WHERE DO THE DEAD GO? HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WOULD SEE JESUS IN PARADISE? WHAT IS PARADISE AND WHERE WAS JESUS THOSE THREE DAYS HE WAS ABSENT FROM THE TOMB?
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
The History of Crucifixion:
At the time of jesus’ death, crucifixion was considered the most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the roman empire. when Jesus was crucified, Israel was under Roman Law and control. It was considered so horrific that it was used by the Romans primarily for slaves, those who were not Roman by birth, and the lowest types of criminals.
For instance, the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen, therefore he was beheaded, a much quicker death than Jesus’. However, before the crucifixion was widely used for capital punishment, the practice was to display the heads of captured enemies or criminals on a wooden stake. It was only later that entire bodies were impaled.
In Jesus’ day , crucifixion was a common sight. although it differed , it was basic in its pattern throughout Biblical and Historical facts. The condemned person was scourged first with a flagellum, a whip of leather thongs with bits of metal and bone attached. This whipping significantly weakened the victim, who then had to carry the crossbeam to the place of execution. A physical sign was usually placed around the criminal’s neck or on the cross. In Jesus’ case it was “King of the Jews.”
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luk 23:38 MKJV)
That was His crime. Typically, it was the saying what the criminal did. That victim was then stripped naked, laid on the ground with the crossbeam under his shoulders and tied or nailed to it. Although the pain was excruciating, some victims survived on the cross for days. As in the case of the two criminals crucified with Jesus, the legs of the , individual was sometimes broken to make the sufferer die. This caused massive shock followed by loss of circulation and heart failure.
While completely innocent of all sin, Jesus suffered the most horrible , disgraceful punishment known. But his agonizing death was not an ordinary one, for it was not the final chapter. Jesus turned this apparent defeat into the most glorious victory the world has ever known. At the cross, He suffered for the sins of the world. The after his resurrection from the dead three days later, Jesus empowered His disciples with a new message. The good news that He had finally defeated the power of sin and death. Through the cross, Jesus offers salvation to all who are willing to have faith in Him.
And one of the hanged criminals blasphemed Him, saying, If you are Christ, save Yourself and us. (Luk 23:39 MKJV)
But answering, the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are in the same condemnation. (Luk 23:40 MKJV)
And we indeed justly so, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing amiss. (Luk 23:41 MKJV)
And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. (Luk 23:42 MKJV)
To understand better, you need to look elsewhere in the Bible.
And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise. (Luk 23:43 MKJV)
Jesus died before the faithful thief, so what does Jesus mean by telling him he would be in “Paradise?” What Paradise? What Paradise? Where is Paradise? Jesus was dead when the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two crucified alongside Him.
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Him. (Joh 19:32 MKJV)
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (Joh 19:33 MKJV)
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a lance, and instantly there came out blood and water. (Joh 19:34 MKJV)
So where was Jesus during those three days? iN MY NEXT BLOG I WILL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS.
What Do I Know? 