Jesus of Nazareth Crucified at Golgotha

Jerusalem, Israel: Friday, Nisan 14, A.D. 33 – At 9:00 am this morning, Jesus, the infamous Rabbi from Nazareth was crucified outside of Jerusalem.

Perhaps you have heard His teaching in the streets. Perhaps you have been the recipient of one of His many healings or seen one of His many miracles. Perhaps you have even had the opportunity to ask Him a question that has been burning in your soul. However, whoever you are, there is little doubt that you have heard the name JESUS of Nazareth – often also called Jesus the Christ. He has been a man of unparalleled controversy throughout His three-year ministry. Many have looked to Him as the coming the Messiah who would free Israel from the Romans. Indeed, only a few short days ago as He approached Jerusalem ever so humbly, on back of a donkey of all things, shouts could be heard in the streets, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

This caused no small amount of indignation in the religious leaders of the city, as you might imagine. Fed up with the clamor and noise, one is even reported as saying, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” However, in classic Jesus style, the young Rabbi of Nazareth merely responded saying, “I tell you…if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

What followed was no less a controversial week. Jesus made quick work of clearing the temple of the merchants. His words still echo in the minds of those witnesses to that chaotic event, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'” After this, one might think He would have gone into hiding lest He face the repercussions of such severe actions. Nevertheless, Jesus has been teaching daily in the temple – and with authority unlike that of the priests.

One group of religious leaders and elders even dared to question Him, asking, “Tell us…by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered them with a question – one regarding the revered desert prophet named John whom Herod Antipas had beheaded several years ago. Jesus asked them if John’s authority to baptize came from Heaven or men. The religious leaders, with perhaps a bit of fear and cowardice on their faces, answered, “We do not know.” To that Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

To say things have been tense in Jerusalem this week would be an understatement. The presence of Jesus has only been compounded by the fact that millions have descended on the city for the yearly Passover. If at any time a massive uprising against Rome was to occur, there could be no better place than this city, and no better time than this festival. Perhaps that is what the religious leaders have feared the most about Jesus, that He would bring down the fury of Rome on the Jews (and as a secondary consequence cost them their power). We were able to meet briefly with a member of the Sanhedrin who shared the words of Caiaphas, the High Priest, with us. Caiaphas had rebuked them, saying, “You know nothing at all. You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

Clearly, the religious leaders have had their sites on Jesus for some time, and last night they finally caught Him in their trap – arresting Him just outside the city on the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane. It seems that at this point most of His followers abandoned Him, so willing eye witness testimonies of the arrest have been limited. Even so, we did happen upon one such witness – a very flustered and quite naked young man fleeing back into the city and trying to return to his home with as much stealth as possible. We saw the home he entered and, after a respectable time, dared to knock.

There was a long moment before he answered, but when he saw we were not soldiers, he invited us in. Now dressed and a bit less flustered, he told us his story. He had been disrobed and asleep in bed when he heard Christ and His disciples moving through the streets toward the Mount of Olives. It should be noted here that the young man’s house looked like it had been prepared for a large Passover feast – perhaps even large enough for the Rabbi and His guests, but our witness would not comment on this point. Rather, seeing Jesus and His men leaving with haste, he had no time to dress himself. So he merely grabbed the nearest linen sheet to cover himself and followed the men at a distance.

From the shrubs that he managed to conceal himself behind, he watched as the Rabbi prayed in earnest, sweating great drops of blood, and yet the Rabbi’s disciples all fell asleep. Our witness claims that at one point an angel even appeared to strengthen the teacher. However, in spite of everything, well past midnight, a group of soldiers, led by one of Christ’s own students – Judas of Iscariot we have learned – arrived and placed Jesus under arrest. Our witness also claims several more bizarre and miraculous things happened, including the entire horde of soldiers falling down when Jesus said, “I am he!” in regard to their question about which one of them was Jesus. Our witness also saw one of the disciples slice off the ear of one the servants of the High Priest. Jesus rebuked the disciple and healed the man’s ear. At this point, Jesus was led away, and His disciples fled. Two of the young soldiers caught sight of our witness hiding in the scrub. They caught hold of his linen sheet, but he abandoned the cloth and ran from them naked, humiliated, and terrified! At this point, he has asked that his name remain anonymous.

Shortly after this meeting, we received word that Jesus was taken to trial – several trials in fact. First, he went before the religious leaders, then the High Priest, then before the Roman Governor Pilate, then to Herod Antipas, and finally back to Pilate. Even the Roman Prefect could find no cause of guilt in Jesus. Though Pilate is well known for his atrocities – once even killing some Galileans and mixing their blood with their sacrifices – he did attempt to set Jesus free. He even offered the life of the Rabbi as it was his custom to release one prisoner to the people at the Passover. Nevertheless, the people demanded that he release a notorious rebel to them instead – Barabbas, who had been arrested for insurrection and murder. Pilate asked what should be done with Jesus and their answer was cold and yet inflamed by the fires of Hell, “Crucify Him!”

And so Jesus was led away to His death. Before the sun was even halfway through the morning sky, he was stripped, beaten, and nailed to a rugged cross before leering crowds. Eyewitnesses described a moment of stunned silence as the nails pierced His flesh. But that was quickly swallowed up my the clamor of the crowd. Some wept bitterly. Others cursed at him and hurled insults. “He saved others,” one bystander shouted, “let Him save Himself if He is the Messiah!”

According to the Roman centurions who would speak with us, Jesus made no resistance. Instead, as the hammer fell, He reportedly begged, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Two other men, possible associates of Barabbas, were executed alongside Him. Above Jesus’ head, the soldiers nailed  a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. The chief priests objected to the title, but Pilate refused to alter it, saying, “What I have written, I have written.”

As the crosses were raised and the condemned left to die slowly under the scorching sun, several women – including Jesus’ mother Mary and a follower named Mary Magdalene – stood nearby in mourning. The Apostle John was also seen among them. The Apostle Peter, whom we have learned denied Christ three times this morning before a rooster even crowed, was nowhere to be found.

Officials expect the executions to be complete before sundown due to the Sabbath. The plan is to break the legs of the condemned so that unable to press upward to gain breath, they will suffocate quickly. This story continues to unfold and has already stirred strong reactions across Jerusalem and beyond. Whether Jesus of Nazareth was a blasphemer, a prophet, or something much more remains a matter of fierce debate. We will provide updates as more details emerge.