Lessons from Christ's Sufferings

Introduction

Over this past weekend, we’ve had the joy of considering together the death, burial and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

In the providential working of God, we actually arrived at the relevant texts of Scripture as we were working systematically through Luke’s Gospel. That was not planned far in advance on my part, I must admit. But that is how it ended up.

That did mean, however, that I’ve preached longer portions of Scripture that I ordinarily would have done. Also, I wasn’t able to address one or two sections of Scripture that formed part of that narrative. My thought was then to return to these passages in order to think through some of the important implications.

What I’d like to do then is to consider two sections of Scripture that we have already touched previously, with the aim of really applying those portions to ourselves.

Then I would also like to address two individual portions that we haven’t looked at yet.

So, we’ll begin by returning to the account of the release of Barabbas, and the condemnation of Jesus. I would like to bring some further application of that passage.

Then we’ll look at the account of Jesus, having been condemned, on the road out of Jerusalem to Calvary where he will be crucified. That’s a section that we didn’t look at on Friday.

After that, we will consider together the burial of Jesus following His death on the cross.

Once we’ve looked at that, we will then close off with a reminder of the words of Jesus in terms of the Son of Man being seated at the right hand of God, just as a fitting way to bring our minds back to the fact that Christ rules and reigns at the right hand of the Father.

Let us then begin by turning our attention to the account of Barabbas.

1. The Just for the Unjust

We found in our study last week Sunday this tragic exchange of the just for the unjust. The account that led up to this was the trial of Jesus before Pilate.

You will recall that there was a system instituted by Pilate that once a year, one of the prisoners was released at the will of the people. At this particular point, Pilate had hoped to use that as a means to have Jesus released to the Jews, since he did not find anything wrong in terms of what Jesus had done. Jesus was innocent.

However, the crowds were insistent that Jesus should be kept in captivity, should be sentenced to death by crucifixion, and that Barabbas should be released to them instead.

Let’s look at these cries together. After Pilate had clearly stated that he found no grounds for the crucifixion of Jesus, and neither had Herod, we pick up in Luke 23:18…

Luke 23:18–21 NIV84

18 With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Look down to verse 23…

Luke 23:23–25 NIV84

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

This is a striking exchange, and it is one that has important theological links. There are two aspects that I’d like to emphasize from this exchange.

Deep Blindness Caused by Sin

Firstly, even Pilate was alarmed and shocked that the Jewish leaders were insistent on the release of Barabbas, rather than Jesus. It simply didn’t make sense, even to his worldly mind.

The Jewish leaders were given the option between a known murderous criminal and insurrectionist, and a teacher of righteousness that had lived with humility, serving people. They chose to release the former, the criminal, and to put to death the teacher of righteousness.

Religious belief is the ability to create all measure of passion and hostility in people. We see this beyond Christianity. But we must realise that this passion and hostility is largely absent from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Now, we must keep in mind that the religious leaders certainly believed that what they were doing was good and fitting, and a benefit to society, certainly their own people. They honestly believed that Jesus presented a greater threat to the Jews than did a knife-wielding criminal! But how wrong they were.

We need to be aware of the blindness that sin can cause us. One commentator wrote:

Luke Bridging Contexts

The line between truth and falsehood is often the thin thread of a correct perception.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, are we abiding in Christ, and is our character and nature, are our heart motivations being conformed into those of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We ought to be growing into conformity with him.

If we are filled with religious passion and conviction, but the character of Christ is absent, then we need to re-evaluate our hearts before God.

The Unholy Exchange

Then, we need to see this profound theological truth in the exchange of Barabbas for Jesus. This really does present a picture for us of us!! In this account, it’s absolutely clear that the one deserving of condemnation and crucifixion is Barabbas. He deserves it - punishment meting the crime! However, it is Jesus that receives the condemnation.

Therein lies the picture of our own lives. We are those who are on the side of Barabbas. We are the murderers and adulterers and drunkards. When you read the sermon on the Mount and consider those heart matters that Jesus spoke about, you realise that you’re little different from Barabbas.

And yet, it is Jesus that takes our place and receives condemnation and judgment. He does this, not before human courts and the hands of man, but ultimately before God - the ultimate judge of the universe.

Romans 5:5–8 NIV84

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Peter says it in these words in 1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV84)

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God...

Just as Barabbas was able to live because Jesus would be put to death and him released, so we are able to live - not just in this world, but into eternity, because Christ was condemned on our behalf! We may live, because Jesus died!

2. The Journey (vv.26-31)

As soon as Jesus had been handed over by Pilate to the will of the people (Luke 23:25) they took him out and led him to the place where he would be put to death.

We find some important truths concerning the humanity, but also the humility of Jesus through this account. Luke outlines for us a number of details of the road to Calvary as Jesus walked it.

2.1 Simon (v.26)

The first thing that we see is that a man named Simon is stopped along the way, and made to carry the cross of Jesus.

Luke 23:26 NIV84

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.

We need to understand that it was required that the person being executed was to carry their own cross to the place of execution. And this, Jesus did, until a point. The reason that Simon was stopped to assist him was due to sheer physical exhaustion.

We see in this a real picture of the humanity of Jesus.

Keep in mind all that Jesus had endured up until this point. He’d had no sleep over the previous night. You will recall that He had been praying in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers arrived to arrest him. There had been beatings from the guards of Jewish leaders. There were various rounds of floggings as Jesus was put on trial before Pilate and Herod.

So severe was the torture up until this point that Jesus was rendered so weak that he could not continue to bear his own cross. He did for a time, but then needed help in carrying it.

Therefore, they called this Simon of Cyrene and asked him to carry Jesus’ cross.

2.2 The Women (v.27)

As they’re on their way out of Jerusalem to the place where Jesus will be crucified, we find that there was this large crowd of people following.

Luke 23:27 NIV84

27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Two details are recorded here by Luke. Firstly, there was a large number of people who followed Jesus.

But more importantly, secondly, Luke mentions a group of women that were weeping for him. The NIV says they mourned and wailed. Literally, they were beating their breasts and wailing for him.

There’s no indication that these women were the same ones that supported Jesus, although it cannot be ruled out as a possibility. What is important are the words that Jesus spoke to them.

2.3 Christ’s Words (vv.28-31)

The first part of these words involves a basic call. It is a call to stop weeping, and to give careful consideration to what is unfolding.

Luke 23:28–29 NIV84

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!’

It may well have been a very strange call the minds of these women. He tells them to stop weeping for him, and rather to weep for themselves and for their children.

The reason was that Jesus knew that difficult times were approaching. He was giving a demonstration of his own deep care and concern for others, even while he was essentially on the brink of death.

Christ knew that His time of suffering, although intense and trying, would soon be over. He knew that he would be raised again on the third day, and would ascend to the Father.

That does not mean that we should minimize what Christ was enduring. Rather, it shows us the extent of the gracious compassion of Jesus for other people. He truly was concerned.

We need to remember this for ourselves, because Jesus has a similar care and concern for us as His disciples today.

Hebrews 2:17 NIV84

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Concerning the sufferings of Christ, and how this qualified Jesus to be a faithful and merciful High Priest to us, we find a picture of this in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:15 NIV84

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Particularly Note Verse 2...

Hebrews 5:1–2 NIV84

1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.

There is an identity with the people that is being brought across here.

Then we read further on in chapter 5:

Hebrews 5:8–10 NIV84

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

This High Priest was one who suffered, who faced not only temptations (yet remained perfect) but also faced sufferings, through which His perfections were demonstrated.

But these in a sense qualified Jesus to be that faithful High Priest that would be able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray.

And Jesus proved this in His own life!!

Returning to our passage, and the words of Jesus…

What Jesus is referring to here relates to his previous warning to the disciples, when he told them that distressing times would come upon them.

Luke 21:24 NIV84

24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

In light of that, we see..

2.3.2 The Warning (vv.30-31)

In particular, this is a warning to them concerning the extent of the sufferings and hardships that would come. We see this in verses 30-31

Luke 23:30–31 NIV84

30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Verse 30 simply presents a picture of divine judgment. So difficult and trying will be that time, that those enduring it would cry out for the mountains to fall upon them. A similar picture is given in Revelation 6:16-17.

Verse 31 contains a somewhat cryptic saying by Jesus. At least to our minds it is cryptic. Jesus is referring to a common proverb of the day. The word in the NIV that is translated “tree” can also be translated “wood”, which it is in the ESV. That’s probably a better translation.

The Proverb that he uses essentially says that if you take that which is green, and put it in a fire and it burns, then what do you expect is going to happen with wood that is dry. It will most certainly be consumed.

In the context of what’s happening, Jesus would be referring to himself in the Proverb as the wood that is green, still moist. He is the perfect man, righteous in every way, the one in whom is life. And he is being led out to the cross, and will undergo sufferings, even experiencing the wrath of God poured out on him.

But if that be the case, what about these dead religious people. They are represented by the dry wood. And He says to these women that were weeping, effectively, if the wrath of God will come upon me, then consider the devastation of the wrath of God against Jerusalem, the dry wood.

While it may have sounded harsh, it was a gracious warning by a considerate and caring Saviour, even in the face of His own tremendous sufferings.

Our Lord is gracious and compassionate, merciful and long-suffering! Nonetheless, judgment will come at the right time!

3. The Burial (vv.50-56)

Concerning the burial of Jesus that is recorded in Luke 23:50-56, we find once again some important elements concerning the humanity of Jesus, the condescension of Jesus.

But we also see some important aspects related to the compassion and care of those whose hearts had been transformed by God.

3.1 A Heart Transformed (vv.50-52)

In verses 50-52 we read…

Luke 23:50–52 NIV84

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. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.

What is very striking about this man is that he was a member of the council. He was one of the Sanhedrin that had gathered together when Jesus had been brought to this mock trial.

Now, we need to keep in mind that this wasn’t recorded earlier, and if we weren’t told this here, we would have thought that every member of the council had agreed that Jesus must be put to death.

But there were those in the midst of the council that were God’s elect. There were those who truly wanted the will of God carried out, made known, followed. Surely Nicodemus was one of this, but so was this man Joseph.

In the face of strong opposition, he had not consented to their decision and action. He was a good and upright man. He was a man who was earnestly and patiently waiting for the kingdom of God.

And very clearly, he had come to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Jesus was the One that was sent from God.

And so, He goes out in order to honour the man who he believed to be the Messiah! He went and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus.

I need to emphasize at this point the reality that God has his elect in every place. Just because we see evil abounding, and we see the vast majority of people doing evil, does not necessarily mean that we should tar everyone with the same brush.

Practically speaking, we charge people as guilty by association. We need to be careful of this. Not every person in the Jewish council supported the decision. Here was a man who stood in support of Christ.

3.2 The Preparation (vv.53-54)

We read of what unfolds in verses 53-54…

Luke 23:53–54 NIV84

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.

Joseph went to the cross where Jesus had been crucified in order to take his body down. According to John 19:39-42, he was accompanied by another Jewish teacher, Nicodemus!

Think about that! Two prominent Jewish leaders had been converted by the grace of God to be followers of Jesus, and they are the ones that show honour to Jesus by arranging for and carrying out his burial.

Joseph (along with those helping him) took the body, and prepared it for burial according to the Jewish customs. This would have included washing it, wrapping it with linen cloths, and including myrrh and aloes in the wrapping.

We should note two things at this point.

Firstly - they didn’t anticipate a resurrection.

Secondly - There was this mystery of the immortal God dying! Here was the (dead) body of the Son of God, needing to be cared for by human hands. To me that is the epitome of the condescension of Jesus. His humility. Subjecting Himself to death.

Joseph then placed the body in a tomb in the rock, one which was new. There was no death and decay that had entered this tomb, and therefore it was an appropriate resting place for Christ’s body.

What’s interesting to note is that this tomb was Joseph’s own tomb - one that he had cut out of the rock for himself. Being a rich man, this was something that he was able to afford and to carry out.

3.3 The Witnesses (vv.55-56)

We see that there were those who were following behind as all of the preparation of the body of Jesus unfolded.

Luke 23:55–56 NIV84

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

We see that there are women who are involved in this process of caring of the body of Jesus as well. This account confirms the fact that the women had indeed seen the burial of Jesus taking place, which would then allow them to be those who would discover the missing body of Jesus, which we considered this morning.

Before we close, I want to turn our attention back to some of the words spoken by Jesus in Luke 22...

4. The Victorious Son

A want to close with this because it gives us beautiful reminder that although Jesus was subjected to the hands of sinners, and although he was put to death and was buried, he would rise again and this would lead to His glorious ascension to power and authority at the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69–70 NIV84

69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

You will recall that I mentioned last week Sunday that Christ was standing on the threshold of his crucifixion. He knew that His life was about to be ended. He declared to the religious leaders at his trial, essentially that He would, at this moment in the unfolding of history, be taking up His position of power and authority.

I won’t read the texts, but by way of reminder, he quoted from Psalm 110:1, and also from Daniel 7:13-14 in order to demonstrate the authority that would soon be His.

In Philippians 2:9-11 we read…

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV84

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In Revelation 11:15 we read…

Revelation 11:15 NIV84

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

This is the King. It is incredible to think that the lowest point, the point of greatest weakness, Jesus submitting himself ultimately to death, was the means by which He would attain glory and power and honour!!

In fact, that’s the connection in Philippians 2. Because He humbled himself, because he became obedient to death, even death on a cross, therefore God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the name that is above every name!

Dear friends, two things that I’d like to say in closing from this.

Firstly, Christ is exalted, and He rules triumphantly. That is a present reality. Right now, Jesus is seated on the throne. He rules and reigns in heaven at the right hand of the Father.

But He does so as a faithful and a compassionate High Priest to His people. This is encouraging. He has power and authority, and we should rightly tremble before Him.

But He is gracious and compassionate, and we should humbly come to Him.

Secondly, let us learn to follow the humility and condescension of Jesus. The entire life of Jesus was one of humility and sacrifice. He humbled himself in order to serve. He walked in obedience to the Father, the difficult road of obedience. Ultimately, because of His learning obedience through what He suffered, God exalted Him.

Now, we are rewarded in Christ. But are also called to walk in the manner that He walked, and so to receive the prize that has been promised to us. Let us be encouraged by both the work that Christ has done on our behalf, and also the example that Christ has set for us.

And let us then seek to live, not looking merely to our own interests, but also to the interests of others, so serving and honouring Christ.