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 sin of man happened when the tree was still young and green (Lk.23:31). Here Jesus alluded to the terrible events of the Great Tribulation, that would befall Israel later.
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 (Lk.23:32-33). Despite the awful sufferings Jesus endured, His thoughts were on future generations (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 (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. Jesus died as 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 (c.f. Mt.27:44). However, as the hours wore on, one of the thieves had a change of heart, doubtless inspired by Jesus’ reliance upon God (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. 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 (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 (Lk.23:45 c.f. Mt.27:51; Heb.10:20). 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 (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).