Category: Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

I have now examined the evidence representing eight different puzzle pieces in my topic Where Were Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions and believe the evidence strongly supports that Jesus was crucified and buried on the Mount of Olives, rather than at one of several more traditional sites elsewhere in and around Jerusalem. The primary evidence for my case is found in the Biblical account of the crucifixion in the Gospel of Matthew, in the records of first century historians, and in certain extra-biblical writings.

In addition, an understanding of the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith – including an understanding of the details of the Temple and of the Feasts of the Lord – assisted me in building my case for the location of what were arguably the most significant events in the history of the world.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Conclusion”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

Where Exactly Was the Temple?

In my previous Posts I have made much of the fact that Jesus’ crucifixion site had to have been directly east of the Temple in Jerusalem in order to meet the requirements of Scripture and the accounts of early historians.  And I have made the case that this site was almost certainly on the Mount of Olives. But exactly where was the crucifixion site east of?  The question we must now ask ourselves is this: Are we certain we know where the Temple was located?

Answering this question has required a fair amount of research – which I share in an upcoming set of Posts. I think you will find this interesting! For now, it is sufficient to recognize that this question becomes the eighth and final puzzle piece in my topic for Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Temple Location”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

Which Direction?

Our seventh puzzle piece in this topic area regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus involves a Pattern of West-to-East Movement from Jerusalem toward the Mount of Olives. This involves an interesting observation from Scripture, and it helps to make our case for the crucifixion of Christ having been on the Mount of Olives.

As James Tabor has stated, “The basic case for the Mt. of Olives being the site of Jesus’ crucifixion rests on several interrelated arguments of varying evidential strength.”

This issue of movement which I am about to discuss might arguably be considered among the least of the arguments in a ranking of evidential strength offered in this case. However, I consider it to be yet another link in the chain of corroboration for the crucifixion being on the Mount of Olives. That alone makes it worthy of discussion.

As I will illustrate, what we see is that there is a definite correlation of West-to-East movement from Jerusalem having a negative connotation; and we find just the opposite for East-to-West movement toward Jerusalem, which seems to have a positive connotation. The Biblical evidence is quite remarkable.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Pattern of Movement”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

First Fruits

The final part of the Feast of Passover is called the “Feast Day of the Sheaf of First Fruits,” which we now discuss as the sixth of eight puzzle pieces in this topic of ”Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?”

The Feast of First Fruits is referred to in Leviticus 23:9-14. The New Testament also mentions this Feast on seven occasions, and in 1 Corinthians Paul correlates this Feast day to the resurrection of the Messiah:

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20; cf. Revelation 1:5).

In ancient Israel, the day of the Sheaf of First Fruits also observed as a prophecy – and today serves as a reminder – of Jesus’ ascension to heaven and is symbolic of the coming resurrection of all saints during the Last Days. As one author has stated:

“. . . Christ  fulfilled  the  reality  and  spirit  of  it  [Feast  of  First Fruits] in His resurrection and glorified body. The empty tomb testified to the fact that the sheaf of First Fruits had been reaped and waved before the Lord in His heavenly sanctuary.”

Of particular interest to our study is the fact that there is a connection between the ceremony involving the sheaf of First Fruits and the Mount of Olives, which we have proposed as the location of both the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – First Fruits Barley Sheaf”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

Outside the Camp

According to Jewish law, as recorded by Moses, the place of executions was required to be “outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:35-36)

Dr. Ernest Martin has stated that according to Jewish tradition, criminals convicted of serious offenses were expected to be their own sin offerings. In this regard, they were required to pay for their sins, without the benefit of an animal sacrifice as a substitute. Furthermore, these sacrifices were to be offered east of the Sanctuary, outside of the camp, in full view of God – who figuratively dwelt in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies.

In Jerusalem, this area east of the Temple that was also “outside the camp” was the Mount of Olives. The investigation of this tradition constitutes the fifth puzzle piece in this topic on the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Executions Outside the Camp”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

Execution Site – Roman Perspective

This is the fourth of eight puzzle pieces in our quest to determine “Where were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?”

In his website article, “The Place of Jesus’ Crucifixion,” James Tabor makes the following statement regarding the Roman preference for the Mount of Olives for crucifixions:

“Josephus says that during the Jewish revolt (66–70 AD) thousands of Jewish victims were crucified ‘before the wall of the city,’ in order to terrorize the population. This description fits perfectly with the Mt. of Olives, before the main city gate, with the Romans camped just to the north on Mt. Scopus. This was the only location that could be seen by anyone in the city of Jerusalem, thus providing a visible warning to those who might be tempted to sympathize with rebels.”

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Execution Area”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

In my last Post I introduced compelling evidence that the crucifixion of Jesus may have been on the Mount of Olives and not at one of several other sites traditionally proposed. In this Post I present additional support that the crucifixion of Jesus occurred on the Mount of Olives. This evidence relates to the ceremonial sacrifice of the Red Heifer, which is especially significant because this ceremony is a parallel to the sacrifice of Jesus.  This evidence then becomes our third puzzle piece in this topic area.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – The Red Heifer”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

In my previous Post on Gospel Accounts I introduced evidence that the crucifixion of Christ most likely occurred on the Mount of Olives. In this Post I will investigate this position more completely.  This evidence becomes the second puzzle piece in this topic area.

Tearing of the Temple Curtain

Included in the list of events which the centurion and others observed at the time of the crucifixion was the tearing of the Temple curtain from top to bottom. Some theologians have suggested that the centurion and others at the crucifixion site on the Mount of Olives might have been alerted to the tearing of the curtain by the loud sound as it was ripped in two, the sound resounding across the Kidron Valley. This was no small curtain.  Some extra-biblical sources have stated that the curtain was several inches thick. Dr. Leen Ritmeyer notes that it was “. . . one hand-breadth thick . . . as stated in the Mishnaic tractate Shekalim 8.5.” If true, the curtain would certainly have caused quite a sound when it was ripped apart by God. At any rate, the Scripture account alludes to the fact that the centurion and others not only heard this event, but saw the curtain as it was torn.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – The Mount of Olives”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death,  Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

The account of the crucifixion of Jesus is contained in the following Gospel accounts:  Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; and John 19:28-37. They are complementary, and each contains similar – but not identical – pieces of information related to the death of Jesus. From our understanding of the inerrancy of Scripture, we must conclude that the site of the crucifixion must be in alignment with the details of these Gospel accounts.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Gospel Accounts”

Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?

Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus’ Life Revealed—His Birth, Death,  Resurrection, and Ascensions. For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here.

The traditional sites for Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection – those which for centuries have been advocated by the church – are vastly different from the Mount of Olives, which I most strongly support as the actual site of these critical events. The two traditional sites most accepted are the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, widely supported by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and dating back to the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, and what has been termed Gordon’s Calvary, a site suggested by an Englishman, General Charles George Gordon, upon visiting Jerusalem in the late 1800’s. This site is generally supported by Protestants.

Continue reading “Where Were Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? – Traditional Sites vs Actual Site”