4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Leviticus 9-10
Matthew 27:27-44

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Matthew 27:33-37 (CSB): “When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots. Then they sat down and were guarding him there. Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

In the verses I have chosen for today, we arrive at Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. Rather than write about it, I want to share some pictures and videos to help you visualize a place that may have been where it took place.

The first picture I’ll show you identifies the two sites many people think were the places of the crucifixion and burial. Kim and I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but I’m not convinced it was the place. We also visited The Garden Tomb and Gordon’s Calvary, which I think is much more likely. However, it may be that the place where Jesus was crucified was at some other undesignated location.

Aerial view of Jerusalem

Since I think that Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb is a reasonable location for Jesus’ crucifixion, I’ll show pictures and videos from our time there.

The following picture is one I took of Gordon’s Calvary from an observation deck. While I would have liked to stand at the base of the hill to get a better picture, there was a bus depot below us. We weren’t allowed in that location.

Further, we learned something while at this site. We often think that Jesus was crucified at the top of Golgotha, but the Bible doesn’t tell us that. Instead, it is possible that Jesus was crucified at the base of the hill with the “skull” behind Him.

Gordon’s Calvary in Jerusalem

You may say, “Skull! Where’s the skull? I don’t see a skull!”

So, let me show you a picture that was taken in the early 1900s of this same rock. It doesn’t take much imagination to see that it could look like a skull. While erosion has played havoc on this place over the past 100 years, one can only imagine what it might have looked like 2,000 years ago.

Gordon’s Calvary in the early 1900s (before it was named)

Next, let me share two videos I took at this site. One thing you may notice is the garbage at the bottom of the hill. It’s just my personal observation, but I can’t help but wonder if the garbage was placed there to desecrate the site.

Just around the corner from Gordon’s Calvary is The Garden Tomb. I’ll share one final picture.

The Garden Tomb

It cannot be certain whether this is the location of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection or if it is in some other undesignated location. But it was a place like this in this city where it occurred. So, I hope these pictures and videos have helped you visualize a possible location so that the words of the Bible take on shape and you can “see” it a bit more clearly.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you feel the gravity of what Jesus did for you on the cross.
  • Ask God to forgive you of any sins that put Him there.
  • Ask God to help you live worthy of the price Jesus paid to make you right in God’s eyes.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the location of Jesus’ crucifixion, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Where/what is Golgotha/Calvary?”

“Where was Jesus crucified?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)