How long can you hang on a tree? s29e50 Dt21

Crucifixion is a nasty business. It involves the torture and killing of a condemned person. But it also can tarnish the whole land that it occurs in, if the deceased is not buried on the same day. Their bodies "shall not remain all night on the tree".

The reason that Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Jewish authorities acted expeditiously to kill and care for the three on the crosses we are familiar with is because of what it says in Deuteronomy.  Once again, Deuteronomy echoes through the ages. Listen as we visit the cross. 

https://youtu.be/DI1pwOhp8YU

Transcript

How long can you hang on a tree? s29e50 Dt21

One of the interesting things about Dt is that the truths of Dt echo through the rest of the Bible. They Echo through the ages. Sometimes they are more clearly understood, the further away that you look at them.  Today is one of those days.  We will look today at the urgency of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who at the cross of Jesus, with the coming of Sundown, quickly got him tended to. We’ll join the story in the NT JN: 19: This is at the moment of His death30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

John 19:31 Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” )

Interesting the Jewish leaders are adhering to the law in Dt about the TIMING of the crucifiction, hanging someone on a tree, and the urgency to get them off that tree—cross.  

What is the urgency. It is Friday afternoon.  The day of preparation for the sabbath, which starts at sundown Friday evening. It is fast approaching.

Break the legs: crucifiction is a nasty business. Prolonged. Shameful. 

Died of asphyxiation, exhaustion, blood loss

The way to inhale is to hang down, open chest cavity

The only way to exhale is to STAND UP on your legs

Break the legs…accelerate this process. See Jesus is dead. The prisoners are not yet dead

Know his body would be hanging dead overnight. 

Tomorrow is the Sabbath.

Can they be on the cross for a second day? NO. Specifically, can they be on the cross overnight? Dead? NOWhy. It is our official passage today from Dt. 21: A Man Hanged on a Tree Is Cursed

22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 

They didn’t take Jesus off the tree for His benefit, or dignity

They took him off because Dt warns about defiling your own land, Israel, by keeping the condemned on the cross overnight. 

Because of this great spiritual urgency, a burial is arranged.

Watch how the events of the New testament, specifically at the dear cross, the tree are influenced by the truths of Deuteronomy.

John 19: 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.(Mark here adds: 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.) So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

They used a tomb CLOSE at hand because the Timing of the sunset was close at hand

The cross is the greatest accomplishment in world history

The Cross the “passion of christ”, is where He deomonstrates  His Passion for you

All roads of Christianity lead thru the suffering, the death, and the crucifiction of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus.  

Do not let this crucifiction go unnoticed. Or this detail go unnoticed

They got Jesus off the cross because of what they knew from Dt.

They didn’t realize that Jesus had BECOME the curse for them, 

Even the sin of putting Him on the cross was paid for by the spiritual work that He did on the cross. 

They didn’t leave him there overnight because of what DT. Says. 

The Shadows of the cross are found here in Dt. 

Don’t let the cross go unnoticed.