Luke 23:26-43 - The Crucifixion
What are sermon series in the Gospel of Luke or 99th sermon? Getting close folks. We're getting close the sermon this morning at the crucifixion the main idea for the sermon this morning. Is this the crucifixion of Jesus
Was the killing of God's gracious son and Israel Sovereign Messiah by depraved Humanities. Let me say that again. The crucifixion of Jesus was the killing of God's gracious son and Israel Sovereign Messiah by depraved Humanity our passage this morning is Luke chapter 23 verses 26 through 43 Luke 23 verses 26 through 43 encourage you to turn on your device open your Bible and read along with us this morning.
starting in verse 26 and as they let him away They seized one Simon of Cyrene who is 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 in of women who wear morning 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 wounds that never bore and the breasts that never nurse then they will begin to say to the mountains fall on us into 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 criminal one on his right and one on his left. Then 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 the 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 are 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 for a deed, 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. Let's pray. Father God we come to you this morning asking for your help by your spirit in regards to your word.
Lord would you help us? To understand with her mind and embrace with a hard the truth.
Reveal to us. And this account of the crucifixion of your only begotten son.
Father God we want to be changed this morning.
We want to be father God. Enamored once again with all the Christ has done to save us and we want to see him clearly and his Beauty And His glory we can't do that apart from your help. Father God, would you help me to convey Your Truth Faithfully this morning? Pray this in the Name of Christ. Amen. Let's begin this morning looking at the crucifixion of Jesus and I'm going to piece together for you this morning that crucifixion really taking some information from all four gospels to get a clear picture of this unparalleled historic event. Well, of course be considering these words of Luke but also words from Matthew in chapter 27 of his gospel and from Mark in chapter 15 of his gospel and from John chapter 19 of his gospel. Let me just come into you a book which does a phenomenal job at harmonizing all the accounts of the final days of Jesus putting them in order helping you to understand them and giving commentary on it and a short book called the final days of Jesus by Andria's kostenberger. If you remember kostenberger was our first speaker at kaporos a wonderful wonderful helpful book in regards to this. Following Pilots verdict an entire Battalion of Roman soldiers approximately 600 of them gathered to mock Jesus at the governor's headquarters. They dress him up as a pretend Emperor with a violet red robe a crown of thorns and a real a reed for a scepter and then honor him sarcastically saying hail King of the Jews they further degrade him by spitting on him and striking him on his Thorncrown head with the scepter the read Jesus captors, that seems could not get enough laughter at his expense. They were oblivious to his true kingship. And probably when they grew tired of mocking him.
The Lettermen way to crucify him Judas Jesus then begins his journey to agartha passing through the garden gate outside the Western Wall Jerusalem, but at some point along the way the soldiers for cement named Simon, who is from Cyrene to carry Jesus's cross it likely weigh 30 to 40 lb And Jesus was too weak from his loss of blood and from his beating to continue carrying it. We read a verse 26 and as they let him away They seized one Simon of Cyrene. It was coming in from the country and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. Now Simon was likely a a Passover Pilgrim who would come from North Africa the Romans wouldn't help Jesus carry the cross. Not even a soldier's because of the shame that would be associated with crucifixion. And so they ordered Simon to do it. Then they arrived at Golgotha and we're told the storm soldiers offer. Jesus wine mixed with gall and where but Jesus refuses the drink he is at the place Golgotha which means place of the skull a location outside the city of Jerusalem and keeping with Old Testament requirements for executions. It's very interesting that none of the Gospel authors provide any details really concerning the actual crucifixion and you can think back to Pride c-stores past where future is one of the great deal detail about that? I don't think that's wrong. We are unfamiliar with this type of execution in yet. The gospel writers did not see a need to give gory details. They simply note that the soldiers crucified Jesus. Obviously most 1st Century readers would have some idea what crucifixion was like and appreciate it more than we would. We should know that the victims either die from physical Trauma from loss of blood or shock or usually they succumb to Suffocation when they no longer have the strength to lift themselves up to breathe.
And we've come to learn that the Romans employed a number of different crucifixion techniques for the use of Nails in a crossfire was common.
Each of the gospels notes that Jesus was not crucified alone, but is executed with two robbers one on either side of them for filling Isaiah's prophecy that the suffering servant would be numbered with the transgressors. That's Isaiah 53:12. Both robbers initially joined in the mockery and revile Jesus along with the others. We read in verses 32 and 33 to others who were criminals were LED away to be put to death with him 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. Now from Luke's recounting of the crucifixion of Jesus, we can highlight several things. We can highlight the mocking of Jesus. We can highlight the affirmation of Jesus and the responses of Jesus. Let's look at the markings of Jesus. these markings of Jesus as an innocent man, who was the son of God was crucified demonstrate the depravity. of mankind
There are those who are saddened by what they see and perhaps in different maybe to Jesus's plate. But Jesus is enemies continue to mock him to the very end. Weary from other gospels that those passing by the ride and taunt Jesus but Luke focuses in on the mocking from the rulers of the Jews the soldiers in from one of the criminals who was crucified with and we see the rulers mocking verse 35 and 36. 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 Jewish leaders do not pass up the opportunity to one more time publicly insult and taunt. The one who had opposed them throughout his ministry. A Jesus's suffering and impending death on the cross was seen by them as a validation of what they were doing. It appeared to them that their charges that what they put forth is Jewish leaders and their desires to see him killed. It appeared to them that God was punishing Jesus and the day were correct. So they mocked and his soldiers marched. We reimbursed 362 soldiers. Also Martin coming up an offering him sour wine and verse 37 and saying if you are the king of Jews save yourself. So the soldiers are now joining in perhaps inspired by the mocking of the Jewish leaders.
Giving him a wine that was really more like vinegar.
Which was somehow their attempt to mock him and then of course they verbally Mock and attack him based on what they see is an absurd idea that this man is somehow a king.
We see the one of the criminals mocks Jesus and Luke's account verse 39 one of the criminals who were hanging rail that him saying are you not the Christ save yourself and until one of these criminals speaks with sarcastic disrespect.
Even as he's hanging on a cross there beside Jesus it seems that all aspects of society are mocking Jesus, especially when we take the other gospel accounts into consideration. the citizens of Jerusalem Mark Jesus the religious and Civic leaders mock Jesus the representative of the Roman government mocks Jesus the military personnel mock Jesus, even the criminals Are mocking Jesus. They all join into ridicule and taunt the Son of God what a wretched picture of humanity. The mocking of Jesus is How debased how devilish how deprived and depraved is the human race?
CH Spurgeon in a sermon on this passage speaks to this. He says Brother and Sisters in Christ. We have before us a king and such a king as was never known before his pedigree more glorious than not have any mere Earthly Monarch his right to rain and disputable his power to subdue all to himself infinite whether he chose to use that are not his character such as never belonged to any King before as eminent and goodness as he was in supreme power. Yeah, he became the son of man for our sakes. This is a king who is now before us. But what an instrument was accorded to him see that Scarlet robe. It is a contemptuous imitation of the Imperial purple that a king wears see that old chair and which of the soldiers have thrust him so that he may be seated Upon A mockery of a throne sea above all that Chrome Crown upon his head. It has Ruby's in it, but the rubies are composed of his own blood forced from his blessed temples by the crew of thorns sea, they pay him homage by the homage is the wrong filthy spittle which runs down his cheeks. They bow the knee before him but his only in mockery, they salute him with the cry hail King of the Jews but it is done in scorn. Was there ever grief like his it amazes us at such superlative goodness should have been treated with such fiendish malice and a touch Mercy should have been in such misery that such Majesty should have been reduced to such despising. What depravity we seed inhumanity portrayed in the mocking of Jesus? They're also I formations of Jesus. Affirmations of Jesus even as he was crucified to demonstrate the glory of Israel's Messiah. There are still some who speak and act somewhat positively toward the carpenter From Galilee. Luke notes somewhat positive responses from women from Pilot in from the criminals. There is a type of affirmation from women weary Danvers 27 and there followed him a great multitude of the people in the women who were morning and lamenting for him. The length of the women were literally beating of chasten grief and speaking and perhaps singing Lamentations with their mouth at least some picture of affirming who Jesus was
it's interesting to note that Luke never holds back when recounting the role that women play in the story of Jesus. In fact never in any of the synoptic Gospels. Are women portrayed as being opposed to Jesus?
No, we cannot say from these sources that the women are fully sympathetic towards Jesus. It could be cultural. But surely there are more sympathetic than the leaders of the soldiers are the criminal. Let me have an affirmation from Pilot pilot unintentionally and without married without Merit has the charge against Jesus inscribed above his head on the cross which in fact is an affirmation to those who come to believe in Jesus. It wrote. This is the king of the Jews. It was meant to be a a public sign to those who would see Jesus crucified to serve as a deterrent to any who would set themselves up as king wrong would only accept one emperor. Now John in the gospel named after him notes that this inscription was written in Aramaic and Latin and Greek in order to ensure the widest possible readership among the throngs of Passover pilgrims. This is an unintended affirmation of Jesus is similar to what happens in John's gospel where the sovereignty of God and in his Providence. We see that God uses the high priest to prophesy. About the salvation that Jesus would accomplish Caiaphas. We read and John chapter 11, who was the high priest that year said to them, you know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you. That one man should die for the people not that the whole nation should perish this and then John writes. He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that you're he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation just like that high priest was used by God unwittingly to prophesy about Jesus's salvation. Let me suggest to you the pilot also didn't Proclaim Christ kingship of his own accord. But again, God demonstrates his sovereignty and his Providence by superintending this Proclamation an affirmation that Jesus is indeed a king V King. Finally, there's an affirmation of a thief Luke is the only gospel to record the affirmation of one of the thieves who were Jesus by indicating that Jesus suffers innocently and that Jesus is in fact the savior. and therefore implying the graciousness of God we read verse 40, but the other the other Thief 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.
One of the robbers experiences a change of heart perhaps after hearing Jesus pray for the Forgiveness of those responsible for his mocking and crucifixion. This criminals affirming confession indicates that God is gracious for the thief realizes that he himself deserves death. He didn't learn any sort of salvation. It also affirms God's sovereignty in his power in that how else could a man hanging on a cross save anyone?
Man hanging on a cross can save another man hanging on Cross surely that first must man must be someone of great power. Now these are formations though. One is likely half-hearted a second. One is unintentional. We are reminded that the one they are crucifying in the one they are mocking is one who is gracious and mercy and Sovereign in his rule. That's who they crucified will not faithful day. Finally this morning lettuce. Look at the responses of Jesus. Cuz in the responses of Jesus we see the glory of God Son. First we see a prophetic response Again Luke alone recording Jesus's dire prophecy. Jesus upon hearing the morning and lamenting of some of the women in the crowd and having the cross removed from him maybe so he could now breathe and even speak.
Gathers his strength and turns to the women and speaks words from Zakaria chapter 12 and Hosea chapter 10 prophesying the terrible days. Lie ahead for Jerusalem. Jesus's predicting the terror in the Calamity that will befall Jerusalem when it will be destroyed by the Romans and AD 70 And this prophetic response of Jesus we get confirmation that he is indeed the prophet that he is fulfilling the office of prophet like we studied a couple weeks ago. But it also points to the care that Jesus has for his people even as he marches to the place of his execution, even though he has suffered and arrest and beatings and score Jenks and markings and other abusive. He speaks with concern for others disregarding concern for himself. Who is Like This Man Called Jesus.
Jesus also has a merciful response Luke records that Jesus response to his crucifixion and the mockery with powerful and in fact haunting words.
Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Has he ever spoken more compelling and convicting words that communicate God's Indescribable love for his people even in the midst of torture and mockery Jesus prays for forgiveness for those who torments him.
Again, CH Spurgeon speaks to this so well. Mini sermon he preached he says this they have spin it to his face, but he still prays for them. They are scourged him with their cruel lashes. They have hounded him along the street. They have at last pierced his hands and feet and strip them and they now hanging upon the gibbet Between Heaven and Earth, but still nothing can diminish the flame of his love nor turn aside his heart's desire from them. It is still for them. He lives for them. He dies. Father forgive them is the sign and proof that he is holding still to the one great work. He undertook. At that point in the sermon Spurgeon then speaks to the unbelievers. And I would share with any of you here this morning who are not a Believer these words of Spurgeon in regards to Christ is death upon the cross and his prayer that his tormentors would be forgiven. Let these words are Spurgeon be heard by you as if he spoke to them this morning. He said no, I would owe Center. I would that you would learn this lesson. Herein is love behold. What love will you not come and share in it? What keeps you back? Can you hold your heart from Emmanuel? Can you refuse to live such a dear lover of the sons of men? I think of our hearts were not adamant or worse. They must be melted at the site of the pleading love of Jesus upon the tree come so I'll have done with your hardness Let It Drop of Christ blood melt that heart of yours have done with your carelessness. Let a spark of Love set your heart on fire towards him. Are you afraid to come afraid of him the dyes for centers afraid of Love terrified at Mercy OB not so but come and welcome and put your trust in him who with his dying breath proves the strength of his on Mighty Love by pleading for is pho's
you're here this morning and you're an unbeliever know that the merciful response of Jesus on the cross calls out his great love that he has for his people.
Repent this morning and believe in this merciful one who desires to show you Mercy Christ also had a gracious response to the Steve's petition. Jesus Remember me when you come into your kingdom Jesus response truly I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise. Jesus is acceptance of this man powerfully illustrates the opportunity for forgiveness and for eternal life that will soon be proclaimed to all people on the basis of his sacrifice sacrificial death for sin. As we've said this Robert has no ability or time to do any good works possibly make up for the wrong that he has done for society as he hangs there on the cross. But you can believe in Jesus said he can ask him for salvation. And that is in fact all that is needed. Is this man's Eternal Destiny changes? From separation from God for eternity to spending eternity with Jesus in Paradise. This deathbed conversion of this thief is a profound Declaration of the grace of God. Criminal had lived his life in such a way that he was being punished by capital punishment. He had no good works to claim in his defense. He admits he deserves death. On what Merit could he possibly can claim salvation none?
But the gracious teacher From Galilee Jesus Christ the son of God. Receives this thief into his salvation. What a what a gracious glorious savior he is. I finished this morning with three points of application that I'll give to you quickly in regards to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Let this Easter season be an Easter season of admitting our sin into private e the Cross of Christ on so many levels paint an ugly picture a horrific picture a realistic picture of our sin and are sending let's not hide it. Let's not deny it let's not try to rationalize it. This Easter season, let us admit it and repent of it let this Easter season be a season of admitting and repenting of our sin. Let us also let this Easter season be one of affirming Jesus. Affirming Jesus to those who don't believe in him.
Let us share this glorious gospel this Easter season telling people who Jesus is telling people what he is like telling people all that. He has accomplished through his life and death and Resurrection. There are two times in the year in our culture wait where you may get an open door to speak of Jesus one is at Christmas time and his birth and the other is at Easter regarding his crucifixion. So let's be those who affirm Jesus in his crucifixion and in his resurrection. To our family to our friends to our colleagues to those we go to school with so those in our communities.
finally let this Easter season be an Easter season of responding like Jesus. In light of our own difficult times infinitely less than Jesus's. But in a wrong difficult times, let us see Christ as Nelson preached a couple weeks ago as our example even in the face of those who are adversarial to us.
These days have fostered a lot of contention. a lot of disagreement a lot of adversarial interactions with the community with unbelievers even within the church. Let us respond. This Easter season as Lord willing things start to ease up. Let us respond as Jesus did praying for those who we can't end with. praying for them
make these people are these groups your constant subject of your prayer and have a heart of forgiveness towards I'm in then prove the sincerity of those prayers by acting with extra kindness towards those Who may be considered your adversaries? Let's pray.
Father God we thank you for your word and we thank you for this recounting. Of the crucifixion and we pray father God that you would use it in our minds and our hearts use it to remind us and reinforce in US. the truth of the ugliness of our sin in our Senate help us by your spirit Spirit to admit these things into repent of them. I pray. Help us father God by your spirit to affirm Jesus to those around us all that he is and all that he has done.
And help us to respond and are difficult days. the way Jesus responded in his by praying for those Who contend with us and having prayed for them by treating them with kindness the pray this in Christ name? Amen?