BEN F. VICK, JR.
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33).
A number of our songs refer to Calvary: “Lead Me to Calvary,” “On the Cross of Calvary,” “Jesus Paid It All,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” and others. The King James and New King James Versions use “Calvary,” as found only in the above-quoted verse. In old English translations, it is found in Wycliffe’s (1388), Tyndale’s (1526), Cranmer’s (1539), and Geneva’s (1557,1560). Interestingly, most of the modern versions do not have the word “Calvary” in them but translate the Greek literally as “The Skull” (ESV, LEB, NASV, NET, NIV).
“Calvary” is from Latin and means “the place of the skull.” “Calvary” connotes preciousness and love in my mind. Matthew and Mark refer to “Golgotha” (Matt. 27:33; Mark 15:22). Golgotha is a transliterated word, that is, rather than the Greek word being translated, the Greek letters are carried over into English (Γολγοθά). At least in my mind, Golgotha connotes gruesomeness, cruelty, ugliness, and hatred. Both are scriptural terms, but each depicts the cross of Jesus from different perspectives.
There is no certainty as to the exact location of Calvary today. The writer of Hebrews tells us Jesus was crucified outside the wall of Jerusalem: “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (Heb.13:12-13). Some of our songs refer to Mount Calvary or the hill of Calvary, but it is not a hill nor a mountain. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut says, “Calvary was not a mountain, but merely a place outside the city where the crucifixion of Jesus took place” (The Bible Atlas, p. 63). However, it must have been located in a prominent place for people to stop and observe or passers-by to see those crucified.
The word “Calvary,” as I stated earlier, is precious because it reminds us of God’s love for the world (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-8). It reminds us of the sacrificial love that Jesus Christ had for each of us. The word is precious because the Lamb of God’s blood was shed there. Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The name is precious because Jesus paid the ultimate price for the church, his flock (Acts 20:28). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). John wrote, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Jesus’ love for us on Calvary’s cross reminds us of how we should love him. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Loving God is demonstrated by keeping his commandments. John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). God’s commands are not so burdensome that we cannot obey them.
The matchless love demonstrated by the Father and the Son for us should motivate us to love each other. The Apostle of Love penned these words: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:7-9). Peter wrote, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). We are admonished, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
“Golgotha” brings to mind envy, cruelty, and hatred. Jesus knew what awaited him. In sorrowful Gethsemane, Jesus prayed. Matthew records,
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matt. 26:36-39).
Jesus was hated. The Psalmist wrote, “Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: Neither let them wink [that is, “wink maliciously”] with the eye that hate me without a cause” (Psa. 35:19). Again, he said, “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty….” (Psa. 69:4). Jesus said these prophecies were fulfilled: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25).
Think of the cruelty and hatred of the Jews for the sinless Son of God. Death by crucifixion has to be one of the worst ways to die. The Romans had perfected the practice of the Persians. They looked for false witnesses. They cried out over and over to crucify him. Pilate knew that the Jews delivered up Jesus because of envy. The soldiers of the governor scourged him. They took him, stripped him of his raiment and put a scarlet robe on him, plaited a crown of thorns on his head, put a reed in his right hand, bowed before him, mocking him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” They spat upon him. They took the reed out of his hand and hit him on the head. They led him to be crucified. The soldiers divided his garments among themselves and cast lots for his vesture. Then, think of the callousness and cold-heartedness expressed in this verse: “And sitting down they watched him there” (Matt.27:36). Yes, Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, was hated:
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God (Matt.27:39-43).
Lest I forget Gethsemane;
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.