to the penitent thief: "Today,
thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."  The third - looking down at Mary His
mother, He said: "Woman, behold thy son." Then turning to the terrified,
grief-stricken adolescent John, the beloved Apostle, He said: "Behold thy
mother."  The fourth cry is from the beginning of Psalm 22: "My God, My God,
why has thou forsaken me?"  He suffered hours of limitless pain, cycles of
twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittant parial asphyxiation, and searing
pain as tissue was torn from His lacerated back from the movement up and down
against the rough timbers of the cross.  Then another agony began: a deep
crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart,
slowly filled with serum and began to compress the heart.  The prophecy of
Psalm 22:14 was being fulfilled: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones
are out of joint, my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."
The end was rapidly approaching.  The loss of tissue fluids had reached a
critical level; the compressed heart was struggling to pump heavy, thick,
sluggish blood to the tissues, and the tortured lungs were making a frantic
effort to inhale small gulps of air.  The markedly dehydrated tissues sent
their flood of stimuli to the brain.  Jesus gasped His fifth cry: "I thirst."
Again we read in the prophetic Psalm: "My strength is dried up like a potsherd;
and my toungue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of
death" (22:15).  A sponge soaked with posca, the cheap, sour wine which was
the staple drink  of the Roman legionnaires, was lifted to Jesus' lips.  His
body was now in extremis, and He could feel the chill of death creeping through
His tissues.  This realization brought forth His sixth word, possibly little
more than a tortured whisper: "It is finished."  His mission of atonement had
been completed.  Finally, He could allow His body to die.  With one last surge
of strength, He once again pressed His torn feet against the nail, straightened
His legs, took a deeper breath, and uttered His seventh and last cry: "Father
into thy hands I commit my spirit."

Death

We are all familiar with the final details of Jesus' execution.  In order that
the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be
dispatched and removed from the crosses.  The common method of ending a
crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs.  This
prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; the tension could not be
reliieved from the muscles of the chest, and rapid suffocation occurred.  The
legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers approached Jesus,
they saw that this was unnecessary.  Apparantly, to make doubly sure of death,
the legionnaire drove his lance between the ribs, upward through the 
pericardium and into the heart.  John 19:34 states, "And immediately there
came out blood and water."  Thus there was an escape of watery fluid from
the sac surrounding the heart.  This is rather conclusive post-mortem evidence
that Jesus died, not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart
failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Ressurection

In these events, we have seen a glimpse of the epitome of evil which man can
exhibit toward his fellowman and toward God.  this is an ugly sight and is
likely to leave us despondent and depressed.  But the crucifixion was not the
end of the storsy.  How grateful we can be that we have a sequel: a glimpse
of the infinite mercy of God toward man - the gift of atonement, the miracle
of the resurrection, and the expectation of Easter morning.

    Check out the cover story of the latest "Newsweek"!

 I haven't seen the mag, though I saw the cover on TV.



 How is it?

 Thanks for posting that, Jeff.






 Jim