Posts Tagged ‘crucifixion’
Three Days and Three Nights
Text: Matthew 12:38-42 I. Jesus’ statement that he would spend three days and three nights in the grave has puzzled people through the ages. A. If Jesus died on Friday afternoon and was buried just before sundown and then arose before dawn on Sunday, that is only 36 hours. B. Some try to explain this by pointing…
Read MoreWhy does Mark have “Eloi” and Matthew have “Eli” for the same statement?
Question: I believe that Matthew’s account lists Jesus’s cry from the ancient texts when he wrote “Eli, Eli lama sabachthani”. This is not a quote from Psalm 22. The Hebrew in Psalm 22 is ‘azab, not sabachthani. I’ve seen some stretches that try to link sabachthani with ‘azab, but I believe it is a bit of…
Read MoreDid the thief on the cross work when he rebuked the other thief?
Question: I noticed your ‘Is water baptism is a work?’ and I found it very insightful. I was curious about the thief on the cross. Did this thief do a ‘work’ before he died by rebuking his neighbor? Answer: Obviously the thief demonstrates faith in Jesus. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying,…
Read MoreWas Matthew originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic?
Question: One of the problems I would have with your explanation is whether or not Matthew wrote the words in Greek or did he write the words in the original Aramaic. Most Bible scholars believe that Matthew wrote in Aramaic and while Mark’s words are almost identical, he too was a Jew who would have spoken a…
Read MoreViews of the Cross
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Views-of-the-Cross.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 6:14 I. How do you see the cross? A. What significance does it have for you? B. To Paul, it marked his separation from the world – Galatians 6:14 C. It was the focus of his preaching – I Corinthians 2:2 D. It was something many could not understand – I Corinthians…
Read MoreHow many Roman soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus?
Question: How many Roman soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus? Answer: The Scriptures do not say. “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people” (Matthew 26:47). “And immediately, while He was still speaking,…
Read MoreWhat did Jesus mean by “eat my flesh and drink my blood?”
Question: I would like to know in John 6:53-56 what does Jesus mean by “eat my flesh and drink my blood”? What do flesh and blood represent here? Answer: The statement is found in a discourse recorded in John 6. In the context, Jesus had feed over 5,000 people miraculously and this created a crowd…
Read MoreAre there any other mentions of the saints rising from the dead at Jesus’ death?
Question: In Matthew 27:51-53, it says “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they…
Read MoreWhen Christ spoke, “It is finished” and died on that cross, is that moment when the New Covenant took place?
Question: When Christ spoke, “It is finished” and died on that cross, at that moment is when the New Covenant took place? His death paid the penalty correct? Answer: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). The word…
Read MoreDid Jesus carry his cross?
Question: Jesus never carried the material cross, and he never fell either! Answer: “Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:16-17). John’s…
Read MoreWhat does the sign of the water and blood mean in John 19:34?
Question: In John 19:34, what does the sign of water and blood mean? Answer: “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34). This is not a sign in the sense that the water and blood represented something greater, it is a statement of…
Read MoreHow far did Jesus carry the cross?
Question: How far did Jesus carry the cross? I have studied several maps of Jerusalem for that time period, but I cannot find one that is to scale. Answer: It is 0.2 miles (0.3 kilometers) from the Praetorium to the traditional location for Golgotha as the crow flies. However, this doesn’t tell us how far…
Read MoreDid Jesus know he would die by crucifixion in advance?
Question: Did Jesus know he would die by crucifixion in advance? Answer: Yes, he did know. He spoke of being “lifted up” which was an allusion to crucifixion where a person is lifted up on a cross. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be…
Read MoreWhere did Jesus carry his own cross?
Question: For school, I’m learning about Easter. Where did Jesus carry his own cross? Answer: It is good to hear that your school is encouraging you to be interested in religious matters. I hope you learn a lot from your assignment. Many myths have grown up around Jesus. The gospels present a beautiful and strong…
Read MoreWhy did the people think Jesus was calling for Elijah?
Question: In regards to Matthew 27:46: if the translation is as reported in the text, how come the bystanders thought he was calling for Elijah? It seems like the translation given in the text does not coincide with the bystanders’ reaction to our Lord’s words. Are they misinterpreting? Answer: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried…
Read MoreDid God forsake Jesus on the cross?
Question: Do you believe that God forsook Jesus when Jesus cried out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Answer: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) The statement given by…
Read MoreDoes the phrase “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” have a different meaning in Aramaic than in the Greek?
Question: I would like to comment on the use of Aramaic in Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani. It’s not the Greek word and its meaning that’s in question or the crux of the argument. The Aramaic is the problem. The Aramaic word that the Greek word was translated from was supposed to have more than one meaning…
Read MoreSir, We Would See Jesus at His Death
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:18-20 I. Certain Greeks once came to the disciples asking for the privilege to see Jesus – John 12:20-21 A. We don’t really know anything about the physical characteristics of Jesus. 1. We know that it was prophesied that he wasn’t handsome – Isaiah 53:2 2. But the reality is that they…
Read MoreCould Jesus have said, “My God, my God, for this I was kept?”
Question: I found an article stating that Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46 should have been translated, “My God, my God, for this I was kept!” Is there any basis for this claim? Answer: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why…
Read More“The Passion of the Christ:” A Review
by Ethan R. Longhenry The Passion of the Christ, a movie recently released on the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ as portrayed by director Mel Gibson, has been the discussion of many in the world and also in the Lord’s Body itself. Many claims have been made about it, ranging from…
Read MorePreaching the Crucified Christ
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 1:17-31 I. What does it mean to “preach Christ crucified”? – I Corinthians 1:23 A. The message of the cross is the power of God – I Corinthians 1:18 B. The message of the cross is God’s means of salvation – I Corinthians 1:21 C. Therefore, it is the gospel (good…
Read More