Luke 23:26-56
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Palm Sunday (Luke 19:28–44) — Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds praised Him as King, but He wept over the city because He knew its people would reject Him and face God's judgment.
Monday (Luke 19:45–48) — Jesus drove out the merchants and money-changers from the temple, declaring that God's house was meant for prayer, not profit, and He began teaching there daily while the religious leaders plotted to kill Him.
Tuesday (Luke 20–21) — Jesus spent the day in the temple, skillfully answering the tricky questions of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, and then warned His disciples about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of the end times.
Wednesday (Luke 22:1–6) — While Jesus rested quietly, the chief priests and scribes finalized their plot to arrest Him, and Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus to them in exchange for money.
Thursday (Luke 22:7–53) — Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples, instituted the Lord's Supper as a memorial of His sacrifice, and then went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, where He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the temple guards.
We’re in the middle of Friday this morning…
Friday (Luke 22:54–23:56) — Jesus has put on trial before the Jewish leaders, then before Pilate and Herod, and though He was declared innocent, He has been condemned to die and Luke 23:25 “25 And he released unto them him (Barabbas) that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
Simon Carries the Cross
Simon Carries the Cross
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
Don’t cry for me…
Daughters of Jerusalem - maybe professional mourners, maybe women sad at the death of a just man, maybe some are followers of Jesus.
Whoever these Jewish women are, it’s possible to cry for reasons other than repentance. There are many who come to the altar out of guilt or shame or just moments of emotion — real tears, with no repentance behind them.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Jesus has told them judgement is coming:
Luke 19:41–44 “41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
Here he’s reminding them of that judgement and that they will wish they had no kids and they will long for death because of the severity of it
Golgotha is the Aramaic word for “skull,” and Calvary is the Latin translation of the Greek word for skull.
vs 31: If this is what happens when the kingdom of God came in person — offering grace and mercy, and still an innocent man is put to death — what will happen when God repays those who ignored Him, rejected Him, and by that rejection openly shook their fist at Him in the judgment to come?
these are the two thieves that will be hung on crosses on each side of Jesus
Luke’s a historian and this isn’t just background detail. It’s the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12 “12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
In Christ’s prayer, while the soldiers, rulers, and one of the criminals had even finished mocking Him, we see the endless compassion of divine grace
All four gospels mention the inscription with each of them having slight differences showing the detail important to each writer.
This isn’t contradiction or mistakes, it’s independent writers each recording what was significant to their audience.
Putting them all together, the full inscription would read “THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Pilate kept it: John 19:21–22 “21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.”
Whether his attitude toward the Jews or his conscience, the inscription was staying
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Mark 15:32 “32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.”
Mark tells us that both criminals mocked Jesus on the way. Luke tells us, this thief, by the grace of God and watching Jesus has had his conscience kill him before the cross did
The second thief is telling the first, we’re facing the same death this man is and aren’t you afraid of God who we’re about to meet? And we’ve earned it by being no good wretches and breaking the law, our blood and death required by the law for justice to be served. However, this man is innocent, having no reason to die
Then, in a show of repentance and asking for mercy because he knows he has no hope except through Jesus. He acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, an act only granted by the Spirit and the Father
And we see the thief's repentance accepted by Jesus as Jesus tells him he will be with Him in paradise. Paul uses the same word in 2 Corinthians 12:4 “4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
That day the thief experienced what Paul would later write in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” No waiting, immediately in the presence of God.
Studying I learned a quote I love that someone has said: "One thief was saved that no sinner might despair, but only one, that no sinner might presume."
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
sixth hour to ninth hour: noon until 3 pm using the Jewish accounting of time, was dark over all the earth. Fulfilling Amos 8:9 “9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:”
the veil was curtain that blocked the entrance to the Most Holy Place (Ex. 26:33; Heb. 9:3).
The tearing of the veil shows us that the way into God’s presence is now open to all through a new and living way: Hebrews 10:19–22 “19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
The fact that it tears “from top to bottom” shows that no group of people tore the veil. God did it.
Psalm 31:5 “5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”
a psalm of trust in God's deliverance used as a Jewish evening prayer.
Luke shows us Jesus isn't taken, He gives Himself up.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Their “fear” speaks of an awareness of their sin, and the word truly suggests a certainty and conviction that shows genuine faith. These men represent an answer to Jesus’ prayer in Luke 23:34 “34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Jesus is Buried
Jesus is Buried
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathaea waited for the kingdom of God shows us he believes Jesus claims to Messiahship
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
According to John 19:39, Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds (about 72 pounds by modern measurement; a Roman pound equalled 11.5 oz.) of spices and aloes (probably obtained while Joseph was negotiating with Pilate for Jesus’ body), and he and Joseph wrapped the body with linen and the spices.
These women, from Galilee, were probably unfamiliar with Joseph and Nicodemus, who were Judeans. After all, both men were associated with the Jewish leaders who orchestrated the conspiracy against Jesus (v. 50; John 3:1). So, the women were determined to prepare Jesus’ body for burial themselves.
They had to have Jesus’ body placed in the tomb before sunset, when the Sabbath began, so they were not able to finish preparing the body. Mark 16:1 says they purchased more spices “when the Sabbath was past” (i.e., after sundown Saturday).
Conclusion
Conclusion
Why do we call it “Good Friday”?
The day when the leader of the apostles, the man they laid down everything they had to follow was put to death? The day that Jesus, the one those of us that call ourselves “Christians” follow now was hung on the Cross and died then taken down and buried? How is this “good”?
Friday’s good because Sunday’s coming!
The perfect Law of God required an annual sacrifice — a Day of Atonement — so the nation of Israel would be spared the wrath of God for another year.
And it required the sacrifice to occur in Jerusalem every year. Year after year after year after year.
Then God, in His holy, infinite mercy and grace, offered His only Son; perfect in every way and sinless, as a sacrifice for every person that would call on his name.
And the Son of God, Jesus Christ offered Himself as the sin bearer. Willing to carry our sin and the blackness of our souls to the Cross to be put to death in our place.
One thief reviled and mocked Jesus Luke 23:39 “39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” :
Luke 23:40–41 “40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
All humanity is under the same condemnation. And justly, for Adam’s sin is our inheritance at birth, and the wages of that sin is death.
Hebrews 9:22 “22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
It’s by the shed blood of Jesus and only by the blood of Jesus can we be saved from the wrath of God, justly and righteously deserved by every person:
1 John 1:7 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
“cleanseth” is present-active, meaning not just past sins, it’s a continual cleansing
“all sin” means zero exception
Hebrews 9:14 “14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
cleansing not just our sinful acts, it’s our very conscience, that given by God in His image that helps make us human, that’s cleansed by the blood of Jesus
Revelation 1:5 “5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
We are unshackled from our sin and the judgement and wrath of God that we deserve by the precious blood of Jesus spilled on the Cross that morning THAT’S WHY FRIDAY IS GOOD!
But saved from hell isn’t all, it gets even better…because SUNDAY’S COMING!
