“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

-Galatians 6:14

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

-Galatians 6:14

“Even the Death of the Cross”

“Even the Death of the Cross”

• Phil 2:5-8• 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was

also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• Phil 2:5-8• 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was

also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Psalms 22:23-24Psalms 22:23-24

• 23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

• And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

• 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

• 23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

• And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

• 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

“He heard”. . .He responded

“He heard”. . .He responded

• With such matchless love!• Demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice and

suffer on our behalf. – We love Him because He first loved us!

I Jn 4:19– He loved us while we yet sinners Rm 5:8

• The greater sacrifice was spiritual, mental and emotional.

• As human beings the physical passion arrests our attention.– JESUS: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,

will draw all peoples to Myself.“ Jn 12:32

• With such matchless love!• Demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice and

suffer on our behalf. – We love Him because He first loved us!

I Jn 4:19– He loved us while we yet sinners Rm 5:8

• The greater sacrifice was spiritual, mental and emotional.

• As human beings the physical passion arrests our attention.– JESUS: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,

will draw all peoples to Myself.“ Jn 12:32

The Cross the center of Christianity

The Cross the center of Christianity

Mel Gibson’s movie . . .Mel Gibson’s movie . . .

From a Medical From a Medical Viewpoint. Viewpoint. Dr. C. Truman Davis, MDDr. C. Truman Davis, MD

Bible gives us a brief statement

Bible gives us a brief statement

• “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified, and they crucified Him.” Matt 27:26

• What did the body of Jesus actually go through?

• “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified, and they crucified Him.” Matt 27:26

• What did the body of Jesus actually go through?

Cicero and Josephus Cicero and Josephus

• Cicero called crucifixion the "extreme and ultimate punishment of slaves", and the "cruelest and most disgusting penalty, the death of the lingering doom"    

•  Josephus called it "the most pitiable of deaths." (Jewish War 7:203.)

• Cicero called crucifixion the "extreme and ultimate punishment of slaves", and the "cruelest and most disgusting penalty, the death of the lingering doom"    

•  Josephus called it "the most pitiable of deaths." (Jewish War 7:203.)

The scope of our studyThe scope of our study

• Gethsemane – garden of the winepress

• Trials

• Via-Dolorosa – path of the cross

• Death at Golgotha

• Gethsemane – garden of the winepress

• Trials

• Via-Dolorosa – path of the cross

• Death at Golgotha

Background MaterialBackground Material

• Originated with Persians –340 BC

• Alexander the Great –345 BC

– Introduced it to Carthage

– Romans adopted and adapted it after Punic wars.

• Originated with Persians –340 BC

• Alexander the Great –345 BC

– Introduced it to Carthage

– Romans adopted and adapted it after Punic wars.

Two Types of CrossesTwo Types of Crosses

• Latin (Classical Cross)

– Patibulum (Cross Bar)

– Stipe (Vertical Post)

• Latin (Classical Cross)

– Patibulum (Cross Bar)

– Stipe (Vertical Post)

Two Types of CrossesTwo Types of Crosses

• Tau Cross

– Patibulum placed in a notch at top of the Stipe.

– Looked like a Capital “T”

• Tau Cross

– Patibulum placed in a notch at top of the Stipe.

– Looked like a Capital “T”

Three pieces to a “Crucifix”

Three pieces to a “Crucifix”

• Patibulum & Stipe

• Titulus – Sign with the victim’s crime on it, mounted to a staff.

• Look like Latin Cross – “t”

• Patibulum & Stipe

• Titulus – Sign with the victim’s crime on it, mounted to a staff.

• Look like Latin Cross – “t”

Carried the Cross bar onlyCarried the Cross bar only

• Stipes permanently fixed.

• Condemned man carry 110 lb cross beam

• No biblical or historical evidence to support the pictures!

• Stipes permanently fixed.

• Condemned man carry 110 lb cross beam

• No biblical or historical evidence to support the pictures!

Road to GolgothaRoad to Golgotha

Position of the nailsPosition of the nails

The Position of the NailsThe Position of the Nails

• In the small bones of the wrist . . Not the palm

• Jesus told Thomas: “Behold my hands.”

– Word used for hand included the wrist.

• In the small bones of the wrist . . Not the palm

• Jesus told Thomas: “Behold my hands.”

– Word used for hand included the wrist.

Passion of Christ began in Gethsemane

Passion of Christ began in Gethsemane

Trial of Jesus before Caiaphas

Trial of Jesus before Caiaphas

• Blindfolded and mocked.

• Struck over and over.

• Who is it that hit you?

• "I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting."  Isaiah 50:6  

• Blindfolded and mocked.

• Struck over and over.

• Who is it that hit you?

• "I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting."  Isaiah 50:6  

Mark 15:15Mark 15:15• "So, Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd,

released to them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified." 

• "So, Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified." 

Jesus taken to PilateJesus taken to Pilate• The Roman Scourge (Flagrum) • The Roman Scourge (Flagrum) The Roman scourge, also called the "flagrum" or "flagellum" was a short whip made of two or three leather (ox-hide) thongs or ropes connected to a handle.The leather thongs were knotted with a number of small pieces of metal, usually zinc and iron, attached at various intervals. Scourging would quickly remove the skin. According to history the punishment of a slave was particularly dreadful. The leather was knotted with bones, or heavy indented pieces of bronze. 

The Crown of ThornsThe Crown of Thorns

The Horror of the Crucifixion begins

The Horror of the Crucifixion begins

Master of Saint VeronicaThe Crucifixion, c. 1400/1410

Master of Saint VeronicaThe Crucifixion, c. 1400/1410

Matthew 26:28Matthew 26:28 "For this is My blood of "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.many for the remission of sins.

Come to Jesus for SalvationCome to Jesus for Salvation

–JESUS: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.“ Jn 12:32

How do I benefit from God’s Saving Grace in Christ?How do I benefit from God’s Saving Grace in Christ?

• Believe in Him

• Recognition of your sins

• Repentance

• Confession of Jesus as Lord

• Baptism for the remission of your sins.

• Believe in Him

• Recognition of your sins

• Repentance

• Confession of Jesus as Lord

• Baptism for the remission of your sins.