What difference does it make how Jesus died?

Bill O’Reilly is host of Fox News Channel’s political commentary program “The O’Reilly Factor.” In his new book, “Killing Jesus,” he discusses the Roman Empire and the life and death of Jesus from a historical viewpoint. This book has already sold millions of copies, but I differ with some of his views. At the heart of our difference is the cause of death — which has significant consequences. This was brought into focus in an interview with O’Reilly by Norah O’Donnell on “60 Minutes” in which O’Reilly made the following comments:

O’Donnell: “You include two quotes from Jesus on the cross, but not the most famous one: ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Why not?”

O’Reilly: “We don’t put in things that we don’t think happened.”

O’Donnell: “How do you know?”

O’Reilly: “Because you couldn’t say something like that, audibly that people would hear. … [Y]ou die on a cross from being suffocated. That your lungs can’t take in any more air. You can hardly breathe. We believe Jesus said that, but we don’t believe He said it on the cross, ’cause nobody could’ve heard it.”

I have long contended that Jesus did not die of suffocation but died of a ruptured heart. I am frequently asked, “What difference does it make how Jesus died?” There are multiple answers to this question, but the above interview highlights one of the more important reasons. Since Jesus did not die of suffocation, He not only could have — He did say, “Father forgive them … .” O’Reilly is correct in saying suffocation prevents normal speech. Since Jesus died of a ruptured heart, His speech would have been perfectly normal right up to His sudden death, and then He would have had enough breath to cry out and suddenly die. 

What bothers me as a conservative Christian is many people reading O’Reilly’s book will be convinced there are errors in the Bible. The only error is O’Reilly’s logic.

1. If Jesus did not have enough breath to say, “Father forgive them … ” then how did He say the other quotes cited by O’Reilly?

2. The Synoptic Gospels all say Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up the spirit.

3. Matthew and Mark also say Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, “My God, My God … .”

4. You cannot cry out with a loud voice if you are suffocating.

Whether one believes in the inerrancy of the Bible or not (and I do), O’Reilly’s argument cannot be used as evidence for errors.

Like O’Reilly, I have also written a book about the crucifixion, “The Crucifixion and Death of a Man Called Jesus: From the Eyes of a Physician.” However, my book is not simply a recapitulation of historical facts and assumptions. I have done scientific studies on the crucifixion of Jesus, including more than 200 simulations on a shop-made cross with real-life subjects.

Not one of them has ever had any difficulty breathing. With approximately 20 of these I have recorded oxygen saturation levels, pulmonary function studies, blood pressure, pulse rate, respirations and hang time. I have published two scientific articles and written a book explaining my view. I was on the History Channel presentation of the crucifixion in 2008 and have been filmed for an upcoming presentation of the crucifixion by the Discovery Channel. I have done live presentations of the crucifixion in about 150 churches in 17 states. With this background, I am absolutely confident Jesus did not die of suffocation. He died of a ruptured heart. God gives us confirmation of this with a post mortem exam cited in John 19:33–34: “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” 

The detailed explanation of this post mortem exam is beyond the scope of this article but is explained in my book.

The widely held theory of suffocation is a result of “scientific assumption” without dynamic studies. It has been held as the principal reigning cause of death for around 80 years and is still considered by many as the cause of the death of Jesus. (I too originally believed this before I began to study the crucifixion in earnest.) There are no scientific studies that suggest Jesus died of suffocation. It can only be accepted through “circular reasoning” as follows:

1. Suffocation was the usual means of death by crucifixion. 

2. Therefore Jesus died of suffocation. 

3. The Bible quotes Jesus as saying, “Father forgive them … .” 

4. He could not have said this because … 

5. Suffocation was the usual means of death by crucifixion. 

The suffocation theory has held sway among scientists for years because “it sounds logical.” This logic reminds me of Galileo’s 1589 experiment when he dropped two balls of different masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to demonstrate time of descent was independent of their mass. (Prior to that it was held as inviolable truth the heavier ball would fall faster because it sounded so logical.) Likewise the suffocation theory might sound logical, but it is not validated with empirical data. 

Sagging church growth

As the media chips away at the truth of the Bible, we should not be surprised church growth is sagging. Christian people cannot afford to allow these challenges to go unanswered. The Bible quotes Jesus as saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” As with everything in the Bible, there is a reason for its inclusion. This quote by Jesus (from the cross) is specifically directed to those responsible for His crucifixion. I am responsible. I am guilty. It was my sins that nailed Jesus to the cross. I am so thankful He forgave me then and there. Aren’t you?

Editor’s Note — David A. Ball, M.D., has been in the general practice of medicine in Batesville, Miss., for 44 years and is a bivocational evangelist and member of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. He is a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, Batesville, Miss., and may be contacted at dball@panola.com.