Jesus Died When He Willed It, Says Crucifixion Scholar

Ever open to research developments, author and crucifixion scholar Joe E. Holoubek, M.D. continues to consider new theories about the death of Christ.

Physicians and forensics specialists have debated how Christ died for at least 50 years. They still do, he told John Morales, host of Catholic Exchange Today, in a March 23 podcast.

The prevailing theory has been asphyxiation. Weak from blood loss, beating and dehydration, Jesus could no longer push himself up on His feet, nailed to the cross, to breathe. That theory inspired Holoubek's award-winning novel Letters to Luke, now out in paperback. It presents the ministry and death of Jesus as witnessed by first century physicians, Joseph and Elisa of Capernaum.

Today, trauma and hypovolemic shock (thick blood from the sweating and severe beatings) are often cited as the primary cause of death.

This theory has some validity, says Holoubek, 91. The retired internist and consulting cardiologist is a member of the Catholic Academy of Sciences USA. A native of Nebraska, he played a key role in the founding of Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, LA.

He and his wife, the late Dr. Alice Baker Holoubek, held high ranks in the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Together they presented more than 300 meditations on the sufferings of Christ at Calvary.

"Christ and the two thieves," he says, "had blood loss, dehydration, hypovolemia, electrolyte imbalance, pleural and pericardial effusions. Eventually, after more hours of suffering, they would have died from traumatic and hypovolemic shock with terminal cardiac arrhythmia."

Still, as Our Lord's final hour on the cross unfolded, He received enough blood to the brain to forgive his enemies, entrust his mother to John the apostle, and speak to the thieves crucified alongside him. "No one in a state of shock could have said all of this, especially from an upright position." Blood pressure would be too low or completely absent.

Holoubek rejects recent conspiracy theories that say Jesus survived the crucifixion. One hypothesis is that He swooned and only appeared to die. Another is that He struck a deal with Pontius Pilate, was sedated and later revived. "One thing is certain," Holoubek says. "Jesus did die on the cross." The question is why He died in only three hours.

People crucified in the fashion of ancient Rome, Holoubek says, took 24-36 hours to die on the cross, sometimes longer. "The two thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus died quickly only because soldiers broke their legs." They could no longer push themselves up to breathe.

"I prefer to go to the source to develop my theories — the Scriptures. And they bear out a conviction of my late wife, Dr. Alice: There is no medical explanation for why Christ died when He did," Holoubek says. "Read the Gospel of John closely and you will agree there is another cause at play in the death of Jesus than his physical condition."

From John, chapter 10: The Father loves me because I lay down my life — in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will.

Medical professionals, the author says, will continue to analyze all the symptoms that Jesus developed, from the time in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross at Golgotha. "But we may never determine any medical reason that would cause His death within three hours.

"Jesus died when He wished to die, having completed the saving of the human race."

Letters to Luke, published by Little Dove Press, won the Writers Digest Award for inspirational literature and the Independent Publisher Award for religious fiction. It is distributed through Baker & Taylor and CCC of America (800-935-2222). Copies may be ordered online at LettersToLuke.com or Amazon.com, by phone at 888-900-LUKE (5853) or through your local bookstore (ISBN 978-0-975376621).

Little Dove Press LLC was founded in March 2004. It is a family partnership and ministry of Joe E. Holoubek, M.D., retired physician, author and crucifixion scholar, and daughter Martha H. Fitzgerald, a veteran journalist and editor of Letters to Luke.

Subscribe to CE
(It's free)

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

MENU