DIED HE FOR ME

A PHYSICIAN'S VIEW OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST

by Mark A. Marinella M.D., F.A.C.P.

ISBN: 978-0-9796736-6-5
RETAIL PRICE: $13.95

Publisher’s Discount available. Please click here for details.

or Pay by Check

ALSO IN PRINT IN INDONESIAN AND SPANISH!
Spanish Version:
RETAIL PRICE: $14.95

Indonesian Version: RETAIL PRICE: $14.95

As a Christian physician, I have not only marveled at the spiritual ramifications of Christ’s death, but also the physical and physiological aspects. To present this, I have compiled a succinct overview of Jesus’ death from a physical and medical perspective that I hope both lay and medical people can appreciate and understand.
— Mark A. Marinella, M.D., F.A.C.P.

ENDORSEMENTS

The death of Jesus for our sins is the heart of the Christian faith. What does a physician have to say about that death? That’s the subject of this important new book, examining the medical evidence from the Biblical texts. Particularly intriguing are the details of the death of Jesus as found in the Old Testament, written hundreds of years before the actual event.
—Jerry Newcombe, D.Min.
TV Producer, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Co-author of numerous books with D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.,
including Christ’s Passion: The Power and the Promise

It takes a physician to pronounce a man dead. It takes a student to research how and why a man dies. Mark is both! As a physician of medicine and a student of the Bible, Mark has not only discovered that a man died, he has also learned why He died. The man—Jesus!
The reason—we need a Savior!
—David K. Smith, d.d.
Christian & Missionary Alliance Board
Senior Pastor, Fairhaven Church, Dayton, Ohio

In this complete treatment of the crucifixion and the suffering associated with this kind of punishment, Dr. Marinella reminds us of “man’s inhumanity to man” and God’s great love for us to accept this form of death to provide such a great salvation.
—Jonathan M. Saxe, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Professor of Surgery
Director of Trauma Research, Wright State University
Candidate Master of Arts in Religious Studies,
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

Dr. Marinella’s bedside manner displays his depth of scientific understanding, but also his compassion. His study of the Cross will deepen your faith.
—Dennis M. Sullivan, M.D., M.A. (Ethics)
Professor of Biology, Director, Center for Bioethics,
Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

We all know that Jesus suffered tremendously in the hours leading up to His crucifixion, but it may take a physician to help us realize just how much.

Jesus was "probably physiologically almost dead" and in critical condition when He arrived at Calvary, says Dr. Mark Marinella, author of Died He for Me: A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Add to that condition the horrors of crucifixion, and you have suffering almost beyond belief. Take into consideration that the Man suffering didn't in the least bit deserve any of it, and it makes it that much more horrifying.

And, hopefully, helps us appreciate that much more what He did for us on Good Friday.

Dr. Marinella, an oncologist and blood disorders specialist in Ohio, says that his study should prove beyond a doubt that when Jesus was taken down from the cross, He was dead. Not unconscious, not in a "swoon," as some conspiracy theorists have claimed, but dead.

Read On»

---

Died He for Me: A Physicians View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, by Mark A. Marinella, MD, FACP.
Review posted at Brandywine Books by Lars Walker, published author, December 30, 2008.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the central matters of the Faith. For the Christian who wants to understand more clearly what the process of crucifixion entailed, Died He for Me is an excellent guide. Marinella blends historical research on Roman crucifixion practices, with his own physician’s knowledge of trauma and the body’s responses to it. This necessarily involves some speculation, but Marinella clearly labels his personal judgments as such. . . .

Though it’s one of the divine mysteries, it must be said that the physical horrors of crucifixion were the least of Christ’s sufferings. We believe that Christ bore the blast of God’s anger itself, setting His body like a shield between us and the fire of Hell. Such suffering is beyond description. But what we can know is enough to sober our minds and turn us to humility and repentance. I recommend Died He for Me for pastors, and for adults who are looking for a serious, scientific, non-sensationalist examination of the crucifixion of Christ.

---

"I am an 18-year old believer of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I am currently incarcerated, but still in good spirits because the Lord blesses me with a smile on my face, and hope in my heart everyday. In my search to find readable material (in jail), so that I may strengthen my fiath, I came across just what I was looking for when I was given my very own "Died He For Me" book.

"The way "DH4M" is designed, makes it easy for the reader (me) to learn the material that is read, and by being told to look in different sections of the Bible, the reader can't avoid learning their way around the Bible's many pages. By having verses of the Bible "highlighted" in your book, and by having key words defined and explained, gives me a better insight of the material I am reading.

My faith in the Lord is strong, and by having books like the one you guys provide, "Died He For Me," helps me keep it that way. My process in the book, still has a couple of pages before it is completed, and looking back at what I have read already, I know that it is going to be a desirable experience until the end..... This letter is written to give thanks, and to give you guys added encouragement to keep on publishing great books!"

(Mr. G.G. - name withheld, Ventura, CA)

---

Died He for Me" took its place in line on my nightstand. Suddenly I was experiencing excruciating deep neuropathic pain. Within a few days I lost control of limbs and had not slept nor eaten a thing but medicine. Surgery was yet a few days off. I prayed to God, I know you can take this pain from me, but why haven't you now that I desperately need help? Immediately looking for escapes I picked up "Died He for Me" and learned about the even greater levels of pain that Christ suffered for me. This book was what I needed then to get me through intense pain but now I remain in awe as I developed a deeper understanding of the suffering Christ endured for me.

- ALEX PALMER, Ojai, CA

---

“Died He For Me is medically accurate, highly incisive, and very well describes the sufferings of our Lord in the most modern medical terms. The body of our Savior Jesus Christ endured the same devastating effects as any normal human being would suffer when subjected to similar horrifying torture. Dr. Marinellla lays out an awesome and insightful description of that terrible agony, using modern medical terminology and an excellent familiarity with emergency medicine as practiced today. I highly recommend this book for anyone who desires to get a better feel for the amount of suffering God deemed necessary to pay for our sins. Since there are numerous technical terms used, people with a good grip of medical terminology will be especially blessed by this book.” --J.Y. Jones, M.D., Dublin, Georgia

---

An Excellent Medical Description of the Crucifixion, March 19, 2009

A few months ago I had the opportunity to read Dr. Marinella's wonderful book Died He For Me, and I was left in awe of the love of Christ for all of us He died for. In fact, I was so overwhelmed with the suffering that Jesus went through, that it gave me a newer perspective on not only the suffering on the Cross, but also the suffering Jesus endured before the cross.

I found this book very easy to understand, even though it is written by a medical doctor, and also found myself telling everyone I know about this book. I HIGHLY urge everyone to get a copy. It is the best book I've read on this subject, and cannot recommend it highly enough.

As to the previous reviewer who gave this book 1 star, don't let this reviewers lack of understanding of what Jesus endured deter you from getting this gem of a book. While the book is a little graphic, it isn't that bad and is definitely easier to sit through than Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ.

Stacy L. Harp
Active Christian Media
(Review originally posted on Amazon.com)

---

A few months ago I had the opportunity to read Dr. Marinella's wonderful book He Died For Me, and I was left in awe of the love of Christ for all of us He died for. In fact, I was so overwhelmed with the suffering that Jesus went through, that it gave me a newer perspective on not only the suffering on the Cross, but also the suffering Jesus endured before the cross.

I found this book very easy to understand, even though it is written by a medical doctor. The author has scientific knowledge, and who was able to seemingly explain and detail the real physical suffering Christ endured for the sole purpose of our eternal Life. However, I need to point out that the book is brutal and graphic in many ways. Not overwhelming, but still, I think the reader should be forewarned.

~Reviewed by Shirley Y.

---

The Scandal of the Christ

When Mel Gibson's controversial film, The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004, millions of people were exposed to the brutality of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ-many for the very first time. While most reviewers criticized the movie for its explicit violence and graphic depictions of Christ's last few horrific hours before his execution, these same reviewers completely missed the significance of what they were witnessing. The death of Christ is the single most important event in world history, short of the resurrection. The beating, scorn, and scandal that Jesus Christ received was meant for us. Our sin sent Him to the cross. Our sin requires blood atonement. Our sin requires human sacrifice. Our sin requires death. And our sin has been paid for; Jesus Christ died that we may live.

As we approach Holy Week and the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection, there is no better time to reflect on the suffering of our Lord. Died He for Me: A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a powerful book that examines the crucifixion and succeeds in making a well-known event seem new. Though definitely not light reading this is a timely book to read and reflect on. Easter, like so many other important Christian holidays, has become commercialized and trivialized almost beyond recognition. It is important that we as Christians remember the gravity of sin and its awful consequences.

Dr. Mark Marinella speaks from a unique perspective as a medical doctor; his insights into the suffering of Christ are humbling and thought-provoking. "They placed a makeshift robe and crown on Him and ridiculed Him by sarcastically paying 'homage.' Often, when we as humans are physically weakened, we are more vulnerable to external stresses, such as unkind words or daily troubles. Since Jesus was fully human, this ridicule by the soldiers and onlookers only added to His suffering in a time of great physical abuse." It's hard to imagine that Jesus would submit to such treatment from his own creation!

More than just a collection of medical facts, the book also contains helpful historical and cultural information coupled with sobering spiritual insights. For example, we learn that "the word Gethsemane means 'oil press' referring to the pressing of oil from the olive crop. Indeed, Jesus, like an olive, would be squeezed and pressed by the Roman soldiers, and His blood would later seep out of His body like the oil out of an olive when pressed." Colossians 1:16-17 tells us that all things-in heaven and on earth-were created through and for Jesus Himself, so we can be confident that these minor details matter; they are not trivial facts or mere coincidences. The author ties in prophecies regarding the crucifixion from throughout the Old Testament; many of which you rarely hear mentioned. Since Jesus is the fulfillment and focus of the entire Bible, we should not be surprised to find Him everywhere in the Scriptures, including the Old Testament. Dr. Marinella reminds his readers of the Passover, an event that holds extreme importance and prophetic significance for the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "With regard to the Passover lamb, Exodus 12:46 states: 'do not break any of the bones...' These verses foreshadow that Christ died without His bones being broken."

Died He for Me is an excellent book to go through as a family or individual. Although we tend to think more about the death and resurrection of Christ during this period of the Church calendar, we should be thinking more about it all year round. Sparing our children (or ourselves) of the gruesome details of the cross does not help us to have a biblical view of our sin. Our sin separates us from the One who created us. Without a proper view of how our sin has damaged our relationship with God, we can never have a proper view of the steps He took to reconcile us. I have certainly been humbled and inspired by this closer look at the cost of my salvation. "When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died..." "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

---

We're in the season leading up to "Easter" or the time of the year many people call Lent. This 40-day period is marked by Catholics and some Protestants and Orthodox Christians for "…penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection."[1]
As an evangelical or born again Christian, I do not "celebrate" the Lenten season as some people prefer to do, nor does my local fellowship. That being said, I believe it is important for Christians to bring to mind often what Jesus has done for us and if the Lenten season helps you to focus on Christ, His passion and His redemption, then by all means do so.

My personal reflection, however, will be just that: times I spend with Jesus in quiet solitude, reflecting on His life on earth, His passion and resurrection and the life to come. I've also secured a copy of "Died He For Me," a book written by Dr. Mark A. Marinella, who takes a look at Jesus' crucifixion from a physician's perspective.[2] Indeed, this book subtitled, "A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ," does just that and makes for an excellent, if not provocative, read as we each bring to mind Christ's passion.

Medical Credentials
Dr. Marinella is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and practices in Dayton, Ohio. Included among his clinical interests are "breast cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, critical care hematology and oncology, as well as nutrition support for hospitalized cancer patients."[3] His expertise has given him the understanding needed to address the hours leading up to Jesus crucifixion and what the human body goes through as it is pulverized in this manner from a medical point of view.

Before I move on, allow me to briefly address some of the criticisms people have offered up against books or movies which have attempted to graphically convey what Jesus went through as He took upon Himself our sins. Certainly, we don't need anything beyond the Bible to help us understand the gravity of sin and the suffering that Jesus went through. However, having that information can only benefit the Christian, who gains an understanding of a heinous form of capital punishment, one that God took upon Himself to set us free from sin and damnation.

Passion Week
Marinella offers the reader an appropriate synopsis of what life was like in Jesus' time to explain the political landscape and just how much the Romans and Jews hated each other. By the time Jesus was led to Golgotha, crucifixion was widely practiced by the Romans — many Jews were crucified during the earliest "Jewish Wars" which occurred about the time of the birth of Christ and in 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed.[4]

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus has noted one account in 4 B.C. where approximately 2,000 Jews were crucified in a Roman bid to stamp out rebellion. Some historians have theorized that Golgotha, which means "place of the skull," got that name because of the skull-like appearance of the hill where Jesus was crucified. It may also point to the skulls of other victims which were scattered about (see notes for Matthew 27:33). In any case, by the time Jesus was crucified, the Romans had "perfected" this cruel form of punishment.

Medical Facts
The first three chapters of "Died He For Me" give way to four chapters where Marinella shares in explicit detail what Jesus went through as He was given up to the Romans, scourged, His walk to Calvary, crucifixion and, finally, His death. And this is where a doctor's perspective can help the reader understand the nearly impossible physical and psychological torment Jesus bore as he willingly went to the cross for our sins.

Indeed, we know that Jesus was physically tired, having stayed up the entire night before praying and was in great anguish. Though he foreknew what He was to face, Jesus was still very much a man — imagine the fatigue and the deep sense of betrayal He encountered as the purple robe was put on his body and as the crown of thorns were driven into His skull.

Swoon Theory
I won't spoil the book for you, but Marinella describes in great detail the tools of suffering used to torture Jesus, an event which dropped His blood pressure and placed Him in a state of near bodily shock. This information is important to know because before He even got to the cross, Jesus was near death. The so-called "swoon" theory can be easily debunked — the pummeling Christ went through sometimes killed people before they got to Golgotha; He was in no condition to survive His injuries, let alone free Himself from the tomb and make His escape as some skeptics assert.[5]

Marinella taps His medical expertise to describe in great detail the trauma Jesus suffered. From exposure to bacteria found in human spittle to tetanus and other forms of infection. Profound blood loss, tissue damage, ripped cartilage, elevated body temperature and kidney damage were just some of the traumas Jesus willingly took upon Himself as He paid for mankind's sin and bore the wrath of God.
There are no words that can be said to explain the gravity of what Jesus did for you and me. Only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit can any of us appreciate Jesus and His finished work upon the cross.

Sins Forgiven
To that end, I'll dispense with further details about Jesus' suffering. This book can make for a wonderful companion study as you reflect on Jesus's passion, betrayal, scourging, crucifixion and resurrection. Yes, even through it all Jesus stood firm, doing what it took to purchase our lives, making the only payment for sin that God could accept to permanently wash away our sins. Hallelujah!

—Matthew Keegan, WordJourney Magazine.

---

Guest review by Linsay Morgan, Customer Service Rep at American Vision