Calvary and the Tomb In the steps of Jesus By Shad David Sluiter –

Luke 23:33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. John 19:17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

This is a possible location of where Calvary might be located. The “place of a skull” was identified by Charles Gordon in the 1880’s as a possible location of the crucifixion for the image of a human skull that can be seen in the rocks. The cross may have been placed in front of this hill.

Luke 23:50-53 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, (51) who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. (52) This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (53) Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

John 19:38-41 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. (39) Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. (40) So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (41) Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

This tomb may be the very place where Christ was buried and rose from the dead. This was unearthed during an excavation after Gordon’s Calvary was identified.

This tomb may be the very place where Christ was buried and rose from the dead.

This is a first century tomb that still has the circular stone in place. This is not the tomb of Christ, but would look similar.

This is the interior of the Garden Tomb.

A wine press near the Garden Tomb. This would prove that the area was a garden.

According to Catholic Church tradition, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the location of the cross and the tomb of Christ. It is not known for certain where the cross was placed – at Gordon’s Calvary or at this site or some other location outside of Jerusalem.

This slab of rock is said to be the place where Christ’s body was taken down from the cross.

This cracked rock is believed to be the very foot of the cross. The ground broke at the great earthquake when Christ died.

This image is above the cracked rock shown on the previous slide.

Credits These photos were taken by Ryan Hayes in 2007.