I have heard people suggest that what Jesus went through was the worst pain that anyone could go through.  Should this assertion be analyzed?  If it´s true that many people volunteer to be crucified every year, then can it really be the worst torture possible?  Did Hypatia, who was skinned alive, die a worse death?  Did many people who were boiled alive, flayed with red-hot pincers, and burned slowly after being coated with oil, die a much worse death?  If Jesus died early on the cross, then did the other two themselves on the other crosses suffer even more?  Is it common to be whipped before being crucified, and if so, have many people been whipped 39 times in a similar fashion?  Did Paul himself say that he was whipped thusly on three separate occasions?  Was the whole process that Jesus went through a normal procedure in Roman times?  Were many other people whipped, forced to carry a cross, and crucified?
133764
Well not that cruxifiction is a walk in the park but YES, there are more painful deaths, ironically some of them were contrived by the very same Church trying to ensure EVERYONE believed the doctrine of Christianity as they saw it during the Inquisition. \n\nSome of their death/torture methods\n\nFlaying- Skinning a person alive and rubbing salt into the raw flesh\n\nDisembowelment- You can imagine for yourself\n\nHung, Drawn and Quatertered- Like the name says\n\nBeing tossed unto spikes- If the landing was not a well aimed one, your death would not be mercifully short. \n\nAmazing how barbaric humans can be.
536070
More than likely he was just there to bathe in the river anyway.Maybe some would argue about humbling himself before John the Baptist as a gesture of respect for him and what he did.Jesus had said that what you do to the least of these you do to me also.I don't have an issue with it. You're reading way too much into something without knowing the truth. This is a negative application you are applying so you're fishing in a toilet for excuses. Unless you had witnessed everything from that time without prejudice it's difficult to usually grasp it without faith. From the perspective of immortality one death on a cross to start a religion seems to be a safe bet.Mortals usually only understand living sacrifice as an example of faith or honor. A virgin woman represents an undefiled vessel or purity. Would it sound better to you if she was just the babysitter? This isn't a sitcom drama you know.
348459
Jesus was quoting Pslam 22, which is an account of his crucifixion, written a thousand years before it actually happened.\n\nHe did it just so people in this day and age could ponder such things, and hopefully, come to believe.\n\nAnd yes, Christianity is steeped in blood; the blood of the prophets, the blood of sacrifical animals, the blood of Christ, and the blood of the martyrs.\n\nBut it's only Christ's blood that saves and makes possible the forgiveness of sins.
600111
I LOVE JESUS! He died for us for that we would not perish,but have eternal life! Just think of giving up your only son so that he could bare our sins,I couldnt do it but GOD did!The beatings and torture he went through is because of us,we put the scars on him!If you really want to show your friend,be christ-like,and do as JESUS did! I'll keep you in my prayers,but remember you can try to lead them to believe,but you cant make them if they accept not to believe!
297566
Any claim that Jesus survived crucifixion is absolutely ludicrous in light of the Bible's accounts of the disciples' behavior changes before and after His crucifixion. There is no reason their behavior would have changed so dramatically after His crucifixion unless there was convincing evidence that He did in fact rise from the dead. The link below is an analysis of problems in trying to refute the resurrection of Jesus.
287626
Jesus took the form and limitations of mortality upon Him when  He descended from the Heaven. On the cross, He was Jesus the Mortal Man, not Jesus, God.\n\nYour question is rather interesting. My best answer is that Jesus is a part of God. What we call 'God' is God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit of God.\n\nJesus didn't die on the cross, He simply went to Hell, as everyone else did in those times. What we call 'Death' is nothing more than leaving this life and passing into the other. We are not erased from existence. \n\nSo Jesus wasn't erased from existence, He went to Hell to defeat Satan and free the virtous, by forgiving them of the Ancestral Sin.
24425
Christ's sacrifice covers past, present, and future sins. So, all sins are covered.(not sure about suicide since it shows a complete lack of trust in the Lord and only believers are saved)  The Blood of Christ is so powerful that He only had to shed it once in order to reconcile mankind to God.  And when He clothes you with righteousness, your sins are still covered though we should try to confess each and every sin we commit.  \n\nBut, as for myself, I can't remember them all.  So, I remember that since we don't know how to pray as we ought, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  So, I just tell God that I have sinned pretty much all day long, either in thought or action, and that I can't remember them all, but He can, so will He forgive me.  Because I know that even though I don't pray properly as none of us can, the Holy Spirit will tell God in the proper way what needs to be said.(Romans 8:26)  \n\nAlso, if we are true followers of Christ, meaning that we are in Him and He in us, then we need not worry if we don't have time to confess some great sin right before we are killed.  Because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. (John 5:24,  Romans 8:1)  \n\nAlso, remember all the people that went to Jesus to be healed?  Most of them confessed no sin at all, but Jesus said to them, "Your sins are forgiven you."  The adulterous woman that was about to be stoned to death never confessed her sin, even though she was caught in the act.  And Jesus told her that he would not condemn her.  Therefore, I believe the answer to your question is:  All of it.
498898
Many people experience this degradation, torture, and disrespect.  Jesus went through it so we can relate to him when people hurt us as well.  He can relate to our suffering because of what he went through.
296262
You've got it mixed up. This is the actual scripture:\n\nFor God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.\n\nNowhere does it say God killed Jesus.\n\nGod gave his Son to the people to show His eternal Love for us. \n\nThe misguided people killed Jesus.
277794
NO..\nbut he does promise to carry you through never to leave you or forsake you.\nJesus tells us that our trouble just begin when we except Him. The world hated Him so it will hate us. To pick up our cross daily and follow Him. James said trials will come treat them with joy.\nJesus also said Suffer to come unto Him. When you look at Paul's life beaten twice almost to death, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked 3 times, jailed countless times all for Christ. James beheaded Paul the same Peter hung upside down on a cross. Even to days Christa ins in Sudan, China, Turkey, Vietnam ,Cambodia and all over the world but here, who suffer for Christ. \nPaul calls all this LIGHT afflictions we will suffer com paired to the Glory of seeing Christ. He is faithful to bring us through. He gives you HIS joy HIS peace not the worlds through it all.\n If you are not going through any trials or hurts i question who you are serving. If the world loves you then you are an enemy of God. Sorry to get in peoples face but this genie in a bottle God who is here to just make you happy is wrong... messenger
571057
The crucifixion was the crux (pun partially intended) of Jesus' experience on earth.  He was born to die, and to rise again.  All that pain he went through was his payment for our sin, and we should never forget that.  It's akin to remembering every now and then the pain of childbirth your mother went through to bring you into the world.\n\nPain is part of our experience on earth, and Jesus wanted to be fully human and share in our pain.  He even kept at least some of his wounds--particularly his hand wounds--after his resurrection, as a reminder, I suppose, to both him and us.  Don't be ashamed of the pain you suffer in this world.  Pain, dealt with rightly, can be teaching and redemptive.\n\nThat said, church should have, if it has images at all, various images of Christ throughout the stages of his life, both earthly and post-resurrection.  Or at least, we should hold that myriad of images in our minds.
307176
The myth goes that Jesus gave his life to assume the burden of our sins. The myth is, of course, a load of codswallup. \n\nHow does the crucifixion count as an appropriate sacrifice? Quite simply answered, the correct response is; "It doesn't."\n\nJesus spent a few hours, maybe a day, in agonizing pain; but it was no greater pain than millions of others have suffered. In fact many people have suffered greater agony for more extended periods of time virtually every day since the dawn of Man. \n\nIf Jesus really is God (or the son thereof), then He knew exactly what was happening, and exactly how long it would last. There was nothing about the event for which he was unprepared to deal with on a physical, psychological, or emotional level. If there WAS something he was unprepared for, then he could clearly not be God, or the son of God.\n\nWhen it was done, He supposedly ascended to heaven and became the all-powerful ruler of the universe. This is infinitely greater compensation than even the faithful will receive, and infinitely less torture that the damned will receive.\n\n-SD-
76820
Matthew 28:5-7 reads, "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples , He has RISEN FROM THE DEAD, and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you too".\n\nLuke 24:45-49, reads, Then He, (Jesus), openend their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and RISE FROM THE DEAD on the third day, and repentence and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem". - Here, Jesus reinstates it was he who was crucified. \n\nIf anyone also wants to read more about Christ's crucifixion and death & his ressurection, read the book "The Case for Christ", chapter 11.  You'll understand that Jesus died on the cross after you read Lee Strobel interview with Alexander Metherell, M.D.,PH.D.  Metherell uses his expertise as a physician to describe in vivid detail just what Christ went through, and how He died on the cross.  He leaves anyone reading his account convinced that Jesus did die on the cross and wasn't just swooned or faint from what he went through.
650718
I definately agree with you.  Other than Jesus was God's son, supposedly, why was his crucifixtion so important...he wasn't the only one that was crucified and tortured.  There is a lot in the Bible that can be scrutinized over and there is always going to be people who believe in different things.  The Christians who were taught that they cannot think anything other than God is God and Jesus is the son of God and that everything happens because God wants it to will never change their mind about it.  I have asked questions like this and people say I am ignorant for asking these questions...I say they are because they don't question anything or think for themselves.  How merciful a God we have that allows molestation and slow painful deaths for innocent children with cancer and AIDS.  I am not sure on the answers for a lot of your questions...I know that I believe there is a God...I do not however believe in Him in the way others do...I believe He is there to watch out over his children like a father does and no ones father is perfect...neither is God.  Everyone has their faults including God.  The Bible was made by man not by God.  It is all mans interpretation of what God told them and maybe that is why we are being punished now is because those people as well did not interpret God's word the way He told them to do so.  You have great questions!  Just believe what you want and what you know inside yourself is right.  There will always be someone who will say you are wrong or whatever...but God made us the way we are...made us have doubts and if you...this is going to sound cheesy...listen to yourself you will know it is God who is putting that belief inside of you.  I have hardly read the Bible by the way...I just believe what is in my heart and what makes sense to me.    I hope all that made sense to you.
641251
For the Jesus question... no.  There's no evidence in his life that would suggest he would join that organization, willingly or otherwise, since he was perfectly willing to be beaten, whipped, tortured, mutilated, have large thorns nailed through his skull, marched through the burning desert carrying a huge log, be nailed to it, then have his legs broken and get stabbed to death.\n\nLet's face it, the threat of pain and suffering didn't really seem to be a big deterrent to Jesus following his conscience.\n\nAs for the current Pope, I'm not a big fan of the Catholic church, but he's certainly not the worst example of a person they've ever had.  Peruse some of the Popes who chose the name "Innocent" and "Pious" and see what they were like.  Ratzinger seems like a very nice guy comparatively, so they could've done worse.
662267
This is prophecy/reference of Christs arrest and being nailed to the Cross.  Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me (these are the Jewish Priests and the Roman guards who arrest Jesus and call for his Crucifixion)  They have pierced my hands and feet, I can count all my bones (ref to Jesus on cross - he was nailed to Cross in the hands and feet, yet none of his bones were broken)  people stare and gloat over me ( the guards and Jewish priests mocked Jesus saying for him to save himself and mad fun of him)  They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (the Roman guards stripped him of his clothing and threw lots (like dice) to win his clothing\n\nAs far as "Father forgive them they know not what they do"  . .Even at the Cross, Jesus prayed for those Crucifying him as well as the future generations that would not chose to believe and and know him, the Messiah and Saviour.
446864
Dying and going into the grave is easier than living and loving your enemies. Human love is not consistent and cannot reach its potential until it is united with divine love. \n\nTo do good to those who hate you, persecute you and speak all manner of evil against you; to allow those whom you can easily defeat to hurt you and reject you and then continue to be kind to them is the deepest, highest, greatest love as demonstrated by God in human flesh through Jesus Christ. \n\nSince Jesus was a human being and did not use any special tricks to make his human nature better, the deepest acts of human love were revealed in His life. \n\nShow N Tell