Jesus Crucified Between Two Thieves at GolgothaBible World
27:33Matthew 27:33
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Golgotha means a place of a skull, also called Calvary, lying outside Jerusalem's gate on a rocky rise where the crosses stood. Jesus was led there under guard with the cross laid on His bruised shoulders together with two thieves to die with Him, and weakened by suffering, weariness, pain and loss of blood He staggered and fainted beneath it three times until a follower was seized to carry it to the place. There He was hung in shame and agony, crowned with thorns with nails driven through His hands and feet, while angels watched but were not sent to rescue Him. His suffering outside the city was as humanity's substitute, bearing the curse of the law for others as the banished sinner was expelled from Eden, and it shows the depth of what He gave up and the great cost of saving sinners. The sight of Him there is to humble and break the heart over sin, and to call all who follow Him toward eternal life to conflict, self-denial, sacrifice and solemn consecration to God, which is the measure of the church's missionary duty.
Place and Journey to Crucifixion
Golgotha means a place of a skull, also called Calvary, and lay outside Jerusalem's gate on a rocky rise where the crosses stood. Jesus was led there from the judgment hall under guard, with the cross laid on His bruised, bleeding shoulders, while two thieves were also taken to die with Him, each carrying a cross. People from many classes and ranks followed Him there, including believers from Jerusalem and the surrounding region, with the crowd reacting in grief and terror.
Weakened by suffering, weariness, pain, and blood loss, He was pale, weak, and fainting, and staggered and fell beneath the cross before reaching the place of execution. He fainted beneath it three times on the way. A follower who believed in Him but had not openly professed his faith was seized and made to carry the cross to the place.
The disciples followed in sorrow and despair, remembering His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and their hopes that He would reign as an earthly king. They saw their beloved Teacher condemned and killed as a criminal, bleeding and mangled, witnessed His death and burial, and their hopes died with Him until He rose and appeared to them. Their faith was tested and their hope and courage failed. There He was hung on the cross in shame and agony, crowned with thorns with nails driven through His hands and feet, where the Jewish priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to carry out their will, while the heavenly angels watched and were not sent to rescue Him.
Meaning and Call to Follow
Golgotha places the crucifixion outside Jerusalem's gate at Calvary, fulfilling the picture of one banished outside the city. As humanity was expelled from Eden because of sin, Christ suffered outside Jerusalem as humanity's substitute. His death among the places of execution for criminals shows His bearing the curse of the law on behalf of others. His suffering the shame and agony of the cross, with nails driven through His hands and feet, shows the depth of what He gave up for humanity. That sacrifice on Calvary shows the great cost of the work of saving sinners.
The sight of Jesus crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross is to humble and break the heart over sin. His disciples would see their beloved Teacher condemned and killed as a criminal, and witnessing this gave them cause to mourn and fast as their faith was tested and their hope and courage failed. His suffering on Calvary, together with His trials in the wilderness and Gethsemane, was endured to show the way and to bring people the divine help they need. Following Him toward eternal life therefore involves conflict, self-denial, and sacrifice.
His agony upon the cross, together with His conflict in the wilderness of temptation, His life of self-sacrificing love, His soul agony in Gethsemane, and the cruelty of the judgment hall, teaches self-sacrifice, patience under affliction, solemn consecration to God, and fitting preparation for holy work. One called to sacred work is required to put all energies into it and to make every other consideration secondary. His sacrifice on Calvary serves as the measure of the church's missionary duty.
Golgotha means a place of a skull, also called Calvary, lying outside Jerusalem's gate on a rocky rise where the crosses stood. Jesus was led there under guard with the cross laid on His bruised shoulders together with two thieves to die with Him, and weakened by suffering, weariness, pain and loss of blood He staggered and fainted beneath it three times until a follower was seized to carry it to the place. There He was hung in shame and agony, crowned with thorns with nails driven through His hands and feet, while angels watched but were not sent to rescue Him. His suffering outside the city was as humanity's substitute, bearing the curse of the law for others as the banished sinner was expelled from Eden, and it shows the depth of what He gave up and the great cost of saving sinners. The sight of Him there is to humble and break the heart over sin, and to call all who follow Him toward eternal life to conflict, self-denial, sacrifice and solemn consecration to God, which is the measure of the church's missionary duty.
Place and Journey to Crucifixion
Golgotha means a place of a skull, also called Calvary, and lay outside Jerusalem's gate on a rocky rise where the crosses stood. Jesus was led there from the judgment hall under guard, with the cross laid on His bruised, bleeding shoulders, while two thieves were also taken to die with Him, each carrying a cross. People from many classes and ranks followed Him there, including believers from Jerusalem and the surrounding region, with the crowd reacting in grief and terror.
Weakened by suffering, weariness, pain, and blood loss, He was pale, weak, and fainting, and staggered and fell beneath the cross before reaching the place of execution. He fainted beneath it three times on the way. A follower who believed in Him but had not openly professed his faith was seized and made to carry the cross to the place.
The disciples followed in sorrow and despair, remembering His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and their hopes that He would reign as an earthly king. They saw their beloved Teacher condemned and killed as a criminal, bleeding and mangled, witnessed His death and burial, and their hopes died with Him until He rose and appeared to them. Their faith was tested and their hope and courage failed. There He was hung on the cross in shame and agony, crowned with thorns with nails driven through His hands and feet, where the Jewish priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to carry out their will, while the heavenly angels watched and were not sent to rescue Him.
Meaning and Call to Follow
Golgotha places the crucifixion outside Jerusalem's gate at Calvary, fulfilling the picture of one banished outside the city. As humanity was expelled from Eden because of sin, Christ suffered outside Jerusalem as humanity's substitute. His death among the places of execution for criminals shows His bearing the curse of the law on behalf of others. His suffering the shame and agony of the cross, with nails driven through His hands and feet, shows the depth of what He gave up for humanity. That sacrifice on Calvary shows the great cost of the work of saving sinners.
The sight of Jesus crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross is to humble and break the heart over sin. His disciples would see their beloved Teacher condemned and killed as a criminal, and witnessing this gave them cause to mourn and fast as their faith was tested and their hope and courage failed. His suffering on Calvary, together with His trials in the wilderness and Gethsemane, was endured to show the way and to bring people the divine help they need. Following Him toward eternal life therefore involves conflict, self-denial, and sacrifice.
His agony upon the cross, together with His conflict in the wilderness of temptation, His life of self-sacrificing love, His soul agony in Gethsemane, and the cruelty of the judgment hall, teaches self-sacrifice, patience under affliction, solemn consecration to God, and fitting preparation for holy work. One called to sacred work is required to put all energies into it and to make every other consideration secondary. His sacrifice on Calvary serves as the measure of the church's missionary duty.