The Place Called Calvary

(#8, ???)

Read Luke 23:33-47.

Calvary (Luke 23:33) is a word that means "a skull", and is the Latin translation of the Hebrew term "Golgotha".  Thus Calvary is "the place of the skull", owing probably to the fact that it was an area that had the appearance of a skull.  But the significance of Calvary is not particularly in it's geographical location, other than the fact that it was outside Jerusalem.  It's significance is derived from the event that transpired there 2000 years ago.

ƒ    Calvary was a Godforsaken place.  Every sin which every man has or will commit was placed on Christ while he was still alive on the Cross (2 Cor 5:21; 1 John 2:2). 

ƒ    Calvary was the birthplace of a new creation.  God is not in the second-hand business (Matt. 9:16-17).  God's plan does not include any scheme for the betterment of the old man (2 Cor. 5:17).  Instead we are to "put off" the old man (Eph. 4:22-24).  The Cross is the means used to put off the old man (Rom. 6:6). 

ƒ    Calvary is the place of a fruitful life (John 12:24-26). It is there that our Lord, as a seed, died.  And through His death many now live.  It is there that he "hated his life" that others might know life.  A wonderful harvest was wrought at Calvary.

ƒ    Calvary is the place of victory.  Suppression does not give victory in the Christian life.  Reformation does not give victory in the Christian life.  What gives victory?  Death does.  The Cross does (Col. 2:14-15; Heb. 2:14; Gal. 5:24).

In the end, Calvary is a place of decision.  Those who come to Calvary are enjoined to trust the Christ Who died there for them.  Matt. 27:36 says that some who came there sat down and watched.  This passive approach is inappropriate for the One Who died there.  Is that your position? or are you by faith accepting Christ?

 

It was not the cross that killed him.  It was our sin!