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SACRED HEAD ON SKULL HILL
MONDAY, MARCH 21
Mark 15:22,23

Luke 23:26-33

 

“…they bring him unto

the place Golgotha…”

 

SACRED HEAD ON SKULL HILL
 
Jesus was crucified at Golgotha which is Hebrew for “skull” (Latin: Calvaria). No one knows exactly why the place of crucifixion was called “the place of a skull.” It is possible that the name was given because the place had features of a skull. There is a hill just outside of Jerusalem, about 200 metres north east of the Damascus gate that has a façade of a skull. General Charles Gordon who discovered it, suggested that this was Calvary. Pilgrims to Israel today are directed to this spot as the crucifixion site.
 
Crucifixion, unlike modern execution methods like lethal injection, was invented to make death as painful and as agonising as possible. It was extremely cruel and terrifying. Long, thick, rusty nails were hammered into the wrists and feet, piercing through the flesh and bones and into the wood. It was death by bleeding. Loss of blood would eventually lead to heart failure. Jesus had to die by bleeding. Death by asphyxiation or incineration would not count. Our sins have to be “purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22). Jesus had to die a bloody death. His blood was the payment for our sins. The Apostle Peter said, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:18,19). Only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins.
 
There were three crosses on Calvary. Jesus was at the centre, and two criminals were hung beside Him. He was numbered with the criminals. This was gross injustice, but part of His sufferings as our Saviour. In His passive obedience, He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
 
THOUGHT: To be our Saviour, He had to be our Sacrifice.

PRAYER: (Thank God for His love for you.)

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