Stand in Faith
Golgotha is a Hebrew word and it means the place of the skull:
Pilate upon advise from Herod called together all the chief priests and the elders of the city and the lawyers and other important citizens. When they had gathered he said to them, “You have brought this man to me and said he perverts the people but I examined him and found no fault in him regarding your accusations. And neither did Herod. I sent you to Herod with this man and Herod found no fault with him worthy of death. Therefore, I have decided I will have him whipped and then release him.” Pilate said this because at the time of the Passover feast it was customary for Roman Governors to release one prisoner from custody. But there was a man in custody named Barabbas who was guilty of attempting to start an insurrection and of murder. Pilate did not want to release that man, but the crowd shouted, “Release Barabbas, crucify Jesus!” Pilate tried again, indicating he was willing to release Jesus but they shouted in response, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked, “Why? What evil has he done?” I have found no crime he has committed worthy of death. I will have him whipped severely and then release him.”
The crowd became louder. They screamed and shouted and the temple elite and their cronies, and the lawyers and their henchmen, shouted loudest. Eventually Pilate was persuaded. He gave in to their demand and released the murderer and condemned Jesus to die.
As they led the Lord away they grabbed a man named Simon, a Cyrenian, and forced him to drag the cross behind the condemned man. Behind them a group of men and women who were saddened at what they were seeing unfold, gathered and followed. Jesus said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem do not cry for me. But cry for yourselves and your children. Days are coming in which they will say ‘Blessed are childless couples and those who have no young children to care for.’ They will shout out and beg God for a quick death. Because if evil men can do these things to the Son of Man what will they do to you?”
Two other men who had been condemned as criminals were led out to be executed with him. They were dragged through the streets and outside the city walls to an outcropping of rocks near a quarry that the Romans regularly used for executions. The place was known as Golgotha which is a Hebrew word meaning the place of the skull. But, the Romans referred to the same place by using a Latin word, Calvaria, meaning bare skull. This is where they crucified the Lord, and the two thieves, one on each side of him.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,”
The Roman soldiers knelt down at the foot of the cross and threw dice, gambling over the robe of Jesus. At the same time, a crowd of people gathered around and looked on. Some smug temple priests and corrupt city elders derided him. One of them exhibiting a snide smirk said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ.”
The soldiers also taunted him, one of them offered him sour wine on a sponge but Jesus turned his head away. One of the soldiers shouted, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” They made a sign to mock him that said in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” And they nailed the sign to the top of the cross over the Lord's head.
One of the two thieves turned on Jesus and said, “If you are the Christ save yourself and us.” The other thief rebuked him, “Do you not fear God? You are hanging on a cross just like he is. We deserve this but this man is innocent.” He looked at Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, saying, “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
At about the sixth hour of the day the sun was covered and a great darkness came over the entire earth, lasting three hours. Then, at the ninth hour, within the temple, the heavy curtain covering the entry way into the Holy of Holies tore asunder, and at that very instant Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I submit my spirit.”
Jesus died.
When the Roman Centurion who was there saw what happened he glorified God, shouting out, “Certainly, this was a man of God.”
All the people that beheld these things were shook to their core, they began to beat their breasts as if in mourning and then, slowly, they drifted away and returned to their homes. While the acquaintances of Jesus and the women that had followed him from Galilee stood off a way and witnessed everything.
There was a man there named Joseph, a Pharisee, a member of the counsel of priests, a good and honest man. He had not agreed with the chief priests and the lawyers when they had condemned Jesus. Joseph was from the city of Arimathea and he loved God and longed for the Messiah. He went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus. Then along with some friends he took it down from the cross and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb that had been chiseled from stone wherein no body had ever been laid. That same day was a Friday the day when people prepare for the Sabbath.
The women from Galilee followed after the body and watched while Jesus was laid to rest. Then they returned and gathered spices and ointments for his body. But the next day was Saturday, the Sabbath, so they rested, as the Laws of Moses required.
Now on Sunday, the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices and ointments and along with some other persons went to the tomb. Right away they discovered that the great stone that had covered the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away. Entering, they found the tomb empty. They were very confused when suddenly they noticed two men standing nearby. The men were clothed in garments that glowed brightly, like the sun. The women, shielding their eyes from the blinding light, were very afraid and they bowed their faces to the ground. One of the men spoke and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Then the other said, “Jesus is not here. He has risen.” Then the first man reminded them of an important teaching, “Do you not Remember what the Lord taught you in Galilee? That Messiah must be delivered into the hands of evil men, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
A wave of warmth engulfed them and, yes, the women remembered...
(taken from the Gospel according to Luke, a translation/interpretation of relevant verses from the King James Version of the Holy Bible)
It isn't over until it's over.
The great evangelist Billy Graham has been spreading the good news of Jesus Christ for over 60 years and is one of the most respected religious figures in America today. There is a story told about Reverend Graham, it seems that one day he was confronted by a non believer who snidely put the question to him, “Reverend Graham, do you really believe that Jonah was swallowed by a whale?” Billy is reported to have answered, “Not only do I believe that a whale swallowed Jonah, I also believe if God had wanted him to, Jonah would have swallowed the whale.” Billy Graham is beloved around the world. He has said on many occasions that when he started out he really believed that if he went out and preached the gospel the whole world would come to Christ. Maybe Billy missed the mark a bit. But, remember, it isn't over until it's over.
So, there is still time. Get out there you young people who love Christ! Don't dream of creating a mega church and handing it down to your sons like a family business. Don't dream of preaching to thousands and making money like a corporate tycoon. Take the world out of the church and put the church back into the world. If you dream, dream of millions being baptized in the blood of Jesus Christ. Carry the message into all the world.
Do not be afraid. And, like the Reverend Billy Graham, when you go out believe that the whole world is going to come to know Him, that the whole world will come to Christ. That is the mission given us by the greatest evangelist of all time, Jesus Christ.
Planning a trip? Click on the Priceline.com advertisement below and check out their service.
Golgotha is a Hebrew word and it means the place of the skull:
Pilate upon advise from Herod called together all the chief priests and the elders of the city and the lawyers and other important citizens. When they had gathered he said to them, “You have brought this man to me and said he perverts the people but I examined him and found no fault in him regarding your accusations. And neither did Herod. I sent you to Herod with this man and Herod found no fault with him worthy of death. Therefore, I have decided I will have him whipped and then release him.” Pilate said this because at the time of the Passover feast it was customary for Roman Governors to release one prisoner from custody. But there was a man in custody named Barabbas who was guilty of attempting to start an insurrection and of murder. Pilate did not want to release that man, but the crowd shouted, “Release Barabbas, crucify Jesus!” Pilate tried again, indicating he was willing to release Jesus but they shouted in response, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked, “Why? What evil has he done?” I have found no crime he has committed worthy of death. I will have him whipped severely and then release him.”
The crowd became louder. They screamed and shouted and the temple elite and their cronies, and the lawyers and their henchmen, shouted loudest. Eventually Pilate was persuaded. He gave in to their demand and released the murderer and condemned Jesus to die.
As they led the Lord away they grabbed a man named Simon, a Cyrenian, and forced him to drag the cross behind the condemned man. Behind them a group of men and women who were saddened at what they were seeing unfold, gathered and followed. Jesus said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem do not cry for me. But cry for yourselves and your children. Days are coming in which they will say ‘Blessed are childless couples and those who have no young children to care for.’ They will shout out and beg God for a quick death. Because if evil men can do these things to the Son of Man what will they do to you?”
Two other men who had been condemned as criminals were led out to be executed with him. They were dragged through the streets and outside the city walls to an outcropping of rocks near a quarry that the Romans regularly used for executions. The place was known as Golgotha which is a Hebrew word meaning the place of the skull. But, the Romans referred to the same place by using a Latin word, Calvaria, meaning bare skull. This is where they crucified the Lord, and the two thieves, one on each side of him.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,”
The Roman soldiers knelt down at the foot of the cross and threw dice, gambling over the robe of Jesus. At the same time, a crowd of people gathered around and looked on. Some smug temple priests and corrupt city elders derided him. One of them exhibiting a snide smirk said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ.”
The soldiers also taunted him, one of them offered him sour wine on a sponge but Jesus turned his head away. One of the soldiers shouted, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” They made a sign to mock him that said in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” And they nailed the sign to the top of the cross over the Lord's head.
One of the two thieves turned on Jesus and said, “If you are the Christ save yourself and us.” The other thief rebuked him, “Do you not fear God? You are hanging on a cross just like he is. We deserve this but this man is innocent.” He looked at Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, saying, “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
At about the sixth hour of the day the sun was covered and a great darkness came over the entire earth, lasting three hours. Then, at the ninth hour, within the temple, the heavy curtain covering the entry way into the Holy of Holies tore asunder, and at that very instant Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I submit my spirit.”
Jesus died.
When the Roman Centurion who was there saw what happened he glorified God, shouting out, “Certainly, this was a man of God.”
All the people that beheld these things were shook to their core, they began to beat their breasts as if in mourning and then, slowly, they drifted away and returned to their homes. While the acquaintances of Jesus and the women that had followed him from Galilee stood off a way and witnessed everything.
There was a man there named Joseph, a Pharisee, a member of the counsel of priests, a good and honest man. He had not agreed with the chief priests and the lawyers when they had condemned Jesus. Joseph was from the city of Arimathea and he loved God and longed for the Messiah. He went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus. Then along with some friends he took it down from the cross and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb that had been chiseled from stone wherein no body had ever been laid. That same day was a Friday the day when people prepare for the Sabbath.
The women from Galilee followed after the body and watched while Jesus was laid to rest. Then they returned and gathered spices and ointments for his body. But the next day was Saturday, the Sabbath, so they rested, as the Laws of Moses required.
Now on Sunday, the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices and ointments and along with some other persons went to the tomb. Right away they discovered that the great stone that had covered the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away. Entering, they found the tomb empty. They were very confused when suddenly they noticed two men standing nearby. The men were clothed in garments that glowed brightly, like the sun. The women, shielding their eyes from the blinding light, were very afraid and they bowed their faces to the ground. One of the men spoke and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Then the other said, “Jesus is not here. He has risen.” Then the first man reminded them of an important teaching, “Do you not Remember what the Lord taught you in Galilee? That Messiah must be delivered into the hands of evil men, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
(taken from the Gospel according to Luke, a translation/interpretation of relevant verses from the King James Version of the Holy Bible)
It isn't over until it's over.
The great evangelist Billy Graham has been spreading the good news of Jesus Christ for over 60 years and is one of the most respected religious figures in America today. There is a story told about Reverend Graham, it seems that one day he was confronted by a non believer who snidely put the question to him, “Reverend Graham, do you really believe that Jonah was swallowed by a whale?” Billy is reported to have answered, “Not only do I believe that a whale swallowed Jonah, I also believe if God had wanted him to, Jonah would have swallowed the whale.” Billy Graham is beloved around the world. He has said on many occasions that when he started out he really believed that if he went out and preached the gospel the whole world would come to Christ. Maybe Billy missed the mark a bit. But, remember, it isn't over until it's over.
So, there is still time. Get out there you young people who love Christ! Don't dream of creating a mega church and handing it down to your sons like a family business. Don't dream of preaching to thousands and making money like a corporate tycoon. Take the world out of the church and put the church back into the world. If you dream, dream of millions being baptized in the blood of Jesus Christ. Carry the message into all the world.
Do not be afraid. And, like the Reverend Billy Graham, when you go out believe that the whole world is going to come to know Him, that the whole world will come to Christ. That is the mission given us by the greatest evangelist of all time, Jesus Christ.
Planning a trip? Click on the Priceline.com advertisement below and check out their service.