Luke 23:44-49 - The Death of Jesus

Jesus's death in these verses that describe the death of Jesus. We see a very interesting symmetry. That is the passage begins with three interpretive events that will instruct us as readers on the death of Jesus. And then we have the death of Jesus and a few short words. Which is Then followed by three responses to the death of Jesus. So we have our three interpretive events. We're going to look and consider what those mean. We have our three responses which we are going to use to apply this text. But right in the middle of those things is the very focal point of God's plan of Redemptive history. We have the death of Jesus a little later on in the sermon. I'm going to give you a detailed long explanation of what I think the main idea of this passage is But I will start this morning by say it can be conveyed very simply the death of Jesus changes everything the death of Jesus changes everything. Let's go to God's word this morning. We're looking and reading from Luke chapter 23 verses 44 through 49 5 verses on the death of Jesus and encourage you to open up your Bibles and turn on your devices and read along with me this morning. Luke chapter 23 verses 44 through 49.

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 lies.

Now when the Centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God saying certainly this man was innocent and all the crowds that is a symbol for the 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. Let's pray father God. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the inspired account in Luke of the death of Jesus. We pray father God for your spirits help or we desire that you're living word would change us this morning would conform us to the image of Christ would cause us to grow and godliness. Father God, will you help us by your spear? We cannot achieve those things apart from your help as we look this morning at the very epicenter of all that you have done all your word and all your works. Focus in on the death of your son. Would you help us help me father? To Proclaim your truth in a way. That's faithful. Help us to see Jesus. We pray this in his name. Amen. Let's begin this morning with three interpretive events three events as narrated by Lou that immediately precedes Jesus. Does that help us understand its meaning? First of all, there's the darkened land vs. 44 and forty to forty-five a it was now about the sixth hour and there was Darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour while the Sun's light fail the very heavens God's creation is making comment God's creation is interpreting the death of Jesus to help us understand what is transpiring from about noon until 3 in the afternoon. We re there is Darkness over the whole land. It's not likely the whole earth. It could be all of Judea but it certainly the area around and including Jerusalem and we need to understand about this darkness is that darkness is a sign of God's judgment. So the death of Jesus is connected to the Judgment of God. We do this by reading Old Testament acts like Amos chapter 8 verses 9 and 10 and on that day to Claire's the Lord. I will make the sun go down at noon. And darken the Earth in broad daylight. I will turn your face in the morning and your songs and the lamentation. I will bring Sackhoff on every race and baldness on every head. I will make it like the morning for only a sign in at the end of it like a bitter day. You see darkness is connected with the Judgment of God similarly and Joel chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 blow a trumpet in Zion sound an alarm in my Holy Mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming. It is near a day of darkness and Gloom a day of clouds and thick Darkness Darkness is associated. With the Judgment of God, we've also learned and Luke that darkness is associated with satanic evil forces. Remember if you recall back to Luke 22 verse 53 when Jesus is being arrested. He says when I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of Darkness the hour of Darkness beneath the realm in domain of evil the rule of Satan as we understand that as Darkness cover the land in the middle of the day that this was indicative of God's judgement being involved in the death of Jesus as well as a satanic battle that's happening.

And then there was a torn curtain. The land was in darkness and we reimbursed $45 B Part B to the second. Sign that help us understand the death of Jesus. The curtain of the temple was torn in two there were two curtains associated with the temple in Jerusalem. One curtain was a curtain that separated the outer courts from the temple itself. And there was a second curtain which separated the holy of holies from the from the holy place. And so there's some disagreement in terms of what curtain was torn some think it was the outer curtain because that would be public people on the outside would be able to see that. But other commentator say no it was the internal curtain the one that separated the holy place from the most holy place and I think as we consider the rest of the New Testament that it is indeed that inner curtain the way the other writers in the New Testament speak about this. I think it's pertaining to that inner Kurt. Now this curtain was 30 ft wide and 6 or 7 inch thick and 60 ft high and it was passed by only once a year on the day of atonement. Other than that that curtain kept of a barrier between God's presence and the people was interesting and how Luke describes the tearing of the curtain he uses in terms of grammar. What's called the Divine passive meaning that it is God who tore the curtain this is a miraculous work of God this curtain that separates the holy place from the most holy place has torn in two. And this is an indication really of two things which will go into more depth in the moment one that access to God has been opened up by the death of Jesus is that curtain which kept people away from God's presence in the most holy people was torn from top to bottom. It's an indication that access to God is available in the death of Christ, but also that the temple in Jerusalem is no longer. The only place where God's presence can be mad, but it in fact would spread throughout the Earth. Let's keep moving our third event, which helps us understand about the death of Jesus is his final words. We read them in verse 46 the first half of that verse then Jesus calling out with a loud voice and father into your hands. I commit my spirit Jesus quotes words directly from Psalm 31 verse 5. This is Psalm 31 verse 5 into your hands. I commit my spirit you have redeemed Me O Lord faithful God Jesus quote Psalm 31 a song that is known as the prayer of the righteous suffer. And we see that Jesus is the true and greatest righteous suffer of which King David is only a shadow. And this prayer shows Christ submission to God and his faith in God's promises to deliver him. Cuz I was considering these final words of Jesus. I thought to myself what what were the first words of Jesus and if you think way back 3 years ago. Luke records the first words of Jesus that are recorded he certainly talk before then but the first recorded g words of Jesus are Luke chapter 2 verse 48 through 49 if you recall Mary and Joseph had left Jerusalem realize once they had left the city that Jesus wasn't with them and so frantically return to Jerusalem looking for their son they found him in the temple and we read and when his parents saw him they were astonished at his mother said them son. Why have you treated us? So behold your father and I have been searching for you in great distress, and he said then why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house. The first recorded words of Jesus in The Gospel speed to his allegiance to God the Father. And his last recorded words before he died. A firm that has Allegiant has not changed. They are words that point to the providential sovereignty of a good God and the submissive Obedience of a good son who entrust himself to that father. So these are the events that indicates watch what this death was about they help us interpret the death of Jesus because that's what we get to we read and having said this he breathed his last having said father into your hands. I commit my spirit he breathed his last. That's the only description of his death.

I'm so let's look at these interpretive events and what they speak to about the date death of Jesus and certainly Luke has an exhaustive Luke touches upon some things in these five verses. Let me encourage to suggest you this morning a resource. That is just a wonderful accessible short resource to Avail yourself of a Christmas time. Is it Eastern time is called 50 reasons. Jesus came to die by John Piper Heelys. 50 reasons why Jesus came to die. It's available for free. You can download it at Desiring God. It's very accessible wonderful book to to engage with over the Easter. Luke has an exhaustive and yet Luke interprets the meaning of Jesus death for us by giving us these interpretive events at siletz consider them in light of the death of Jesus. We talked about the dark and land being an indication of the Judgment of God as well as indicating. The crucifixion is the work of the devil. We read in Romans chapter 3 verse 25 that God put forward Jesus as a propitiation by his blood. That is Jesus's Death his sacrifice was a propitiating sacrifice. What does that mean? A propitiation is a sacrifice that absorbs the wrath of God. So the death of Jesus pertained to God's judgement God's judgment goes out against centers whom he is rifle against for standings, but Jesus's death propitiate absorbs that rap that Jesus is people don't come under the judgment.

We also see that this darkness is connected to evil. The death of Christ is a spiritual battle. There was Darkness this was the plot of the enemy and yet we learn through scripture that Jesus is death is the means by which he disarms and defeats the evil forces. We see this in Colossians 2 verse 13 through 15. We're Paul writes and you who are dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh God Made Alive together with him having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its illegal to man this he set aside nailing it to the Cross connecting what he saying to the death of Christ and then he says he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open Shame by triumphing over them in him. That is the death of Christ was the disarming. Of the rulers and authorities and the putting them to shame because they have lost of the Victorious Christ. We read and first John chapter 3 verse 8, whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil for the devil has been sending from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil the darkness indicates the spiritual Battle of the crucifixion and what we learn in the New Testament is the death of Jesus is the destruction of the devil's work. Jesus victory over evil forces

Navigate to the torn curtain the torn curtain was an indication first. As I said that access to God was opened up by Christ in his death and second that the presence of God would not terminate at the temple in Jerusalem. But rather God's presence would radiate from Jerusalem City ends of the Earth in the New Testament Bears this out. We read in regards to the torn curtain in the death of Christ and access to God we read and Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19 through 22 these words. There are four brothers since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus speaks of his death it is because of the blood of Jesus. It is because of death of Christ that we have confidence to enter the holy places by the New and Living Way that he opened up for us through the curtain that is through his Flash. And since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a True Heart in full Assurance of Faith with our cart sprinkle sprinkle clean from an evil conscience and our bodies wash with pure water we have access to God through the death of Christ. But we also see that the torn curtain indicates that the temple is no longer the epicenter of worship. The death of Christ is a death that unleashes the power of the Gospel to the whole world. We read in Romans chapter 1 verse 16 Paul says for I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek so begin in Jerusalem that begin and is real but its spread their to the Gentile world. We reading Revelation 5:9 a connection to the death of Christ we read and they sang a new song saying where they are you to take the scroll in to open it seals for you were slain. And by your blood you ran some people for God from every tribe and language and people and Nation the death of Christ opened up access to God and gave the motivation and power to the gospel proclaiming his death that that it might go out from Jerusalem. To every corner of the earth. Finally we have Jesus's final words. Jesus's final words help us to interpret what his death means And if he commits himself to God, we understand that his death was brought about by the providential sovereignty of a good god through the submissive Obedience of a good son who entrust himself to his father.

Christ final words interpret his death indicating. The death of Christ was brought about by the will and plan of God, Isaiah 53:10 these words. Hear us as we consider them. They're not easily understood there is a way to them and yet they are God's words to us Isaiah 53:10 yet. It was the will of the Lord to crush him.

That's a heavyweight that's not easy to understand. There's wrestling involved in that and yet it speaks of a clear truth that the death of Christ was according to God's plan yet. It was the will of the Lord to crush him the Apostle Peter confirms this and Acts chapter 2 verse 22 through 23 on the day of Pentecost after the spirit has fallen on God Church Peter preaches to the Jews and he says along with many other things. He says men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man attested to you by God with Mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through in in your midst as you yourselves know this Jesus delivered according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and kill It was a cording to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. I so we can wrestle with that but we ought not to deny the truth of the death of Jesus was according to God's plan. The death of Jesus is also an obedience and a willing laying down of one's life by the Sun.

We read in Ephesians 5:2. Paul encourages the Believers to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us he gave himself up for us. He was willing to die for us. He follows that by saying it was a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God indicating God's pleasure. And Christ's sacrifice or Philippians 2 verse 5 through 8 of this mine among yourself, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Who do we was a form of God do not count equality with God nothing to be grass but emptied himself taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form. He humbled himself. By becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. And so I gave you a very short main idea for this passage the death of Jesus changes everything. I gave you that short one because this is be the main idea if I tried to put it all into words. Among a myriad of many other amazing truise the death of Christ was a death that absorbed the Wrath and Judgment of God. It was a death of defeated the force of evil. It was a death of gained access to God. It was a death that gave us power to share the gospel and a promise to see a great harvest throughout the world. It was a death ordained by God. It was a death in which Christ willfully submitted to his father and it was a death in which his father was well pleased.

That's what these three interpretive events. Tell us about the death of Christ. And so now we look to three responses. That Luke has recorded for us to consider and I encourage you let's use these responses to Christ death. Which has been interpreted for us by Luke. He's helped us to understand what it means not all of what it means. But certainly enough to live our lives on if nothing more were added and find ourselves a shin in. But let's consider the responses that follow the death of Jesus and apply them to our lives. I want to start a reverse order this morning. I want to start with verse 49 the followers watching the followers of Jesus including many women watch the proceedings were told from a distance and all his acquaintances in the women who had followed him From Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. I think this likely includes the 12 who are now 11 because Judas was no longer with them the 72 that Jesus sent out and Galilee and all the women who are names are at Luke Luke's gospel and likely other. No, one thing we have to understand is I think we're forced to understand this as a as a negative response that they are standing at a distance. Why do I say that it goes back to Psalm 38 in Jesus's last words or Jesus quotes on 38th. And Jesus is making the prayer of a righteous suffer, but we read and verse 11 of Psalm 38 these words my friends and companions stand aloof from My Plague and my nearest kin stand far off. There's clearly an indication there that the distance these people are from Jesus is not seen in the positive light. That's what challenges us this morning. It's speaks to us in our day as we Face the challenges we face and let me suggest you that one of the distinct dangers of cold in regards to our following of Christ in regards to our discipleship is The Temptations that come at us as a result of all of the challenges to our church related family of God related activities.

Covid has resulted that we have fewer opportunities to meet and when we do meet our meetings are restricted in many ways. We do not sing as much as we used to we don't sing as loudly as we used to because we're not filling up the room. We don't pray as much as we used to We Can't Fellowship like we used to we can't study God's word like we used to and hear God's word. Like we used to even though we're making attempts of those things. Are opportunities are restricted in many ways. There is less edification less exaltation less consecration. There's less opportunities to confess and repent of our sin. There's lots of opportunities to Rejoice together. There's not two opportunities to lament together in regards to our own sitting there's less accountability than it was before which means there's more liability than there was before we struggle in her challenge to contribute financially to contribute prayerfully to contribute relationally. A true contribute dutifully and all of these things can add up to an environment which is conducive. To what I call standing on the sideline. That's what Jesus's disciples were do they were standing on the sidelines? They were far off and we're challenged this morning in our day and age with these many things in regards to the family in the worship of God of standing on the sidelines. Let me suggest to you if you're standing on the sidelines and you know what that means for you get in the game. You see the disciples were bystanders and to me that's understandable. Their teacher had just been tortured their Messiah had just been abused. Their King had been killed.

The brothers and sisters we have a teacher who is alive. We have a messiah who conquered death. We have a king who ascended into heaven and sits it right the right hand of God who poured out his Spirit to each and every Believers. We have no excuse not even in pandemic times to be standing on the sidelines. I'm not going to determine what that means for you. I trust that God's spirit is is pointing to something in your life in which you are not engaging in the way you could and you use the pandemic as an excuse. Let me challenge you this morning don't stand on the sidelines get in the game. Let's keep moving this morning. The second response going from the back to the front is the crowds morning. We see it in First 48 and all the crowds and assemble for the spectacle when they saw what had taken place returned home beating their breasts. There is a clear change in perspective of a change in heart of the crowd. Earlier, they were calling crucify him crucify him. But now they're beating their breasts indicating intent grief and Mourning. Likely in response to the the events that have transpired will clearly a response to the events that have transpired. I don't want to say that there is true repentance going on there and yet I think it's anticipatory of the true repentance that Luca record in Acts too. Cuz after Peter finish that sermon I've already shared with you we read that so those who receive his word were baptized and they were added that day about three thousand Souls Peter said to those stools. He was preaching to you crucified Jesus according to the plan of God and they came to Faith in them. I wonder how many of that crowd have been Spectators who initially cry crucify him, but then beat their breasts as I went home. The crowd's response to the day's events went from Desiring Jesus's death to regretting that it had occurred. There was clearly a change of heart the challenge I put out to you this morning as what about you. This morning perhaps in the past your response to Jesus has been similar. Maybe you have been indignant or indifferent. In this morning, the spirit of God is compelling you to have a change of heart in regards to Jesus and his death. Perhaps even you hearing this account of the death of Jesus has you wondering if your disinterest if your dislike if your disregard or even your disdain towards Jesus's misplace. Let me tell you this morning a change of heart is in order. We have seen from from Luke's description that Jesus death is what games us access to the presence of God both now and forever. We have seen that it is Jesus death that deals with the wrath of God in the judgment on our sin.

We have seen that through his death Christ has accomplished forgiveness and accomplish reconciliation with God and that goes out to those who have a change of heart in regards to Jesus and what he's done such that they turn from their sin and repent of it and put their faith in Jesus and Avail themselves of his work on the cross for them. So I asked what about you this morning? Will you have a change of heart in regards to Jesus and his death? You can act on it if it is by praying and calling out to God to asking him to forgive your sins by declaring to him your belief in his son in the work that he did encourage you to do. So I finished this morning with the response of the Centurian verse 47 and 1/2 century and saw what had taken place. He praised God saying certainly this man was innocent. The century in response to the death of Jesus by praising God and declaring Jesus is innocence. Do you know that this is the seventh verdict in Luke's account of the passion of Jesus is the seventh of verdict of innocent. This was a military man. This is a military man. Who Who Rose in the ranks of the Roman army? He was not a newbie. He would be not easy to confuse or easy to trick. He had experience and after seeing what he saw were told he praised God brothers and sisters. Let's let this Easter season be a season in which we Praise God for the Glorious death of his innocent son. I love quote quoting Octavius Winslow he gets to my heart and he he points the way in regards to this listen to this quote and then I'm going to take time this morning to praise God for the death of his son. Listen to what it Winslow says know where does Jehovah Jesus appear to be here to the spiritual believing mind so exalted as when he Stoops So Glorious as when an eclipse, so holy is when beringson so lovely is when injuring its punishment so triumphant as when vanquished upon the cross old study not God in the jeweled Heavens in the Sublimity of the mountain in the beauty of the veil in the Grandeur of the ocean in the murmurs of the stream in the music of the Winds. God made all of this, but all this is not God study him in the cross of Jesus. Look at him through this wonders telescope and although as Glass Darkly you behold his glory the God had an awful eclipse the sun of his daddy sitting in blood yet that rude and Crimson Cross more fully reveals the mind of God more harmoniously discloses the Perfections of God more perfectly unveils the heart of God and more fully exhibits the glory of God than the combined power of 10,000 world like this, even though sin had never mind in the cursed and never blighted it study. God and Christ and Christ on the cross all the Marvels that meat in it. The glory that gathers rounded the streams of blessing that flow from the deep refreshing Shadow is cast in The Happy experience of all who look to Jesus and live who look to Jesus in love. Look to Jesus and Obey who look to Jesus and embrace that blessed. Hope of eternal life. Brothers and sisters we look to the cross and we looked at the death of Christ and we praise God for his redeeming sacrifice. Let's pray father God. We thank you for your word. We thank you for Luke's inspired account of the death of Jesus. We thank you that in the events and how they help us to interpret Jesus death. We see a fraction of the glory of the death of Christ. But even in Luke's count alone father God we see our Redemption. We have the content of Truth and which we can stake Our Lives on. We see our glorious Savior and all he has done to save as I pray father God for those who don't know you that you father got would cause in them by your spirit of change in heart in regards to Jesus and his death that they would turn from their sin and put their faith in him. I pray for my brothers and sisters and I pray for myself father God that that your dad and our understanding of your resurrection that follows that death would be our impetus not to stand on the sidelines during these pandemic days that father God we would engage whatever that looks like for each one of us, but most of all father God would this be a time and a season of us praising you for the death of Jesus and his name I pray amen.