Luke
Chapter
23
Luke
23:1-12
1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto
Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We
found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to
Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the
Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the
people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce,
saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were
a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's
jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that
time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was
desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things
of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered
him nothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
accused him.
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a
gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends
together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
The
Jewish mob dragged Christ to Pilate, and in their frenzy began to falsely
accuse Christ, yelling, “We found this Man perverting the nation! He was
teaching those who would listen not to give tribute to Caesar! In addition, He
claims to be the Messiah, a King.”
Imagine
being accused of telling the truth! That is what Jews did!
So,
Pilate asked him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
And
Jesus responded, he answered, “That is what you say.”
Jesus
neither confirmed nor denied Pilate’s question!
Although
He had healed a few Gentiles, Jesus was not sent specifically for that purpose!
Matt 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not
sent but unto the lost sheep of the
house of Israel.
Jesus was sent to preach the gospel
to Israel! It would be left to Paul and his associates to bring the Good News
to the Gentile world!
Then, Pilate spoke to the chief
Priests and the mob, “I find no fault in this Man.”
However, the mob, even more
fiercely, began shouting, “He stirs up people, teaching this heresy throughout
the countryside from Galilee to Jerusalem!”
When Pilate heard the reference to
Galilee, he asked if Jesus was a Galilean. Galilee did not fall under Pilate’s
responsibility! Pilate was looking for a way out of that mess! However, there
is no way to avoid the conclusion of God’s prophetic word!
As soon as Pilate perceived that he
belonged under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who “happened to” be
in Jerusalem at that time. Prophecy does not depend of mere chance!
Herod was glad to finally meet the
One he had heard about! He actually hoped to see one of the miracles that he
had heard Jesus did!
As Herod began to quiz Jesus, the
chief Priests and scribes stood by vehemently accusing Him. Finally, even Herod
began to mock the Messiah! Herod ordered the Jesus should be given a gorgeous
purple robe, a symbol of royalty, and sent him back to Pilate. This was why
Jesus wore that special purple robe!
That same day Pilate and Herod
became friends! Prior to this, there was jealous conflict between.
The very appearance of Jesus in
society separates people! Those who are called and chosen want to be near Him!
Those whose eyes have not been opened to see the Truth! Those whose ears cannot
hear the Truth become friendly with others who lack the leading of the Holy
Spirit!
Luke
23:13-49
13 And
Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the
people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one
that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having
examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those
things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing
worthy of death is done unto him.
16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the
feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man,
and release unto us Barabbas:
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for
murder, was cast into prison.)
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him,
crucify him.
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath
he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him,
and let him go.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he
might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they
required.
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder
was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their
will.
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a
Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they
laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of
women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters
of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming,
in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren,
and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which
never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to
the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in a
green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him
to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called
Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand,
and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and
cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with
them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he
be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and
offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters
of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on
him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same
condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I
say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was
rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having
said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified
God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight,
beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him
from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Pilate
called a conference with the chief Priests and others with authority among the
Jews.
He
told them, “You all have brought Jesus to me charging that He has corrupted the
Jews. I, have examined Him with
you present, but have not found the basis for your charges! And, neither has Herod,
because I sent him to Herod and he did nothing to Him.
“I
will order Him to be beaten and released!”
The
Roman tradition was that one of the Jews held by the Roman should be released
during the Passover. Since the charges against Jesus were obviously false
Pilate chose Jesus to be the one released!
However,
when the mob became aware of Pilate’s choice they made a great clamor shouting,
“Not that man! Release Barabbas!”
Barabbas
was being held for sedition and murder! He was an uncommonly cruel person!
However,
Pilate, who wanted to release Jesus, spoke to the mob on behalf of Jesus’
release!
But,
they cried out, “Crucify, crucify Him!”
Pilate
spoke up, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason to sentence Him
to death! So, I will have Him beaten and then let Him go!”
But
the mob became even more incensed and shouted with more volume insisting that
Jesus be crucified! Among those insisting that Jesus die were the chief Priests
who served in the Temple! Since it was the Passover Preparation Day the Priests
should have been in the Temple, but prophetically they had to renounce their alleigiance to God and call for Jesus’ death as the Lamb of
God! Their uproar was so loud that Pilate finally gave the order to do as they
required! Jesus would be put to sacrificed on a cross!
Pilate
released Barabbas! He then did to Jesus just as the mob desired! The Son of
God, the Messiah of Israel would give His life for that of a criminal! Prophecy
fulfilled!
As
they led Jesus away, the Roman soldiers seized a man named Simon, a man from
Cyrene (eastern Libya) to follow Jesus carrying the cross beam!
Many
from the crowd followed Jesus, including women! They wept openly for Him! Such
mourning was considered to be appropriate! Some actually wept in earnest for
the Messiah!
But,
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem
don’t cry for Me! Instead, cry for yourselves, and for
your children!
“The days are coming when they shall say, ‘Blessed are
the barren, and those who never gave birth, or nursed an infant!
“In those days, they shall cry out to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ And, to the
hills, ‘Cover us!’
“Because, if they do these things in a green tree, what shall
be done when it is dry?”
As
Jesus walked to Golgotha, there were two other men, both criminals, who were
also scheduled to be put to death. And, when they came to the hill, which we
call Calvary, the Roman soldiers crucified Jesus, and the criminals, one on the
right hand, and the other on the left!
As
they hung on their respective crosses, Jesus looked down at the throng below
and said, “Father, forgive them, because they don’t
know what they are doing!”
As
He spoke, the soldiers below cast lots to see which one would claim the Purple
robe given to Jesus’ by Herod!
The
people who were there to see the public spectacle and the Jewish leaders
ridiculed the Lord, the Son of God! In their blind ignorance and stupidity,
they raised their voiced against their only Savior they could ever have saying,
“He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ, the chosen of
God.” The mob ridiculed Christ Jesus!
And,
the Roman soldiers also showed their disrespect coming to Christ, and offering
Him vinegar! As they did that they also said, “If You
are the king of the Jews, save Yourself!”
An
inscription was written on a plaque and placed over his head! On it were
letters in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE Jews!”
One
of the criminals who were also being crucified criticized Jesus by saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us!”
But,
the other rebuked him saying, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been
condemned to die? We were condemned justly! We received the due reward of our
misdeeds, but this Man has done nothing improper!”
Then
he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come
into Your kingdom.”
Jesus
responded, “Truthfully, today you shall be with Me in paradise!”
Many
argue about the placement of the coma in that sentence! The debate is useless!
That man trusted in Christ Jesus and that trust qualified him to become part of
the Kingdom of God!
It
was about noon, and a great darkness covered the earth until about three in the
afternoon! There was solar eclipse! The veil over the opening into the Holy of
Holies was torn open from top to bottom!
At
that moment Jesus shouted, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit!” And, at that He
died!
When
the Roman centurion in charge of the solders saw what happened, he glorified
God saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
And
the Jewish mob that had come to see this public execution became very sad! They
wandered back into Jerusalem thinking about all they had seen!
All
who had followed Him from Galilee, including the women watched at a distance
still not understanding what they had witnessed!
Luke
23:50-56
50 And,
behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a
good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who
also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of
Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it
in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never
man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee,
followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his
body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and
rested the sabbath day
according to the commandment.
There,
at Calvary to witness the crucifixion was a man from Arimathaea named Joseph.
He was a good and just man! It must be pointed out that the vote in the
Sanhedrin to crucify Jesus was not unanimous! At least Joseph had dissented
from the majority! Joseph was one who was eagerly waiting for the Kingdom of
God!
Joseph,
being a man of some influence in Israel, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’
body so that it may be given a proper Jewish burial. He took it down from the
cross, wrapped it, and placed it in a tomb that was cut into a great stone.
That tomb had not been used!
That
all happened on what is known as the preparation day. The Sabbath was nearing.
The
women who followed Christ from Galilee, followed the
burial party to the tomb. Then they returned to Jerusalem to prepare burial
spices and ointments.
The
women rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. During the Passover week there may be as
many as three Sabbaths! Not all Sabbaths are the weekly Friday night until
Saturday night Sabbath! Each of God’s appointed Holydays are Sabbaths!