Gen. 22:1-14, The Cross of Jesus

The next two posts are “review,” by which I mean it has been a long time since we shared our lists answering two questions about the location of the cross of Jesus and the nature of the tomb of Jesus.  We shared these things recently with our church family, with loads of photos. These photos will not appear here, but when we move this to the Blog we might include some of those photos.  First, according to the Bible, where was the cross of Jesus located?

1.  At Jerusalem (Matt. 16:21).  Jesus said these words, that His death would require going to Jerusalem.  See also Luke 16:33, “a prophet must not die outside of Jerusalem.”  The traditional sight (Ch. of the Holy Sepulcher) and my favored spot (Skull Hill near the Garden Tomb) were in the environs of Jerusalem.

Skull Hill at top, North of Altar, outside Damascus Gate; 

Holy Sepulcher left, West of Altar, outside Jaffa Gate

2.  Near the city, outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12).  Outside the camp or city was where the location of trash, lepers and death (cemeteries, places of execution).  The traditional spot relies on the discovery of a wall-configuration that is at least slightly controversial.  The Church is outside Jaffa Gate, Skull Hill outside Damascus Gate.

3.  By a busy road (John 19:20).  This was Roman tradition, to do crucifixions in places where many people could be intimidated and the criminal shamed.  Being Passover, all the roads were busy.  Both sites claim this with good reason.

4.  Golgotha (Hb)/Calvary (Lat), Place of a Skull (Mk 15:22; Lk 23:33).  Skull Hill might have looked like a skull.  At the Church the claim is that Jesus’ blood from the cross dripped on the skull of Adam that was buried there.  There is a “Chapel of Adam” that is part of the church complex.

Skull Hill 2000 AD

Chapel of Adam at Holy Sepulcher

 5.  North of the temple (Leviticus 1:10-11).  This comes from a references to all sacrifices for sin (burnt offering, sin offering and trespass offering) that involved a lamb/kid of the goats.  They were always to be killed north of the altar.  Skull Hill is north; the Holy Sepulcher is west. (Cf. map.)

6.  In the Mountain of the Lord (Gen 22:2,14).  Moses said this as a comment on Abraham’s taking Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him on the hill chosen by God.  Moses understood that story to indicate the actual location of God’s ultimate provision of salvation.  Skull Hill is in “the Land of Moriah,” one of the four peaks.

Land of Moriah sits between Zion on west and Kidron & Olivet on east.

Moriah has 4 peaks, called in these drawings by Charles Gordon Spring (Gihon), Rock (where Abraham offered Isaac; Hill of Zion and Jeremiah's Knoll (cave to right of skull face was traditional sight where Jeremiah wept over destruction of temple and Jerusalem).

7.  Between two criminals (John 19:18).  This “location” reveals the two possible responses to God’s offer of salvation through the blood of Jesus.

8.  Near a garden with a tomb (John 19:41).  I saw recently there is some new archaeological evidence of a garden under the Church.  There are several indications that the area of the Garden Tomb has always been a location for a garden.  There’s a cistern and a winepress on the property, and in the mid-1800s the tomb was discovered while the owner of the land was looking for water to grow things.

Winepress from Roman/Byzantine time

Cistern at Garden Tomb, seen in photo, under red roof in background.

Map of Garden Tomb showing nearness of place of crucifixion and tomb.

What is at stake in this is the truth of God’s word.  The claim of the “archaeologist” is not the issue.  Like every other profession, it is subject to politics and money.  This list comes from Scripture.