There was NEVER a cross...it was a stake....sorry folks.?

In spite of the overwhelming symbolism of the cross, the precise shape of the object on which Jesus was crucified cannot be proven explicitly from the Bible. The Greek word translated “cross” is stauros, meaning “a pole or a cross used as an instrument of capital punishment.” The Greek word stauroo, which is translated “crucify” means to be attached to a pole or cross. Though the Greek usage of these words can mean “pole” or “stake,” many scholars argue that Jesus most likely died on a cross in which the upright beam projected above the shorter crosspiece. Biblically, though, an airtight case cannot be made for either a cross or a pole/stake. The Romans were not picky in regards to how they would crucify people. The Romans used crosses, poles, stakes, upside-down crosses, x-shaped crosses, walls, roofs, etc. Jesus could have been crucified on any of these objects and it would not have affected the perfection or sufficiency of His sacrifice.

Certain cults, most notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses, are adamant that Jesus did not die on a cross, and that the cross is in fact a pagan symbol. Equally adamant are Christians who, in an effort to refute the Witnesses’ doctrines, cling to the idea of the cross and deny the pole/stake theory. While Jehovah’s Witnesses might be correct in their argument that Jesus was not crucified on a cross, that absolutely does not give any credence to their other beliefs, such as their denial of the deity of Christ. The truth is that we cannot definitively—from the Scriptures—make the case that Jesus died on a cross or a pole/stake. We just don’t know which Jesus was nailed to. In the end, such arguments only serve to get us off our message, which is that Jesus died on something and that His death is the sole atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2).

Crucifixion was probably the most horrible form of capital punishment ever devised by man. It was designed to be a lingering death. The victim, as a rule, was first subjected to flagellation, that is, a beating with a three-thong whip (fashioned of plaited leather, and studded with bone and metal). He was stripped naked and then secured with leather ties. Roman executioners had perfected the art of slow torture while keeping the victim alive. Some victims even lingered until they were eaten alive by birds of prey or wild beasts. Most hung on the cross for days before dying. When the legs would no longer support the weight of the body, the diaphragm was constricted in a way that made breathing impossible. That is why breaking the legs would hasten death (John 19:31-33), but this was unnecessary in Jesus’ case because He, not the Romans, chose the moment of His death (John 19:30).

A notable feature of crucifixion was the stigma of disgrace that was attached to it (Galatians 3:13; 5:11; Hebrews 12:2). One indignity was the humiliation of carrying one’s own cross. After the beating, the soldiers would escort the prisoner through the crowds to the place of crucifixion. A placard bearing the indictment would be hung around the person’s neck. Here again we see the picture of Christ carrying the indictment of “sinner” for us which we ourselves would have to carry if it were not for Him. The death sentence we rightly deserve was carried out on Him so that we could go free. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Completely lost in arguments over the shape of the cross is its significance to us. Jesus said to His disciples, and by extension, to us, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). The cross/stake/pole was an instrument of death, and by telling us to take up our cross and follow Him, Jesus is revealing to us that in order to be His true followers, we must die to self. If we call ourselves “Christians,” then we must deny ourselves and give up our lives for His sake. This may take the extreme form of being martyred for our faith, but even in the most peaceful political settings, we must be willing to lose the self—crucifying self-righteousness, self-promotion, selfish ambitions—in order to be His followers. Those who are not willing are “not worthy” of Him (Matthew 10:38).

So, did Jesus die on a cross? Maybe. Was it a pole or stake? Possibly. But, frankly, the shape of the object on which Jesus was crucified does not matter. What does matter is that Jesus died for our sins and that His death purchased for us eternal life.

MIMI

Jesus died on the cross.. why do some people take that negative energy and make it a stake.

You see, holy trinity christians believe that our sins are forgiven when Jesus died n shed blood on the cross. If he died on a stake, then the bible is a lie, not worthy to believe and satan won the war.. that Jesus is not god.

The witnesses all saw a cross. St. John saw a Cross as did the blessed mother and the other followers of Christ present. What you claim is absolute evil nonsense. God bless!

In Christ

Fr. Joseph

5/4/05 From The Lord, Our God and Savior - A Letter Given to Timothy, For All Those Who Have Ears to Hear

Thus says The Lord: Behold, the time draws near, when they will not see The Thief come; when the judgments of God shall fall from Heaven, even upon the face of the whole earth; when the sign shall appear, and the heavens shall be set ablaze with brilliant light... Behold, the sign of The Son of Man is reflected in the eyes of all who dwell upon the earth! For as The Son of Man was lifted up on a tree in the sight of men, for your redemption, so in like manner shall the sign of The Son of Man be. For that which was the beginning and the end shall also be the end which brings forth the new beginning.

Behold, The God of Heaven shall do a new and wondrous thing! I shall lift up a standard and bring forth a sign, in the sight of all nations! I shall pierce the heavens and bathe the whole earth in glory, and every eye shall see! Yes, even those hidden in caves and shelters shall see and come forth... Behold, even the blind shall see! For all shall behold the sign of the coming of The Son of Man, and before the eyes of all people shall it be put on open display!... For by the Holy Sacrifice were you saved; thus by the sign, for which The Christ is known, shall the coming of The Son of Man be declared.

Behold, even those without knowledge shall behold My face! They shall look upon My splendor and understand, and they shall give Me glory! For on that day I shall divide the heavens, and divide them again, and all silence shall flee away! There shall be no quiet place, no refuge, no escape; nor shall any place of respite be found in all the earth!... HEAR THE SOUND OF SCORCHING FIRMAMENT! BE AWESTRUCK IN ASTONISHMENT AT THE MULTITUDE OF THUNDER, AND BE HORRIBLY AFRAID! For as sparks of a crackling fire, so shall the sign of The Son of Man be, plus ten thousand million fold!

Look up therefore, and keep watch,

For The Great I AM is coming quickly!...

Yes, The Word who became flesh, Immanu El!...

Behold, in the power of His strength, and with the voice of The Almighty,

He comes forth to judge and to make war with the inhabitants of the earth!...

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

The stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken!...

Declares The Lord.

For as it is written:

“Behold, He is coming on the clouds;

And every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him;

And all the tribes of Israel will mourn because of Him. Even so, amen.“

Given their history of false prophecy and lying about evolution, nothing the Watchtower Society says can be relied on.

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Of course it matters.

"Those worshiping God must worship with Spirit and Truth."

If he wasn't crucified on a cross, then teaching that he was, is a lie.

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That's nice. But Greek ambiguities aside, we know archaeologically that it was a cross.

Why does it matter, anyway? Are JWs really so interested in the position that Jesus was crucified in?

Actually it was a PLUS.

Cross: x

Plus: +

See?

OK, but it does not matter because Jesus was not real and could not have been crucified.

and your point?Christ was crucified and died 3days later he was ressurected.