THE PLACE CALLED “SKULL”

John 19:16b-22 John 19:16b-20 • “So they took , and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin …”

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” John 19:20-22 • “and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’” (ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Observation #1 • Each gives unique details of the events surrounding the death, burial, and .

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Other , but not in John • The mocking of Jesus by: crowds, priests & soldiers • Jesus stumbling & Simon carrying the cross • The darkness that overtook the land • Jesus’ cry of desolation, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” • The curtain of the temple being rent in two from top to bottom • Jesus’ prayer for his enemies, “Father forgive” • The conversation between the two thieves, and the statement, “today you will be with me in paradise”

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Contained only in John • The inscription on the cross in three languages and the controversy surrounding it • The seamless tunic of Jesus • The O.T. Scripture quotations that are fulfilled • Jesus’ concern for his mother during his dying moments • His last cry from the cross, “It is finished” • The piercing of his side by the spear of a soldier, but no bones were broken

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Observation #2 • In all four gospels, very little is said about the actual crucifixion. We only get, “they crucified him.”

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” The Centrality of the Cross • “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.” (1 Cor 15:3, ESV) • “And you, who were dead in your trespasses … God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Col 2:13-14, ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” THE PATH OF THE CROSS “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross” (16-17) John 19:17 • “And he went out, bearing his own cross” (ESV) – It is emphatic. Literally, he himself bearing his own cross.

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Cross (stauros) • An upright post with a transverse piece

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” THE PLACE OF THE CROSS

“He went out … to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha” (16-17) The Place of the Skull

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” “The Place Called ‘Skull’” The Place of the Skull

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” THE PLACARD OF THE CROSS “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews … it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek” (19-20) The • They intended Jesus’ death to end it all, but God says it is only the beginning

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Acts 2:22-24 • “‘Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.’” (ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Acts 2:36-38 • “‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” 1 Corinthians 1:18 • “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” Galatians 6:14 • “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (ESV)

“The Place Called ‘Skull’” THE PLACE CALLED “SKULL”

They intended Jesus’ death to end it all, but God says it is only the beginning