The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the path to Golgotha, the meaning of the Crucifixion icon, who executed and when, who was crucified with Jesus, the removal from the cross, who helped Jesus carry the cross

The men condemned Jesus, but the women followed Him, weeping. There are no women among Jesus' enemies. They beat themselves on the chest, signifying the desecration of motherhood.

But Jesus tells them: don't cry.

Don’t cry for Me, Mother, I will rise in three days. There is no need to cry over the priest who is performing the sacrifice of universal holiness.

You need to cry over the fate of a person, over what a person has done with his destiny. Lazarus is dead and already stinks, Enemies are already besieging the city, The forces of non-existence are besieging man And dragging him into the abyss of emptiness.

Jesus accepts this fate in order to overcome it. He raised Lazarus and is preparing for a duel with the one who divides and who finds no participation in anything. This will be so that the day will come when He will finally say to us: I will wipe away every tear from your eyes, And there will be no more death, no more crying, no more crying, no more pain, For the former things have passed away.

The Silouan Tower falls and falls, Troops set fire to cities again and again. This does not happen because You punish us, But because we become a withered tree.

You, green tree, grant us Your living power, So that we may know how to wipe away the tears of the women of Jerusalem.

May each of us become Veronica, wiping the sweat from Your Face, So that Your Face on our icons - But every person - Your icon Be for us a door to eternity.

Why Jesus Christ was crucified briefly

In Judea they were waiting for the Messiah, who was supposed to free the people of God from Roman slavery. At that time, the Jews were slaves, their empire was under the control of a Roman ruler, and there were endless wars and suffering.

However, the people of God knew that one day the Savior of the world would come and be able to free them from the sins that caused all the evil on earth - disease, death, poverty and slavery. And it was predicted that such a person would be born and free the world from universal evil.

And then Jesus Christ was born, whose birth was associated with the signs of the birth of the mission.

At the age of 33, he began to preach the word of God and perform miracles. If in his childhood Jesus was in the temple, and even people with a rabbinical education were surprised how he knew everything more than they did.

However, despite the signs and wonders, people did not believe that Christ was working from good power. They considered him a heretic who was confusing the people.

The Jewish government did not pay too much attention to this, but then the preaching of Christ began to cause envy, irritation, and they began to despise Jesus, they even wanted to kill him. This happened thanks to the betrayal of Judas, who betrayed his Teacher for 30 coins, as was said in the prophecies.

Jesus' crucifixion coincided with Passover. At this time, it was customary to release one sinner. And the Jews released Varavan, who was a robber and murderer. As a result, Christ was not pardoned and he was crucified.

Twelfth Station of the Cross

Jesus dies on the cross

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice: Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachthani? What does it mean: My God!, My God! Why did you leave me? And one ran, filled a sponge with vinegar, and, putting it on a reed, gave Him to drink. Jesus cried out loudly and gave up the ghost. (Mk 15, 34. 36–37)

Jesus, the Word incarnate, Traveled the greatest distance Fallen humanity can travel. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The distance is infinite, the wound is finite, the miracle of love.

Between God and God, Between the Father and the incarnate Son, our despair meets, And Jesus wants to be in solidarity with it to the end.

The absence of God is hell. “I thirst,” Jesus also says, echoing the psalm. My strength has dried up like a shard; My tongue stuck to my throat, and You brought me down from the dust of death.”

God thirsts for man, and man runs away from Him, Building a wall of separation. Nailed to this wall, Jesus says: “I thirst,” and they give Him vinegar. The eternal embrace of the Father and the Son becomes the distance between heaven and hell. “Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachthani? As if for a moment the crucified God loses faith in God.

And then everything turns around, In Jesus the human will, As in the Garden of Gethsemane, agrees. “Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit.” The abyss of despair dissipates Like an insignificant drop of hatred, In the bottomless abyss of love. The distance between the Father and the Son is no longer the place of hell, but the abode of the Spirit.

Jesus, You, who have humbled yourself, taking the form of a servant, even to death, and death on the cross, Teach us to say on the day of disaster, Perhaps on the day of death: “Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit.”

Place of Christ's crucifixion

Christ was crucified on the mountain of the city of Golgotha. Together with other sinners, he carried the cross on which he was crucified.

Since then, this word in literature has meant suffering, torment, pain. Golgotha appears in the paintings of many artists as a symbol of the suffering that every person must endure in his life.

Hence the expression “carry your cross.” The cross refers to a life test that a person cannot cope with and which cannot be avoided. You just have to bear it with dignity and try to get rid of it at the first opportunity.

Alternative view

During his long career, Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco, created many paintings of Christ, but it was “Carrying the Cross” or “Christ Carrying the Cross” that became one of the most iconic and truly revolutionary images of the Savior created by the artist.
Surprisingly, this image of Christ, which seems so alive and even modern, was painted almost 500 years ago.

—

But what history preceded the creation of this iconic work of art?

Christ carrying the cross. El Greco, 1570s.

At least seven versions of this painting are known to exist (not including those in which Christ holds the cross vertically). But this article will focus specifically on the very first and exclusively revolutionary masterpiece created by El Greco in the late 1570s during the artist’s stay in Spain.

The theme, which isolates Christ from the scenes on the way to Calvary, was developed mainly by Northern Italian artists of the early 1500s, such as Giovanni Bellini, Sebastiano Del Piombo and Andrea Solario.

Christ carrying the cross. Sebastiano del Piombo.

El Greco probably saw Christ Carrying the Cross by Sebastiano del Piombo, painted in the mid-1530s for Fernando da Silva, who took it with him to Spain, where it entered the royal collection. The painting hung in the El Escorial monastery for a long time and was well known to many European artists.

In his interpretation, El Greco moves away from the suffering prototype of Christ, bent under the weight of the cross, and creates a new image for him, in which the Savior looks admiringly at God and embraces the cross as an instrument of his salvation.

The very pose and upward gaze are reminiscent of some paintings of the risen Christ by Northern Italian masters (such as Ambrogio Bergognone and Andrea Previtali).

In the late 1570s and early 1580s, El Greco already painted a number of saints in a similar manner, such as Saint Sebastian (circa 1577-1578), Mary Magdalene (early 1580s), and Saint Peter (1580s).

El Greco's idea of Christ proudly bearing the cross was an absolutely revolutionary departure from the iconography typical of Spain at the time, where the emphasis was always on suffering.

Perhaps the work created by El Greco would never have been accepted by the clergy if the artist’s vision had not been supported by Teresa of Avila herself (a Spanish nun canonized) who had influential followers.

The image itself was characterized as being in mystical communion with God and arriving in a state of divine grace beyond worldly sensation.

Even the crown of thorns and the heavy cross do not make any depressing impression on the Savior.

In its time, "Carrying the Cross" became a symbol of inspiration for hope and faith, and remains so today.

Path to Golgotha

Jesus walked to Calvary for several hours. During this time, he walked with a crown of thorns on his head and fell 3 times.

Today, the path to Golgotha to the place of execution is considered sacred. The one who does it will be able to see the future and find his way in life.

Those places where Christ fell are considered holy and there is a monument on them. Christ walked along them almost to the very place of his execution. And only after the last fall, a warrior named Simen helped him carry the cross.

Following the discussions
: Contradictions in the Bible,
conversation eight

This series of conversations

deals with seeming contradictions in the Bible. Note: not contradictions, but apparent or imaginary contradictions. For centuries, opponents of God and His Word have been trying their best to look for contradictions in the Holy Scriptures, but they can never find them. Our discussions about contradictions in the Bible will help you understand that there are no such things in the Bible.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 63

King Herod thought that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist: Matthew 14:1-2

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report of Jesus and said to those serving with him, “This is John the Baptist;

He rose from the dead, and therefore miracles were done by him

Mark 6:14-16

When King Herod heard about Jesus—for His name had become known—he said, “It is John the Baptist who has risen from the dead, and therefore miracles are done by him.”

Others said: this is Elijah, and others said: this is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.

When Herod heard it, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded;

he rose from the dead

King Herod did not think so: Luke 9:9

And Herod said: I have beheaded John;

Who is this one about whom I hear such things?

And I sought to see Him

Contradiction

Explanation
: If you read the New Testament carefully and be completely honest, you can easily see that the Gospel of Luke does not say that King Herod did not think that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist.
The Gospel of Luke mentions the idea that Jesus is the resurrected John the Baptist: Luke 9:7-8
“
And Herod the tetrarch heard all that Jesus had done, and was perplexed: for some said that it was John who rose from the dead;
others that Elijah appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets was resurrected .”
Most likely, Herod adhered to this version. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark support this. We also invite you to read the answer to the question “Who is Jesus Christ?”
APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 64

Untruthfulness of testimony: John 5:31

If I testify of Myself, My testimony is not true

The truth of the testimony: John 8:14

If I testify of Myself, My testimony is true

Contradiction

Explanation
: To understand that these two phrases are not a contradiction, it is necessary to look at the context of each of these phrases.
First passage: John 5:30-40
“
I can do nothing of Myself.
As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous; For I do not seek My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me. If I testify about Myself, then My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me; and I know that the testimony with which he testifies about Me is true. You sent to John, and he testified to the truth. However, I do not accept testimony from man, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a lamp, burning and shining; and you wanted to rejoice in its light for a little while. But I have a testimony greater than John: for the works that the Father gave Me to do, these very works that I have done, testify of Me that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me testified about Me. But you have never heard His voice, nor seen His face; and you do not have His word abiding in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent. Search the Scriptures, for through them you think you have eternal life; and they testify of Me. But you do not want to come to Me to have life .” In the first passage, Jesus refers to the Old Testament Law that one cannot judge on the basis of one piece of evidence, but to reach a decision or verdict in a court of law one must have at least two witnesses or testimonies. In this passage, Jesus lists all the witnesses who testify about Him as the Son of God and the promised Messiah: - First, this is the testimony of John the Baptist (verse 33); - secondly, these are the works and miracles of Jesus Christ himself (verse 36); - thirdly, this is the testimony of Heavenly Father (verse 37); - fourthly, - this is the testimony of the scriptures (verse 39). The main idea is that Jesus' testimony about himself is not the only testimony that was given to the Jews. And the unbelief of the Jews is explained by nothing other than ignorance of the Holy Scriptures and unwillingness to accept the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

Second passage: John 8:12-14

“
Again Jesus spoke to the people and said to them: I am the light of the world;
whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Then the Pharisees said to Him: You testify about Yourself, Your testimony is not true. Jesus answered and said to them: If I testify of Myself, My testimony is true; because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going .”
Notice that here Jesus did not say, “Yes, I testify of Myself.” But He said: “If I testify about Myself...” And these are two different things. It is interesting that the Pharisees, to whom Jesus literally recently (namely in the 5th chapter) listed all those who testify about Him, accused Jesus of testifying about Himself. Significant in the answer of Jesus Christ is His statement that He has the right to testify about Himself. Jesus' response in this passage is nothing more than a direct challenge to the Pharisees, in which Jesus said: “ If I testify of Myself, My testimony is true;
because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going .”
Why does Jesus have such power and authority that he has the right to testify about Himself? The answer is found in the words of Jesus: “ For I know where I came from and where I am going;
but you do not know where I come from or where I am going .” Only God knows the past, present and future. Only the Lord God can say about himself that He knows where He came from and where He is going. Thus, if we paraphrase Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees, He told them the following about Himself: “Even if I testified about Myself, I have the right to do so, because I am God.”

There is no contradiction between the phrases of Jesus Christ in these passages. Instead, the first passage (John 5:30-40) is the context for the second passage (John 8:12-14). And this once again proves the truth that the Bible must be read not in fragments and snatches, taking phrases out of context, but as a whole book.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 65

Jesus carried His cross to Calvary: John 19:17

And carrying His cross, He went out to a place called the Skull, in Hebrew Calvary

Jesus did not carry His cross to Calvary: Matthew 27:31-32

And when they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, and clothed Him with His own garments, and led Him away to be crucified.

As they went out, they met one Cyrene man named Simon;

this one was forced to bear His cross

Contradiction

Explanation
: To answer this question, you need to know how the procedure for the conviction and crucifixion of the criminal took place.
Barclay's comment: “ The crucifixion has always been performed the same way.
After the case was heard and the criminal was sentenced, the judge uttered the fateful phrase: “Ibisad krusem - You will go to the cross.” The sentence was carried out immediately: the criminal was placed in the center between four soldiers, a cross was placed on his shoulders. Flagellation usually preceded execution, so you can imagine what state the criminal's body was in. Sometimes they whipped him along the way to the place of execution and urged him to remain on his feet until the end, until his crucifixion .”
So, according to tradition, the condemned man himself had to carry his cross, or at least the crossbar, to the place of execution. The three Gospels tell that the Romans forced Simon of Cyrene to bear the cross of Jesus. Most likely, they had to resort to this measure because Jesus was very weak after the cruel scourging. We must not forget that Jesus spent a sleepless night in the courtyard of the high priest, where the guards laughed and mocked Him. Reading about Jesus' procession, it becomes obvious that Simon had no intention of carrying anyone's cross that day. He was returning from the field when he was met by a procession moving towards Calvary: Mark 15:20-21
“
And when they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, clothed Him in His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.
And they forced a certain Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was passing by, coming from the field, to carry His cross .”
Did Jesus carry his cross as the Gospel of John states? Most likely, a cross was placed on him, like any other criminal doomed to crucifixion. But very quickly, already at the exit from the gate, the Romans realized that Jesus himself would not be able to carry the cross to the place of execution. And then they ordered the first person they met to carry the cross of Jesus: Matthew 27:31-32
“
And when they had mocked Him, they took off the scarlet robe from Him, and clothed Him with His own garments, and led Him away to be crucified.
As they went out, they met one Cyrene man named Simon; this one was forced to bear His cross .”

So we have found an explanation for Matthew 27:31-32

, which tells that the cross of Jesus Christ was carried by Simon of Cyrene.
What about the passage from John 19:17
, which says that Jesus came to the Place of Execution (Golgotha) carrying his cross? If Simon carried the cross of Jesus, then why does the Evangelist John claim that Jesus himself carried his own cross? The fact is that, according to the law, the execution area (the execution site) was cordoned off by soldiers, ready, if anything happened, to repel the attack of those who might have decided to repel the criminal condemned to crucifixion. For the same reason, no one except soldiers and convicts had the right to cross the cordon line. Perhaps in connection with this, Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross of Jesus, was not allowed to bring the cross of Jesus to the place of execution, because the entire mountain was cordoned off by Roman soldiers. Therefore, Jesus himself carried his cross to Calvary, as the Apostle John testified to.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 66

The words of the centurion after the death of Jesus Christ in accordance with Luke 23:47

When the centurion saw what was happening, he glorified God and said, “Truly this man was a righteous man

The words of the centurion after the death of Jesus Christ in accordance with Mark 15:39

The centurion who stood opposite Him, seeing that He had thus cried, gave up the ghost, said: Truly this man was the Son of God

Contradiction

Explanation
: It is quite possible that the centurion said both phrases.
In all likelihood, what happened shook him to the core and prompted him to recognize Jesus not only as a righteous man, but also as the Son of God. In addition, one should not lose sight of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew describing the death of Jesus: Matthew 27:54
“
And the centurion and those who were with him guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake and all that happened, were greatly afraid and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
" This verse shows that the centurion was not the only person at the cross of Jesus who recognized Jesus as the Son of God. It would be legitimate to assume that the death of Jesus on the cross caused a wide resonance among the Roman soldiers who were at Calvary, who discussed what happened for a long time, expressing their guesses and assumptions regarding the crucified Jesus Christ. People who witnessed the death of Jesus (among whom were Christ's disciples) saw and heard the general reaction of the Roman soldiers, which was reflected in different Gospels in different ways.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 67

The Apostle Paul declares that he is not a people pleaser: Galatians 1:10

Do I now seek favor from men, or from God?

Do I try to please people?

If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ

The Apostle Paul says about himself that he pleases all people: 1 Corinthians 10:33

... just as I please everyone in everything, seeking not my own benefit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved

Contradiction

Explanation
: To answer this very interesting question, it is necessary to carefully read the contexts of each passage.
What is the context of the verse in 1 Corinthians? 1 Corinthians 10:33
“
Do not cause offense either to Jews or to Greeks, or to the church of God, just as I also please everyone in everything, seeking not my own benefit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved
.”
The main idea and context of this passage is stated in verse 24: 1 Corinthians 10:24
“
No one seeks his own, but each one seeks the benefit of another
.”
Here we are talking about the fact that a Christian must please his brothers in faith for the sake of their salvation. So, in the first passage, the Apostle Paul raises the question of who to please: yourself or people. And Paul chooses to give up himself and his personal gain for the sake of people and their salvation. As for the passage from Galatians 1:10
, the question that the Apostle Paul raises in it is who to please:
God
or
people
?
The Apostle Paul answers this question unequivocally - to God: “ Do I now seek favor from people, or from God?
Do I try to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ .”

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 68

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they glorified Jesus: Matthew 14:33

And those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they were amazed, for they did not understand: Mark 6:51-52

And he entered into a boat with them, and the wind ceased.

And they were exceedingly amazed and amazed, for they did not understand the miracle of the loaves, because their hearts were hardened

Controversy

Explanation
: Let's start by noting that this was not the first reaction of the disciples to the sight of Jesus walking on the water.
The first reaction is described in the mentioned Gospels as follows: Matthew 14:25-27
“
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
And the disciples, seeing Him walking on the sea, were alarmed and said: this is a ghost; and they cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them and said, “Be of good cheer; It is I, do not be afraid .”
Mark 7:46-50
“
At evening the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.
And I saw them in distress on the voyage, because the wind was against them; About the fourth watch of the night he approached them, walking on the sea, and wanted to pass them. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. For everyone saw Him and were afraid. And immediately he spoke to them and said to them, “Be of good cheer; It is I, do not be afraid .”
As these passages show, the disciples' first reaction was fear. What happened next? The Gospel of Matthew
says that when Jesus entered the boat, the disciples worshiped Him and recognized Him as the true Son of God.
And the Gospel of Mark says that they were simply surprised at what happened, but did not proclaim Jesus the Son of God, “ for they did not understand the miracle of the loaves
.” How to explain two such contradictory reactions? Which evangelical is right? The fact is that Matthew wrote in his Gospel what the disciples said to Jesus when they saw Him walking on water. And Mark in his Gospel described what they felt. Yes, according to the Gospel of Matthew, the disciples worshiped Christ, recognizing Him as the Son of God, but (as we learn from the Gospel of Mark) at the same time they continued to doubt, for their hearts were stony. And this is not surprising. People often think and feel one thing, but say another. Reading the Gospel, we see how the disciples often asked Jesus stupid questions, argued with each other over trifles, and did not understand much of what Jesus said and did. But after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and after the descent of the Holy Spirit on them, they became completely different people - people born again, who no longer doubted the Divinity of Jesus Christ and were ready to die for Him (and many did die) as martyrdom.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 69

According to the Gospel of Mark

Mark 1:9-13

And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And when he came out of the water, John immediately saw the heavens opening and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him.

And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Immediately after this, the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness.

And He was there in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the beasts;

and Angels ministered to Him

According to the Gospel of John

John 1:35-37

The next day John and two of his disciples stood again.

And when he saw Jesus coming, he said, Behold the Lamb of God.

When both disciples heard these words from him, they followed Jesus

John 1:43-45

The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip was from Bethsaida, from the same city as Andrew and Peter.

Philip finds Nathanael and says to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth

John 2:1-2

On the third day there was a wedding in Canna of Galilee, and the Mother of Jesus was there.

Jesus and His disciples were also invited to marriage

Contradiction

Explanation
: Let's look at this contradiction.
The Gospel of Mark tells that Jesus immediately after his baptism went into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. By the way, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell the same story: Luke 4:1
“
Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
.”
Matthew 4:1
“
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil
.”
What about the Gospel of John, which tells a slightly different sequence of events? At first glance it may seem that there is indeed a contradiction here. But this is a misconception. The passage from the Gospel of John does not use the expression “ ho hexes hemera
” - the next (literally) day, but “
ho epaurion
” - another time, another day.
Moreover, “another day” is not necessarily the day immediately following the previous one. It could be any other day. If we consider that the Gospel of John omits the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, then we can assume that in time this occurs between verses 34 and 35. And when verse 35 says that “the next day” John saw Jesus again, then this may mean that John saw Jesus again after he returned from the desert. It would be more correct to translate this expression with the phrase “next time” or “another time.” Then the passage we are examining from the Gospel of John should sound like this: John 1:35-37
“
Another time John and two of his disciples stood again.
And when he saw Jesus coming, he said, Behold the Lamb of God. When both disciples heard these words from him, they followed Jesus .”
In general, the Apostle John is characterized by the use of the expression “ ho epaurion
,” which can be used both in the direct meaning of “the next day” and in the meaning of “any other subsequent day” or “another time.”

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 70

One Gospel says that the name of the disciple who was a publican (tax collector) is Matthew: Matthew 9:9

As Jesus passed from there, he saw a man sitting at the tax collector named Matthew, and said to him, “Follow Me.” .

And he arose and followed Him

Another Gospel says that the name of the disciple who was a publican (tax collector) is Levi: Mark 2:14

As He passed by, He saw Levi Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector, and said to him: Follow Me.

And he stood up and followed Him

Luke 5:27-28

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow Me.”

And he, leaving everything, stood up and followed Him

Contradiction

Explanation
: Levi is the Hebrew name of the Apostle Matthew. Since Levi worked for the Roman government (after all, he was a tax collector, that is, a tax inspector), he simply had to have a Greek name. For the Romans he was Matthew, for the Jews he was Levi Alpheus.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 71

In one Gospel, the name of the tenth disciple of Jesus Christ is Thaddeus: Matthew 10:1-4

And having called His twelve disciples, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every disease.

The names of the twelve Apostles are these: the first Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the Zebedee and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, James Alphaeus and Levbeus, called Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him

In another Gospel, the name of this disciple of Christ is Judas Jacob: Luke 6:13-16

When the day had come, he called his disciples and chose twelve from them, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew, his brother him, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James Alphaeus and Simon, called the Zealot, Judas Jacob and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor

Controversy

Explanation
: To begin with, both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke were written by two of the 12 closest disciples of Jesus Christ.
It is hard to imagine that they suddenly forgot or misspelled the name of one of the 12 with whom they ate, drank, slept and worked for three years. The fact is that many students had more than one name. In this case we are talking about Thaddeus, aka Judah Jacob, aka Levway. This is also evidenced by the list of disciples in the Gospel of Mark 3:13-19
“
Then He went up to the mountain and called to Him whom He Himself wanted;
and came to Him. And he appointed twelve of them to be with Him and to send them to preach, and so that they would have the power to heal diseases and cast out demons; appointed Simon, calling his name Peter, James Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, calling them Boanerges, that is, “sons of thunder,” Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who and betrayed Him ."

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 72

In one place it is said that Jesus, when sending out the disciples to preach, allowed them to take a staff on the road: Mark 6:7-9

And he called the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

And he commanded them not to take anything on the road except one staff: no bag, no bread, no copper in the belt, but to put on simple shoes and not wear two clothes

Elsewhere it is said that Jesus, when sending his disciples to preach, forbade them to take a staff on the road: Matthew 10:9-10

Take with you neither gold, nor silver, nor copper for your belts, nor scrip for the road, nor two coats, neither sandals, nor staff, for the worker is worthy of food

Luke 9:3

And he said to them, “Take nothing for the road: neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor silver, and you shall not have two coats

Controversy

Explanation
: If you look at every word of Jesus, then you can just as well say that in
Mark 6:7-9
He allowed the disciples to put on shoes, saying: “
to put on simple sandals
”;
and in Matthew 10:9-10
- he forbade it, saying “
do not take with you... any shoes
.” In fact, Jesus warned His disciples to go on a missionary journey as is: in the clothes and shoes they were wearing, without preparation or supplies. As for the staff, whoever has it can take it with him; and whoever does not have a staff, let him go without it. In addition, knowing from the Gospels that Jesus was a sensitive and sentimental person in some matters, it can be assumed that Jesus Christ said goodbye to each pair of disciples individually. Therefore, He could give individual instructions to each couple. Jesus was not a literalist and a bureaucrat, like one who seeks contradictions in His words. Therefore, it is quite possible that those disciples who had staves before the missionary journey, He allowed them to take them with them on the road, while He told other disciples (who did not have staves with them) to go on the journey without them .

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 73

One Gospel says that Jesus is a descendant of Solomon (son of David): Matthew 1:6

Jesse begat David a king;

David the king begot Solomon from the one who was behind Uriah...

Another Gospel says that Jesus is a descendant of Nathan (David's dream): Luke 3:31

...Nathan, David

Controversy

Explanation
: The person who asked this question did not pay attention to the first three chapters of the Gospel of Luke.
In the first chapter, Luke talks about how Mary was a virgin betrothed to Joseph. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, but he was His adapted father: Luke 1:26-27
“
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. ;
the name of the Virgin is Mary.” Luke 1:34-35 “Mary said to the angel: How will this be, since I do not know the husband?
The angel answered Her: The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God .” In the third chapter, before beginning the genealogy of Jesus, Luke makes a small disclaimer: Luke 3:23
“
Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old, and was, as they thought, the Son of Joseph
.” Indeed, many thought that Jesus was the son of Joseph (Mary's husband). And that is why, in accordance with the genealogy of Mary, described in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was a descendant of Nathan, the son of King David. And according to the genealogy of Joseph given in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was a descendant of Solomon.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 74

In one Gospel, the name of Joseph’s father (Mary’s husband) is Jacob: Matthew 1:16

Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ

In another Gospel, the name of Joseph’s father (Mary’s husband) is Eli: Luke 3:23

When Jesus began His ministry, he was about thirty years old, and was, as they thought, the Son of Joseph, Eli

Contradiction

Explanation
: It must be taken into account that the Gospel of Matthew gives the genealogy of Joseph (Mary's husband).
Therefore it says: “ Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ
” (
Matthew 1:16
).
The Gospel of Luke gives the genealogy of Mary, the wife of Joseph, where her father is indicated, the father-in-law of Joseph (Mary’s husband): Luke 3:23
“
Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old, and was, as they thought, the Son of Joseph, Eli
.”

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 75

In one place it is said that Saul committed suicide by falling on his own sword: 1 Samuel 31:1-6

And the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

And the battle against Saul became fierce, and the arrows struck him with arrows, and he was greatly wounded by the arrows.

And Saul said to his armourbearer, Draw your sword and kill me with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and kill me and mock me.

But the squire did not want to, because he was very afraid.

Then Saul took his sword and fell on him.

His armor bearer, seeing that Saul was dead, fell on his sword and died with him.

So Saul died that day, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men together

Elsewhere it is said that Saul was killed by an Amalekite: 2 Samuel 1:6-10

And the boy who told him said, I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul fell on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen overtook him.

Then he looked back and, seeing me, called me.

And I said: here I am.

He said to me: who are you?

And I said to him: I am an Amalekite.

Then he said to me: come to me and kill me, for mortal anguish has seized me, my soul is still within me.

And I went up to him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall

Controversy

Explanation
: Saul tried to commit suicide by falling on his sword.
When he did this, so did his squire. But Saul survived and, after some time, waking up, he realized that he would not be able to finish himself off. Therefore, he called out to an Amalekite who happened to come to the mountain and asked him to finish him off: “ Come to me and kill me, for mortal anguish has seized me, my soul is still within me.
And I went up to him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall ."
The Amalekite did what Saul asked him to do. This question is not a contradiction. It’s just that 2 Samuel
gives a more detailed story of the death of King Saul.

APPEARING CONTRADITION No. 76

In one place it is said that Saul fell on his sword: 1 Samuel 31:4-6

And Saul said to his armourbearer, Draw your sword and kill me with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and kill me and mock me. .

But the squire did not want to, because he was very afraid.

Then Saul took his sword and fell on him.

His armor bearer, seeing that Saul was dead, fell on his sword and died with him.

So Saul died that day, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men together

Elsewhere it is said that Saul fell on his spear: 2 Samuel 1:6-10

And the boy who told him said, “I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and, behold, Saul fell on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen overtook his.

Then he looked back and, seeing me, called me.

And I said: here I am.

He said to me: who are you?

And I said to him: I am an Amalekite.

Then he said to me: come to me and kill me, for mortal anguish has seized me, my soul is still within me.

And I went up to him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall

Contradiction

Explanation
: Saul fell on his sword.
The expression in 2 Samuel
“
Saul fell on his spear
” is translated incorrectly in the Russian Bible.
If you compare both passages in the original, it is easy to see the difference between the words used in them.
The Hebrew word used
in 1 Samuel is naphal
, meaning to fall.
And in 2 Kings
the word “
sha`an
” (shaw-an') is used - to support, to lean on.
Therefore, the translation of the second passage should be as follows: 2 Samuel 1:6-10
“
And the boy who told him said, “I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen overtook him.”
Then he looked back and, seeing me, called me. And I said: here I am. He said to me: who are you? And I said to him: I am an Amalekite. Then he said to me: come to me and kill me, for mortal anguish has seized me, my soul is still within me. And I went up to him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall ."
Based on this, the meaning of the second passage is as follows. An Amalekite who happened to come to Mount Gilboa saw the wounded Saul leaning on his spear. Having assessed the situation, the Amalekite realized that Saul was trying to commit suicide so as not to be captured by his enemies. Seeing that Saul’s wound after falling on the sword was mortal, the Amalekite, at Saul’s request, finished him off so that he would not suffer: “ And I approached him and killed him, for I knew that he would not be alive after his fall
[on the sword] "(verse 10).

Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion One
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Two
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Three
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Four
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Five
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Six
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Seven
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Eight
Contradictions in the Bible: Discussion Nine

Ask your question

Back to the beginning of the article

Why was Jesus nailed to the cross?

The Jewish preachers did not understand the teachings of Christ and his holiness. They expected an earthly reign from him - liberation from slavery, illness and death, heaven on earth, but they did not receive it.

Then they began to consider Jesus a heretic and crucified him as a sectarian, a man who did not live up to expectations, although in fact Christ had a completely different salvation.

His teaching is a preparation for the spiritual paradise that every soul will achieve after death. But the Jews expected specific miracles and therefore did not accept Christ, hated him and crucified him.

Tenth Station of the Cross

Jesus' clothes are torn off

His skin was white, and his hands and face were brown, almost black compared to the white skin of his body.

They began to mercilessly tear off His clothes, thus revealing a thousand wounds one after another. Yet He stood, majestic and calm, as His sacred blood reddened like rubies on the whiteness of His skin.

Then, loudly rattling iron, people brought a basket with nails and hammers. They were not going to cover him with anything other than a shroud of excruciating pain... And so they did.

The evil words of those whom He mourned wounded Him like a thousand fiery arrows.

How else could He have died if His clothes had not been torn off? But He clothed our flesh with His Spirit Not Made by Hands out of love for us! How else could He die? After all, His body itself was the greatest gift of love!

Icon of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ photo and meaning

The Church reveres Jesus Christ more than other icons, except God the Father - the creator of all living things. Therefore, the crucifixion icon has historical significance and is revered as a place of forgiveness of the sins of all mankind.

The cross is considered the main symbol of death, because Christ took upon himself all sins in order to free humanity from this.

However, until the re-coming of Christ, each person is responsible for his sins, and for some sins, children and grandchildren even pay.

Symbolic meaning or why did Simon carry the cross?

Priest Andrei Chizhenko says in his sermon: “Simon literally fulfilled the words of Christ.” If anyone wants to follow me, deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Father Alexander Men explains what this means: “Share with Me my suffering... and the desire to die for the world” to revive it. “God calls us to drink the bitter medicine of Calvary in order to be healed at the Resurrection of Christ” (Priest Andrei Chizhenko) “It is not for nothing that we carry the cross on our chest,” writes priest Philip Parfenov, “it means serving the world, the people and the Lord.”

St. Jerome the Blessed, Spiridonsky writes that the carrying of the cross for Jesus Christ by Simon symbolically means that the pagan peoples accept the atoning sacrifice of the Lord and His Cross, just as the stranger obediently carried the cross of the Savior.

What is known about Simon?

Photo: Hram-troicy.prihod.ru
In the New Testament, Simon is called a Cyreneite, which means that he either came to Jerusalem as a pilgrim for the Passover holiday from Cyrene, or, more likely, belonged to a family of Jews who lived in dispersion in Africa, and, Having returned to his homeland (Israel), he took up farming (as he was leaving the field).

Bishop Michael (Luzin) believes that the evangelist’s mention of Rufus and Alexander, the sons of Simon (Mark 15:21), indicates that they were familiar with the apostles and were probably disciples of Jesus. We find confirmation of this fact in the letter of the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:13), where Rufus and Alexander are mentioned as Roman Christians. Professor A.P. Lopukhin shares the same opinion. Subsequently, Alexander became a martyr in Carthage (took priesthood and martyrdom for Christ).

Who helped Jesus Christ carry the cross to Calvary?

(Mark, chapter 15, verse 21)

And when they led Him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene who was coming from the field, and laid a cross on him to carry after Jesus. (Luke, chapter 23, verse 26)

Thus, we see that for some part of the way the Cross was carried by the Savior Himself, and then, when He, obviously, was completely exhausted under the weight of the Cross, the Jews forced Simon the Cyrenean to carry the Cross.

Why was this point not reflected in the Gospel of John? The fact is that the Apostle John the Theologian wrote the Gospel much later than the first three Gospels. He already knew the texts of the first three Evangelists, and in many places he omitted details told by other Evangelists. It can be said that John set himself, in a certain sense, a different task than simply describing the details of Christ's earthly life. One of the authoritative church writers, Clement of Alexandria, wrote on this occasion: “After other Evangelists wrote down the facts of history, John wrote the spiritual Gospel.”

Poem (author unknown) + interpretation of the Gospel

When you are exhausted under the heavy burden of life, life seems empty, Remember how Simon of Cyrene was able to share the suffering of Christ.

How tired he was at that moment, When he was walking home from the field to rest, But he accepted the Cross on his shoulders with humility, He walked the sorrowful path with Christ to Calvary.

And there was that Cross - an extraordinary Cross, the world has never seen such Crosses, go and you, like him? Under the cross of the Universe, Under someone else’s cross, put your shoulder.

Look: the sick man is lying exhausted on his bed, How he is waiting for your compassion! Hurry to him, and the foreign cross will help you forget about the weight of your own.

A blind man stretches out his hands to you, Orphans cry without food, Rush to the rescue, easing their torment, You will understand the insignificance of your misfortune.

And the pain will pass, as if some ghost, And you will find peace in your soul. Walk your path like Simon of Cyrene, a world-famous Jew.

He was not an inspired prophet of God, but a simple man, countless of whom can be counted, but until the end of time in the Universe, the Scriptures preserved the news about him!

At that time, two robbers, condemned to death, were kept in prison and were also to be crucified on crosses. They were brought to the praetorium and led along with Jesus to Golgotha. According to custom, a person sentenced to death had to carry his own cross to the place of execution, so their crosses were placed on the shoulders of Jesus and the thieves. In all likelihood, the Roman centurion rode ahead, followed by the condemned, guarded by a small detachment of soldiers, then the triumphant Sanhedrin and the entire crowd of thousands of people who was at the praetorium. Those who met along the way and deliberately came out to meet them joined the procession; a small circle of friends and admirers of Jesus also joined; there were: the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleopas (John 19:25), Salome (Mark 15:40) and the Apostle John.

Exhausted by a sleepless night, moral torment and scourging, Jesus began to faint under the weight of His cross. The cross, judging by its size, probably weighed about a hundred kilograms; its weight was somewhat reduced by the fact that its lower end was dragging along the ground, but still for the weakened Christ it was an excessive burden, and He began to fall.

If there was no need to rush the execution, if it were possible to postpone it until Jesus’ strength was restored, then the high priests and their associates would rejoice at such powerlessness of their victim; but now this powerlessness has led them to confusion. “What if This Man (they thought), before reaching Golgotha, dies? After all, He will then avoid a shameful execution!” And so, out of fear that they might not have to satisfy their bloodthirstiness with the painful death on the cross of their Accuser, the high priests declare to the Roman centurion the need to free Jesus from bearing the cross. Neither the centurion nor his soldiers needed to ensure that the condemned would certainly live to see their execution; does it matter to them when and how they die?

Be that as it may, it was decided not to postpone the execution and to force someone to carry the cross of Jesus to Calvary. Carrying the cross was considered shameful; hardly anyone would agree to carry it voluntarily, and therefore the soldiers were forced to capture the first person they met and force him to carry the Cross.

Where did Pilate judge Christ?

Another question that remains open for archaeologists is the location of Pilate’s trial of Christ. Probably, this event did not take place in the Antonia fortress, but in the former palace of Herod the Great, which was at the disposal of Pontius Pilate.

Reconstruction of Herod's palace, model

It is interesting that Josephus describes the actions of the procurator of Judea, Gessius Florus, precisely in the palace: “Florus spent the night in the royal palace, and the next day he ordered a judge’s chair to be placed in front of the palace, which he ascended. The chief priests and other high-ranking officials, as well as all the nobles of the city, appeared before this judgment seat” (Jewish War. II, 14:8).

Calvary. Why was the Savior's death on the cross necessary?

Mark, uncharacteristically, provides the most complete account of the life of Simon of Cyrene, adding that he was “the father of Alexander and Rufus” (Mark 15:21). These male names are obviously well known to Mark's readers. He suggested that the Rufus mentioned could be the same person whom Paul greets in his letter to Rome. Paul also called this man “the chosen one in the Lord” (Romans 16:13). Paul's knowledge of Rufus's family indicates that they are intimately acquainted.

But even given all the information, it is still impossible to determine whether Simon of Cyrene was black? Ultimately, we don't know for sure. There is always the possibility that Simon was an African who converted to Judaism, or that he was of mixed descent. Considering that people of the Judean family lived throughout the Roman Empire, it is also possible that Simon of Cyrene was olive-skinned.

Station 8: Jesus Christ comforts crying women.

We worship You, Christ, and bless You.

For You have redeemed the world with Your holy cross.

Here is a call for pity, for true pity. Jesus says to the “daughters of Jerusalem” who, seeing him, cry: “Do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” You cannot skim over the surface of evil, you must reach to its root, to the cause, to the full inner true conscience.

This is what Jesus wants to say by carrying the cross, which knows what is in the heart of every person, and therefore it remains the closest witness to our deeds and the judgment of these deeds that appear in our conscience. He allows us to know that these judgments must be calm, sober, objective, but at the same time they are associated with a full confession of the truth. Jesus warns us that it is He who bears the cross.

For life in the truth, for us to arrive in it, we pray to You, Lord.

What is known about Simon?

Photo: Hram-troicy.prihod.ru In the New Testament, Simon is called a Cyreneite, which means that he either came to Jerusalem as a pilgrim for the Passover holiday from Cyrene, or, more likely, belonged to a family of Jews who lived in dispersion in Africa, and, Having returned to his homeland (Israel), he took up farming (as he was leaving the field).
We advise you to study Morning Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Who was Simon of Cyrene? Where did you come to Israel from?

Cyrene was located in the territory of modern Libya, on the northern coast of the African continent. Settled by the Greeks in 630 BC. Later, the history of the city is intertwined with a significant Jewish population.

Many Jews, including Simon of Cyrene from Cyrene, returned to their native Israel and became part of a community in Jerusalem called the Freedmen's Synagogue. Including Jews from many other areas including: Alexandria (Egypt), Cilicia and Asia (Acts 6:9). These men were instrumental in establishing the church at Antioch, where, for the first time, “the disciples were called Christians” (Acts 11:26).

Who helped Jesus Christ carry the cross to Calvary?

(Mark, chapter 15, verse 21)

And when they led Him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene who was coming from the field, and laid a cross on him to carry after Jesus. (Luke, chapter 23, verse 26)

Poem (author unknown) + interpretation of the Gospel

When you are exhausted under the heavy burden of life, life seems empty, Remember how Simon of Cyrene was able to share the suffering of Christ.

How tired he was at that moment, When he was walking home from the field to rest, But he accepted the Cross on his shoulders with humility, He walked the sorrowful path with Christ to Calvary.

And there was that Cross - an extraordinary Cross, the world has never seen such Crosses, go and you, like him? Under the cross of the Universe, Under someone else’s cross, put your shoulder.

Look: the sick man is lying exhausted on his bed, How he is waiting for your compassion! Hurry to him, and the foreign cross will help you forget about the weight of your own.

A blind man stretches out his hands to you, Orphans cry without food, Rush to the rescue, easing their torment, You will understand the insignificance of your misfortune.

And the pain will pass, as if some ghost, And you will find peace in your soul. Walk your path like Simon of Cyrene, a world-famous Jew.

He was not an inspired prophet of God, but a simple man, countless of whom can be counted, but until the end of time in the Universe, the Scriptures preserved the news about him!

We recommend studying Psalm 115

In which country is the mountain located?

Strictly speaking, Golgotha is not a mountain, but a hill in Israel, in the city of Jerusalem. But the spiritual height for every Christian who climbs this hill is incommensurable with any other height in this world. After all, it was on Golgotha, according to the Gospel (Matthew 27:33-38, John 19:17-18) that the Savior was crucified.

Iconography: Crucifixion Dates: XVIII century. Material: wood, tempera. Dimensions of the icon: height 31 cm, width 25.9 cm Icon with a shallow ark. The composition is multi-figured. In the center, on an eight-pointed cross, is the smoothly curved figure of the crucified Christ. The upcoming ones are located on the sides. Behind the upcoming figures is a faded green city wall. Above the cross are two weeping angels. Faces: light brown swirl with olive sankhir highlights. The colors of the clothes are reddish brown, green, blue. Inscriptions, background, halos, cutting of warriors' armor: gilding. Inv. No. KXM KP 3389 DRI 50. Kostroma State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

According to legend, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

took place in the very place where the first man Adam was buried in ancient times. Early Christian authors

, for example,
Jerome the Blessed
, wrote that
the blood of Christ
flowing from the cross through a crack in the rock reached the head and bones of the forefather Adam, washed them, thereby cleansing them.

Interesting fact

That is why at the base of the Crucifixion in churches you can see a human skull - this is Adam’s head.

Meaning of the word

The word “Golgotha” itself (Greek Γολγοθάς) comes from the Aramaic gûlgaltâ

("scull"). Perhaps the shape of the mountain evoked such associations in ancient times. There is a version that once upon a time criminals were beheaded at this place, then the word Golgotha means the Place of Execution.