Holy Cross Day is about reflecting on the way Jesus died and the cross as a primary Christian symbol. Crucifixion involved both public degradation, humiliation and a lingering, agonising death. It was reserved for slaves and foreigners, especially in cases of robbery, rioting and sedition. Especially bad for Jews who believed, “Anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:23; cf. Galatians 3:13). Jesus took our curse on himself with his death.

The early church, with mostly Jewish disciples, had no great interest in the cross as a symbol. It was in the 4th Century, Empress Helena the mother of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, during excavations in Jerusalem for the new basilica, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, claimed to discover a piece of the true cross.

The cross as a symbol, reminds us what Jesus endured on our behalf. In modern times, historic evidence of His death has been examined by Forensic pathologists and clinicians. The consensus - Jesus died from hypovolemic shock exacerbated by asphyxiation from crucifixion. In layman's terms, he lost so much blood from the physical abuse/torture, that his body could no longer send enough blood to his organs, and the position of the body during crucifixion makes it increasingly difficult to breath.

The blood loss came from being whipped with a Roman flagrum, victims often fainted from blood loss, (as Jesus did carrying the cross), and often died. A symptom of hypovolemic shock is great thirst, Jesus declared he was thirsty as he hung on the cross, the final telling detail is water and blood came out when they pierced his side with the spear, indicating water collecting in the lungs and around the heart, the final symptom of hypovolemic shock.

Some suggust he may have only fainted on the cross, been taken down and been resusitated - not possible! The postmortem Roman spear wound to Jesus’ body, recorded in (John 19:33-35), is confirmed by the Roman writer Quintilian (Declamationes 6.9). A family member could claim the body for burial, but the Romans made sure the victim was dead first! David F. Strauss (1808–1874) a highly influential German theologian in the 19th century, a fierce opponent of Christianity, states it would be “impossible” for Jesus to somehow “creep out of the tomb” after having just been beaten and crucified and give his disciples “the impression that he was a Conqueror over death and the grave, the Prince of Life, an impression which lay at the bottom of their future ministry”. Had he done so they would have been calling a doctor, not standing in awe and worshipping.

Today's date was chosen as it was the day the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was dedicated.