Was Jesus crucified on a cross, or could it have been a pole or a stake?

TL;DR:

Jesus was most likely crucified on a T-shaped cross with both vertical and horizontal beams like the ones familiar to the church today. However, the actual shape of the cross is never as important as the One who died on it – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

what does the bible say?

Roman crucifixion could have been carried out in a variety of ways (T shaped, lowercase t shaped, X shaped, on a stake, or even upside down). However, in the case of Jesus, the details suggest a T shaped cross with enough room above His head to place a sign of Him as "King of the Jews" in three languages. Part of the importance of this discussion relates to the position of Jehovah's Witnesses who argue Jesus died on a pole or stake instead of a cross. The existing evidence suggests that some type of T shaped cross was most likely. However, even if it could be proven that a stake or pole was used at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the conclusion would not affirm beliefs regarding Jesus as a created being or denial of His deity. Ultimately, the exact shape matters less than who Jesus is and what His death accomplished—calling us to deny ourselves and faithfully follow Him (Matthew 16:24–25).

from the old testament

Moses put up a bronze serpent on a pole as a means of salvation for the Israelites who were bitten by poisonous snakes (Numbers 21:9). The cross, like the bronze serpent, is a symbol of God’s provision for deliverance from death.

from the new testament

The Greek word translated "cross" in the English Bible is stauros, a word that can be translated as a cross or wooden pole or stake. The details of the Gospel accounts simply note that Simon from Cyrene carried the cross of Jesus (Mark 15:21).
An inscription was hung above the cross (John 19:19), meaning His hands were outstretched (John 19:19).
Jesus was lifted up as the bronze serpent. Just as the Israelites looked to the lifted serpent for healing and life, we look to Jesus lifted on the cross (stauros) for our salvation and eternal healing (John 3:14–15).

implications for today

The reason there may not have been additional details regarding the exact shape of the cross in the Gospel accounts may be because the shape of the cross was not the focus—the One on the cross was. Jesus was nailed to the cross, indicating His hands being stretched out. Dr. William Lane Craig notes:"The description of Jesus' carrying his cross is consistent with the Roman practice of forcing victims to carry the crossbeam of the cross to the place of crucifixion. The nailing of Jesus' hands and feet to the wooden frame is suggestive. In John 21:18-19 the kind of death Peter would suffer is prefigured with the words 'you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.' The second century pagan author Artemidorus similarly refers to criminals being 'crucified high and with hands outstretched' (Oneirocritica, I. 76. 35). The outstretched hands naturally suggest a lateral extension. Artemidorus confirms this when he later says, 'the cross is made of pieces of wood and nails like a boat, whose mast is similar to a cross' (II. 53. 3)." (from: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/was-jesus-crucified-on-a-cross).

It does not matter whether Jesus was killed on a T shaped cross or on a pole. What matters is that His death and subsequent resurrection conquered death and sin and revealed Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus is the sacrifice and substitution for our sins. Through His name alone we can believe and be saved, obtaining eternal life (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25). The cross reminds us of Christ's death for us and reminds us of the call to faithfully follow Him, putting to death that which is of our sinful nature that we may be alive in Christ.

understand

Jesus was likely crucified on a T-shaped cross, as indicated by biblical and historical details.
The Greek word stauros means cross, pole, or stake, but the shape is not what is most important; instead, what matters is who Jesus is and why He died for us.
The cross symbolizes salvation and calls believers to follow Jesus by denying themselves.

reflect

How does knowing that the exact shape of the cross is less important than who Jesus is change the way you view His sacrifice?
In what ways are you “taking up your cross” and following Jesus by denying yourself in your daily life?
How does the image of Jesus lifted up on the cross, like the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:9, affect your understanding of salvation and healing?

engage

How does the focus the Gospel writers had on Jesus and His death, rather than describing its exact shape, reveal what matters?
How does the symbolic connection between the bronze serpent on a pole and Jesus on the cross deepen our understanding of God’s provision for salvation?
How can we encourage others to live out Jesus’ call to deny ourselves and faithfully follow Him when it is so countercultural?