The Passion of Christ: Human Rebellion, Divine Response

Luke 23:34–43 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Last time we spoke primarily about the Prayer of Jesus. We talked about what forgiveness meant. That our sins are discharged as far as the east is from the west and cast into the sea of forgetfulness to be remembered no more. That the they in the passage had contextual impacts for those who directly heard Jesus prayer which extends to those who would receive the free gift of forgiveness which He prayed to the Father for us who know not what we do.

Tonight, as we continue looking at this passage. We will see the scriptures fulfilled as well as different peoples responses to Jesus’ prayer. Some responded trusting in worldly possessions. Others just stood by, while other mocked Him and yet others cursed Him. In the end we will see the only response that meets our greatest need is to receive this forgiveness by confessing and repenting our sins.

Human Rebellion

Things of the world

“And they Cast lots to divide his garments.” John 19:23–24 records “they took Jesus garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,”

The scripture that was fulfilled was from Psalm 22:18 written long ago by King David. He was in great distress but God through the Holy Spirit wasn’t only looking at David’s trouble but the trouble his Son would endure at the cross and we see the solders fulfilling God’s plan. What Genesis 50:20 “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

As we have discussed no one was crucified without first being stripped of their worldly possessions. We see in our passage that their worldly possessions had no helping power to relieve the suffering they were in. Even the royal robe which they mocked Jesus with had no power to help him to escape the punishment of the cross.

How many times do we mix this up? We work to earn to have more and when the time comes for us to die all that stuff isn’t worth a thing.

When I was young I met a man who’s life motto was “He who dies with the most toys wins!” The things of this world are of no help in us being able to have eternal life. Most likely they actually serve as a road block since 1 Timothy 6:10 “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

The offer of forgiveness stands on the table through Jesus prayer vs 34. These soldiers choose the things of the world over receiving what Christ is offering. How about you? Are you trusting in the things of this world? Looking to increase your kingdom in material possessions instead of giving to God and His kingdom?

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) we see the rich man having every need met so that he feasted scrumptiously vs 20 everyday he had every earthly possession he could have while Lazarus sat at the gate and desired to be fed what fell from the rich mans table vs 21. Both men died vs22-23. The poor man was carried to Abraham’s side while the rich man found himself in torment in hades. Luke 16:25 “Abraham said, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.”

God gave us the things of this world to help us as we live. We can tell what a man believe by how he lives. the rich man in his life trusted the things, and the soldiers in our story desired His garments. The offer of forgiveness is there to be received but they chose the things of this world. If we trust in the things of this world we will earn our reward much like many of these solders will earn eternal judgement. Were does your trust lie?

The People

vs 35 “And the people stood by, watching”

These are the same people who were almost involved in a riot in Pilots Praetorium. Now we see them standing and watching. Their absence of a response is a response.

Imagine this, your driving your car and you pull up on the roadside as you notice an over turned car. What is your response? Do you sit and watch? Do you call 911? Or do you jump out to help?

These people could have done allot of things but the one thing we don’t see them do is receive the gift of forgiveness that Jesus has offered in his prayer. What we do see is they just stood by.

Psalm 22:17b David says “they stare and gloat over me” carries a similar idea to it as they took note to take a look. This wasn’t in a good way as David was suffering long before and now we see the people standing by and watching to see what would happen.

Scripture clearly teaches to fear God. Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” God doesn’t just stand by and watch but he is caring his plan out. And here despite the peoples in action, God is bringing forth his plan of salvation through his son. When we trust in man they will always fall short Romans 3:23.

Isaiah recording what God has told him about Himself records this..

Isaiah 46:10-11 My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

People will fall short. They will stop, watch and not help.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Where is your trust? Do you trust in man or trust in the one who created man?

The Rulers

Vs35b “but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

These rulers or judges were people of authority. Most likely part of the Chief Priest and Scribes based off the context we have seen earlier in the passage. They were likely the same ones who stirred the people up at the Praetorium causing the people to cry “Crucify Him!”.

We see them scoffing which means to deride or turn the nose up at. If you have ever crossed you arms in protest, pointing at someone as you sneered and laughed in arrogance, contempt or disbelief then you have scoffed. And as they scoffed they spoke in disbelief saying “He saved others; let him save himself,” To me that makes sense. He saved others so why can’t he save himself? And showing their true heart they continued saying, “if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One.”

These rulers wanted Jesus to prove He was God Chosen One by saving Himself. Little did they realize that He was doing exactly that by dying on the cross to make a way back to God. John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When things get difficult where does your trust turn? For many it is those in authority, either religious or political. And as we see these rulers don’t receive the gift of grace Jesus offered them either. They just mock him and look for Him to save Himself.

Forgiveness is offered but it must be received. All the rulers could do is scoff.. Where do you place your trust when your life is going awry? Our leaders can’t save us! Only the forgiveness that Jesus gave us meets what our greatest need; To be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to God.

The Soldiers

Luke 23:36–38 “The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.””

We see now the soldiers join in mocking Jesus. They are fulfilling what David had recorded hundred of years earlier while he was in a trial where he said:

Psalm 22:7–8 “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!””

We see their unbelief that he could be the King of the Jew or that he could save himself. Little did they know that it was the divine plan of God that His Son should suffer Luke 9:22. God’s plan was coming to fruition despite the things that would come from the mouths of these soldiers. We can tell the evil that lies in the hearts because of what comes out of their mouths Matthew 12:34.

Continuing in our passage we see the inscription over Jesus which read “This is the King of the Jews”. This was the charge or crime against Jesus for which he was condemned. Pilot had placed it there as a jab at the chief priest of the Jews who John 19:21“said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ””

Sometimes conflict brings anarchy and rebellion in manner that endangers the innocent people around these type sitiuatios. Often in these times soldiers and police officers; those tasked with protecting, us come to hold order.

A good soldier follows orders and protects but they lack the ability to save. Let me clarify what I mean by being saved, they are unable to forgive sins and restore our relationship with God. When conflict comes where do you place your trust? Our trust needs to be in the God of heaven, and His Son Jesus whom he sent to save us..

The Condemned

Luke 23:39 “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!””

This was one of the two robbers who hung to the right or left of Jesus. He was a criminal and he railed at Jesus. To rail means to slander or accuse. In essence it was Jesus fault he was there. As with most criminals the blame for the crime lies on anyone but them and they may even see the wrong they have done and they just want out of it. This is true of this criminal who wants to be saved but is unwilling to accept the forgiveness that Jesus is offering.

We have all had times when circumstances don’t turn out the way they should. I would say that if this criminal really knew where he would have ended up he might not have done what he had done, but then I remember the nature of man apart from God. He was willing to trust Jesus if he got him off the cross, but God doesn’t work that way. God isn’t some cosmic Genie whom we can bargain with to get what we want or even what we need. God is just and he will repay those who have done wrong. Colossians 3:25 “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” This criminal had afflicted others stealing and likely hurting others 2 Thessalonians 1:6 “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,”

The criminal trusted that if I can just get out of this situation everything will be ok. I know I have had those thoughts. Get pulled over for a ticket and think maybe I can talk my way out of this. Being taken from our circumstances won’t save us. Trusting in Christ Forgiveness will. God never promises to subvert the storm but he does promise to be with us in it.

Devine Response

Luke 23:40–41 “But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

There were three men who were crucified that day. A criminal to Jesus right and one to his left. All three of these men guilty found guilty and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Though little is recorded of the criminals experience we do know they were flogged, carried their patibulum through the streets, were stripped naked, nailed to cross and hung on the stipe for all to see. Crucifixion is an unusually cruel way to be punished and yet we see this criminal rather that rail at Jesus or the crowd he rebukes the other criminal, saying “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And yet we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus a teacher of the Pharisees when John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” From this we see that in-order to see the kingdom of God we must be born again. To be born of water and the spirit. This thief had been born again! We see this in his confession were the Spirit of God convicted him that Jesus is Lord when he asked, “Do you not fear God?” The Spirit convicted him of his sin and he confessed “we are receiving the just reward for our deeds” This criminal knew he was guilty. He knew he was going to die, Luke 23:42 “And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.””

Where do you place your hope and trust? What do you trust to forgive you of your sins and to reconcile you to God? For some its live your best life today. Do you trust in the things of this world, or people, or rulers and authorities, even circumstances to save you.

First let me say, hell is real. It is a place of torment for evermore for those who do not trust Jesus. See we are all born enemies of God desiring our own path and to rule our own kingdoms. If we die in this state as an enemy of God then we will be eternally separated from God. The place he will place us is hell and its hot.

Second let me say that we don’t know how long we have. The Lord is coming soon and we are but a vapor. If either of those things happen and you have not been born again you will endure eternal punishment.

But to those who receive Jesus’ gift of forgiveness who have been born again he says “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” To be with Jesus should be your only goal. It’s not about the location but where Jesus is this criminal and we should desire and long to be with him. Do you?