Luke 23:26-49
Q.1. What are we to make of Jesus’ comments to those who were following Him to the crucifixion? How terrible will Israel’s final chastisement be? – (Lk.23:26-31)
Jesus was exhausted from the trials and horrors that He knew were coming, so – they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene … and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus (Lk.23:26). Jesus turned to the mourning women – Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children (Lk.23:27-28). Why? – 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 tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? (Lk.23:29-31 c.f. Lk.21:20-24; Rev.6:16-17). The judgment on the Son of God for the sins of humanity happened when He, ‘the tree’ was still young and green (see Lk.23:31). Here Jesus alluded to the terrible events of the Great Tribulation, that would befall Israel later (see Lk.21:20-24).
Q.2. How did Jesus respond to the abuse of the crowds? What is the lesson for us? – (Lk.23:32-38)
Jesus was crucified amongst two thieves at Golgotha, the Place of the Skull (see Lk.23:32-33). Despite the awful sufferings Jesus endured, His thoughts were on future generations (see Lk.23:29-31). Concerning His tormenters, Jesus was saying – Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing (Lk.23:34). He was full of tender compassion and love, in response to the insults heaped upon Him. Peter would write later – For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Pet.2:21). The Jewish leaders, the people, the soldiers, and even the criminals, all mocked the Saviour (see Lk.23:35-37 c.f. Mt.26:44). Were His torturers forgiven? Though Jesus revealed a heart of forgiveness towards them, God the Father would be unable to forgive them without their own repentance. The crowds mocked the apparent impotence of this King of the Jews (see Lk.23:37) because Jesus died under the banner written by Pilate – ‘This is the King of the Jews’ (Lk.23:38).
Q.3. What was different about the two condemned criminals? How does this story encourage you? – (Lk.23:39-43)
Both the thieves were firstly preoccupied with their own suffering. They attacked Christ’s decision not to prove His Messiahship by saving Himself (see Mt.27:44). However, as the hours wore on, one of the thieves had a change of heart, doubtless inspired by Jesus’ steadfast reliance upon God (see Lk.23:39-41). He accepted His own guilt before a holy God, and in an amazing turn-around, placed his trust in a dying Man (see Lk.23:40-41). He pleaded – … Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom! (Lk.23:42). Jesus promised him – Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise (Lk.23:43). Because of his simple trust in the crucified One, this thief was granted everlasting life. Salvation is a free gift.
Q.4. In what ways were the final hours of Jesus’ life unique? – (Lk.23:44-49)
It must have been strange to have a total eclipse of the sun for 3 hours (see Lk.23:44-45). When the Father turned His face away from His One and Only Son for the first time in eternity, the darkness shrouded the alienation. The heavy veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom (see Lk.23:45 c.f. Mt.27:51; Heb.10:20). [The veil of the temple was reputed to be about sixty feet high and some four inches thick of blue, purple, and scarlet material of fine twisted linen. This rending of the veil was unquestionably a supernatural act by God]. In the black darkness, the crowds were filled with anguish. Then a loud triumphant cry pierced the darkness, as the Saviour willingly gave up His life for sinners –… “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last (Lk.23:46). A centurion (along with the thief) was convinced that Jesus was no ordinary man (see Lk.23:47). The eerie events produced grief. This was especially so for –all His close acquaintances, and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee … (Lk.23:48-49).