Section 164
First three hours of crucifixion
Golgotha
Matthew 27:35-44 | Mark 15:24-27, 29-32 | Luke 23:33b-34, 38, 35-37, 39-43 | John 19:18, 23-24, 19-22, 25-27 |
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33bthe soldiers crucified him there along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. | 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. | ||
35After crucifying him, they divided his garments among themselves by casting lots. 36Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. | 24And they crucified him. Then they divided his garments, casting lots for them to see who would take what. | 34But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Then they cast lots to divide his garments. | 23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was seamless. It was woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it apart, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be.” This happened to fulfill the Scripture that says,“They divided my garments among themselves,and for my clothing they cast lots.”This is what the soldiers did.[*] |
37Over his head they placed the written charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. | 25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge against him was written as follows: “The King of the Jews.” 27With him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. | 38There was also an inscription over him written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters, which read: “This is the King of the Jews.” | 19Pilate also wrote a notice and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, “I am the king of the Jews.” ’ ” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” |
39Those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” | 29Those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30save yourself and come down from the cross!” | 35aThe people stood there looking on, | |
41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, elders, and Pharisees, were mocking him, saying, 42“He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he is the king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He has put his trust in God0x3B let God deliver him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” [*] | 31In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. 32aLet the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see it and believe him.” | 35band the rulers who were with them ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ, the Chosen One of God.” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him and offering him sour wine, 37saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” | |
44The robbers who were crucified with him were also reviling him in the same way. | 32bThe men who were crucified with him were also insulting him. | ||
39One of the criminals who was hanging there reviled him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the same condemnation? 41The two of us are justly condemned, for we are receiving the appropriate punishment for the things we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when you come in your kingdom.” 43Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” | |||
25Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. |
Notes
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Although the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (“tomb”) is now within the city walls, it was outside the walls of Jesus’ day. Various places within the church contain remains from the first century, adding credibility to its identification as the location of Calvary and the empty tomb. Up the stairs you will see bedrock at a considerable height above the current floor; this is all that remains of the outcrop of rock which is the probable location of Calvary.
In A.D. 135 Hadrian built a temple to the goddess Aphrodite directly over this outcrop of rock. In A.D. 326, when the pagan temple was razed, the workmen looked for the tomb of Christ. When they believed they had found the correct one, they dug out the bedrock around the tomb so that it now resembles a small chapel.
Next to a chapel claimed by the Armenians and the Syrians you will have access to several “kokhim”, deep horizontal niches used in first century graves. This area can therefore at least be identified as a place where first century tombs were located outside the city walls—and thus a possibility for the correct location of Jesus’ tomb.
The Garden Tomb, located north of Damascus Gate, was suggested in the 19th century as an alternative site of Calvary and Jesus’ tomb. While the setting is very suggestive of what the garden would have looked like in the time of Jesus, excavations would seem to indicate that the tomb is too ancient to have been the one built by Joseph of Arimathea. The details of the chiseled walls and the bench type of arrangement suggest a date during the Old Testament. Were it not for the New Testament statement that Joseph’s tomb was new, this would have been a possibility.
Photos
Videos
Video 01: Model of Jerusalem Overview
Golgotha
Footnotes
Matthew 27,43
Psalms 22:8
John 19,24
Psalms 22:18