By Samuel E. Ward Part 4: The Journey to the Cross Luke 23:25-56 Introduction Admittedly, in order to gain a fuller understanding of the death and burial of Jesus Christ one must read all of the gospel accounts. Though they give some of the same information, each one offers additional material that the others do not. This is due mostly because of their purposes in emphasizing a particular aspect of Christ's character and mission. Because our main focus has been on Luke's gospel narrative, we will primarily concern ourselves with the details he supplies concerning the death and burial of Jesus Christ while making reference to some facts present in the other gospels where deemed advantageous. Luke's narrative has been telling the journey that was Jesus' life which began humanly speaking in Bethlehem and was lived out never more than a two hundred miles from there (including his trip to Egypt. He grew up in Galilee in Nazareth, headquartered his ministry in Capernaum and ministered in the surrounding Galilean area. How many visits he made into Judea would only be conjecture, but there must have been many beginning in His childhood and continuing into adulthood. He died on the outskirts of Jerusalem. His life was always a journey to heaven which would come by way of the cross on His final trip to Jerusalem. In Luke 23:26 we continue the final hours of his journey on earth with the events immediately following His arrest and trials in Jerusalem, all of which just began the night before. XVII. The Crucifixion, Luke 23:26-49 A. "Weep for Yourselves", Luke 23:26-31 1. The intense suffering of Jesus was tragic enough, Luke 23:26-27. a. He was too weak to carry His own cross, Luke 23:26. Luke 23:26 (NIV) (26) As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. b. He was so weak it caused a large number of people to mourn and wail, Luke 23:27. Luke 23: 27 (NIV) (27) A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 2. The intense suffering of the "Daughters of Jerusalem" will be even more tragic, Luke 23:28-30. Luke 23:28-30 (NIV) (28) Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. (29) For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' (30) Then "'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' 3. The impending suffering of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans should not be surprising, Luke 23:31. Luke 23: 31 (NIV) (31) For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" The New Scofield Reference Bible says this about verse 31, "If the Romans condemned to death the one they admitted to be innocent, how would they deal in the future with those whom they found guilty?" No matter how bad circumstances seem to us, those of unbelievers' are worse. When the worst that can happen to us in this life has come upon us, we are in the presence of the Lord. For the unbeliever, when the worst that can happen to them in this life has occurred, there is an eternal judgment facing them. For that reason, we should always be in prayer for those who continue to reject Christ. B. "Father Forgive Them", Luke 23:32-38 1. Christ words of grace and forgiveness, Luke 23:32-34 Luke 23:32-34 (NIV) (32) Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. (33) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. (34) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 2. The crowd's words of scorn and mockery, Luke 23:35 Luke 23:35 (NIV) (35) The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." 3. The soldier's words of challenge and ridicule, Luke 23:36-37 Luke 23:36-37 (NIV) (36) The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar (37) and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 4. The Roman and Jewish Courts' words of indictment and conviction, Luke 23:38 Luke 23:38 (NIV) (38) There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. The greatest sin ever committed in the history of mankind (crucifying the Son of God) was forgiven by Jesus on the cross without it being sought. Thousands would later accept Christ in the days immediately following Pentecost. However, there would be many, especially the religious leaders who would persecute the infant church, who would continue to reject Christ and be held responsible for their unbelief. C. "Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise", Luke 23:39-43 1. The hardened criminal's insults, Luke 23:39 Luke 23:39 (NIV) (39) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 2. The softened criminal's reprimand and request, Luke 23:40-42 Luke 23:40-42 (NIV) (40) But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? (41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.£" 3. The innocent victim's promise, Luke 23:43 Luke 23:43 (NIV) (43) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Even while hanging on the cross, Jesus was seeking draw souls into the kingdom of God. Not one word of retort or rebuke was offered by the Lord to the unbelieving thief, but salvation was delivered to thief who placed his faith and trust in Jesus on the last day of what was probably a wasted life to that point. What grace! All four gospel writers mention that two men (Matthew – "robbers", Mark – "robbers", and John—"two others") but only Luke records the ridicule of one and the request to enter Christ's kingdom by the other. D. "Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit", Luke 23:44-49 1. The purchase of man's redemption, Luke 23:44-46 a. It was preceded by three hours of darkness from noon until 3 p.m., Luke 23:44-45a. Luke 23:44-45a (NIV) (44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, (45a) for the sun stopped shining. b. It was signified by the renting of the temple veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, Luke 23:45b. Luke 23:45b (NIV) (45b) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. c. It was purchased the moment Jesus spirit left His body in death for man's sin, Luke 23:46. Luke 23:46 (46) Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. At that moment a new approach to God was opened for men and women who accept Christ's payment for their sins and make Him Lord of their lives.
2. The powerful responses at the moment of redemption, Luke 23:47-49 a. The Roman centurion, Luke 23:47 Luke 23:47 (47) The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." b. The remaining spectators, Luke 23:48 Luke 23:48 (48) When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. c. The reticent followers, Luke 23:49. Luke 23:49 (49) But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. And, as the old gospel invitation song goes, "There's Room at the Cross for You". We must first go there for that is where the charges against us for our disobedience to the laws of God are nailed to His cross. There is where we find forgiveness and eternal life. Paul wrote of this in Colossians 2:13-14. Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV) (13) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (14) having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. XVIII. The Burial of Jesus' Body by Joseph of Arimathea, Luke 23:50-56 A. He Was a Non-Consenting Member of the Council that Condemned Jesus, Luke 23:50-51. Luke 23:50-51 (50) Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, (51) who had not consented to their decision and action. Mark adds that he was a prominent member of the Council, Mark 15: 43. B. He Was a Secret Disciple of Jesus (See Mat 25:57; Mark 15:14) C. He Came to Pilate to Request Jesus' Body to Bury It, Luke 23:52 Luke 23:52 (52) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Though he had been a secret disciple, Mark tells us that he went boldly before Pilate to ask for Jesus' body (Mark 15:43). D. He Buried Jesus' Body in a New Tomb, Luke 23:53-54. Luke 23:53-54 (53) Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. (54) It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. In John's account we learn that Nicodemus assisted in preparing Jesus body for burial (John 19:39). E. He Was Followed by Women from Galilee Who Wanted to See Where Jesus' Body Was Laid, Luke 23:55-56. Luke 23:55-56 (55) The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. It seems that the women followed Joseph and Nicodemus at a distance and only so that they could return after the Sabbath with the necessary things to care for Jesus' body. They must have not stayed long or they might have noticed Joseph and Nicodemus taking care of Jesus' body. To be like Jesus . . . 1. We must put the misery of others lostness before our own suffering since they shall incur the greater harm. 2. We must even when we are being wronged understand that sometimes it is done in ignorance of the truth and be willing to forgive though not asked for. 3. We must be ready to lead souls to Christ to our dying breath. 4. We must understand that death for the Christian is one's final surrender to the will of God. One who is at peace with God can commit their soul peacefully to Him and then just fall asleep in Him to be carried into His presence perhaps by an angel. __________________________________________________________________ |
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Sunday, September 7, 2008
O to Be Like Thee
