Significance

                                                 When they came to the place called the Skull
                                                            there they crucified Him.
                                                                  (Luke 23:33, NIV)

Four words describe the most important and significant event in all of history about the most significant person in all of history – the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There are no wasted words in Scripture… “There” is the word I want to focus on.

“There” refers to the place we call Calvary. It comes from the Latin word, calvarium that means “The Skull”. This is thought to refer to the shape and appearance of skullcap on a hill. Some translations use the Hebrew word, Golgotha. We sing of Calvary in our hymns. It is sweet music to our ears. It tells us of sins forgiven, of peace with God and life evermore. It is the place where Jesus was crucified.

When we search the Bible, we find Calvary mentioned only once, in this verse. It was an insignificant place of death, just outside the city gates of Jerusalem. Insignificant until Christ came to it. Historians generally agree Calvary would not have been known where it not for Christ’s coming to it. In fact, archeologists aren’t even exactly sure where it was located and point out there is no “hillside” mentioned in Scripture. However, they consider it such a significant place they continually look for evidence as to its whereabouts.

The lesson for us is Christ brings significance wherever He goes. The same is true for us who carry Christ in our hearts. There are times we may feel insignificant, that our lives and efforts are insignificant, but when Christ shows up in us – you can bet what we are about is not insignificant - not to God and His plan. After all, God sent a seemingly insignificant baby to an insignificant girl, who raised an insignificant carpenter to die a seemingly insignificant death on a cross in an insignificant place… There they crucified Him… and salvation came about. How significant is that?

Prayer: Almighty God, your ways are not our ways. Everything you do has significance, especially for those who love you and are called according to your purposes. As we journey to the cross, help us to more fully grasp the significance of Christ’s sacrifice for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In His Word,
Reverend Dee Dee

(Photo taken 2/24/2013 by Rev. Lawson during her recent trip to Israel)