Luke 23:26-55

We are Helpless

Often people want to believe in themselves. I can be independent. If I want something done right I need to do it myself. Even if I ever needed to rely on someone I would like to think I contributed something. We tend to stay away from out weaknesses. We would rather no expose those. Sometimes it is hard for me to call my parents. I am supposed to be an adult now and I am still trying to figure out life.

As humanity we are born helpless. We were dead physically Romans 5:12. We all have an expiration date, and as you get older life seems short. You were dead spiritually. (Eph 2:1-3). Many people believe that they can contribute to their salvation. That they earned it. They change God’s mind, maybe there is a balance of all the good I have done with all the bad. Maybe as long as I follow the ten commandments. Maybe if I am a loving person I will be good with God and make it to heaven.

Let’s talk physically for a second. Has any dead man ever performed CPR on himself to bring himself back to life. Has any dead man clawed himself out of the grave. A dead guy is powerless and helpless to remove himself from that situation. The same is true of the spiritually dead person. To be dead in trespasses and sins means that one is stuck and is powerless to escape his situation because he cannot perform salvation by himself and neither can he contribute.

Are we willing to say we are helpless without God’s provision? (Jesus Christ)

Pray

Luke 23:26-31 (Be brief)

here will be a time when Israel is in danger and will need to flee (Matt 24:19)

It also might just be a reference to the tribulation over all as there will be much judgement

The green wood by be a reference to Jesus and His time on the earth.

Luke 23:32-39 Now we have these mockers

We have people weeping for Jesus (In the distance)

We have these mockers (Shaming Christ)

Dividing his garments right in front of him

Rulers, “This is the miracle worker” (He is helpless)

Soldiers are mocking him, “King of the Jews” Kings are supposed to be powerful aren’t they

Even the other criminals is mocking Jesus (think of the effort that took.)

Just to jeer at Jesus

This passage shows that Jesus was not hypocrite

Matt 5:43-48

Father forgive them for they know not what they do? (Shouldn’t they though)

Matt 5:39

Phil 2:5

Luke 23:40-43

What is interesting is that in the account of Matthew and Mark, it is said that both thieves are mocking Jesus.

You are being punished in the same way as this one is.

We deserve it. He doesn’t

He takes a step of faith in this one.

He believes in the message Christ has been preaching to the people of Israel. (This is a suprise)

We have religious leaders at the trials at the cross, and they had seen his miracles

They were very learned men. (Paul)

They were supposed to understand the scripture better than anybody. They should have recognized the Messiah. Pilate, who was not Jewish knew that there was something different about Jesus. And Jesus even though he was quiet said some things to a Roman governor. I am the kind of the Jews. You have no authority except what comes from above. We even see that after Jesus’s death at least one Roman soldier recognizing something different about Jesus. He was a righteous man. In Matthew and Mark record a soldier saying, truly this was the Son of God. If it was so obvious to the Romans, why was it not obvious to the Jewish people who were waiting for the Messiah and His kingdom.

There was a heart problem. We were all born spiritually dead and so were the Israelites. We think of the Pharisees that Christ had some strong words for. Matthew 23:26. They had missed the point.

Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 37.

We have the criminal who also mocked Jesus from the other accounts of scriptures. He knows what he deserves and he puts faith in the Christ.

There was nothing he could do or say that could earn any merit or pay Jesus back. His full reliance was on Christ’s mercy and grace. He couldn’t fulfill the law. It has always been by faith. Are we any better than he?

Isaiah 64:6 (Let me take a filthy rag and clean the inside)

Matthew 16:24-26

Matthew 7:21-23

He had full reliance on Christ, no baptism, no communion, no great deeds, not getting rid of his wealth, no sharing the gospel. He had nothing to offer. But he heard these wonderful words.

Jesus had to die in our place

Sacrifice means in place of