The Tree
“They took him down from the tree”
By: Walter Giddings
September 28, 2025
Featured Scripture: Acts 13:39
(John 18:1-2). There was a location in the garden. Judas knew “the place”.
p When Jesus had spoken these
words, he went forth with his dis-
ciples over the brook Cedron, where
was a garden, into the which he en-
tered, and his disciples.
c 2 And Judas also, which betrayed,
him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-
times resorted thither with his dis-
ciples.
John chapter eighteen.
“Judas … knew the place.” What was this place? Was this place in a garden?
(Matthew 27:33). Did this place have a name?
33 And when they were come unto
a place called Golgotha, that is to say,
a place of a skull,
Matthew chapter twenty-seven.
Is “Golgotha” the Hebrew name for “the place of a skull”?
(Mark 15:22). What is the translation for the Hebrew word “Golgotha”?
The Tree.
22 And they bring him unto the place
Golgotha, which is, being interpreted,
The place of a skull.
Mark chapter fifteen.
“The place of a skull.” (Luke 22:39-40). Did Jesus “ofttimes resort thither with his disciples”?
p 39 And he came out, and went, as he
was wont, to the Mount of Olives;
and his disciples also followed him.
c 40 And when he was at the place, he
said unto them, Pray that ye enter not
into temptation.
Luke chapter twenty-two.
“And when he was at the place.” (Luke 23:33). Is the Latin word for skull “calvarium”?
33 And when they were come to the
place, which is called Calvary, there
they crucified him, and the malefac-
tors, one on the right hand, and the
other on the left.
Luke chapter twenty-three.
“The place, which is called Calvary” If Golgotha and Calvary are “the place” where Jesus and his apostles “ofttimes resorted thither”, is then “the place” where Jesus prayed three times, in agony, to sweat, as it were, drops of blood?!
(John 19:17-18). Could it be that “the place” that Judas knew, to where Jesus and the disciples “ofttimes” returned, was “the place” which was the very site of Christ’s Crucifixion?
c 17 And he bearing his cross went
forth into a place the place of a skull,
which is called in the Hebrew: Gol-
gotha :
p 18 Where they crucified him, and
two other with him, on either side
one, and Jesus in the midst.
Does Verse 17 say, “the place of a skull”? Does Verse 18 say, “where they crucified him” between the 2 thieves, and was “reckoned among the transgressors”? [Luke 22:37, Mark 15:28, and Isaiah 53:12] We are still in John chapter 19. Look at Verse 20:
20 This title then read many of the
Jews: for the place where Jesus was
crucified was nigh to the city: and it
was written in Hebrew and Greek and
Latin.
“The place where Jesus was crucified.” Scroll down to the last 2 verses of chapter 19, verses 41 and 42:
c 41 Now in the place where he was cru-
cified there was a garden; and in the
garden a new sepulchre, wherein was
never man yet laid.
p 42 There laid they Jesus therefore be-
cause of the Jews’ preparation day;
for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
John chapter nineteen.
Knowing Jesus fellowshipped with his disciples, whenever he was at Jerusalem, at the future site of his crucifixion and death does what for us?
In order for us to teach our children this, would fathers and mothers have to understand The Scriptures we recited together? Does American Israel’s trouble rest squarely upon The American Pulpit? And are times of revival also times of great deception warring against a return to The Truth of the Scriptures?
Survey Time: anonymous show of hands! This is a survey concerning The Picture hanging in the picture galleries of our minds. When we think of Mount Calvary, when we think of the Hill of the Skull, what picture comes to mind? How many here see on top of that hill 3 Latin crosses? How many have often seen that picture in books, on tracts, papers, and sketched on drawings? How many here have that picture hanging in the picture galleries of our minds?
Last Question on the Survey: How do we know if that picture is accurate? Should we confirm the accuracy of the picture from The Scriptures? Pastor Jerry of Christian Reform Fellowship preached on a number of occasions that “the words of the LORD are pure words” [Psalms 12:6] and are designed to hang accurate pictures in the picture galleries of our minds!!!
(Acts 5:30). Shall we in full faith, a gift to each of us from our heavenly Father, with faith in The Truth of the Scriptures to hang accurate pictures in the picture galleries of our minds, consult the same?
30 The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on
a tree.
“Whom ye … hanged on a tree.” Your herald of The Gospel of the Kingdom, today, got into trouble with a pastor’s family about The Tree!!!
(Acts 10:39). Can we get a 2nd Witness? Peter, preaching to the Household of Cornelius, claimed he and the men who accompanied him to Cornelius’ House, have, concerning Jesus, a testimony:
39 And we are witnesses of all things
which he did both in the land of the
Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they
slew and hanged on a tree.
I was there at a Pastor’s House for a fellowship meal when the subject of Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ was brought up. The Pastor was running an errand to pick up one last item for supper. The children asked me if I had seen the movie. Answering, I said yes. They asked me how I liked it. Answering, I said I was fascinated by the fact that it was scripted in Aramaic, a language known to the faithful in Jerusalem and Galilee in Jesus’ day. The children persisted asking me if I liked it. I did not want to get into the fact the movie was very Catholic. Lamely, I admitted that the movie left me with a question I found difficult to answer. Big Mistake! The children wanted to know all about the question. Very hesitantly I answered and said, I was wondering where the Tree was, upon which they hanged Christ and the 2 thieves. That did it!
The Pastor’s wife came storming out of the kitchen brandishing a huge butcher knife with which she made repeated stabbing motions in my direction to emphasize that I was to cease and desist, at once, (!) bringing heresy about some stupid tree into their house, and I was never to ever do that again! And that was the calmer part of her objections! And she stormed back into the kitchen where we could hear the knife being used as a cleaver to strike whatever was between the knife and the cutting board. I could tell by the pale faces of the children that was the 1st time their mother had ever used a butcher knife to explain with emphasis the rules for the household! The utter silence on our part seems punctuated by the sounds of meat cleaving. Suddenly she stopped. In a voice sounding like she gritted her teeth in cold rage she addressed me by my last name as “mister”. “Did you hear everything I said “? Suddenly I had visions of my living meat being chopped in place of the chicken!
Earnestly and profusely, I apologized for my ignorance, assuring her the last thing I ever intended was to offend her and/or her husband! She said if I disagree with her, I would be welcome to leave now! I agreed with her that she and her husband had an awesome duty to make household rules. As quickly as I heard them, I would obey them at once (!) because I expected others to do the same at my house. And if she would have her husband speak with me concerning anything at any time, I promised her to give him my full attention. She remained silent and busy and did not come out of the kitchen until after her husband had returned and it was time to place the meal on the table. The children went back to playing very quietly. I was never asked again to lead a Bible Study.
(Acts 13:29). Paul and his company entered the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia on the Sabbath. After the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue invited Paul’s company to speak the word of exhortation unto the brethren. Paul rose, beckoned with his hand, and addressed the congregation, saying, “Men and brethren, and ye that fear God.” Is it obvious from Paul’s careful choice of words that kindred that do not “fear God” are not addressed here? In Verse 29 Paul reveals the utter fulfillment of all the Scriptures concerning Christ’s suffering, his death, and his burial!
29 And when they had fulfilled all
that was written of him, they took
him down from the tree, and laid him
in a sepulchre.
Acts chapter thirteen.
“They took him down from the tree.” What tree?! I grew up in the congregational church in western Massachusetts believing there were three Latin crosses of wood on top of Calvary’s Hill! Three Latin wooden crosses on top of the Hill of the Skull are an insistent and persistent picture in our day! There is a question that begs asking at almost every Bible Study that has salt! Is this a doctrine of man or a doctrine of God? In short, is the insistent, persistent picture of these three wooden Latin crosses on top of the proverbial hill consistent with the Scriptures?!
(Galatians 3:13). Did Christ have to be made a curse for us?
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse
for us: for it is written, Cursed is
everyone that hangeth upon a tree.
Galatians chapter three.
“For it is written.” Where is that written? (Deuteronomy 21: 22-23). Is it written in the older Scriptures?
p 22 And if a man have committed a
sin worthy of death, and he be to be
put to death, and thou hang him on
a tree:
c 23 His body shall not remain all
night upon the tree, but thou shalt
in any wise bury him that day; (for
he that is hanged is accursed of God;)
that thy land be not defiled, which
the LORD thy God giveth thee for an
inheritance.
Deuteronomy chapter twenty-one.
“His body shall not remain all night upon the tree.” Was Christ convicted of a Sin worthy of death? What was that Sin? Blasphemy [Matthew 26:65]!
(1 Peter 2:24). Is this the 5th Witness that Christ was hanged upon a tree?
24 Who his own self bare our sins in
his own body on the tree, that we, be-
ing dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness, by whose stripes ye
were healed.
First Peter chapter two.
“His own body on the tree.” What shall we do with these many witnesses? Can any of these Witnesses be impeached? Was Trump impeached twice for non-impeachable offenses? And found “not guilty” twice, and that for non-impeachable offenses? (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). What KIND of world do we live in?
p 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid
to them that are lost:
c 4 In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God should shine unto
them.
Second Corinthians chapter four.
“The (small g) god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.”
“What further need have we of witnesses?” [Matthew 26:65]
(John 19:31). But our Study would be incomplete if we failed to consider this profoundly ambiguous Scripture!!! For this, and the other ambiguous Scrip- tures of our Bibles, I heartily recommend The Authorized Version 1611 King James Bible, American Edition. I have three reasons.
(1) From 1670 until 1881 the KJV had no rival nor challenger among our Ancestors who lived and moved and breathed while our Republic was still functioning! [The lights are still on, but hardly anybody today is home.]
(2) The translators seem to have abided by an unwritten rule that where God’s Word was ambiguous, they left us to The Comforter, The Holy Spirit to give each of us, their Posterity, spiritual discernment! And
(3) The Translators failed to receive expenses for their dedication, time, trouble, tribulation, nor for raising and supporting their families! King James ordered the Task to be performed and appointed the man to head up the task. But he utterly failed to appropriate funds for the Task!
Never at any time did those drafted for the project, did any of the translators’ object or crusade for wages, but tirelessly and with love and dedication for the work they toiled insistently and loyally without complaint to complete their Labor of Love! Let us read together in unison John 19:31.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was
the preparation, that the bodies should
not remain upon the cross on the sab-
bath day, (for that sabbath day was an
high day,) besought Pilate that their
legs might be broken, and that they
might be taken away.
John chapter nineteen.
Who among us can point to the ambiguity in this Verse? Please look with me at the underlined phrase in Verse 31 above. What do we understand from the words in the underlined phrase? Do we understand that Jesus “gave up the ghost” [Verse 30] at the 9th hour of the day? That is 3 PM on our day. [Genesis 1:4-5] The last phrase of that Verse 5 reads: “And the evening and the morning were the first day.” The Hebrew Sabbath began at sundown. It is no stretch for us to see that the Hebrew sabbath was coming on, and a lot had to be done in a short amount of time. As part of Jesus’ family, Joseph of Arimathea obtained the governor’s permission to recover the body of Jesus. Joseph, using the buddy system, had Nicodemus help him take the body down from The Tree, and with the spices, laid his body out in a fresh tomb in The Garden before sunset. The mandates of Deuteronomy 21:23 “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day.” were fully met, avoiding “defilement” of the land of inheritance. What apparent ambiguity do we see in John 19:31? How many bodies on “the cross”?
The cross appears as a translation of G4716 stauros, stow-ros’; a stake, 28 times. It never appears in the plural! What if the KJV Translators had decided on their own that this ambiguity was the result of some ancient mistranslation and substituted the word crosses, so each body (3) had a cross?!!! What would that have done to The Harmony of The Scriptures? The Translators did not choose to do that!!! Instead, they chose to leave you and me alone with The Holy Spirit, The Comforter, with his full convicting Power! “The words of the LORD are pure words” [Psalm 12:6] (1 Corinthians 2:14).
14 But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: nei-
ther can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned.
First Corinthians chapter two.
“The things of the Spirit of God ... are spiritually discerned.” Paul also tells us [Galatians 3:27] “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” And Paul assures us [1 Corinthians 2:16] “But we have the mind of Christ.” Your attendance here on this assembly day witnesses that we are “led of the Spirit”. [Galatians 5:18]
Armed with the indwelling of The Holy Spirit and armored with “the loin girdle of Truth” and all of its connecting pieces of armor complete through “the shield of faith,” we have faith that we can find witness(es) in The Scriptures to help us solve this apparent ambiguity. We noted in John 19:31 the word “cross” is in the singular. We also note The Tree is not mentioned in John 19:31.
(Exodus 25:31-40). Shall we begin with the 1st two verses?
c 31 And thou shalt make a candlestick
of pure gold: of beaten work shall
the candlestick be made: his shaft,
and his branches, his bowls, his
knops, and his flowers, shall be
of the same.
p 32 And six branches shall come out
of the sides of it; three branches of
the candlestick out of the one side,
and three branches of the candlesick
out of the other side:
“A candlestick of pure gold ... of beaten work ...” “Candlestick” is translated from H4501 m norah, men-o-raw’; - candlestick. We have probably heard the word menorah. It is a potently important symbol! It is crucial to the hanging of an accurate picture in the picture galleries of our mind. Without it our whole mental framework becomes corrupted!!! It is of critical significance!
33 Three bowls made like unto al-
monds with a knop and a flower in
one branch; and three bowls made
like almonds in the other branch,
with a knop and a flower: so in the
six branches that come out of the can-
dlestick.
“Made like almonds”. Is the candlestick supposed to represent or symbolize some kind of plant?
34 And in the candlestick shall be
four bowls made like unto almonds,
with their knops and their flowers.
“Made like unto almonds.” What kind of plant produces almonds?
(Hebrews 9:1-3). In The General Epistle to the Hebrews do we find a 2nd Witness to a heavenly pattern?
p Then verily the first covenant had
also ordinances of divine service, and
a worldly sanctuary.
c 2 For there was a tabernacle made;
the first, wherein was the candlestick,
and the table, and the shewbread;
which is called the sanctuary.
p 3 And after the second veil, the taber-
nacle which is called the holiest of all;
Hebrews chapter nine.
(Verse 2). “The first, wherein was the candlestick.” Many of us have familiarized ourselves with this “worldly sanctuary” because it is a heavenly pattern. (Exodus 26:34-35). What did the candlestick picture?
p 34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat
upon the ark of testimony in the most
holy place.
c 35 And thou shalt set the table with-
out the vail, and the candlestick over
against the table on the side of the ta-
bernacle toward the south: and thou
shalt put the table on the north side.
Exodus chapter twenty-six.
“Thou shalt set … the candlestick … on the side of the tabernacle toward the south.” Should we keep in mind that the candlestick was set in the Holy Place outside the Holy of Holies?
(Back to Exodus 25:35-40). What kind of plant produces almonds?
p 35 And there shall be a knop under
two branches of the same, and a knop
under two branches of the same, and
a knop under two branches of the
same, according to the six branches
that proceed out of the candlestick.
c 36 Their knops and their branches
shall be of the same: all it shall be
one beaten work of pure gold.
p 37 And thou shalt make the seven
lamps thereof: and they shall light
the lamps thereof, that they may give
light over against it.
c 38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuff
dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
p 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he
make it, with all these vessels.
c 40 And look that thou make them af-
ter their pattern, which was shewed
thee in the mount.
Exodus chapter twenty-five.
“Make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” What kind of plant produces and bears almonds?
(Scroll up to Verse 35). Could it be that those six branches picture three sets of raised arms impaled or crucified to their beams?
(Scroll down to Verse 37). Could it be that “the seven lamps”, lit, represent “the Lord of glory” suffering as no man has ever suffered, and dying for our sakes on an almond tree?
Consider this popular picture: a Hilltop, or Hillcrest with three Latin wooden crosses upon it.
Compare these phrases from John 19, with the popular picture above:
John 19:18. (they crucified three) “on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
John 19:32. “the soldiers ... brake the legs of the first, and of the other ...”
John 19:33. “they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, ...”
Explain how “the words of the LORD are pure words” [Psalm 12:6] can be in harmony with the popular picture.
There is a Question that every Disciple should often ask! Is this Picture an accurate picture of a Doctrine of God, or a Doctrine of Man?!
Bibliography
Acts 13:39 “they took him down from the tree”
John 18:1-2. “Judas ... knew the place.”
Matthew 27:33. “a place called Golgotha”
Mark 15:22. “a place of a skull”
Luke 22:39-40. “he was at the place”
Luke 23:33. “the place which is called Calvary”
John 19:17-18. “where they crucified him”
[Luke 22:37; Mark 15:28; and Isaiah 53:12] “reckoned among the transgressors”
John 19:20. “the place where Jesus was crucified”
John 19:41-42. “the place where Jesus was crucified”
Survey Time: Mount Calvary/The Hill of the Skull, what does our mind picture?
[Psalm 12:6] “the words of the LORD are pure words”
Are we gifted with faith in the Truth of the Scriptures that can hang accurate pictures in the picture galleries of our mind?
(Acts 5:30) “Jesus whom ye ... hanged on a tree”
Acts 10:39. “whom ye ... hanged on a tree”
The Mel Gibson Movie, The Passion of the Christ Where was the Tree?
(Acts 13:29). “They took him down from the Tree”
Galatians 3:13. “Cursed is everyone that hangeth upon a tree”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23. “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree.”
[Matthew 26:65] Blasphemy
(1 Peter 2:24). “Who ... bare our sins in his own body on the tree”
What kind of world do we live in?! (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
“What further need have we of witnesses?” (Matthew 26:65)
(John 19:31). “that the bodies should not remain upon the cross”
[Psalms 12:6] “The words of the LORD are pure words.”
(1 Corinthians 2:14). “The things of the Spirit of God .. are spiritually discerned.”
“But we have the mind of Christ” [1 Corinthians 2:16]
“led of the Spirit” [Galatians 5:18]
[John 19:31] the word “cross” is in the singular; the word “tree” is not mentioned.
(Exodus 25:31-32). “a candlestick of pure gold ... of beaten work”
(Exodus 25:33). “made like almonds”
(Exodus 25:34). “made like unto almonds”
(Hebrews 9:1-3). “the first, wherein was the candlestick”
(Exodus 26:34-35). “thou shalt set ... the candlestick ... on the side of the tabernacle toward the south”
(Back to Exodus 25:35-40). What kind of plant produces almonds?
Verse 40. “Make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee at the mount.”
[John 19:18.] [John 19:32.] [John 19:33.]
this popular picture: Is this an accurate picture of a Doctrine of God, or a doctrine of man?!
