What does Calvary mean?

Calvary refers to a place just outside the ancient walls of Jerusalem, Israel. It is believed to have been a small hill where Jesus was crucified and buried, therefore it is an important place for Christians. 

The area was primarily used as a site for Roman executions. The Romans used crucifixion as a brutal punishment for rebels, thieves and those who challenged Roman authority. 

It was located along a well-traveled road, making the executions a public spectacle. It was a place of suffering and death. Only after the death and resurrection of Jesus it became the symbol of redemption and salvation.

Calvary can also mean ‘intense suffering’ due to the suffering of Jesus at Calvary.  Another name for Calvary is Golgotha. This means ‘Place of the Skull’ in Aramaic. This language is spoken in Syria, Irac, Turkey and Lebanon. 

The reason for this name was probably because the hill resembled a skull. It was also a place of executions, leaving skulls behind and a Jewish tradition linked it to the burial place of Adam’s skull. He was the first man made by God on earth.  

In 326 AD, Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, allocated Calvary as the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Calvary can be visited and today it is still one of Christianity’s holiest places, especially on Good Friday. 

Jesus was crucified for both religious and political reasons. His death was the result of the Jewish religious opposition and the Roman legal authority. However, Christians believe it was God’s divine plan all along. His son for the salvation of humanity. 

The Jewish religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their authority. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, this was considered blasphemy by Jewish leaders. Jesus taught that salvation comes through faith, not just the law. The influence of Jesus became bigger and bigger, and the Jewish leaders feared that they would lose power over the Jewish people. 

He was also a threat to Roman Rule. Some saw Jesus as a leader of a rebellion against Rome. However, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, found no guilt in Him. Jewish leaders pressured Pilate, claiming Jesus was a threat. To prevent unrest, he allowed Jesus to be crucified. 

From the Christian perspective it was God’s plan all along. In the Old Testament of the Bible, animal sacrifices needed to be done to pay for sins. Due to this event, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. By dying on the cross, He took the punishment for all human sins. This made forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible. 

The cross became one of the most recognizable symbols of Christianity, because of what happened at Calvary. It is believed to be a call to repentance, forgiveness, and faith that Jesus is the Savior. For Christians it is a reminder of Jesus’ suffering, but also hope, redemption and God’s grace.

Calvary continues to shape art, literature, film, and philosophy because it represents something beyond history. The place and the event speaks to the deepest human experiences of suffering, love, and hope. The story of Calvary remains one of the most powerful and enduring narratives in history.

For example the Renaissance art. Masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Rubens painted dramatic, detailed Crucifixion scenes, emphasizing suffering and divine power. In literature a good example is John Milton’s Paradise Lost (17th century). This reflects on the Crucifixion as the turning point of history.

There are also a lot of films and series about Jesus and his crucifixion. For example "The Life of Jesus" and the series "The Chosen."

The place named Calvary marked the peak of Jesus His time on earth. Christians believe it to be the fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation. According to the Christian belief, Jesus’ crucifixion was a sacrificial act. By dying on a cross, He took all the sins of the world upon Himself. It is believed that the event saved the relationship between humankind and God Himself.

The place ‘Calvary’ is mentioned in all four Gospels in the Bible, the start of the New Testament. The crucifixion of Jesus is seen as a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. In Matthew 27:33 is written that “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”),” which is another name for Calvary. 

In Luke 23:33 is mentioned “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.” The verse after that quotes Jesus’ words “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

John 3:16 is a verse used by all kinds of businesses and platforms. It says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is a beautiful message for everyone and happened at Calvary.