Golgotha Rediscovered.
The place where Jesus was crucified
Since Constantine I the Christian world has been led to believe that Golgotha,
the mount on which Jesus was crucified, is beneath the site where today the Holy Sepulcher Church is built. Helen, the mother of Constantine herself,
is
credited for identifying its location and instigating the building of the Church upon its
site. But
Golgotha, often named Calvary, is on the other side of Jerusalem, just outside the eastern wall, northeast of
the Temple Mount.
A spot there is called Golgotha,—of old the fathers’
earlier tongue thus called its name, “The skull-pan of a head:” Four Books Against
Marcion Book II 259
Golgotha - Place of a Skull
The Early Church knew that the place where Jesus was curcified looked like a skull, and to be more specific, a cranium, which is the skull-pan or upper part of the skull. Instead of using the ancient greek word
skulla (skull), the Gospels used the word 'Kranion' when referring to its appearance.
And coming to a place named Golgotha, which is called Cranium Place, they gave him vinegar to drink mixed with gall. Matt 27,33-34a
And they brought him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, the place Cranium. Mk 15,22
And when they were come to the place which is called Cranium, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right side, and the other on the left. Lk 23,33
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called Cranium Place, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. Joh 19,17
There is only one mount near Jerusalem which looks like a cranium, i.e. the skull-pan of a head. And this mount is only 330 meters from where the Temple Entrance once stood.
The Ripping of the Temple Curtain.
As Jesus died, three of the four Gospels testify that the temple curtain ripped. In the Peshitta New Testament (Ancient Aramaic) as well as other
very early manuscripts, it is testified to that it was the curtain at the entrance of the temple which ripped.
But Yeshua cried again with a loud voice, and his Spirit departed. And at once the curtain entrance of The Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. Mt 27,50-51a Peshitta
But Yeshua cried with a loud voice, and he expired. And the curtain of the entrance of The Temple was ripped in two from the top unto the bottom. Mk 15,37-38 Peshitta
The Gospels also testify that the centurion and those with him on Golgotha saw the curtain rip.
and the curtain of The Temple was ripped apart from its middle. And Yeshua called out in a loud voice and he said, "My Father, into your hands I lay down my spirit." He said this and he expired. When the Centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God and he said, "Truly this man was The Righteous One." Lk 23,45b-47 Peshitta
and the veil of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom, and the centurion who was standing over-against him, having seen that, having so cried out, he yielded the spirit, said, `Truly this man was Son of God.' Mk 15,38-39 Youngs Literal Translation
There is only one single place where those gathered would have had a closeup view of the ripping of the temple curtain. And that would have been from the top of Golgotha, just outside the eastern wall of Jerusalem.
Golgotha - The Skull looking at the North
Side of the Altar and at the Entrance of the Temple.
By lowering the wall which today exists, all those gathered on Golgotha could testify that at the very moment Jesus died they saw the curtain rip.
Because of the location of the Holy Sepulchre Church, on the western side of of the temple, nobody from there could possibly have seen the temple curtain rip. In fact they would not have even seen the front of the temple, for the temple has always faced east.
This has led to the belief that nobody gathered on Golgotha actually saw the curtain rip, but it later became known that this happened.
Unknown to many Christians, in the temple made by Herod standing at the time of Jesus there were two curtains separating the Holy of Holies from the sanctuary, with a space of one cubit between them.
There were thirteen curtains in the Sanctuary, seven facing the seven gates, two [more], one of which was at the entrance to the
Hekal, the other at the entrance to the
Ulam; two to the
debir; two, corresponding to them, in the
loft. Talmud - Mas. Yoma 54a
The inner curtain is referred to as the second curtain of the temple.
And within the second curtain, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Heb 9,3
In the earliest Gospel harmony, the Diatessaron of Tatian (160 - 175 AD) it is also testified to that the curtain of the temple which was at the door of the temple ripped, and not the two inner curtains.
And immediately the face of the door of the temple was rent into two parts from top to bottom... And the officer of the footsoldiers, and they that were with him who were guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things which came to pass, feared greatly, and praised God, and said, This man was righteous; and, Truly he was the Son of God. And all the multitudes that were come together to the sight, when they saw what came to pass, returned and smote upon their breasts. Diatessaron 52,2
The Journey to Golgotha.
As Jesus leaves Jerusalem through the
Sheep Gate he arrives at the base of Golgotha. After
hours of being mocked and having
his face buffeted, he was brought in the morning to Pilate. During
the night his
beard had been plucked out and his
head repeatedly stricken. Now his battered face was
full of open wounds; covered with blood mixed with spit. All
day long the leaders of Israel had plagued him. In the
morning Pilate
chastized him. Yet the crowd continued to cry out for his
death. Pilate tried to appease them
by scourging him with thirty-nine lashes of a whip. But that was not enough for them.
The High Priest Caiaphas, together with the other
Chief Priests,
required of Pilate that Jesus be delivered them, that he might lead him
out of the city to be crucified.
Before ascending the slope
of Golgotha the Roman soldiers
forced
a man called
Simon, a Cyrenean,
who was coming in from a field, to carry his cross up the
mount.
Until going
out of the city and reaching Golgotha, he had been carrying his cross himself. Yet as he went
through the Sheep Gate he was now very weak.
And He went out bearing His cross, to the place called Of a
Cranium (which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha), Joh 19,17
All the way up the hill
Simon the Cyrenian followed behind Jesus, carrying these heavy pieces
of
cedar wood. There were also with Jesus
two common criminals,
transgressors sentenced because of
robbery. The two
Chief Priests,
Annas
and Caiphas, together with the
Elders of Israel, were preceding them on foot. Behind them there was a
great multitude of people. All were now gathering together on
Golgotha to witness this spectacle.
And all of them, as they saw his face, were
appalled at its appearance, for it had been sorely disfigured.
This place just outside the
Sheep Gate
was called
Cranium Place , for it appears
as the top part of a skull. It was especially convenient for crucifixions, being near the Roman quarter of the
city.
Pilate had placed a centurion to oversee the crucifixion and
four of his men were appointed to crucify Jesus.
As Caiaphas brought Jesus to Pilate it was
Friday, early in the
morning, on the
preparation day of the
Passover.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelites had already come to
Jerusalem to sacrifice their Passover lambs.
It had now been over seven days since they had entered the
temple mount to be
purified. Many had been
sprinkled the third and the seventh day
with the
water mixed with the ashes
of the
Red Heifer, and had washed their
clothes on the seventh day, that they might be immersed in one the many Mikwehs
about the temple and become clean. Anyone who was not an Israelite and who had not performed this
purification rite was strictly forbidden, under the
penalty of death, from bringing their lambs to the
northern side of the
altar in the Temple court.
During their seven day purification they were talking with one another about
Jesus. 'Will
he come to the feast even though the Chief Priests are plotting to kill
him?' The
eve of the Passover was now approaching. Between
1:30 PM and 3:30 PM
thousands of Israelites would bring their Passover lambs to the altar,
being
divided in three groups. On this special Passover
both of the
High Priests, Annas and Caiaphas, were outside the city at Golgotha. From the top of Golgotha,
however, they could
see everything that happened on the Temple Mount
The time had come to prepare the evening daily
sacrifice. Shortly after
12 o'clock,
as the lamb is approaching the place of sacrifice, they made it
drink. Shortly after
12 o'clock, as Jesus arrives at the place on the
Mount for the crucifixion, the soldiers make
Jesus
drink. After tasting it and realizing it was
vinegar mingled with gall
he would not drink it.
The
four soldiers responsible for
crucifying Jesus nailed the
inscription concerning his charge upon the top part of the cross. Everyone who
passed by could
read the inscription, for Golgotha was directly at
the Sheep Gate, just outside the city. Then, removing his garments, they
placed Jesus on the cedar wood of the cross, with his
head to the south. Then they nailed him to the wood,
piercing his hands and his feet. The soldiers then lifted up the cross
and secured it, with
Jesus hanging
with his full weight on the nails placed in
the
palms of his hands, facing
west towards the wall of Jerusalem. Just
above the wall he could see the north side of the altar and the temple entrance. All the people of Jerusalem were celebrating the Passover in rememberance of the day on which they marked the
two sides and the top of the entrance door to their homes, that they might find protection under the blood of the lamb against the angel of death. Were they not
commanded to
sacrifice a lamb on the
eve of the Passover? As the
angel of death went over the whole land of Egypt, those who remained under the protection of the cross of blood on their doors were spared and on that same day were freed from their slavery.
Golgotha - The scene of the Crucifixion
(from the wall - graves have been removed)
Caiaphas watches as the four Roman soldiers
raise
Jesus up from the earth, hanging from the nails. It was the deputy High Priest
himself that had
led Jesus outside the city.
Finally Jesus had been
given over to him. It was now over
two years since John
openly revealed to Israel that he was the Messiah. John was that
foretold
messenger going
before the LORD,
crying in the
wilderness and saying '
Prepare
the way
of the LORD'. And after Jesus came to
Judah and was baptized
by him, the neck of
John was stricken. Yet afterwards the LORD's wings were stretched out
over the
breadth of the land, healing all maners of
sicknesses and diseases and
drawing countless people back to the God of Israel through
repentance and the
forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptist was a son of Aaron, belonging to the family of
Abia, one of the twenty-four priestly courses which served at the temple
and sprinkled with the water mixed with the ashes of the Red Heifer. Now in the
third year, after
John had been beheaded, the time for this
special event had arrived. Months earlier
preparations for this sacrifice had already taken place. The time had come,
the High Priests asked of
the Israelites, that if anyone knew of his whereabouts,
they should inform them.
It was
Caiaphas who was the High Priest of that year, although he was more
known as the deputy High Priest. For
Annas, now an old man, had been
appointed High Priest at the age of 37
(in 6 A.D)
. It was
to Annas that the Israelites
first brought Jesus. And after his
examination Annas
bound him and delivered him over to Caiaphas for the final examination
and
to lead him outside the city.
They had accomplished
that which they had been
plotting for months. You could hear in the group of priests, directly
behind Jesus, an occasional
'Aha, aha'. How certain they were that he was getting
what he deserved. But
what sin or
unrighteous act had he done? Why is
he so quiet and
doesn't answer their
many accusations? Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, he didn't
open his mouth. As
Caiaphas asked him directly, did
he not claim to be the Messiah, the
Son of God? Was it not because of
blasphemy,
his claim of being the Messiah, that he was crucified?
Was he not
deceiving and
enticing the people?
As they crucified him, they nailed him on it with his
head towards the south.
Then they lifted the
cross up and secured it to the ground. His face
was looking
west, towards the city. The two criminals who were taken with him were also
crucified, one to his right and one to his left with
Jesus in the middle. The High Priest Caiaphas was
behind Jesus,
facing
west, where both Jesus and the
temple
entrance were in his view.
As
the soldiers had
finished crucifying him, they
started
dividing his garments amongst themselves.
But his
vesture had no seam. Instead of
tearing it, the soldiers agreed to
throw dice to determine who would get it.
Original Roman Dice
Jesus Promises Eternal Life to His Disciples.
Did not this marred man claim to be the Messiah? And was not the Messiah the
true King of Israel, to rule in Jerusalem on the throne of David? But now he was
about to die! Would not even the rememberance of him quickly pass away?
On that very same day Jesus had celebrated the
Passover Feast with his disciples. He told them that he was now going to
leave them and that they could not follow him.
Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus
answered him, Where I go, you can not follow me now; but you shall follow me
afterwards. Joh 13,36
He said to his disciples that he was leaving them and
going to prepare a place for them, that they might be
with him there. Neither
Peter nor the
other disciples understood at the time what he was saying. Even earlier
Jesus had tried to explain to them about why he was
going to Jerusalem, but they continually disbelieved
his words.
In Immersion by baptism we Receive the Forgiveness of Sins.
As Jesus met with his eleven disciples on the mount in Galilee, he commanded them to disciple all nations, immersing those that receive their message in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Go therefore, disciple all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age. Amen. Matt 28,19-20
For well over a thousand years virtually all who were sent in his name obeyed his words and immersed those who would become his disciples. However during a very dark time in the history of the Roman Catholic church, in the same time where Roman Catholic Crusaders where murdering Jews, Muslims and Orthodox Christians, the necessity for immersion in baptism ceased to be recognized by Rome. From this time on the Churches were no longer built with baptismal tanks.
By changing the form of ceremonal baptism from immersion to pouring water over the head, the command of Jesus to immerse is no longer being caried out in the Roman Catholic Church. The rest of the worldwide church, most of whom were Orthodox, did not deviate from the command of Jesus.
In his great love, Jesus died for all people. Yet only those who receive those whom he has sent to preach the gospel and immerse are saved.
And he said to them, Go into all the world; preach the gospel to all creation. The one believing and being immersed will be saved; but the one not believing will be condemned. Mk 16,15-16
Jesus said that only those who believe and are immersed will be saved. To change his words to mean something other that immersion would be wrong. And to recognize a baptism not done by immersion as being that commanded by Jesus in Mark 16,16 would also be wrong. In a true sense it is not that the immersion is invalid, but rather that the immersion never took place.
There are two similiar greek words which my most translations are translated into English as Baptism, 'Baptidzo' and 'Baptisma'. The word 'Baptizo' is the immersion of a person or even an object. This was very common in the service of the temple. The word 'Baptisma' is referring to the cerimony of a Christian Baptism, which is derived from the word 'Baptizo' because the Christian Baptism is performed by immersing a person as they make the oath required for entering the
New Covenant.
And from the market, except they immerse, they don't eat. And there is much more which they have received to be kept, baptism of cups, and pots, and copper dishes and beds. Mk 7,4
In Mark 7,4 both words are used. The Pharasees would not eat until they were immersed in a mikwah. And the cups and dishes were also immersed, but in a ceremonal way.
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be immersed everyone of you in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 2,38
This special place he has prepared for his disciples is something
greater than
we could ever imagine. It is reserved for those sincere disciples who were
washed from their sins by his very blood as they are
immersed in baptism.
In faithfulness to their baptismal covenant they were ordained from him to
overcome Satan and
his
temptations. These are people who
heeded the message of his disciples as they proclaimed his salvation to the
ends of the earth.
By
repenting and being
immersed, sinners are
cleansed and
redeemed by his very blood. They are
born into the kingdom of God as his
beloved children. And through this great redemption which happens in this
baptism, people are
freed from sin and are made fit to enter God's eternal glory, as long as they are
faithful to their
baptismal vows and there names are not
removed from the
book of life.
And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that
defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life.
The glory of what will be eternally ours cannot be compared to anything of this
earth. And to live for anything else can only be compared to the sin of Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. To those who reject the
forgiveness of sins accomplished by Jesus on Golgotha, to those who are not immersed after hearing the
gospel of their salvation, they cannot enter
his
heavenly sanctuary because of their
uncleanness. Can we not
hear even today the voice of him calling to us, that we prepare ourselves for the
marriage supper of the Lamb?
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3,21
Burning the Sin Offering in the fire of God's wrath.
As Jesus suffered the great pain in his hands nailed to the wood, he would
often glance at the temple, which lay before him to the left.
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and give thanks to
Your name for Your mercy, and for Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word
above all Your name. You answered me in the day that I cried; Psa 138,2,3a
The soldiers had placed Jesus on the cross looking towards the city of
Jerusalem. Sometimes his lips
would move as if he was having with someone a conversation. To whom was Jesus
speaking as he suffered on the cross?
O LORD, rebuke me not in your wrath: neither chasten me in
your hot displeasure. For your arrows stick fast in me, and your hand bears
heavily upon me. Ps 38,2
And why was he suffering? What sin had he done?
There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger;
neither is there any rest in my bones as a result of my sin. Ps 38,3
Jesus had no soundness in his flesh as a result of his sin. How
innumerable were
his sins and iniquities! How could they ever be counted?
For my iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden
they are too heavy for me. Ps 38,4
Why does he keep whispering about his abundant sins and iniquities? Was it not because of his
foolishness that he deserved to be punished?
My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
I have
committed iniquity and have been brought down so
very low; I go mourning all the day long. Ps 38,5-6
What were those words that John proclaimed to Israel as Jesus was identified as
the Lamb of God which takes upon himself the
sins of the world? Was he not now that innocent Lamb suffering as a burnt
offering? Were not the sins of the
trespasser transferred upon the Lamb? And thereby the sins of the
transgressor make the innocent Lamb to become sin. Is not the Lamb killed because of sin, and the one who sinned receives
atonement and is made
righteous through its
blood?
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God. Cor 5,21
His whispering often sounded more like the
moaning of one in great turmoil.
For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there
is no soundness in my flesh. I am faint and have collapsed so very low: I moan
from the turmoil in my heart. Ps 38,7-8
His strength was coming to an end. How great was that burden of sin!
My heart pants, my strength fails me: as for the light of
my eyes, it also has gone from me. Ps 38,10
Who could fathom what was happening as
darkness came over
all the land at
midday! Even his closest frients stood afar off, stunned in bewilderment,
baffled by his plague. Were they not also in his line of view as he saw the
entrance of the temple?
My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and
my nearest kin stand far off. Psa 38,11
All day long the High Priests Annas and Caiaphas had been deeply involved with
executing the death sentence on this blasphemer who claimed to be the Messiah,
the Son of God.
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and
they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day
long. Ps 38,12
How
Pilate marveled as Jesus didn't speak. Could he not have given an
answer to set correct the many false accusations?
But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man
that opens not his mouth. So I was as a man that hears not, and in whose mouth
are no reproofs. Ps 38,13-14
Or was it rather his steadfast trust in the LORD that held his foot from
slipping? Yet his many enemies delighted in these precious moments.
For in you, O LORD, do I hope: you will hear, O Lord my
God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my
foot slips, they magnify themselves against me. Ps 38,15-16
Crucified! Despised! His back
ripped open, his beard torn out, his
face marred and the
palms of his hands
nailed to the wood.
How long could this continue?
For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before
me. Ps 38,17
What was
that spoken by the
two high priests together with the scribes?
And likewise also the high priests, mocking with one another, with the sages, were saying, He saved others; he can not save himself. The Messiah! The King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And those crucified with him reviled him. Mk 15,31-32
Certainly the high priests were in service to the LORD as they had him
crucified. He was a
threat for the nation. It was better that
one man should die, and not that the
whole nation should perish. And was not his sin especially dangerous for
Israel? Was it not Moses himself who commanded that
such people be
put to death?
For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Ps 38,18
It was too late for remorse.
No pity would be shown to this
deceiver. How many had already fallen into this
deception. The time had come for it to be stopped.
But my enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they
that hate me
wrongfully are multiplied. Ps 38,19
How many were those gathered against him on that eve of the Passover.
Caiaphas had spent the whole day in nothing but assuring that Jesus be
crucified. He would show no mercy to this
transgressor. He was to die as a warning to others, that they not transgress the Law of Moses.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because that he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isa 53,12
How many were shaking their heads and scorning him! Was there nobody who might show him comfort in this hour of suffering?
Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness:
and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but
I found none. Ps 69,20
But what
evil did he do?
Did he not heal so many
blind and lame people?
They also that render evil for good are my adversaries;
because I follow the thing that is good. Ps 38,20
As the
soldiers finished parting his garments, they
sat there at the
base of the cross. Together with the chief
priests they would now and again add wood to keep the
fire of suffering burning. Yet even in the
fire of this
hot oven his eyes would often
glance towards the heavens in hope.
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make
haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Ps 38,22
Mortified by the hate of those surrounding him, Jesus cries out to his father.
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they do. And parting His clothing, they cast lots. Lk 23,34
But the soldiers are more interested in his clothing.
The inscription nailed to the cross of Jesus was extraordinarily large.
Pilate had purposefully made it that way so that everyone who
went in and out of the city could read it. For the place where Jesus was crucified was very
near the city.
.
The Inscription 'Jesus of Nazareth - King
of the Jews' in Greek, Latin and Hebrew
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of
Greek and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Lk 23,38
Some of the priestly group were not very happy with the
title that Pilate had written on it. Since Pilate was not there, but
still in the Roman Quarters of the city not far from the Sheep Gate, they went
to him with their request to have it removed and put another one up in its
place.
Then the high priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not
write, the king of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews. Joh 19,21
Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. Joh 19,21,22
They went to Pilate
shortly after the cross had been lifted up, even as his
clothes were being parted. Unfortunately they had to return to their
fellow priests and give them the news that
Pilate did
not grant them their request.
And the people were standing beholding; Diatessaron 51,35
They were beholding as Jesus suffered in great agony. What were
they
thinking? Certainly such a horrible torture was an affliction from God.
Surely he has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains:
yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isa 53,4
Why did they
pierce
his hands and his feet? Why did they bruise and scourge him? Did not Jesus himself tell his disciples of what
awaited him in Jerusalem?
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his
scourging we are healed. Isa 53,4
As his
palms were
pierced he didn't curse, but cried out
to the invisible one who
sees everything.
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually
before me. Isa 49,16
Even from his youth he had read the
Holy Scriptures. But for many in his generation he seemed to be
more like an outcast, oddly different. Why were those who were the rulers of Israel and those who teach from the
Holy Scriptures so angry with him?
My soul is among lions: and I lie being burnt by the sons
of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Ps
57,4
Just as the
Red Heifer and all the
burnt offerings, the Messiah was
being burnt by the
sons of men. The
four heathen soldiers, to whom he had been
delivered over to be crucified, were now at the foot of the cross guarding him. Just as the very hot oven which
bakes of the
most holy meal offering, so was the great heat of the fire of suffering preparing for the world the eternal
bread of life.
Was not the Red Heifer to be
burnt before the face of the
deputy High Priest? And so did Jesus suffer, naked and in great pain before
Caiaphas and the leaders of Israel.
And was it not required that the Red Heifer must be sacrificed because it is a Red Heifer and for
no other reason? And so was Jesus of Nazareth crucified, because he
claimed to be the
Messiah, the
Son of
God.
Golgotha had a close view of the north side of the altar, where all of the Passover Lambs were being sacrificed. Throngs of people were singing the
Small Hallel, Psalms 113 - 118, led by the
Levites standing on the steps leading to the
Nicanor gate, and everyone gathered on Golgotha could both hear and see them.
How great was his
salvation, delivering them from their slavery to the
Egyptians! And what a great wonder happened on the
third day as the
Red Sea
parted.
As Jesus was dying, he could see the
north side of the
huge altar standing directly before the temple entrance, for Golgotha was northeast of the temple.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelites were bringing their lambs to be slaughtered and hung upon hooks.
The Price of Atonement.
Save me, O God! For the waters have come in on my soul. I
sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters,
where the floods overflow me. Ps 69,1,2
It was Jesus, the Messiah, who was speaking through the words of the
Psalmist. The agony and passion he suffered as his blood dripped out for the
atonement could be heard throughout all generations.
Even
from the beginning, the blood of the firstborn lamb which
Abel sacrificed testified to this atonement.
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: my eyes
fail while I wait for my God. Ps 69,3
It had now been over an hour since Jesus had been hanging on the tree. Even his
crying had become week, his eyes no longer focused.
More than the hairs of my head; they hated me without a
cause. They are mighty who cut me off, being my enemies because of lies. That
which I did not take away, now I must restore. Ps 69,4
The leaders of Israel, both the Elders and the priests, hated him
without a cause. But did not even Daniel write about the Messiah being
cut off, but not for himself? Could it be that the LORD himself had
pleasure in the
travail of his soul, as he bore our iniquities? Yet how cruel was his
judgment by Caiaphas and the
Elders of the people! Why did Jesus
not answer all the
charges against him?
O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid
from you. Ps 69,5
How heavy were his sins upon him. Or were they really his sins? Was it really
his foolishness? Or is this not the reason why the hands of those who had sinned
were laid upon the sin offerings, that they be no longer their sins, but the
sins of the sacrifice, that it die for its sins?
Let not them that wait on you, O Lord, LORD of hosts, be
ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek you be confounded for my sake, O
God of Israel. Ps 69,6
How readily did Jesus agree with their accusations! He was
guilty before God; how many sins were
laying
upon
his head in the sight of an
angry God. Was it not from his Father, that the elders of Israel had laid
their hands on his head before the entrance door of the temple, and more
accurately, both in the
Sanhedrin south of the Altar and in the court before the temple.
Let not them that wait on you, O Lord, LORD of hosts, be
ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek you be confounded for my sake, O
God of Israel. Ps 69,6
Carrying such shame from the leaders of Israel could cause anyone who believed
that Jesus was the Messiah to be confounded. Is this what happens to those who
put their trust in the LORD?
Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has
covered my face. Ps 69,7
But was it not for the LORD's sake that he bore such
shame? Who amongst those gathered on Golgotha could possibly believe that the LORD would ever do this to
his
Servant?
His
friends and his
four brothers
were perplexed as they beheld his
plague.
I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to my
mother's children. Ps 69,8
Was not Jesus, even from his
youth, zealous for his
Father's
house? Why then was he suffering such
reproach from those who professed to be the
promised
seed of
Abraham?
For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that
reproached you are fallen upon me. Ps 69,9
Was not his zeal for the house of the LORD the very reason why he suffered such
reproach? Was it not because of
envy that they had delivered him up to Pilate?
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was
to my reproach. Ps 69,10
The more
sickness he bore, healing those who were sorely
oppressed, the more they
reproached him and
sought to destroy him.
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to
them. Ps 69,11
How great was his
compassion for those
lost sheep of the House of Israel. But even the mentioning of his name
brought danger.
Those sitting in the gate are talking about me; I am the
[theme of the] song of drunkards. Ps 69,12
Jesus glanced to his right. Because the place where he was crucified was so
close to the gate he could hear the words of those gathered at the gate. They
were talking about him. And a few drunkards were busy making up songs about him.
Their reproachful songs rhymed and sounded like proverbs.
The Place of Crucifixion on Golgotha - Very
Near the Sheep Gate
Was not the
Sheep Gate built by the priests in the days of Nehemiah because it was
located so close to the temple, not far from
Bethesda, north of the temple grounds?
This was the
day of
Preparation for the
Passover, which was the 14th of
Nissan, also called
Abib.
How busy were the streets and the traffic in the Sheep Gate as preparations were
made for the feast of unleavened bread. In the temple grounds the
Levites and priests were still
singing the
Hallel as the people of Israel sacrificed their Passover Lambs before the
face of the LORD, on the north side of the temple.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD, in an
acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of
your salvation. Ps 69,13
The pains in his hands and his feet were immense, yet he was more aware of his
heart
melting as wax within him, his
suffocating from lack of oxygen and his bones being pulled continually
more and more out of joint. And in his passion he
prayed and cried out with all of his heart for mercy and salvation.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be
delivered from them that
hate me, and out of the deep waters. Ps 69,14
How miserable were those last hours. Just as
Jonah could hardly breath and
suffered greatly in
deep waters, trapped in the
stomach of the fish, so Jesus struggled with all his strength for each
breath of air as
those who
hated him
shot with their lips accusations and scorn.
Let not the flood waters overflow me, nor the deep swallow
me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Ps 69,15
Jesus knew that shortly he would fall into the pit where the dead never return.
Death itself was now taking hold of him, ready to
swallow him forever.
Hear me, O LORD ; for your lovingkindness is good: turn to
me according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Ps 69,16
How long would his suffering continue? How much heavier
could his
burden of sin become before he would die?
They that passed by were reviling him, and shaking their
heads, and saying, You that destroys the temple, and buildst it in three days,
save yourself if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
Diatesseron 51,36-37
How cruel were those gathered together on Golgotha,
vehemently
reviling him. Yet with all his heart he
cried out to the LORD for his lovingkindness and tender mercies. Mercy, for his
mercy endures forever.
Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that
say, Aha, aha. Ps 70,3
Again he pushed himself up, that he might gasp some air. How long would this
continue?
Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their
destructions, my darling from the lions. Ps 35,17
His
enemies were
raging against him, more numerous than the
hairs of his head.
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of
my enemies. Ps 69,18
And those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads
and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
save yourself, and come down from the cross!" Mk 15,29-30
You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor:
my adversaries are all before you. Ps 69,19
Was there anyone who might show him comfort? Was anyone willing to stand against
the opinion of the Chief Priests and Elders of the land, that he must die
because he committed blasphemy? Had they all forgotten the
countless healings that happened in the temple just days earlier? Where
were the
blind who had just received their sight?
Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness:
and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but
I found none. Ps 69,20
What about the compassion showed him as he arrived at Golgotha? After being so
thirsty they held out a cup for him to drink.
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they
gave me vinegar to drink. Ps 69,21
It was wine which had gone bad, more like vinegar. And the wine was mixed with
myrrh. They had no intention of showing him any compassion.
And they offered him vinegar mixed with myrrh, but he did
not take it. Mk 15,23
And the soldiers also scoffed at him in that they came near
unto him, and brought him vinegar, and said unto him, If you are the King of the
Jews, save yourself. Diatesseron 51,42-43
Instead of comfort, they laughed about him. Behind him he could hear clearly the
man who
hated him so greatly, the High Priest.
And in like manner the chief priests and the scribes and
the elders and the Pharisees derided him, and laughed one with another, and
said, The saviour of others cannot save himself. If he is the Messiah, the
chosen of God, and the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross,
that we may see, and believe in him. Diatesseron
51,37-40
Jesus again glanced at the temple to his right. He could see the curtain
covering its entrance. Was it not here that he would
find mercy, in the awesome
presence of LORD?
But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude
of your mercy: and in your fear will I worship toward your holy temple. Ps 5,7
What reward would those receive who played a vital part in murdering the
Messiah? For the Messiah, he went as it was
written of him. But what about his enemies?
The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that
man if he had not been born." Matt 26,24
Was not Judas one of his chosen
twelve apostles, a
close
acquaintance? of Jesus, with whom he had
gone to the temple just
days earlier? But then they weighted out for Judas the thirty
pieces of
silver from the
temple treasury,
paid in
full by the High Priests. Was not this
the ransom
price for those sold to sin? And must not the
soul
bound
to
sin
die, unless he be
ransomed? How
glorious will be the future of the Ransomed!
And did not the High Priest give Judas the price by which they valued Jesus?
And I said to them, If it is pleasing in your eyes, give me
my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed out my price: thirty pieces of
silver. Zech 11,12
Yes, it was pleasing in their eyes. And the price for the Messiah they took from
the treasury, specifically from the money dedicated for temple repairs.
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the
chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were
glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Mk 14,10
But what did Judas do with the blood money? Did he not cast it to the
keeper of the treasury?
And the Lord said to me: Cast it to the keeper of the
treasury, to the stronghold of glory-of which I stripped them. And I took the
thirty pieces of silver, and I cast it into the house of the Lord, to the keeper
of the treasury. Zech 11,13
But then the question arose, can blood money be given to the
temple treasury?
But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
"It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money." So
they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for
strangers. Matt 27,6-7
So the High Priests threw it to the one who had the foundry furnace!
And the lord said to me, Lower them into the foundry
furnace! and look about, if it is unadulterated! In which manner I was
proved for them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I put them into the
house of the lord , into the foundry furnace. Zec 11,13 SEPTUAGINT
Yes, this money was adulterated! Taking money from the treasury to hire someone,
that they might murder the Messiah, could not be justified
before God.
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. Ps 109,2
What a
fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God! After months of plotting, they finally had
compassed him about, that they might make an end to his teachings and
healings. Judas had been hired by the High Priest
Caiaphas
himself.
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which
should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their
eyes be darkened from seeing me; and make their
loins continually to shake. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your
wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their
habitation be desolate and let none dwell in their
tents. For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk to the grief
of those whom you have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity: and let them not
come into your righteousness. Let them be removed from
the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. Ps 69,22-28
As Judas
realized what he had done he
hanged himself. Though he was
still
young, he committed suicide and forfeited his
office as an apostle. Even the
children of Judas suffered the curse of God as they wandered about as
beggars. For the
extortioner came and showed no
mercy. In the following generation his
posterity and
memory was
cut off. And why did this happen? Because he
slew the Messiah
without a cause. Just as
Esau, he despised his office as an apostle and
chose the
curse.
And as he hung, all of his bowels came out. His
miserable
curse
became known to all who lived in Jersualem.
But do you for me, O LORD, the Lord, for your name's sake:
because your mercy is good, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is
wounded within me. Ps 109,21-22
For three hours the reproaching never ceased, but rather increased. How many had
shaken the head or shot the lip or even
waving the
ir
fists?
I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am tossed up
and down as the locust. My knees are weak from fasting; and my flesh fails of
fatness. I became also a reproach to them: when they looked upon me they shaked
their heads. Ps 109,23-25
Could
anyone recognize that his suffering was from the LORD? And that those who
were
cursing him would
not go unpunished as the LORD
highly
exalt
his Son to his
right
hand?
So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one
another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Mk 15,31
The Ninth Hour.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?" Matt 27,46
Jesus had now been hanging by the nails for
three hours. It was
now the ninth hour, about 3 o'clock
in the afternoon. His heart was failing him and his bones fully torn apart
within his skin.
For evils have compassed me about, boundless without
number. My iniquities have overtaken me, I am not able to behold them; they are
more than the hairs of my head: and my heart gives up. Ps 40,12b
Because of his failing strength he was suffocating, hardly able to push himself
up that he might breath. Blood was dripping from his pierced hands and feet,
from his head wounds and from his back which had been layed open with thirty
nine stripes. Behold the man! Did not countless angels in heaven
bear witness to this
so long awaited
redemption? An atoning sacrifice? Or had his Father forsaken him?
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so
far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Ps 22,1
Now for thee hours he had been roaring to his Father for help. Because his
sins were more than the
hairs of his head
arrows of the Almighty were shot at him. The breath of the Almighty, that
same breath which
kindled the lake of fire, was blowing upon him.
God's beloved Son, forsaken because of his sin, was about to be cast into
the depths of Sheol.
It is the place of God's
anger? Do not all who have sinned go into
Sheol to be
imprisoned and
tortured there as they await their
eternal
condemnation?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you hear not; and in
the night season, and am not silent. Ps 22,2
All through the day he had been crying out to his Father
for mercy, that he might deliver him. But his Father did not hear him. Even
though his Father loved him so very much, still he must punish all who have
sinned. Jesus was no exception. How unholy was he on the cross.
You are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in you: they trusted, and you did deliver them. They cried
to you, and were delivered: they trusted in you, and were not confounded. Ps
22,3-5
Yet Jesus knew that his Father was holy. Nothing unholy can
behold God. How abhorable was Jesus now with such an
immense burden of iniquity. They had
completely overtaken him.
But I am a crimson worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and
despised of the people. Ps 22,6
Was not Jesus a
crimson worm in the eyes of God? This
crimson worm was the one the people were reproaching. Was Jesus not a
reproach to both God and the people? The High Priest Caiaphas was
throwing upon him the
crimson wool, but was he not doing this under the orders of the LORD? It
was not the High Priest, but the LORD himself who casting upon him the
crimson wool, and that in great abundance!
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the
lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver
him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Ps 22,8
Those
standing watching him and those going in and out of the city were
shaking their
heads in disgust. They
shot out their lips and laughed
at him. Was not this
the one from whom John bare witness, that he is the
Son of God? How ridiculous! This crimson worm claimed to be the Son of
God? With this and other phrases they laughed him to scorn. If God is really
pleased with him, then
certainly he will
deliver him now!
Was not Jesus crying out for his Father to
deliver him? If he really was his beloved Son, certainly the almighty God
would hear his plea. Certainly this crimson worm was an
evil man, suffering the fate
he deserved! Did not the High Priest himself
call for witnesses in the city to testify to his wickedness? Their
scoffing had now been going on for over twelve hours, sounding like the
noise of dogs.
Ever again the voice of the deputy High Priest could be heard in the crowd,
supervising the throwing in of the crimson wool.
So also the chief
priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,... He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires
him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" Matt 27,41,43
How quick were the bystanders in responding to his prompts! They shook their
heads, repeating what the deputy High Priests had said, He trusted on the LORD
that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. If
you be the Son of God, then come down from the cross.
WHEN IT (Red Heifer) BURST HE TOOK UP A POSITION OUTSIDE
ITS PIT AND TAKING HOLD OF CEDAR WOOD, HYSSOP AND SCARLET WOOL, HE SAID TO THE
BYSTANDERS, ‘IS THIS CEDARWOOD? IS THIS CEDARWOOD?’ ‘IS THIS HYSSOP? IS THIS
HYSSOP’ ‘IS THIS SCARLET WOOL? IS THIS SCARLET Wool?’ THREE TIMES HE REPEATED
EACH QUESTION AND THEY ANSWERED HIM ‘YEA, YEA!’ - THREE TIMES TO EACH QUESTION.
Parah 3,10
Though his eyes had grown dim as he was nearing death, still his ears could hear
everything. He even understood the songs of those drunkards sitting in the gate.
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save
yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Matt 27,39-40
Certainly the Chief
Priests, the Elders of Israel, the Pharisees and the
Scribes could not all be wrong! In this crucifixion they all had unity;
he deserves death.
And in like manner the chief priests and
the scribes and the elders and the Pharisees derided him, and laughed one with
another, and said, The saviour of others cannot save himself. If he is the
Messiah, the chosen of God, and the King of Israel, let him come down now from
the cross, that we may see, and believe in him. He that relieth on
God—let him deliver him now, if he is pleased with him: for he said, I am the
Son of God. Diatesseron 51,37-41
Now everyone was in unity with the chief priests. They were all laughing at him
and saying the same thing. ' He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver
him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him'. Their howling could
be heard
throughout the city.
And yet Jesus still
called out to God for mercy to be shown for his sins! Had he not hoped on
God even from his mother's womb? Why should it be different now?
But you are he that took me out of the womb: you did make
me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon you
from the womb: you are my God from my
mother's belly. Ps
22,9-10
But what could God do? These were the strongest bulls of Israel, all dead set on
seeing him die. Who possibly could help him?
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none
to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me
round. Ps 22,11-12
Just like the roaring of a lion, they were gaping upon him with their mouths.
Nobody had anything to say about those malefactors crucified to his left and his
right. It was him, and him alone against whom their voices were roaring.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a
roaring lion. Ps 22,13
After so many hours watching his passion and his tortured face, the
mockers
gathered together for the feast of unleavened
bread began to proclaim him as the King of Israel.
So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,
mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of
Israel...; Matt 27,41-42a
They were all proclaiming '
He
is the Messiah', 'He is the King of Israel'. Above his head, in three
languages, was written 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'. Pilate certainly
believed this as he proclaimed to the Jews from the
judgment seat of Israel that
Jesus is their king. As they began shouting at him to take him away from
the Judgment seat, Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your King?'
And in like manner the chief priests and the scribes and
the elders and the Pharisees derided him, and laughed one with another, and
said, The saviour of others cannot save himself. If he is the Messiah, the
chosen of God, and the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross,
that we may see, and believe in him. Diatesseron 51,37-41
Unfortunately he did not stand his ground, nor did he
listen to his wife. Instead, as the leader of Jerusalem, he fulfilled the
commandment given by Moses.
And all the elders of that city, that are next to the slain
man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: And
they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our
eyes seen it. Atone for, O LORD , your people Israel, whom you have redeemed,
and lay not innocent blood on your people Israel, in their midst. And the blood
shall be atoned for them. Deut 21,6-8
Jesus stood before them as the heifer whose
neck had already been broken in the
valley; in the great Sanhedrin between Mount Moriah and Golgotha, where
the land is neither worked or sown.
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them
the LORD your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in the name of the
LORD ; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke come. Deut
21,5
As the
judgment took place, the priests, the sons of Levi, came
close to examine him. The LORD had chosen them to serve him in this most
important atoning sacrifice. And it was by their words that
every controversy came. And it was by the hands of the priests and
the
whole Sanhedrin that
every stroke came.
With his neck broken, the heifer was then brought to the elders of the city; to
Pilate in the
praetorium.
And immediately, in the morning, the chief priests having
made a consultation, with the elders, and scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin,
having bound Jesus, did lead him away, and delivered him to Pilate; Mk 15,1
And according to the commandment of Moses, Pilate, together with the other
elders of the city, washed his hands over the heifer.
So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather
that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd,
saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." And all the
people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Matt 27,24-25
His blood was to be on them and their children. On those who
hearkened to the words of the Prophet, his blood atoned for their sins
and dressed them with the
glorious garments of
Salvation. On those who rejected his words, his blood came upon them in
the
desolation of
Jerusalem and he
required it of them.
The High Priests and the Elders of Israel made their promise to homage him as
their King.
He is the King of Israel; let him
come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
Matt 27,42b
Once he came down from the cross, they promised to believe in him! But Jesus had
promised them a much greater
sign.
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this
temple,
and in three days I will raise it up." Joh 2,19
Did they not remind him about his promise on this very special day?
At last two
false witnesses having come near, and said, "This
man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three
days.'" Matt 26,60b-61
All through the day the inhabitants of Israel reminded him of his
promise.
Could he
save himself? Would the LORD
deliver him?
And those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and
saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down
from the cross." Matt 27,39-40
His promise was known by many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Greater than
coming down from the cross, he promised them the sign of of
raising from the dead on the
third day. The Chief Priests and Elders were keenly aware of this, for he
had told them about this special
sign a number of times. Could it be that the
Chief Priests and Elders
wouldn't
believe even when he would perform this greatest of all
signs.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of
joint: Ps 22,14a
No longer did Jesus have a structure in his body; his frame had become like
water. For all of his
bones were out of joint. He could even
count them as they floated
within his skin. And continually, in his greatest agony, his
enemies taunted him.
For my life is ending with affliction, and my years with
groanings: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
Ps 31,10
Who could fathom the toll of iniquity? To his enemies he was a reproach. With
his neighbours and acquaintances, standing in the
distance, he was a
dread. And many who saw him without the camp fled.
I was a reproach among all my enemies, Especially with my
neighbours dreaded, as by my
acquaintances: they that did see me without fled. Ps
31,11
He had
fallen into
their net which they had been
plotting
for
months.The time was very near in which the
Messiah would be
cut off from the
land of the
living.
My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of
my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaves to my
jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death. Ps 22,14b-15
His whole body was at the brink of no longer working. Jesus was now taking his
last breaths in the dust of death. He then shortly recounts what they had done
to him.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have
enclosed me: they bored my hands and my feet. Ps 22,16
Four
dogs,
heathens
without God, were the ones who had hammered the nails which bored through
his hands and his feet. But it was the assembly of the wicked,
the Chief
Priests, the Elders of Israel and the
whole Sanhedrin, which had enclosed him.
Immediately after having the hands and the feet of the Messiah bored through,
forty years before the destruction of the temple, the LORD removed this
wicked assembly from his
temple.
I can count all my bones: they look and stare upon me. Ps
22,17
Nothing of his bones or
his
flesh was
sound. And yet in all of his beatings, not
one of his
bones had been
broken.
They were still all accounted for, but torn from their sockets and floating
within his skin, especially
his arms and his breast which
had been torn apart by
his body hanging from the nails.
And he shall tear at the wings but shall not sever them.
The priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire: it
is offered up as a burnt offering, fire with a sweet savour to the LORD . Lev
1,17
Everyone was stunned as they looked and stared upon him. They were thinking,
'His face was so marred and his body had been pulled apart so much that he
hardly looks like a man. '
As many were stunned at you; "His appearance is so marred,
from that of a man, and his features from the sons of men: Isa 52,14
How long would this extreme torture continue? How long shall the
wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things and boast
about their
successful
plot in killing him?
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? And all the workers of iniquity
boast themselves? Ps 94,4
The lions of Israel were gathered together to destroy him. Just as the lion
reigns in his territory, so were these
rulers of Israel united in having him destroyed.
Lord, how long will you look on? rescue my soul from their
destructions, my darling from the lions. Ps 35,17
His Father had forsaken him because he had sinned so greatly. And his
enemies rejoiced in his
blood. But did not the LORD
required it from those in Jerusalem who refused to
hearken to the Messiah? Just forty years later the
desolation of Jerusalem came and they were
cut off?
Did not Jesus clearly warn those who hearkened to him? And when the armies came,
the righteous did not die with the unrighteous, but all those in Judea, who
hearkened to the Messiah fled northwards over the mountains and settled on the
other side of the Jordan River.
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know
that its desolation has come near... for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill
all that is written. For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath
against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive
among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Lk 21,20,22,23a,25
Just as the one who slaughters the Red Heifer does before the face of the deputy
High Priest, so did the Roman soldiers slaughter the Messiah before the face of
Caiaphas.
And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest. He shall
taker her out to the outside of the camp, and one shall slay her before his
face: Num 19,3
Once they had bored the nails into his hands and had erected the cross, he saw
them go after his garments.
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my
vesture. Ps 22,18
But since there were
four of them, and his vesture had no seam in it, they casted lots for it.
But this had happened three hours earlier. Now his end had come, his last cry to
his Father.
But be not you far from me, O LORD : O my strength, haste
to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the
dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: Ps 22,19-21a
Just as the one who burns the Red Heifer does it in the sight of the deputy High
Priest, and must remain there until the heifer is burnt to ashes, so did
Caiaphas remain outside the camp until Jesus was dead.
And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; the skin, the
flesh, the blood, with its dung shall it be burned. Num 19,5
Just as the Chief Priests must plan for months the sacrifice of the Red Heifer;
choosing the three boys of eight years, building the Causeway, making the stone
clean place outside the camp, assuring that the eastern wall was not too high
for the view of the priest who sprinkled the blood, and carefully watching the
heifer to assure that no yoke would be placed on him, so had Caiaphas been
greatly
occupied with
preparing for the sacrifice of the Messiah.
Although it was now the eve of the Passover, and thousands of Israelites were
sacrificing their Passover Lambs a couple hundred yards away north of the altar,
still Caiaphas was doing no work, but simply watching the Messiah burn in the
most extreme torture.
My enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his
name perish? Ps 41,5
Jesus knew that this time on this earth was coming to an end. But what about his
hope of rising from the dead? Can one who had been marred with so much iniquity
possibly rise out of hell?
An evil disease, say they, cleaves fast to him: and now
that he lies he shall rise up no more. Ps 41,8
What an important role did Judas play in the plotting of Caiaphas! It was the
friend of Jesus,
not his enemy, who lifted up his heel against him.
Yes, my friend, the man in whom I trusted, which
ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Ps 41,9
As Jesus had cried out 'Eli, Eli' a number of the heathen, who did not
understand Aramaic, thought that he was calling for Elijah.
And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is
calling Elijah." Matt 27,47
Knowing that all the Scriptures concerning him had been fulfilled, he cried out
again, this time for something to drink.
After this, knowing that all things have now been finished
that the Scripture be fulfilled, Jesus said, I thirst. Joh 19,28
Who would ever think that anyone would dare run to help him with the Roman
soldiers carefully guarding him, not to mention the Chief Priests and Elders of
Israel. But there was a man there ready to risk his life to fulfill his request.
And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it
with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others
said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." Matt 27,48-49
Or were there two of them? And what was he carrying in his hand? It was a
hyssop branch sprinkling some red fluid as he ran. And
raising it up he sprinkled Jesus with it, and gave him to drink.
A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge
full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. Joh 19,29
Jesus received what had been brought him and cried with a loud voice, yielding
the spirit.
And Jesus having uttered a loud cry, yielded the spirit, Mk
15,37
And what words did he uttered as he yielded the spirit?
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus,
calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my
spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Lk 23,45b-46
Into your hand I commit my spirit: Ps 31,5a
This cry had been heard a thousand years earlier by David. His purpose for
coming into the world had been fulfilled.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is
finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Joh 19,30
What a
joy he must have had, despite the great sin and pain of being sacrificed
as a burnt offering, to know that he fulfilled that for which his beloved Father
had sent him to the earth!
All that the prophets had foretold concerning the suffering of the Messiah had
been fulfilled, not one failed. The Passover had now been fulfilled in the
Kingdom of God. The atoning sacrifice was complete. And added to this a very
special sign was given concerning its validity.
Immediately as Jesus ripped his spirit from his body, the curtain before the
entrance doors of the temple was ripped from top to bottom.
And immediately the face of the door of the temple was
rent into two parts from top to bottom; Diatesseron 52,8-9
What great prophecy was connected to the curtain before the entrance doors of
the temple being ripped open?
Could a Red Heifer be sacrificed with the curtain of the temple closed? Was it not required that the priest who
sprinkled the blood see the
entrance
door of the temple?
ALL THE WALLS OF THE TEMPLE WERE HIGH EXCEPT THE EASTERN
WALL, SO THAT THE PRIEST WHO BURNT THE RED HEIFER MIGHT WHILE STANDING ABOVE ON
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES BY DIRECTING HIS GAZE CAREFULLY SEE THE DOOR OF THE HEKAL AT
THE TIME OF THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD. Middoth 2,9
And for this reason, although the curtain was normally always closed (
for privacy of the priests performing their services), on
the eight occasions on which the Red Heifer was sacrificed on the Mount of
Olives, these curtains must be opened so the priest who sprinkles the blood may
look directly at the door of the temple.
And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his
finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly towards the front of the tabernacle
of the congregation seven times: Num 19,4
This prophecy foretold that when the valid Red Heifer sacrifice would occur, the
priest who sprinkles the blood (in this case Caiaphas) must see the door of the
temple. The LORD himself ripped the curtain and those gathered at the top of
Golgotha saw the temple curtain rip open. And the priest saw the entrance door
of the temple.
Why is it recorded that the priest saw but one door? There were two doors to the
temple. However, when they were opened, since they were folding doors that were
opened inwards, it was not possible to see both doors from anywhere on the Mount
of Olives. From the place where the Red Heifer was sacrificed, northeast of the
temple, only the southern door could be seen.
Search in the book of the LORD and read: not one of these
shall fail, Isa 34,16
Was there any prophecy concerning the suffering of the Messiah that was not
fulfilled as Jesus died as a burnt offering for the
sins of the world? I know of
none.
And I will place hostility between you and between the
woman, and between your seed and between her seed; He shall crush your head, and
you shall crush his heel. Gen 3,15
Starting at the first prophecy concerning his heel being crushed and the crushing
of the head of
the serpent, they were all fulfilled.
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to
you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of
Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their
minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that
the Messiah should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, Lk 24,44-46
What a great price was paid for the redemption of all who would put their trust
in him!
Knowing that not with corruptible things, silver or gold,
were you redeemed from your worthless way of life handed down from your fathers,
but with precious blood of the Messiah, as a lamb without blemish and without
spot, 1Pe 1,18-1919
This atonement was so important to the LORD that one prophet after another spoke
of the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah! For those Israelites who lived
before Jesus, their faith in the words of the Prophets brought through the
sacrifices of burnt offerings their atonement even before Jesus had accomplished
the atonement through his blood on Golgotha. For those of all nations who lived after Jesus, their faith in
the words of those who preach this message of his death and resurrection and
their obedience to repent and be baptized brings the same forgiveness of sins.
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. For the promise is for you and for
your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls
to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort
them, saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation." So those who
received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three
thousand souls. Act 2,38-42
Just as those who went to Jerusalem and sacrificed offerings for their sins, so
are those who are led to the Jordan through their faith in the death and
resurrection of Jesus, confessing their sins and repenting, forgiven as they are
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. All of the heavenly recordings of their
sins are nailed to his cross.
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were
also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised
him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, 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 2,12-14
By looking to Jesus suffering for their sins on this cross, they are healed from
the
deadly sickness of sin.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so
must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal
life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3,14-16
Although Jesus was obedient to fulfilling the will of his Father, still it was
his Father who sent Jesus to die as a burnt offering for our sins. He sacrificed
that which was most dear to him, his beloved Son. Only the sprinkling of his
blood on Golgotha atones for our sins. Any other attempt of man to please God or
find forgiveness through some other offering or sacrifice he does not
regard.
East of Jesus (behind him) were those who hated him without a cause. Could it be that the
priest did not even want to be in Jesus' sight? Could that be the reason why the
priest was always
behind the sacrifice, but also
facing west?
Caiaphas was facing towards the northeast side of the altar, where the Passover
Lambs were being sacrificed as Jesus suffered on the cross.
On the special eight days in which the eight Red Heifers were sacrificed, the
priest could see from over seven hundred meters away the 9,2 meter high door of
the temple. Normally the curtain of the temple is always closed, giving the
priests
privacy for their service within the temple, for the
temple door must be
opened before they begin their sacrifices. But if the curtain was closed on the
day the Red Heifer was sacrificed, the sacrifice would have been invalid.
What happened as Jesus died on the cross?
At that moment the curtain of the temple entrance was torn in two
from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Mat 27,51 Peshitta
The curtain of the temple entrance was ripped from the top to the bottom.
This direct line from Golgotha to the southern temple door was obstructed by the curtain of
the temple. If this curtain was not opened, the sacrifice of the Red Heifer was
not valid. And in the same way, by the curtain being torn in two at precisely
this direct line, the validity of the sacrifice of Jesus as the true Red Heifer
was confirmed.
For we have learnt: The entrance to the Hekal was twenty
cubits high and ten cubits wide, and that to the Ulam (pourch) was forty cubits
high and twenty cubits wide. Eiruvin 2a
The south door was approximately 9,2 meters high and 2,8 meters wide. At a
distance of about 700 meters, the priest who sprinkled the blood could see
clearly this door. From the top of Golgotha, which was only 330 meters away,
Caiaphas had a perfect view of the curtain, and once the curtain ripped, of the
southern temple door.
Locating Golgotha.
Because the LORD loved Abraham, he told him to sacrifice his son on this very special mount. At the time Abraham lived in the land of the Philistines. He said to him, 'go to the land of
Moriah'. Abraham knew where the land of Moriah was; it was the vicinity
of where Jerusalem is today. So he traveled for
three days before the LORD showed him the exact place.
This special mount which the LORD commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son was not Mount Moriah. The mount on which the LORD showed Abraham had as yet no name. And Abraham did not name it 'Mount Moriah', but rather '
JHWH
JIREH' (The LORD sees).
And Abraham called the name of that place JHWH Jireh as it is said to
this day, In the mount the LORD is seen. Gen 22,14
The mount Jhwh Jireh looks like the upper part of a head. At the time of Abraham it also had thickets growing upon it, testified to by the ram whose horns were caught in them.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Gen 22,13
But later Israel had many droughts because of their sins. And just as much of the beauty of the Promised Land disappeared over the centuries, so also did Jhwh Jireh slowly change to look like a bald head, and was then later called 'Golgotha', or skull. And in Greek it was named 'Cranium Place'.
At the time of Abraham it was
the mount in which the LORD was seen. But later it was simply the top of a skull.
From this mount the LORD sees the sacrifices of Israel. The mount itself has the appearance of a head looking to that exact place on the north side of the altar where the sacrificial animals of Israel must be killed.
And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD Lev 1,11a
And because it is shaped as the top of a person's head looking, in the mount 'the LORD is seen'.
It seemed that for the next eight hundred years nothing concerning the mount
JHWH JIREH occurred which was of major importance. But then as David
numbered the Israelites, directly against what
God commanded Moses except if
they be
ransomed, there came a plague where
seventy thousand Israelites died. The
prophet Gad
came that same day, just as the angel was about to slay the inhabitants
of Israel, and built an altar at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. It
was the prophet Gad who revealed to David the place God had ordained for the
altar. It was not on the top of Mount Moriah, but a bit lower. Is it not
reasonable that a threshing floor would not be at the top of a mount, seeing
that the wheat would have to be carried to it? The place of the altar was on
Mount Moriah, on the east side of the top, between the top of Moriah and the top
of Golgotha.
Later the temple was then built west of the altar, on the very top of
Mount Moriah.
As the second temple was built, Ezra and the priests built first the
altar and
then the
foundation at the
same location of the first temple. Just northeast of this altar was
Golgotha. And it was this reason that even before the altar was built, the LORD
spoke to Moses that the offerings shall be slayed on the north side of the
altar,
before the LORD. For the LORD personified himself with mount Golgotha,
which looked first like a groomed head but later like the skull pan of a head.
Amazingly God created the mount looking towards the north side of the altar, which was in
his direct line of view as he looked at
the southern
entrance door of the temple.
In the days of Ezra the Sacrificial place for the Red Heifer was built, and he
was instrumental with the
second Red Heifer sacrifice. Amazingly the place which he built on the
Mount of Olives looked directly over Golgotha, pinpointing the place where Jesus
would one day be crucified. As the priest sprinkled the blood, he would be
looking directly over the top of Golgotha as he
gazed at the southern door of the temple. And knowing the accuracy
of the LORD, his view was directed at that very spot on Golgotha where Jesus was
crucified.
During the lifetime of Eusebius Helena, the mother of Constantine, declared the
new location of Golgotha at the place which she claims the LORD revealed to her.
However Eusebius never gave in his writings any recognition of her claim. In his work
'Onamasticon' Eusebius made the following statement concerning Golgotha:
Golgotha. Place of the skull where the Christ was
crucified. It is pointed out in Jerusalem north of Mt. Zion. Eusebius
Onomasticon Section C The Gospels.
Mount Zion in ancient times was located on the same mount which today is
called the
city of David. At that time this mount was referred to by Josephus as
being within the old wall of Jerusalem. This vicinity was called in his days the
upper city, and was adjacent to the lower city, which
extended as far south as the pool of Siloam. In the days of Hezekiah however
the wall extended only as far south as the Hezekiah tunnel.
The two mounts directly north of Mount Zion are Moriah and JHWH Jireh, also called
Golgotha. Certainly Eusebius
was not referring to the Temple Mount as being Golgotha, so it could only have
been JHWH Jireh, the mount looking like the top of a
skull.
The very first time I went through the Lions gate Jesus spoke to me in a
special way, similar to how he spoke with me on the day of my conversion. I had
come to Israel to baptize a woman in the Jordan river, who for forty years had
been a believer, having been sprinkled as an infant, but had never been
baptized as Jesus had commanded; fully immersed as a result of believing the message of
Salvation and repenting from sin.
It was Friday afternoon on the 5th of June, 2009. We were sitting on a bench at the base of the Mount. I heard his words inwardly very clearly, 'I want to show you something'. So I told those I was with, 'I must leave you for a time. But I will be back shortly'. Then the
LORD directed me up the steep southern slope of Golgotha. As I was climbing, the
Lord said, 'This is Golgotha.'
I am convinced that there is a reason that the Lord told me where Golgotha is located. For many years I have done research on the sacrifice of the Red Heifer, which is a shadow of the crucifixion of Jesus, containing in itself even the smallest details (see my bood on the Mystery of the Red Heifer). The ashes of the Red Heifer were mixed with living water and then sprinkled on the unclean with hyssop by a clean man. The unclean were sprinkled on the third and the seventh day and on the seventh day, the unclean person would wash his clothes and be fully immersed in water. By doing this, he would be clean as the sun would set and could enter the courts of the Temple.
And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening. Num 19,19
This is a shadow of baptism. Those who receive the third day sprinkling are those who receive the message of those sent to preach the gospel as they proclaim the death (the ashes) and resurrection (applied on the third day) of Jesus. The clean man is a saint of the living God sent to preach the gospel. And the hyssop is the gospel. Only these people who receive their message come to the seventh day, i.e. the day of their second sprinkling (message concerning entering the covenant), their cleansing of the clothes (repentance) and their immersion (baptism by immersion). If not all of these requirements were fulfilled, the priest required that the complete purification of seven days would be repeated. Whoever rejected this purification could not enter the temple (heaven - the kingdom of God) and would be cut off from God's people. (Damnation)
In this way the Lord fortold the requirements of a valid baptism. First, the person must believe those sent preaching the gospel concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus. (The third day sprinkling) Then the person is instructed in the requirements of the new covenant, to follow Jesus as a disciple. (The seventh day sprinkling) Then the person must confess their sins and repent. (The clothes washed on the seventh day) And finally the person is fully immersed in water. (Baptism by immersion). The person then resurrects with Jesus (we partake in his eighth day resurrection) and we receive the forgivness of sins. (We are clean) Now our names are written in the book of Life and we have entered into the Kingdom of God. (We can enter the temple courts)
But the man that is unclean, and does not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. Num 19,20
Those who do not believe the gospel and are not immersed cannot enter the Kingdom of God and are condemned.
The one believing and being immersed will be saved; but the one not believing will be condemned. Mk 16,16
This is the reason that the Lord told me where both Golgotha and the site of the Red Heifer are located. He wishes to restore baptism, and with it communion and the complete foundation of his glorious Church.
And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations generation for generation, and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isa 58,12
Rebuilding the Ancient Foundation.
The LORD is today no different than he was two thousand
years ago. Jesus came to make disciples and as he finished his calling on this
earth, he committed the continuation of making disciples to the eleven. Have you
ever considered becoming a disciple of Jesus? Do you wish to be one of those who seeks first the kingdom of God? Are you willing to live for Jesus and the sake of the Gospel? Then I must ask you, Have you been immersed in the name of Jesus Christ upon the confession of your faith? Did you make the bapismal oath of receiving Jesus as Lord of your life before being immersed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And if so I beseech you to be faithful to your baptismal oath and live to fulfill God's will for your life.