Previous Questions and Answers

Did Jesus actually die on the cross, or just pass out?

    They killed Him not it is a fact that any careful impartial reader of the four gospels which are in the Bible will derive strong evidence to show that the man who was put on the cross did not die on the cross but only appeared to have died.

   There are some people in this world who refuse to believe that Jesus died on the cross. They believe that he just "swooned" (passed out from the beating and loss of blood), and then later revived in the tomb, and walked away.

    The careful reader of the four accounts of the gospel finds that Jesus did indeed die (medical proof is even given for the skeptical).

    First of all, we need to define what actual death is. It is not always possible to tell when someone is still alive by feeling for a pulse, or listening for a heartbeat. Even in our day, there have been instances when a person was wheeled to the morgue, and then the body moved! The person was still alive, and someone had not been very thorough listening for even the faintest and slowest heartbeat.

    Sometimes doctors are credited with bringing back people from the dead. That is not possible. Only God can bring the dead back to life — that takes a miracle. What doctors, and many who know CPR have done, is "revive" a body that still does have life in it.

    The Bible defines "death" as "when the spirit leaves the body." James 2:26 says, "For as THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, so faith without works is dead also." No medical instrument can tell when the spirit has left the body.

    In Jesus’ case, we know that His body was dead, because the Bible tells us that His "spirit" had left His body (He gave up the ghost, the Spirit).

    Matthew 27:50-54 says, "JESUS, when he had cried again with a loud voice, YIELDED UP THE GHOST. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."

    Mark 15:37-39 says, "And JESUS cried with a loud voice, and GAVE UP THE GHOST. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God."

    Luke 23:46,47 says, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, HE GAVE UP THE GHOST. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man."

    There are three testimonies that Jesus indeed died, that His Spirit had left His body. Now, the last account of the gospel records gives medical proof, as well. John 19:30-37 says, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and GAVE UP THE GHOST. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: BUT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WITH A SPEAR PIERCED HIS SIDE, AND FORTHWITH CAME THERE OUT BLOOD AND WATER. AND HE THAT SAW IT BARE RECORD, AND HIS RECORD IS TRUE: AND HE KNOWETH THAT HE SAITH TRUE, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced."

    Here is recorded medical proof that Jesus’ body was dead. His heart had stopped beating, and His blood had separated into water, and into the thicker parts of the blood. Here was proof that His heart had been stopped for some time. Revelation 16:3 says, "And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it BECAME AS THE BLOOD OF A DEAD MAN; and every living soul died in the sea." The blood of a dead man is different than the blood of a living man. A living man’s blood will be all mixed together, because his heart is keeping it circulated in his body. A dead man’s blood will begin to separate into the separate parts, because it is not being "stirred up" by the heart as it circulates. So here in the last account of the gospel, medical proof is given for the skeptical in heart, to show beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus’ body had indeed died. Notice the special emphasis given after the statement about the blood being separated. John 19:33-35 says, "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And HE THAT SAW IT BARE RECORD, AND HIS RECORD IS TRUE: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe."

    There is the proof that Jesus did not "swoon" or "pass out" on the cross, but actually died. That is important, because the only way that he could pay the penalty for our sin, was if he died. Romans 6:23 says, "For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." But death could not hold Him, because His payment for our sin was sufficient and accepted. I Corinthians 15:3-8 says, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Here, once again, is irrefutable proof that He not only died, but that He arose from the dead. Have you trusted Him as your personal Savior? John 1:11-13 says, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

      Previous Questions and Answers

Ask A Question