Crucifixion - GCSE Religious Studies Definition

What is crucifixion?

In GCSE Religious Studies, crucifixion is generally understood as the way in which Jesus died. It was a Roman method of execution that involved nailing someone to a cross, often until they died of asphyxiation. It was used on Jesus and on many others.

According to the Gospel accounts in the New Testament, Jesus was put on trial by the Sanhedrin council for blasphemy and was then taken to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Pilate let the crowd in Jerusalem decide the fates of Jesus and Barabbas, a Jewish freedom fighter. The crowd chose to release Barabbas and so Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Jesus carried his own cross to his crucifixion site at Golgotha and was crucified on a Friday between two robbers. The soldiers mocked Jesus and hung a sign over his head reading ‘King of the Jews.’

These events are marked by Christians today on Good Friday in Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

The crucifixion is significant for Christians because:

• It shows that God understands human suffering.

• It brought humans salvation from sin through Jesus’ sacrifice of his own life.

• It fulfilled the prophecies that Jesus had to die.
  

Crucifixion Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Use the Save My Exams GCSE resources to explore the topic of the crucifixion further. You can revisit your learning using revision notes. Use past papers and exam questions to check your understanding of the Crucifixion.

AQA GCSE Religious Studies Revision Resources