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Some people debate the actual method Jesus was crucified. Some suggest Jesus was nailed to the cross by his hands. Others are skeptical and suggest instead he was probably nailed to the cross by his wrists. So I thought I would discuss both of these methods, and provide a possible solution/explanation.

I personally think the wrists were probably the part actually pierced by the nails, however, it could have easily been either one. I will explain each side below.

Was Jesus Nailed to the Cross by His Hands or Wrists?

Some people suggest Jesus was in fact nailed to the cross by his hands. The main reason is because the scripture uses the word “hands” within the New Testament accounts.

For example, it says this in John 20:27:

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

So it does indeed say “hands” in the translation, and Thomas literally touches them.

Others are skeptical and suggest that if Jesus was nailed by his hands, the weight would not have supported it, and the nails would have ripped out of his hands (or the hand bones would have broken).

How Jesus Could Have Been Nailed by the Hands:

Even though some suggest the hands couldn’t support the weight, this may not be entirely true. The bones on the hand are relatively strong, and Jesus (being a carpenter), would have had very tough muscles and bones in his hand. So it is feasible that he was actually nailed through the palm region, and it could have held him for the few hours he was there.

Furthermore, many movies and pictures depict Jesus as being further supported by his wrists by being tied to the cross. So the weight wouldn’t have totally been focused on his hands alone, and the rope would have provided the majority of the support. This was depicted on the film “The Passion of the Christ.” His hands would have just been pierced to keep them stationary, but his arms and weight would have been supported by the ropes.

So those two solutions alone are more than adequate to assume that there is a reasonable and logical way that Jesus could have been nailed to the cross by his hands.

Could Jesus Have Been Nailed by His Wrists to the Cross?

Likewise, it is just as plausible that Jesus could have been nailed by the wrists. There is evidence to suggest it COULD have happened this way just as easily.

For example, the Shroud of Turin (the cloth thought to be the burial cloth of Jesus), depicts bleeding at the wrists just below the hand. If this is indeed the cloth of Jesus, this is the best evidence to show that it could have been the wrists.

Also, some suggest that nailing through the top part of the wrist bones (the ulna and radius bones), would provide much more support. In fact, it could have definitely supported his entire body. Some even suggest that most crucifixions were performed in this manner.

But what about the scripture? The bible says several times that Jesus “hands” were pierced, and that Thomas even sticks his finger in them. What about that? Does that prove it was his hands instead of his wrists that were nailed?

Not necessarily. The key to unlocking that potential mystery is the original language used (Greek). The original Greek word used in these scriptures was χείρ (or transliterated as “cheir”).

This word is used in the Greek very often to not only mean “hand,” but it can mean anything in proximity to the hand (fingers, the wrist, etc.). So this word could easily have meant wrist, hand, or finger. Especially considering the fact that he would have been pierced just below the hand where the ulna and radius bone meet.

Therefore, it would not be inaccurate scripturally to assume the Greek word used could have referred to his wrist. There are several instances, where wrist is translated from “χείρ” in books such as the septuagint.

So Was Jesus Crucified & Nailed by His Wrists or Hands?

We may never know for sure until Jesus himself returns. It could have been his hands, or it could have been his wrists.

In my personal opinion, I feel like it was probably the wrist. I base this on the fact that:

1. The Greek word used in scripture can mean hand, wrist, finger, etc. So it isn’t scripturally accurate to say “wrist.”
2. This was the most common place they pierced to ensure it would support the body.
3. The Shroud of Turin (if it is the cloth of Jesus), depicts pierced wrists.

Again, we may never know, but it could accurately be either his hand or wrist!

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Posted under Jesus, apologetics, bible questions

If I could travel back in time to any point in history, it would probably have to be when Jesus Christ walked the Earth (my second would be when Adam was first created). Can you imagine what it would be like to actually talk to Jesus while he was on Earth? Wow! Don’t get me wrong, it would be an honor to be able to speak with anyone from the bible. But Jesus in particular is the most fascinating to me.

There are many things I wish we knew about him that the bible doesn’t tell us. Was he ever funny? Did he laugh a lot? What did he look like? Are all the pictures true, or did he look differently? What was the tone of his voice? Was he tall? How did he react to people in awkward situations like family reunions?

How incredible it would have been to know these things. The disciples are lucky! They fully knew Jesus, and didn’t have to worry about all of the different denominations that came after Jesus was gone and people were left trying to figure out who he was and what he was. They don’t have the task of trying to piece together an accurate picture of the true Jesus, they knew him first hand. They ate with him, traveled with him, and wrote about him.

One thing is for sure, he had to be a like-able guy! The disciples were fully prepared to give their life following him. Many died horrific deaths. They were stoned, hung on crosses, thrown in prison, and worse.

The fact that they did this, clearly shows that there was something in Jesus that transcended any other person. He was unique. He was fascinating. He was magnetic, charismatic, and so much more. He wasn’t just some religious nut who used brainwashing tactics or threats. He loved people.  He treated them well. He never killed 1 person that we know of, and in fact raised a couple from the dead.

One thing that I can tell without a doubt is that Jesus was a very intelligent person. The way he replied to the Pharisees was brilliant. There was no doubt he had a very logical mind, and was very quick with intelligent replies which showed his brilliance.

I wish I could just sit and ask him a ton of questions about the bible, God, and so much more! Maybe one day I can…

What Would Jesus Do Today?  How Would He React to the World?

Another question I sometimes wonder is how Jesus would be if he were here on Earth today. I am sure he would still be teaching of God the Father, and being involved with the spiritual side of life.

But how would he react to the “hot” issues that face us today (such as gay marriage, atheism, evolution, the war in Iraq, etc.). What would he be like walking in a store like Wal-Mart? Would he get annoyed at the people that keep getting in your way, and stopping in the middle of the isle in that perfect spot so you can’t go around them on either side (that happened to me today lol)?

How would he treat those who stand on the corner with a “will work for food” sign? What about people that try to scam you, or use you, or solicit donations? What music would he listen to? Would he watch television or surf the web? Those are some things I often wonder about. I think those are things we all struggle with in life.

Those issues that are not so “black and white” are often hard to overcome. Life isn’t always “do good or do bad.” Sometimes there is no fine line to tell one from the other. The lines blur in reality, and when we are trying to do the right thing it can be very frustrating. What is the right thing in those difficult situations? When can we refuse to do things? When can we say “no” to things we would like to do, but at the same time feel as if we really don’t want to do them? These are all great questions that we can never know the answer on this side of eternity. We can speculate, we can guess, we can even pretend we know, but we can never really “know” fully until it has been revealed to us.

Perhaps one day we will all get a chance to find the answers to these questions once and for all. I look forward to that day!

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Posted under Jesus, reflections