He was stripped of his clothing, unable even to brush away the flies which fell on his wounded flesh that was
already lacerated by the preliminary scourging, exposed to the insult and curses of people who could always
find some sickening pleasure at the sight of the tortures of others – a feeling which is increased and not
diminished by the sight of pain.
The crucifixion stake miserably represented humanity reduced to the degree of unimportance, suffering and
degradation. The penalty of crucifixion combined all the most ardent tormentor could desire: torture, the
pillory, degradation, and certain death – distilled slowly drop by drop. It was an ideal for the torturer.
The Romans adopted crucifixion as a means of deterring crime; therefore, they reduced it to an exact
science with a set of rules to be followed. On one occasion, when they repressed a revolt, we are told that
6,000 men were crucified on a single day and hung on crucifixion stakes between Capua and Rome. But no
Roman citizen could be crucified; it was a punishment reserved for slaves and the worst type of criminals.
Throughout the trial, the Jews were determined that Y‘shua should be put to death; and eventually through
the weakness of Pilate, they had succeeded. The sentence was a foregone conclusion: death by crucifixion.
Numerous religious fears and political motives caused both Jews and the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to
kill Y‘shua the Messiah.
Rebellion (insurrection) against Rome and Pilate was possibly underway in Jerusalem during Y‘shua‘s final
days
(1) ―At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) He asked them, ̳Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse
sinners than all other Galileans?
(3) No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did."‘ (Luke 13:1-3 NAB)
―They they all shouted out together... "Release Barabbas for us!" This was a man who had been put in prison
for an insurrection (stasis) that had taken place in the city, and for murder‖. (Luke 23:18 NAB)
―And there was one called Barabbas who had been imprisoned with the rebels, who in the insurrection
(stasis) had committed murder‖. (Mark 15:7)
Mark 15:27; Matt 27:38 (Luke 23:32).
―And they crucified two robbers with him, one on the right, and one on the left.‖
Antiquities 18.3.2 60-62 (War 2.9.4 175-177) (speculative) ―Pilate undertook to bring water to Jerusalem
using money from the sacred treasury, and deriving the source of the stream from the distance of two
hundred furlongs. However, the Jews were not pleased with what had been done about this, and many ten
thousands of people got together and made a clamor against him, insisting that he should leave off that
design. Some of them also cried insults and abuse at the man, as crowds of such people usually do. So he
clothed a great number of his soldiers in the people's garments, under which they carried clubs, and sent
them off where they might surround them, he bid the crowd to withdraw. While they boldly cast abuse upon
him, he gave the soldiers a prearranged signal. But the soldiers laid upon them much greater blows than
Pilate had commanded, and equally punished those that were tumultuous and those that were not. Showing
no softness, the people were caught unarmed by men prepared for the action, a great number of them were
slain, and others of them ran away wounded. And thus an end was put to this insurrection (stasis).‖
The Gospels agree that Y‘shua was crucified along with two thieves – the Greek word for "thieves" used by
Mark and Matthew is liêstai (singular lêistês) – the same word Josephus uses throughout his works (77
times) to indicate both simple robbers and anti-Roman revolutionaries. There is an implication that these
thieves were involved in the recent insurrection in Jerusalem. Barabbas, who was to be crucified at the same
time as Y‘shua, is identified by Mark and Luke as a participant in the insurrection. These suggest that Y‘shua
may have been grouped by the authorities with those involved in an anti-Roman riot.
The quoted passage by Josephus describes one such insurrection in Jerusalem under Pilate. Josephus
does not describe an event where the blood of Galileans ―is mixed with the sacrifices". Galilee, which wasn't
under direct Roman rule, was the origin of the anti-Roman Fourth Philosophy developed by Judas the
Galilean, whose descendants were eventually leaders in the revolt against Rome (see The Causes of the
War Against Rome). It's a good possibility, then, that in any insurrection Galileans were involved.