Dual Views of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ has two broad significance. One, it has natural importance and two, it has spiritual implications.
Physically, the Romans killed Jesus by nailing his hands and his feet to a cross. This was a long and painful death. That means the crucifixion of Jesus was torture.
However, this method of killing wasn’t special. It wasn’t new. And there was nothing naturally different about it.
As a result, the Romans crucified him with two others (Luke 23:33).
“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left” (Matthew 27:38).
Even this communal execution, in itself, wasn’t revolutionary. History tells us that people were often crucified side-by-side on popular streets.
And as citizens travel on these streets and saw them, they would comment on their fate and life. Some even mocked and made fun of the condemned.
How is the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Different From all Others?
Nevertheless, millennia before the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord God prophesied of the manner of his death.
He foretold that he would be killed with sinners or transgressors.
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
Apostle Mark Explains the Crucifixion of Jesus
However, we observe that the above prophecy of God came true as Apostle Mark explained below.
“And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Mark 15:26).
“And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left” (Mark 15:27).
“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors” (Mark 15:28).
How The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Redeemed Us?
The Romans crucified two thieves with Jesus but their crucifixion didn’t deliver humanity from anything (John 19:18). However, we cannot accurately say the same about Jesus’ crucifixion.
His redeemed us from the curse of the Law of Moses.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10).
Therefore, before Christ and the Cross, if anyone failed to execute all that is written in the Law, such a one would be living under the curse outlined above.
However, everyone was under the curse of the law because no one can keep the whole Law.
Redemption Through Jesus Christ
But Jesus became a curse for us.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).
The cross of Jesus Christ is that tree that he hang on for our sins and curse.
“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).
Additionally, the Lord prophesied about various activities that would occur before, during, and after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Prophecy – How Jesus Would Behave Before His Crucifixion
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7;Acts 8:32).
For example, when the chief priests and elders accused Jesus he didn’t respond. Even when Pilate attempted to elicit a reply from him, he was silent (Matthew 27:12-4).
And in this, we witness the fulfillment of the prophecy above concerning Jesus’ behavior immediately before he was crucified.
Prophecy – How The Romans Would Deal With Him?
There is no other person in the history of the earth that has prophesied comparable to Jesus Christ. And especially those relating to his crucifixion.
“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16).
The Scripture above tells us exactly how they were going to crucify Jesus. They nailed his hands and feet to the cross.
The following Scripture captures the prophecy regarding the suffering and humiliation that Jesus endured before his crucifixion.
“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).
Indeed he didn’t hide his face from shame and spitting, for Matthew informs us, “Then did they spit in his face” (Matthew 26:67).
Prophecy – How The Romans Would Behave Regarding His Clothing?
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is dramatically different from all others. So much so to the extent that the Lord prophesied how the Romans would interact with his clothes after his death.
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:18).
The fulfillment of the above prophecy is detailed in the following Scriptures (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-4).
When did the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Happen?
The murder of Jesus Christ happened more than two thousand years ago. However, its effects are still relevant and beneficial today as they were then.
Where Did The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Happen?
Were there some inconsistencies among the Apostles concerning where the crucifixion of Jesus Christ happened?
According to Apostle Luke, the Beloved Physician, the Romans crucified Jesus at Calvary.
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33).
However, at first, the accounts of both Matthew and Mark appear to differ from Luke’s. The former, states that the crucifixion of Jesus occurred at Golgotha.
Apostle Matthew’s Account
First Matthew writes:
“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull” (Matthew 27:33).
Is Golgotha the same place as Calvary?
He continues, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink” (Matthew 27:34).
At this point, Jesus is still at Golgotha and very much alive.
Then, “they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots” (Matthew 27:35.
Therefore, Apostle Matthew informs us that the Romans crucified Jesus Christ at Golgotha.
Was The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Golgotha or Calvary?
According to Apostle Mark, first the Romans took Jesus to Golgotha.
For, Mark writes, “they bring [Jesus] unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull” (Mark 15:22).
Consequently, we learn from both Matthew and Mark that Golgotha means, “The Place of a Skull”.
Apostle Mark pens, “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not” (Mark 15:23).
Next, they crucified him there, for he explains that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ happened at The Place of a Skull.
“And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take” (Mark 15:24).
Apostle John Brings Clarity – Hebrew, Greek, and Latin
However, upon closer examinations of all the related Scriptures, we have clarity of the name of the place where the crucifixion of Jesus Christ happened. John is very lucid about it.
“And [Jesus] bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha” (John 19:17).
Apostle John dispels all ambiguities concerning the name of the place where the crucifixion of Jesus took place.
He explains that “The Place of a Skull” means “Golgotha” in Hebrew. Then, he explains that’s where they killed Jesus.
“Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst” (John 19:18).
Who Was Involved In The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
However, recall that we started with Luke’s Calvary. So, why is Luke’s name of the place where the crucifixion of Jesus Christ happened still different?
Three nations participated in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Additionally, they were all living as one people in those days.
Hebrew, Greek, and Latin
They are the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Hebrew represents the Jews. Greek the non-Jew, but who is different from the Latin. The latter are the Romans.
The Beloved Physician writes his letter (the Gospel According to St. Luke) for a Gentile reader, Theophilus. He’s the same person he wrote The Acts of The Apostles to, (Acts 1:1).
Calvary a Greek Perspective
Theophilus is Greek. As a result, Luke wouldn’t write Hebrew words or phrases to him in his letter.
Instead, he used Greek. “The Place of a Skull” in Greek is “Calvary”. There you have it.
One reason Pilate wrote the message above Jesus’ head on the cross in Hebrew, Greek and Roman is because of the co-habitation of all three nations living as one.
“And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).
The Holy Bible is precise. You just need to know how and where to search to find what you need.
“This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin” (John 19:20).
Conclusion
Spiritually, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ signals the fulfillment of a number of unnatural milestones.
Without the cross, Gentiles would remain without God and Christ in the world up to today (Galatians 3:14). The cross enables us to obtain the Promise of the Father (the Holy Ghost) and salvation.
The Jews had direct access to God by faith. He told them explicitly and often times almost man-to-man, what to do.
If they obey Him they are saved. But if they don’t, they experienced His wrath.
Gentiles, on the other hand, had no such privilege. We, through faith, for we have no direct commandment from God, if we obey His representative or obey the Word that He speaks to the Jews, we too, by way of faith, shall receive salvation as well as the Jews.
Why Is The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Still Important 2000 Years Later?
Before the cross and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Sin of Adam, that is, the Sin of The World persisted unreconciled to God (John 1:29).
The sinless blood of Jesus Christ paid the price. It reconciled us to God and Christ as sons of God, or sons of Abraham.
That is why more than two thousand years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ it’s still relevant and we celebrate it.
It marks the point of our adoption into the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, we could say Abba or Father, with the Jews.
If Jesus was never crucified the Holy Ghost would never have come on the Day of Pentecost. That would break the Scriptures. But the Scriptures cannot be broken.
Calvary’s Cross Changed Our Status
It further means that the prophecy of Joel and God would never actualized.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).
Joel explains further, “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:29).
If Christ had not been to Calvary, ordinary, and non-Jewish people, who are not kings, priests, or prophets would never qualify to receive the Holy Ghost and salvation. Calvary changed our status.
But because of the obedience of Jesus Christ, to death, we have received the Promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Promise of the Father.
Have You Accepted the Completed Work of Calvary?
Since Jesus became a curse for all humanity by dying on a tree. He freed us from it.
However, those who refused to accept the completed work of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ that he accomplished on Calvary are still living under the curse of the Law, because they are still attempting to do all the works of it.
This is a rejection of the work of the Cross. A repididation of Jesus Christ.
Today, accept the finished work of Calvary and live with Christ forever. But if you reject him face eternal damnation!
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