What Shape Was Jesus’ Cross?

Traditional Cross

Throughout the 2,000-year history of Christianity, the traditional view of the shape of Jesus’s cross has been a vertical post or stake with a crossbeam attached to it near the top of the post, but not at the top as in the shape of the letter T. The two words used in the Greek New Testament to described Jesus’ cross are stauros and xylon, and neither of them indicate its shape.

In modern times, some scholars have challenged this traditional shape of Jesus’ cross. The most common alternative proposed has been that Jesus was crucified only on a post or stake, with his arms attached to it above his head either by a single nail through both palms or wrists or by means of some form of binding, such as a rope.

Forms of Roman Crucifixion

The Romans did crucify victims in various ways, thus not always with the traditional cross shape with which we are familiar. Sometimes, they crucified victims only on a vertical post. Other times, they crucified the condemned upside down. A credible Christian legend is that the apostle Peter was crucified upside down. And some victims were crucified on an X-shaped object.

Yet I think there are a few reasons why Jesus was likely was crucified in the traditional manner familiar to us. Yet, it is interesting that the New Testament (NT) does not tell us the shape of Jesus’ cross or the manner in which he was attached to it. And sometimes, the Romans provided an attachment near the foot of the cross for the victim to push up with his or her feet in order to breath, since crucifixion can cause the victim to die from suffocation. The following are reasons why I think the traditional shape of Jesus’ cross is correct.

Jesus Carried Only a Crossbeam

First, the Fourth Gospel says of the governor, “Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him” (John 19:15-18 NRSV). Throughout the history of Christianity, Jesus “carrying the cross” has been thought to be him dragging the traditionally-shaped entire cross, with the bottom of the post dragging along the ground. This is definitely is wrong.

One thing we can be sure about concerning Jesus’s cross is that the vertical post or stake to which he was crucified was permanently attached in a post hole in the ground. The Romans were known for placing these permanently in the ground in places in or near towns or cities where people often traveled so they would be reminded of what happens to evildoers.

Thus, Jesus did not carry or drag the post. What he most likely carried was the crossbeam, which further signifies that Jesus’s cross was traditionally shaped. The crossbeam would have been laid across the back of his neck and shoulders, with his arms wrapped around the upper side of it to stabilize it for carrying.

This is further confirmed by the Synoptists (authors of the first three New Testament gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke). For all three say a man named Simon of Cyrene was forced into service to carry Jesus’s cross for him (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; 23:26). Apparently, Jesus was so exhausted after receiving 39 lashes (Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15), as correctly portrayed in Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ,” that he was stumbling carrying his crossbeam and thus needed assistance. This nullifies that Jesus was crucified only on a vertical post.

Jesus’s Cross Had a Headboard

Second, all four NT gospels inform that an inscription, apparently on a headboard, was placed on Jesus cross, “over his head” (Matt. 27:37), which read “The King of the Jews,” and two synoptists add to this, “Jesus (the Nazarene).” This headboard being above Jesus’ head indicates that his cross was not T-shaped but that the vertical post extended above his head. This also pretty much nullifies that Jesus was crucified only on a vertical post with his arms attached to it above his head since that is where the headboard would have to be.

The Passover Symbolizes Jesus’s Cross

Third, Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; many times in Revelation). I think Jesus’ cross is symbolized therein. At the original Passover, the Hebrews were instructed to put the blood of the sacrificed animal on the two doorposts and above lintel of their houses. These locations are the three ends of the traditional cross: the ends of the crossbeam and top end of the vertical post.

What Will Be “the Sign” of Jesus’s Coming?

Fourth, I don’t think there has been enough discussion among Christians as to what Jesus meant in his Olivet Discourse about “the sign” of his so-called second coming, which I understand will be literal. That is, in the future, Jesus will return from heaven to earth, bringing with him his promised kingdom in all of its glory.

Jesus prophesied that at that time “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken” (Matt. 24:29). Then, only Matthew includes mention of this sign by quoting Jesus as saying next, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (v. 30). I believe that should be translated” “the tribes of the land,” referring to the twelve tribes of Israel.

But, what is “the sign”? I believe the bright, white clouds upon which Jesus will ride will form into the shape of a cross against the backdrop of a black sky. That is why I hired a graphic artist to draw the image depicting this which I have on the front cover of my book, Warrior from Heaven, which is about Jesus’s second coming.