Luke 23

Luke 23:1

Under Roman rule, the Jews did not technically have the authority to mete out capital punishment. Therefore, Jesus had to be brought before Pilate. However, in Acts 7, we see the Jews themselves stoning Stephen. The question, then, is, if they killed Stephen, why didn’t the Jewish leaders kill Jesus for His perceived blasphemy? I believe it was because it was God’s intent that it would not be only the Jews who would kill His Son, but that all of humanity would be involvednot only Romans and Jews, but those who had traveled from all over the known world to Jerusalem for Passover and would join in the demand to crucify Jesus.

Luke 23:2

Pilate wouldn’t sentence a man to death merely on the basis of a theological issue, so the Jews had to furnish trumped-up charges to present to him. Had Jesus forbidden His followers to pay taxes? No. He did just the opposite (Mat_22:21).

Luke 23:3

Pilate already had two strikes against him due to the riots that erupted when he ordered his soldiers bearing insigniaswhich the Jews perceived as idolson to the temple mount, and when he paid for the construction of an aqueduct with money from the temple treasury. Therefore, in political hot water, Pilate was no doubt relieved to send Jesus to Herod.

Luke 23:8

Upon His arrival, Herod asked Jesus for a miracle. Even though Jesus’ entire earthly ministry had been filled with miracles, Herod is only the first who will ask Jesus for yet another. “Prophesy who hit You,” the soldiers will taunt. “Come down off the Cross,” the crowd will jeer. Sadly enough, we do the same thing. “Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?” we cry. “Why doesn’t He open the job? Why doesn’t He bless the relationship? Why isn’t He providing for our need? Why doesn’t He show me a miracle? I would believe if I could just see Him do something.” Miracles do not produce faith. All they produce is an addiction to more miracles. Read the Book of Exodus, and you will see the Red Sea parting, manna falling, water flowing. Yet so faithless were the children of Israeleven after seeing miracle upon miraclethey didn’t want to talk to God (Exo_20:19). Signs and wonders and miracles do not produce faith because they invariably leave people confused about the miracles that didn’t transpire. People might see ten events take place that are answers to prayer, but the one prayer that doesn’t get answered the way they want is the one that hangs them up. That is why miracles are never enough. Does this mean the Father won’t do miracles? Of course He will. But the miracles of God are never about power. They’re about people. Whenever the Lord is working in the area of healing, it’s with individual people, not massive demonstrations of His power in order to persuade cynicswhich is why seven times in Mark’s Gospel, concerning His healings, Jesus said, “Don’t tell anyone.” Jesus cares about people, not about power. The most powerful miracle of all was His Resurrection from the dead. And yet following this glorious event, how many times did Jesus appear to unbelievers? Not once. He never appeared to Pilate, to Herod, or to the religious leaders, saying, “I’m back.” No, only those who already believed in Him saw the resurrected Lord. Who is the one who sees the miracles and the blessings? I believe it is the person who is not seeking them, but who simply loves Jesus.

Luke 23:10

Herod was angry that Jesus wouldn’t perform during his command performance.

Luke 23:12

In their hatred of Jesus, Herod and Pilate become friends. But it will backfire, for history tells us Pilate would become insane, and Herod would be of no help to him.

Luke 23:13

Regardless of the fact that neither he nor Herod could find any fault with Jesus, Pilate ordered Jesus scourged. Hoping to appease everyone, he would satisfy no one.

Luke 23:17

The crowd was to choose between Barabbas, who had been indicted for insurrection, and Jesus, whose ministry would be based upon resurrection. To this day, there are those who want to bring in the kingdom violently, politically, or legislatively. But the Lord’s kingdom is not of this world. Barabbas thought he could bring in the kingdom with a revolution. Only Jesus can bring in the true kingdom through regeneration. The crowd wanted activity, not spirituality. They wanted insurrection, not resurrection. They wanted to do something, not be something. They wanted Barabbas.

Luke 23:20

Pilate heard two voices very clearly: the voice of his conscience and the voice of the crowd. He succumbed to the former. Historians tell us that, shortly after this event, Pilate went into isolation on the island of Sicily. Approached years later by a disciple of Jesus, he was asked if he remembered Jesus of Nazareth. A blank look came over his face as he said, “Jesus? Of Nazareth? I don’t remember a thing about Him.” Yet so haunted was Pilate that shortly thereafter, he hung himself. How tragic it is when any of us give in to the loud voice of the crowd instead of submitting to the still small voice of the Spirit within us.

Luke 23:26

Cyrene was located in Tripoli, or present-day Libya. Simon had probably been saving all of his adult life to make the eight hundred-mile journey to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. As he felt the cold metal of a Roman spear upon his shoulder and heard the command to take up the Cross of the Galilean who had already been beaten beyond recognition, Simon must have wondered, Why me? Mark tells us Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander (Luk_15:21). The fact that Paul sends greetings to Rufus and Alexander means they were well-known Christians (Rom_16:13). Therefore, the implication is that Simon got savedperhaps the very day he carried the Cross. This shouldn’t be surprising, for those who carry the Cross of Christ will always fall in love with Him. Initially, we say, “Oh no. I don’t want to go through that. I don’t want to do that. It’s too heavy. It’s too burdensome. Why me?” But eventually we come to understand the incredible insight Jesus shared with us when He said it is the person who carries his cross daily who finds true life (Mat_10:39).

Luke 23:27

In the gospel record, not one woman is ever seen as skeptical, cynical, or an enemy of Jesus. Yes, the disciples were all men. But one of them was Judas. Yes, men play the central partsbut included in their company were Pilate, Herod, Annas, Caiphas, the rulers of the synagogue, and the temple guard. Women in the Gospels have no such mixed multitudefor every one of them was either sympathetic to Jesus or a follower of His.

Luke 23:28

“Don’t feel sorry for Me,” Jesus is saying. “My agony is about to endeven this day. But you in Jerusalem will go through incredibly difficult times. If they’ve done this in the time of spring to a green treewait until the Romans show their real vehemence toward this city in the season to come.”

Luke 23:32

Although this was deliberately designed to bring humiliation to Jesus, it was also designed by God as an illustration. Here we see two men equally close to Jesus, each having the same perspective of Jesus, and yet each making an entirely different decision about Him. One would be ushered into the kingdom. The other would be lost to eternal damnation.

Luke 23:34

One’s ignorance that what he’s doing is wrong doesn’t negate his responsibility to pay a price. Forgiveness, intercession, and provision are required even for a person who is sinning ignorantly or unaware that what he’s doing, thinking, or saying is a sin. This is why the longer you walk with the Lord, the more you’ll understand both the necessity and the depth of God’s forgiveness The crowd who had once called Jesus Beelzebub, the same folks who had said He was a carpenter’s son, actually uttered truth about Him when they said, “He saved others.” Indeed He had! The problem, of course, is if Jesus saved Himself, He couldn’t save us.

Luke 23:36

A king is known by his ability to assert himself. Jesus, however, is more than a King. He’s a Shepherd dying on behalf of His sheep. “Stand up for your rights,” the world says. “Intimidate. Dominate.” They don’t understand that in the kingdom of God, the way to authority is neither through intimidation nor domination, but through sacrifice. Therefore, the husband who says, “I’m in charge here. Ephesians 5 says so. Submit to me, Wife,” has missed the point completely.

Luke 23:38

Greek was the language of intellect; Latin, the language of government; and Hebrew the language of religion. Philosophically, politically, and religiously, Jesus is indeed King of the Jews.

Luke 23:39

One thief said, “Get me down.” The other said, “Lord, take me up.” What is your prayer? Is it, “Take me down. Get me out of this mess"or is it, “Lord, take me up into a higher understanding of You”? Faith Alone: Nailing It Down A Topical Study of Luk_23:32-43 …and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.Isa_53:12 (b) Seven hundred years before Jesus was crucified between two thieves, Isaiah prophesied that He would be numbered among the transgressors and that He would die in the midst of sinners. This was the plan of the Father. Why? Consider the following… To Show the Depth of His Compassion When Jesus came to dwell among men, there was no room for Him in the inn. So He was born in a stable, placed in a manger, surrounded by animals. Not only was He to be born among animals, but He was to die among criminals. In so doing, He demonstrates the depth of His love for us. The Fact That God Is Sovereign Two men guilty of the same crime, cursing the same Lord, were dying the same death. They were equally close to the Lord in proximity, both close enough to talk to Him even amidst the shouts and jeers of the crowd. They were equal in every way except one: One would be lost, the other saved. Herein is a great mystery. How did the man on the right recognize who Jesus was? How did He catch what the apostles missed? How did He see what His disciples didn’t? How did he understand that the Lord’s kingdom was eternal? How did He get saved? The only answer is the sovereignty of the Father. To illustrate this principle, Paul goes back through the tunnel of time and points to Jacob and Esau. Before they were even born, God declared that the elder would serve the younger because “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated” (Rom_9:13). People have real difficulty with this, wondering how God could say He hated Esau before Esau was even born. I have a problem with it toonot with the fact that God hated Esau, but that He loved Jacob, that He could save anyone, that He would choose me. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I realize how far I am from His standard of holiness. Therefore, the mystery to me is not that God hated Esau, but that He loved Jacob. The mystery to me is not that some are not chosen, but that I was. Was God right in His choice? Read the story of Jacob and Esau, and you see that Esau was a man who cared nothing about spiritual life. Jacob, on the other hand, although he had all kinds of problems, desired to be blessed by the Lord to the point that he wrestled all night with the angel of the Lord in order to obtain His blessing. So when I read Genesis, I realize God made the right choicethis shouldn’t surprise me. Righteous and true are His judgments (Rev_16:7). He always makes the right choice. “I protest,” you might say. “Because I’m not elected does that mean I have no hope, no possibility of getting into the kingdom?” How do you know you’re not elected? “Because I’m not saved.” Well, get saved today, and you’ll find you are one of the elect! After all, who put you in this sanctuary today? It is God who works all things to accomplish His purpose for you in time, in space, in historyeven as He put that common criminal right next to Jesus on the mount of Calvary. A Final Witness to the Innocence of His Son As people were cursing and spitting, as Jesus was in physical and spiritual torment beyond description, the thief to His right said, “He has done no wrong.” The one who betrayed Him said the same thing. Tossing the thirty pieces of silver on the floor of the temple, Judas said, “I’ve lived with Him. I’ve walked beside Him. For three years, I’ve observed Himand I have betrayed innocent blood.” Even Pontius Pilate, who six times went out to the crowd and back in to talk to Jesus, concluded unequivocally, “I find no fault in Him.” The witness of Judas, the witness of Pilate, and the witness of the criminal combine as a final witness to the world of the innocence of the Son. To Cushion the Blow As Jesus was dying, as Satan was snarling, as the demons were cheering, as the crowd was jeering, even as the Father was turning His back on the Son, there, on His right hand, was the first who would follow, the first one who would say, “Lord, remember me.” I believe this was a sneak preview of coming attractions, for Jesus could look at that man in his desperation, that man who was previously headed for eternal damnation, and say, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Suddenly, no doubt, how His heart must have leapt, even though His body was in pain as He saw the very beginning of what would be coming, the first of multiplied millions who would follow. Life is full of sneak previews of coming attractions even in the midst of the Cross. We see some glorious healings. We see some marvelous victories. Some days are so special, so beautiful, in which things become so clear. All of those are simply sneak previews of what will happen when we move into the kingdom. Each is a “down payment” of what’s ahead (2Co_5:5). To Nail Down Truth While all of the above sheds light on the reason Jesus hung between two thieves, I believe the most practical reason is to nail down a truth with absolute certainty and finality. That is, it is faith alone that saves. The man who heard the words, “Today you will be with Me in paradise,” simply looked on the Lord and talked to the Lord. That was it. He did nothing more. He could do nothing more. He was pinned to a cross. Therefore, when anyone says to you, “Believe in Jesus and get baptized in this manner…” or, “Believe in Jesus and sell ‘Watchtower’…” or, “Believe in Jesus and wear holy underwear…” walk away, change the channel, write them off. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul declared, “and thou shalt be saved.” Period (Act_16:31). The gospel is so simple. I simply come pinned in helplessness like the thief on the cross and say, “Lord, remember me. Have mercy upon me.” That’s why Paul refers to the “offence of the Cross” (Gal_5:11). It’s so simple it offends people because it strips them of their pride and power. The Cross affords no possibility of pride in earning salvation, and no potential for power in manipulating one’s way into the kingdom. I’m so thankful for this storyfor it nails down with finality the fact that the gospel is profoundly simple and simply profound. This man couldn’t get baptized, couldn’t sell magazines, couldn’t meet in a deep study group. All He could do was call out to the Lord. And that was all it took.

Luke 23:43

Those who said, “We will not have the Light of the world rule over us,” would now walk in darkness. So, too, the extent to which you and I reject His light is the extent to which our lives will be filled with a terrifying darkness. The Holy of Holies was now accessible for the first time in centuries. In this, God declared, “Open House! No more ceremonial sacrifices or religious rituals. The Work is done. As believers, come into My presence any time you want.” Don’t sew up the veil, gang. Don’t get out your needle and thread and say, “You can’t come into the presence of God until you sing six worship songs.” Or, “You can’t come into the presence of God until you have devotions for three days.” Or, “You can’t come into the presence of God until you give up that sin.” Don’t fall prey to the formulas and principles that, stitch by stitch, sew up the veil. Instead, move into God’s presence freely.

Luke 23:46

After six days of creation, the Father looked over what He had made and said, “It is very good.” Then He rested. So, too, after being on the Cross six hours, the Son said, “It is finished"and He rested.

Luke 23:47

Matthew tells us this centurion would go on to say, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mat_27:54). What convinced him? It was the way Jesus handled rejection and pain, suffering and death. Why do we as believers insist on never going through suffering, when it is actually the method the Lord uses to bring about the conversion of many a centurion? In Exodus 14, God had His people camp between Pihahiroth and Migdol with their backs to the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army headed right towards them. Why? So He would be glorified among the Egyptians when they saw how He delivered His people (verse Exo_14:4). Oftentimes, we go to great lengths to avoid being boxed in, to dodge hard times, to escape physical pain. Yet those are the very things that convince the Egyptians, the centurions, and our neighbors of the faithfulness of God as He sees us through. Yes, we should pray. Yes, we should make our requests and petitions known to our Father. Yes, we should persevere in prayer. But we must also let God be God. We must also allow Him the freedom to do what He wants in our lives no matter how painful it might seem. It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus, our Model, our Lord endured the Cross (Heb_12:2).

Luke 23:48

The crowd knew they had done wrong, that a travesty of justice had occurred.

Luke 23:49

Although a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph had not consented to the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus’ body was wrapped in linenthe very material the high priests would wear during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. History tells us that in A.D. 61, Philip sent Joseph of Arimathea to England. Tradition goes on to say that he took with him the chalice used by the Lord at the Last Supper. Be that as it may, it is highly possible that this one who gave up his position on the Sanhedrin and his standing in the community in order to bury Jesus did indeed take the gospel message to England.

Luke 23:55

It’s a good thing these women rested on the Sabbath, for they’re about to do quite a bit of running on the joyous day to follow.