Is image everything?

Spectacular Society

Our culture is driven by sight. Back in the 80s, Andre Agassi famously stated “Image is everything” in a camera ad. Unfortunately, for Agassi, that statement has continued to haunt him - causing him to even regret that he ever agreed to do that commercial.

And yet there are parts of that statement that feel even more true today than they did when Agassi first voiced those words.

Have you ever noticed how social media algorithms are driven by what catches our attention? A few extra moments on one video or image causes the feed to give you more of that type imagery.

laughing babies

cute animal reels

automobiles

war pics

politics

We are succumbed by what we see.

While we might be tempted to blame the ADD of our media driven culture, we have often been people who are swayed by sight.

The spectacle of the tower of Babel prompted people to turn away from the unseen God who created them to the seen object of their own creation. The blood-baths of the gladiators captured the attention of thousands in order to entice the allegiance of the wealthy and ensure the compliance of the weak.

In the time in which Jesus ministered on Earth, Rome’s brutal crucifixion tactics provided gory, visual entertainment for the loyalists and prompted complicity among those who longed to be freed from the Caesar’s heavy-handed authoritarianism.

Agassi wasn’t far off from the truth - image is almost everything.

And yet image demands a response. It’s the image or spectacle of the cross the demands both our attention and our response today. If you have your copy of God’s word, open to Luke 23:26-56. You’ll find that on p. 842 in the pew bibles.

Way back in Luke 9:51, we saw that Jesus was determined to make His way to Jerusalem. And yet He did not go there as a conquering King or military leader, instead, He went there as a teacher, healer, and savior. For the last thirteen chapters (and 9 months), we have been following Jesus as he healed the sick, fed the hungry, taught the eager, and competed with the self-righteous.

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been considering the events of Passion week, as Luke records them - consider what we “saw” - Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and then lamented over the city, cleansed and considered the temple, and then countered those who controlled the religious system. We reflected on some of the intimate times that He shared with His disciples, His heartfelt plea to the Father and His heartache as one of His own betrayed Him into the hands of His adversaries. He was tried in a sort of Kangaroo court that broke all sorts of traditions and laws. He was declared innocent, but then convicted by the court of public opinion.

In all of this, Jesus has responded with grace and integrity. Last week, we found the governor of the region giving Jesus over to the will of the religious leaders in the spectacle of crucifixion.

Before we dive into the next set of text, I do think it’s important to consider the inspiration of Scripture for a moment. I believe the the Holy Spirit of God inspired people to take what they observed and learned in order to convey His truth to their contemporaries. Eventually, all of those testimonies were compiled into the Scripture that we have today. In this, the Spirit enlisted the personalities and perspectives of the authors in the process. Thinking specifically about the gospels, we get four different views of the life of Jesus.

Matthew, or Levi, looked at Jesus’ life from a Jewish perspective, helping us to see how Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King of the Jews.

Mark, as we understand it, took the experiences and testimony of Peter and showed how Jesus is the servant of God who gets things done.

John, who, along with Matthew, was one of the twelve apostles, helped us to see Jesus’ divinity through His miraculous signs and teaching.

Luke has come along as a disciple/companion of Paul and a physician to present an orderly account of Jesus’ life and ministry. Because he was not an an eye-witness, but rather an interviewer and a researcher, Luke seems to compile a lot of different perspectives as he presents Jesus to us. This is why Jesus seems so human, relatable, and compassionate from Luke’s point of view. That doesn’t make Him any less God, it just presents Jesus from a different perspective.

So, as we consider the passage before us today, let me encourage you to pay attention to the things that captured Luke’s attention - the people and the conversations and Jesus amidst all of that…

Luke 23:26–56 ESV

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 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.” It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

This is the word of the Lord.

It seems like there are several spectacles here - several images or scenes that demand our attention and our response - the spectacles of crucifixion, conviction, and Christ.

First of all, notice

The spectacle of crucifixion.

This was a brutal and tortuous means of executing someone. Crucifixion was designed to humiliate criminals as they walked through town and then were hung, naked.

None of the gospel writers note why, but Luke tells us that a Jewish by-stander, Simon of Cyrene, was enlisted to carry the cross for Jesus. This was likely the horizontal cross beam. After being up all night and the beating that Jesus had already received, made him weak; too weak to carry the cross-beam all the way to the crucifixion site.

Now, not only are Jesus and the criminals humiliated, but Simon is as well - all of them are spectacles of the watching crowd.

Once to the site, Jesus specifically endures a great deal of mockery from a variety of people.

The Jewish leaders scoffed at Him. Interestingly, they acknowledge that He saved others, but then call for Him to save Himself.

The soldiers mocked him as King by giving Him sour wine. Supposedly, this wine was cheap wine designed to take a way thirst, and yet not satisfy.

One of the other criminals “railed at Him” calling for salvation for all three of them.

As if the beating and the humiliation of being nailed to a cross, naked and exposed wasn’t enough, Jesus faces this verbal abuse and scorn.

In addition to seeing the spectacle of the crucifixion itself, of which Luke gives us very few of the gory details, secondly we notice…

The spectacle of conviction.

In essence, there are several places in this overall scene where people step up and stand out in some interesting and unique ways.

First, there is the second criminal. He defends Jesus to his peer. He then acknowledged his own guilt and recognizes Jesus’ innocence. Then in a bold act of faith, he makes a request of Jesus: Luke 23:42 …“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” But let’s consider the faith he demonstrates. What does he know about the Jesus’ Kingdom? What does he expect will happen? Surely, none of them are coming off of these crosses alive. It seems like He sees Who Jesus is and believes - before His death and resurrection. It’s unclear what He understood Jesus’ kingdom to entail, but it certainly seemed he knew this was not the end for Jesus. Wow, what faith!

There are some of us who have heard time and again about the teaching and ministry of Jesus. We’ve been encouraged by what we read about Him, but we fail to put our faith totally in Him.

In addition to the conviction of the criminal, we see the conviction of…

the Centurion. This man had likely participated in the crucifixion of hundreds of people. I would guess he observed court cases and saw how the guilty act in their final moments. After Jesus breathed his last breath, this man stated “surely this man was innocent” or righteous.

Next, there is…

Joseph of Arimathea. Here was an upstanding Jewish leader. Luke notes that he was looking for or anticipating the coming of the Kingdom. It’s unclear what exactly that means or what he was hoping the Kingdom would be like, but it seemed like he saw Jesus as a piece of that. When others on the Sanhedrin voted to condemn Jesus, Joseph did not consent. During Jesus’ ministry, Joseph may have been a sort of secretive disciple, but here after Jesus’ death, he is not ashamed. He’s not threatened by the ceremonial uncleanness that would follow his work touching and moving the body of Jesus. He’s not afraid to request for Jesus’ body from Pilate. It seems like, when it counted, Joseph stood firm.

I guess it might be helpful for us to consider, when would it be appropriate for us to stand firm with Jesus and when are we tempted to shy away?

Then there are the…

Acquaintances - This may be some of the apostles and some others. It is interesting that Luke doesn’t specifically call them disciples here - just acquaintances. They stand at a bit of a distance, observing the spectacle of Jesus’ crucifixion. Was it fear? Was it curiosity? Was it grief?

Finally, there are the…

Women - now we will discuss them some more next week. One of the things that we’ve seen throughout Luke’s gospel is the presence of women. While women in their day did not have a legal voice, Luke seems to note that they had a genuine faith and faithfulness. Their rabbi may have died, but they are going to do what they can to honor his body. He may have been crucified as a criminal, but they will bury Him as best they can as a King.

Each of these people, in some small way demonstrated conviction. They showed allegiance to Christ when it counted - even in the spectacle of the crucifixion.

There is one final spectacle that I’d like for us to consider. That is…

The spectacle of Christ.

One of the things that captures my attention in Luke’s telling of the Jesus’ crucifixion what he chooses to include. Luke doesn’t describe the condition of Jesus’ body or the gory details of what He endured. He doesn’t mention the crown of thorns or the specifics of the beatings he endured. Instead, Luke helps us to see how Jesus is in control even as He is being led to His death. What’s more, Luke highlights the way that Jesus considers everyone else but Himself.

He shows concern for the women and the city. Even as they lament and mourn as He passes by, He talks about difficult days that are ahead. Quoting from the prophet Hosea, He indicates that they will long for their own deaths in the face whatever is coming. He may have been referring to general persecution or the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus clearly shows concern for others.

He demonstrates compassion for the confessing criminal. As His life is leaving His body, when the confessing criminal begs for mercy, Jesus tells him that he will be with him in paradise that very day! This man seems to come to faith on his death bed. In commenting on this, Mark Dever recently stated on a podcast: “One is saved lest none despair, one is not, lest none presume.” Can people come to faith on their death beds? Yes, I believe they can. Friend, if you’re hoping to wait until you are on your death bed before you come to salvation, why wait until then? How do you know that you will have an opportunity to respond then? Come today?

He shows grace to his executioners. When he said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” he was essentially showing them mercy. He did not hold this against them.

Ultimately, He showed contrition for the will of the Father as He said, “into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s as though He is fully submitting himself to what the Father would have him do so that you and I might have a way to be in a right relationship with the Father.

Closing thoughts

Theo of Golden — observation, reflection, action

Image is not everything, but what we see in the cross is. We should look at what is there in the text. Consider what Christ endured. The cross of Christ demands our attention. It demands a response. May we respond with faith, with conviction, with gratitude.

Let’s pray.

Benediction

2 Thessalonians 3:18 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Questions for reflection and discussion

Read: Luke 23:26-56

1. What captures your attention (social media, television, news, etc.)?

2. What experiences have caused you to be amazed?

3. Why did the soldiers seize Simon of Cyrene? (23:26)

4. Why did Jesus tell the women to weep for themselves? (23:28–31)

5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “If men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (23:31)

6. What do Jesus’ words on the cross reveal about His character? (23:34)

7. What can you learn from the actions of the repentant criminal?

8. What unusual natural occurrence took place and what did it signify? (23:44–45)

9. What did the tearing of the temple curtain signify? (23:45)

10. Why did the centurion call Jesus a righteous man, and in what way was this declaration significant? (23:47)

11. How did Luke describe Joseph’s character? (23:50)

12. What was courageous about what Joseph did?

13. What can we learn from Joseph’s example?

Sources:

Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.

Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.

Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978.

Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.

Reinke, Tony Competing Spectacles. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.

Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.

The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.

Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.