The Passion of Christ from a Medical Point of View (Good Friday Post)

C. Truman Davis, M.D., M.S.

[Orual]

"In the Benedictine convent built in the thirteenth century (but altered in the fifteenth century), next to the beautiful church of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi, one can visit the Chapter House which was decorated by Pietro Perugino (born in 1445/50 at Città della Pieve and died in 1523 at Fontignano). The decoration consists of a fresco which occupies the end wall of the chapter house, which is divided into three arches that Perugino united by using the same scenery: the central arch depicts Christ on the cross and Mary Magdalene, on the left: St. Bernard and the Virgin, and on the left John the Evangelist and St. Benedict. The work was carried out between 1493-1496; a period of very intense activity for the Umbrian master whose style had been developed in the school of Piero della Francesca and that of Verrocchio in Florence. The Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi displays the lofty serenity and the "natural" balance of Perugino's better works in which the harmonious and luminous landscape is a significant component."

[grumpster-dumpster]

Ah! Florence! Thanks for the info!

[dmz]

you wrote: Pictures of him hanging on the cross with hardly any Blood aren't very realistic

Pictures of him hanging on the cross with a bunch of Europeans around him (and Him looking European as well) isn't very realistic either.

[Saundra Duffy]

Pictures of him hanging on the cross with a bunch of Europeans around him (and Him looking European as well) isn't very realistic either.

Blasphemy!

[Saundra Duffy]

I have a question for you, pal: Why is the baby Jesus always practically naked in all those nativity scenes? You know very well he was supposed to be wrapped in swaddling clothes! All the other grownups are fully clothes, very warm. And there's the poor baby Jesus freezing to death with nothing on but a little scarf or something.

[John Locke]

There is fairly overwhelming archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross [Tau cross] that Jesus was crucified.

Unfortunately for this theory, the bible contradicts it. Check Matt xxvii:37, which has the titulus placed above Jesus' head. This would be possible only on a true (latin) cross, not a tau cross.

[Razz]

"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit."

[dmz]

he wasn't freezing here you can view average temps - ok it's tel aviv, not bethlehem, but close enough.

[dmz]

i agree, it is blasphemous to represent Him as European.

[Bigg Red]

The author explains the Latin vs. Tau cross question in the 7th paragraph:

A titulus, or small sign, stating the victims crime was usually carried at the front of the procession and later nailed to the cross above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.

Saundra, thank you for posting this, although I did not see it until today (Easter Monday). Very moving. It's easy for us to overlook the very real human pain that Our Lord suffered.

[Beccas_Island]

Wow, I just saw The Passion of The Christ and then read this story. As brutal as critics say "The Passion" is, it left out other types of torture that Jesus endured... for example, did you know that they also plucked out part of his beard? I left the theater thinking how thankful I am that Jesus voluntarily went through this experience for me and for you. But in reality, I am not worthy to even thank Him...

[NYer]

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Good Friday - April 6, 2007

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[IrishMike]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1812985/posts

[stop_fascism]

When you look at earlier representations, they are quite bloody and agonized. It is only with the Renaissance that we get more composed and pacific crucification scenes.

[AnAmericanMother]

The most painful Agony:

Matthias Grunewald, the Isenheim Altarpiece. It was painted for the lepers' hospital of St. Antony Abbot at Isenheim.

[blu]

Is it ok to post my review of my church’s Good Friday service on this thread?

[ContraryMary]

A Good Friday bump.

[beeber]

"Surely, this man was the Son of God."

[colorado tanker]

An accurate description. Despite the braying of the left, the movie wasn’t graphic enough to portray accurately the scourging, a truly horrible form of punishment.

[Mat_Helm]

Thank you Jesus.