Did Jesus Die on the Cross? (Part 2)

Matthew 27:48-50 Mark 15:36-37 John 19:29-30
Three out of the four gospels agree that right after Jesus takes vinegar he dies.
Unless the vinegar was mixed with poison, Jesus shouldn't of died after drinking it. In fact it would be the opposite. In ancient times vinegar was given to slaves who were passed out. A sort of smelling salt effect.
"When the sponge was soaked only in vinegar, its original use, it could help prevent the wearer from fainting" Vinegar and Fainting.

The location where Jesus was crucified is still in debate to this day. According to the gospels it was near Jerusalem John 19:19-20
Except for John, the gospels specifically state that the women and those who knew Jesus, stood at a distance. Mark 15:40-41 Matthew27:55-56 Luke 23:48-49
Note that in Luke everyone except the ones who actually knew Jesus went away. Only those who stayed watched "these things". 
 Although it was written that the people had left the scene, it was after the explanation of darkness and tearing of the temple curtain. And in the quote of "these things" implies that the women and those who knew him were the only ones of the crowd that witnessed these events.

All four gospels mention two people who were crucified next to Jesus. It's only in Luke's account that the story is spun in a peculiar fashion. Luke 23:32,39-43 One of the criminals hurled insults at Jesus, but the other asked to be remembered. Jesus' quote here is interesting... “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus tells this man that "today" he will be with him in paradise. An unarguable statement that in this account Jesus believes he will ascend to heaven on this day and that the man next to him will be with him. More to come on the ascension later.

Centurion A commander of the Roman Army.
Mark 15:39 This centurion "saw that he died with such a cry."(footnote of v39), and proclaimed him to be the son of God. He was taken back by the events that had had witnessed. This centurion would later have to vouch for Jesus' death.

John 19:31-34 Only in John's account do we get details of the two men and Jesus after Jesus' death.
Because it was law that no man be left hanging on the Sabbath or the land will be cursed, these crucifixions needed to be completed this day. As the day was drawing to an end, the soldiers came to break the legs. The cause of death from crucifixion was either hunger or asphyxiation because the person could no longer keep the weight off the arms, therefore having them elevated and cause asphyxiation. Breaking the legs insured a much quicker death. All three men were flogged and crucified. Taken into account that the two criminals were guilty of their crimes according to their own mouths "⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”, but Jesus being not guilty according to Pilate & Herod, these men would have been flogged much worse than Jesus had been. Yet here they are both alive and because they would have survived overnight, their legs had to be broken.
Once they came upon Jesus however, they seen that he was already dead. He was then pierced. Although there are some arguments as to whether blood and water flowing signify death, in John's statement he was specifically writing this verse to show that Jesus was truly dead. 
I could argue that dead bodies don't bleed. That is medically true, and a pierce to the pericardial artery will produce the blood and water result. Instead I would like to point out that none of the other gospel writers made this mention, and most importantly to note... John makes a interesting statement right after the piercing verse. John 19:35 ^"35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe."  Of all the verses of John's gospel that relate to signs and miracles, it is this event that he has to explain that this story is the truth and it isn't a lie. Because without John's verses on the piercing, Jesus could easily have survived the crucifixion.

Joseph of Arimathea comes on the scene, "a prominent member of the Council" Mark 15:43, "a rich man." Matthew 27:57 , "a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action." Luke 23:50-51 , "was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders" John 19:38
   So Joseph, a rich upstanding secret disciple of Jesus who was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin comes to Pilate and requests Jesus' body. Interestingly Joseph asks Pilate for Jesus body using the greek word  Soma, which in most cases in the NT it represents a "living body". Once Pilate confirms that Jesus is dead he grants permission to hand over Jesus' Ptoma which is greek for dead body. Although in Pilate's view Jesus body in reference would be alive in the beginning, it is Joseph who is asking for Jesus "alive" body.
   The real question here is why would a man who reluctantly gave Jesus up for crucifixion to  the Sanhedrin priests, so easily give Jesus' body to a "prominent" member of this same council? Especially when the normal practice of crucifixion was to let the body be devoured by animals. Could it be that Pilate and Joseph knew each other and had an understanding about who Jesus was?
   When Joseph asks Pilate for the body, Pilate is shocked that Jesus is already dead, so much that he had to ask confirmation from the centurion. Mark 15:44-45 Why was Pilate shocked by the news of Jesus' death? Because he only had been up there for 3 hours! The centurion who had believed that Jesus was the son of God, confirmed his death. Did the centurion had a reason to lie? Perhaps... under the circumstances, Pilate, who thought Jesus was innocent could have allowed Joseph to take the body on the account that he knew the centurions perception of Jesus. That of course would be hearsay and inputting information that isn't revealed in the scripture.

    Jesus' portrayal of death between the four gospels are quite interesting. For one in Mark 15:40 , Matthew 27:55 , & Luke 23:49 all have the women and the people who were close to Jesus watching from a distance. Why? Because everyone who was up front and center of Jesus were the Jewish priests and Roman guards. If the priests (who already recognized Peter) seen them they would point them out to the soldiers just as they did with Peter. Also to note in Luke 23:48 everyone who didn't know him fled AFTER Jesus' death, so everyone who knew him were standing afar and it wasn't until a strange event(earthquakes, sun blotted out, etc..) that the people who knew Jesus were able to approach him.
   John of course tells a slightly different story, John 19:25-26 a trio of Marys were near the cross(his mother, aunt and Mary Magdalene) and "the disciple whom he loved" was standing "nearby" BEFORE Jesus' death. Which is a complete contradiction to Mark and Matthew's account which specifically name Mary Magdalene as one who was standing afar BEFORE Jesus' death.
   The point here is that logically John's account is the least likely considering how dangerous it would have been for anyone who was seen familiarizing with Jesus. Three of the four gospels agree that there was no one near the cross during Jesus death, therefor it is likely that all four accounts are not trustworthy sources because no direct witnesses(i.e. Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) could have seen every detail up and including Jesus death.

   The burial of Jesus has some interesting points also. In Mark 15:46-47 and Matthew 27:59-61 Joseph of Arimathea takes Jesus into his tomb places linen on him and rolls the stone close(by himself). The women were also there and seen Jesus' body in the tomb. Now even though crucified criminals don't get burials, in Jewish customs of the 1st century would have the body cleaned, oiled, scented, and buried on the same day.(Wasn't until after the 16th century they finally realized they could be burying people alive). In Luke 23:56 the women go home and prepare spices and wait 2 days because Passover was the following day. Mark 16:1 has the women buying spices the morning after Passover(apparently before sunrise Mark 16:2). Why would the women break customs? Where did the women "buy" the spices at before sunrise? Myrrh linked here for its medicinal properties, and Aloe is also know for its medicinal properties also. According to John 19:39 Joseph and Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of the mixtures and wrapped Jesus in it that night. An outside source of analysis of these herbs is laid out here Aloe&Myrrh.pdf
   The women show up at the tomb with these spices, while standing at the tomb could they have seen something on the night of the crucifixion that would lead them to not rush out and buy the spices on  that night, but instead 2 days later?

Continue on to Part 3.