When did Jesus get nailed to the cross?

Answer 1

It was customary for the Roman authorities to use three nails.

The body would be nailed to the cross beam first and the whole beam plus victim winched up to be fixed to the upright. Alternately, occasionally the crossbeam was fixed to the upright on the ground, the body nailed to the complete cross there, and then the cross raised up by ropes and let into a hole in the ground to enable it to stand upright.

Two nails would be hammered into each wrist of the crucified victim whose arms would then be empaled onto the cross beam of the cross. The wrists (rather than the palms of the hands) were used for three reasons.

1. The wrists could hold more weight than if the nail passed through the centre of the palm (as seen in the movies) - in this case the weight of the body would tear the flesh of the palm and the hand would come away from the cross. The bones in the wrist, however, would create a stronger fixing for the arm on the cross bar.

2. Passing through the wrist, the major arteries would be severed by the nail causing massive blood loss and aiding death.

3. Passing through the wrist the nail would damage the main nerves passing through and so cause excruciating agony so that the victim's death would be as painful as possible.

The third nail passed through the ankles. Often the victim's legs were bent sideways one behind the other, and a single nail up to 9 inches long hammered again into the ankle bones to secure both legs to the upright of the cross at the same time. Again the three reasons above apply.

Death would be as a result of three factors:

1. Heavy blood loss

2. Suffocation, as water would collect in the lungs as the body hung there

3. Major shock to the whole body.

Frequently the victim was already dead by the time of crucifixion - a result of brutal scourging (whipping) prior to the execution proper. In this case, the dead bodt would still be hammered into place as a warning to others.

In the case of Jesus it is recorded in the gospels that he took six hours to die on the cross, having been crucified at 9 in the morning, and dying at 3 in the afternoon.

Answer 2

Jesus was nailed to the Cross soon after the Passover which is why Christians and the Catholic church celebrate his death and resurrection at Easter Time.