An Innocent Man

We are going to continue our discussion of the death and burial of Jesus.

There are not many practical items to take from this event, as it is moment that was unique in the cosmic plan of God.

So much is happening behind the scenes, and the author, Luke, expects his readers and listeners to follow his hyperlinks and hints.

This is a part two of what will be three parts:

The death on the cross

The burial

The resurrection

Luke 23:46 NLT

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

This is where we left off last week.

We were going through Psalm 22 as a guide.

Now, I want to be clear…I am not claiming that Psalm 22 is a “play by play”

The authors of every single gospel reference Psalm 22. They are the ones that are recording this.

Moreover, Jesus is referencing this Psalm in his cries.

So, can we say this is exactly what is happening.

No.

But, this IS THE PSALM that Jesus calls attention to in this MOMENT.

Now…

Jesus’ BODY has DIED...

But HIS SPIRIT is entrusted to the Father’s hands...

Luke 23:47 NLT

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”

Matthew 27:54 NLT

The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39 NLT

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Why would we look at these, well, it is because we have a REFERENCE to the INNOCENT and Son of God language.

What is happening…Well, he is going to prove he is the Son of God

But we have to wait until NEXT WEEK to see that!

Do you REMEMBER THIS VERSE from MANY, MANY Months ago?

Luke 4:9–11 NLT

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ”

It would appear that Jesus dying on the cross has conveyed to ROMAN soldiers that he is the Son of God.

Luke 4 is the OPENING and Luke 23 is the CLOSING

The satan is saying, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, PROVE IT!”

The Roman is saying, “This man is innocent, He is the Son of God.”

NOW, that part the satan quotes is from Psalm 91.

Psalm 91 is an interesting Psalm.

The reason I want to reference this Psalm is to piggy back on Psalm 22.

Again, I believe these two Psalms are pulling back the curtain on what is really going on in the world we cannot see.

The one who lives in the

hiding place of the Most High,

will spend the night in the

shadow of Sheddai (Almighty)

(Psalm 91:1)

If you remember from last week, Luke describes darkness falling over the land and the light of the sun disappearing.

And remember, this is the Psalm the satan uses to try and tempt Jesus.

Say to the LORD,

“My refuge and my fortress,

my God, I will trust in Him.”

(Psalm 91:2)

For he will deliver you from the

trap of the SKY FLYER;

From the WORD of DESTRUCTION.

With his feathers, he will

make you untouchable.

And under his wings,

you will take refuge.

His faithfulness is

a shield and breast plate.

(Psalm 91:3-4)

You will have no fear

from the NIGHT TERROR,

Nor the ARROW that flies by day.

Nor the WORD that goes

in the DARKNESS.

Nor the TOTAL DEVASTATION

that devastates at noon.

(Psalm 91:5-6)

Remember Luke mentioned the time period?

Here we go...

A thousand will fall from your side,

ten thousand from your right hand.

To you, he/it will not come near.

Only with your eyes, you will look,

you will see evil ones repaid.

(Psalm 91:7-8)

If you remember the Psalm 22 passage from last week, the description of the bulls of bashan, the lions, the dogs tearing and ripping at Jesus, that is the battle for his BODY...

This is the battle for his SOUL, and the part of Jesus that is unseen, but you know is there, is being defended.

And Jesus will only have to open his eyes.

He will see thousands and ten thousand falling. (Not the good guys, but the bad guys)

For you made the LORD your refuge,

the Most High, your dwelling place.

Evil will not come to you,

and PLAGUE will not

come near to your tent (tabernacle)

(Psalm 91:9-10)

NOW the PART the satan quotes in Luke 4...

For he will command his

messengers (angels) concerning you,

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands, they will bear you up,

so that you will not strike your foot

against the stone.

(Psalm 91:11-12)

This is what Satan quotes to Jesus.

Interesting that he uses this Psalm.

A Psalm that refers to Canaanite deities.

A Psalm that was found in a jar of exorcism psalms, writings, and charms.

On the fully grown lion, and

on the horned viper, you will walk;

The young lion, and

on the snake, you will trample.

For he has latched on to me, and

I will deliver him.

I will protect him,

for he knows my name.

(Psalm 91:13-14)

FUNNY the satan forgot to quote that part...

Notice the references to the lion (Psalm 22) and the serpent (Genesis 3)

He will call to me, and

I will answer him;

I will be with him in distress;

I will rescue him;

I will glorify him.

I will satisfy him with long days;

and I will show him my salvation.

(Psalm 91:15-16)

Psalm 22 DESCRIBES the event from Jesus perspective

Psalm 91 DESCRIBES the event from God’s perspective

And both events allude to a battle that is happening in a realm that we cannot see.

When you go and read Psalm 91, it will sound like it is a psalm against disease.

But what the english scriptures don’t convey is the reference to lesser gods, to Canaanite deities.

It is describing spiritual warfare.

And the ROMAN CENTURION comes to this conclusion.

Luke 23:47–49 NLT

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

The people watching are utterly lost…EXCEPT for the GENTILE who is WORSHIPING God.

Luke 23:50–54 NLT

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

Luke 23:55–56 NLT

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

I mentioned last Sunday that we would be spending some time looking at the literature aspect of this section.

I like how the author has thrown a hyperlink back to Shabbath, especially the Shabbath that has become Day 7, the day of rest.

WHAT IS INTERESTING…is that the SEVEN’ths in Revelation are hidden.

Alluding to another “day 7” that is yet to come.

Just as this was hidden from the evil powers, the return of Jesus will be hidden as well.

The culmination of what we consider to be one of the greatest tragedies in creation gets so few verses.

But I think we have shown, AND WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK, that much had already been written about these events.

You might ask,

“Why spend so much time on this?”

Fair question…Here is why

Evil has been defeated,

but not eliminated, yet.

I have said there are far more happening than dying for that lie you told last week.

And there is more to say about that next week, but for now, this is the WAR, the BATTLE, that is going on.

It should CONFIRM how much intelligent evil impacts our lives and are intertwined with our world.

Notice how Jesus does not ever take up a sword, or a weapon, against the people.

He does not argue with Rome that their system of government is unfair or unjust.

He does argue with and prosecute the religious leaders though.

The battle we have been reading about is something we cannot see.

And I am good with that.