Luke Passion 4

Intro

nearing the end

why did Jesus die the way that he did?

did he have to and was that the end?

Carrying

every bit of a sentence to crucifixion is punishment

having been beaten and punished and probably without food for days, Jesus would have a difficult time walking

a good chance he falls under the weight of the massive hunk of wood that he must carry all the way to the outskirts of the city

many mourn and lament and he gives a final prophecy of the end of Jerusalem

Calling

all of the prophecy is fulfilled as he hangs on the cross

he is mocked and beaten and offers no retaliation whatsoever

everyone spectating misunderstanding their savior to the end

the criminal hanged next to him presents a debate that has gone on for centuries

the criminal believes in the kingdom and more than simply his salvation, we are meant to see his understanding in comparison to all the others

I do not know how far grace will go, but I know what is written about how we are to receive his grace and the thief does it more than you or I will ever have the opportunity

the thief is meant to be an illustration not an example

Crucified

as he dies so many wild images are given to us

the temple is torn

darkness comes over the land

Jesus gives up his spirit

the symbol of oppression recognizes who he really is

Application

As we talked about in Hebrews, Jesus is the fulfillment of all the things that came before him and that is nowhere more apparent than on the cross

it is clear to even those who have no idea of the gravity of all that happens that he is undeniably the Christ

even if all he did was die an innocent man after all he did in his life he would still be so much more a savior than any before or after him

even if the story ended here

Do not let the story end here. Jesus did not die in vain, but so that you and I might live