Skull Place

(Today’s audio reading on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4eddrfZ4SWrovfq9nT0Him)

When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. (Luke 23:33)

The cross was placed on a hill, and that hill is where Jesus was lynched. Convicted by a kangaroo court, and then sentenced and flogged and nailed to upright execution sticks. Since it happened at a place known as the Skull, it sounds like that place has been populated before with plenty of death. Another name for it was Golgotha.

Interestingly, it’s never mentioned again in Scripture. We assume, but don’t know, that after the death of Jesus it continued to be used as a place of public execution. Or did they shut it down after they started adding up all the “unusual things” that happened surrounding this Nazarene who was killed there? Did superstitions kick in on an official level and they quietly transferred their capital punishment to a different venue? We aren’t told.

I wonder why they named it Skull—lots of death there is the obvious reason. Commonly, the Romans left corpses on crosses to rot or their flesh for scavenger birds to consume. On Holy Land tours the guides point to a place outside the old city of Jerusalem and say that must have been it; look at the appearance of a skull outlined in the rock on the side of the hill. Of course the logical question is: did it have that same appearance 20 centuries ago? And if it did, is there any further evidence this was the hill on which Jesus was crucified? Best not to get tied up in knots trying to connect those kinds of dots, because no one actually knows the hill on which he was crucified. Nonetheless, speculation is not in short supply. I mean after all, the most famous man in history was crucified on one of these hills around Jerusalem’s walls. It would be good to find it! We love to pinpoint historical markers.

Wherever Skull Place was located and whatever its history was, the naming of this venue points to a clear message: this is the end of you, buddy.

However, this humble man from Nazareth whom they crucified was different from the others. He was preparing to break from death, and leave the Skull Place behind. Skull Place had never had this happen before in its (perhaps) long line of visitors. Get ready to get surprised at the “breakout performance.” Skull Place, you are not going to have the last word.

It sounds like all flesh—all blood, all life, all facial, personal recognition—is removed after what happens at this site. Hardly even a memory of the one crucified is left behind. But the Holy Spirit factor was in operation. The crucifixion at Skull Place did not get rid of Jesus! It was a try, but not successful.

In a very real sense, Skull Place became a holy place. It was an altar. It was the place of Jesus’ total sacrifice for us, and the place of his transition from life to death.

“Father, we thank you today that Skull Place did not have the last word over our Savior.”