Day 39 Lent 2023
It is Good Friday. Yesterday was Maundy Thursday. I don’t like Maundy Thursday. It is a depressing day, but it is supposed to be. This time ahead of Easter is not a happy time, especially if we think about what happens to Jesus on this day.
1Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate.
2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
Luke 23:1–2 (NASB95)
In the opening accusation against Jesus, we have the first lie. Jesus specifically told His followers to give Caesar what is his and to God what is His.
17“Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll tax to Caesar or not?”
18But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
19“Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
20And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
21They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:17–21 (NASB95)
The Scribes and Pharisees cared about worldly power and worldly wealth. Jesus told them to give that worldly power and worldly wealth to Caesar when he asked for it. Jesus also said to give to God what is God’s when He asks for it too. We, as His followers, need to hear that part too.
3So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”
4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
Luke 23:3–4 (NASB95)
Pilate knows what they are trying to do. Jesus knows what they are trying to do. We will see that Herod knows what they are trying to do in a little bit. Everyone knows what the powers that be are trying to do with Jesus, and these worldly leaders don’t want any part of it.
5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.”
6When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.
8Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.
9And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.
10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.
11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.
Luke 23:5–11 (NASB95)
Herod wanted a show. He wanted Jesus to do wonderous things before him. He was angry that Jesus would not perform on queue. What Herod wasn’t was stupid. He knew what the crowd wanted and didn’t want any part of it, so he sent Him back to Pilate.
12Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Luke 23:12 (NASB95)
Pilate and Herod struggled to govern the Jews in the name of Caesar and Rome. Rebellious Jews opposed them and stirred up the populace to overthrow the Romans as oppressors. We will meet one later. But Pilate and Herod opposed each other politically. However, this event with Jesus brought them to common ground and likely helped them realize how they could work together to support one another as they tried to manage this unruly people.
13Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.
15“No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.
16“Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”
17Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.
18But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!”
19(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)
20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,
21but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”
22And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”
23But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.
Luke 23:13–23 (NASB95)
The Scribes and the Pharisees have seeded the crowd with loyal supporters. They fire up the crowd to reach a predetermined outcome. The mob is prone to letting emotion run away with common sense, and these religious leaders know this. They also know if Pilate believes the people will be appeased, he will do what they want. With that end in mind, the crowd is whipped into a frenzy to release Barabbas.
24And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.
25And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Luke 23:24–25 (NASB95)
This is partly why the Jews wanted to throw off Roman rule. As a conquered people, their laws and punishments were subject to Roman oversight. They could not condemn a Roman citizen for infractions without bringing him or her to a Roman court. Pilate as military governor, oversaw that. It is here that Pilate both says and shows the Jews that Jesus’ fate is in their hands. They are now free to crucify Him if they want, and that’s exactly what they will do.
26When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
Luke 23:26 (NASB95)
Not a lot is known about Simon of Cyrene. I have never dug into his name beyond the five minutes I just spent on the internet. I’m not willing to make any statements about who this man was, why he was chosen, or what meaning, if any, his actions might have had in this event. The Gospel of John doesn’t mention Simon at all, saying that Jesus carried His own cross, while Matthew and Mark both have essentially the same retelling. Does it impact the story one way or the other? No, so I’ll move on.
27And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him.
28But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29“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.’
30“Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31“For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:27–31 (NASB95)
This is something of a prophetic statement by Jesus. Essentially stating the days will come when calamity befalls the Jewish people to such a degree that people will not want to have children or have them with them, and anyone who does will have a very difficult time and great emotional distress over the condition of their children. The Holocaust comes to mind in that regard. I’m not saying that’s what Jesus predicted, just that it is an image that fits these passages.
The last passage references Himself. If the leadership treats the One who brings life to the world and is alive “…when the tree is green…” imagine what worldly leadership will do to people when Jesus is not in the world, “when it is dry?”
32Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
Luke 23:32–34 (NASB95)
I think at least one of the guards had an idea of what they were doing, but not fully. Jesus has just had nails driven through his outstretched arms and feet. He is stretched on a cross in terrible pain, and still, He utters this prayer, asking God to forgive His tormentors. The other thing is that this had to be done too. It is the whole reason Christ was born. We all aren't forgiven if He isn’t sacrificed on the cross. This singular event still puzzles and amazes me. I doubt I would have that level of forgiveness, but remember, Jesus was strengthened by an angel of God in the garden before going through all this.
35And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
Luke 23:35 (NASB95)
Again, Jesus had to be sacrificed to complete His task. This is proof the leaders of the day didn’t understand what they were doing. They rejected Jesus as the Messiah and were clearly trying to make a point to Christ’s followers that if He were the “chosen one,” He would come down off the cross, but since He doesn’t, He cannot be the Messiah. That logic fundamentally doesn’t understand the role and job of the Messiah from the Old Testament.
36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,
37and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
Luke 23:36–37 (NASB95)
Because it looked like water, it certainly didn’t taste like it. I wonder if people typically drank deeply of what they thought was water but then sputtered as the sour vinegar hit their dry palate? That, to me, is the joke the guards were trying to perpetrate on the condemned.
38Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Luke 23:38 (NASB95)
The all caps here reference the other gospels, which all recount this same placard over Jesus’ head. It was meant as a sarcastic joke. It has become a rallying cry.
39One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41“And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”
Luke 23:39–42 (NASB95)
“And we indeed are suffering justly…” says the man on the left. Let me pause for a moment. If you aren’t familiar with the powerful message from Alistair Begg about this scene, you should watch it. I’ll link to it shortly. It’s only about four minutes long. I highly, highly recommend you watch it. The “malefactor” speaking above is the one Mr. Begg is talking about. You can find that video HERE.
43And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (NASB95)
If you don’t watch Alistair Begg’s video clip, understand this point about the last five verses above, thirty-nine to forty-three. The thief on the cross knew nothing about modern church doctrine. He didn’t do a bunch of good works. He didn’t attend church service and likely had only a passing contact with the Old Testament scriptures. He was a sinful thief caught and condemned because their society thought him irredeemable, yet Jesus let him into Heaven anyway. Let me say that again; the thief did nothing right his entire life and, at the very last moment, identified Jesus as his savior, repented of his sins, and asked for entry into Heaven, and he got it. That has glorious ramifications for us as individuals, but it also has a terrible responsibility for us too. If we want that level of mercy for ourselves, we must be willing to grant that level of mercy to others. “But I don’t need that level of mercy.” But someone else does, and Jesus already showed that is the length He is willing to go to, to forgive someone. How do we, as His followers, His servants, and His disciples, not do as He did?
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
Luke 23:44–45 (NASB95)
This is symbolically important for two reasons. First, the world is in darkness because the Light of the World is dying. Second, the veil separated all of mankind from the Holy of Holies in the temple. Only the High Priest was allowed in there to commune with God. As Jesus dies and returns to the Father, that separation is removed. We now have direct access to God via the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus did on our behalf. Our prayers no longer need a High Priest to advocate on our behalf. Jesus does that every moment of every day now.
46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Luke 23:46–47 (NASB95)
This passage is why we must view the previous two as supernatural occurrences happening for all to see. This sober, calculating military man witnessed all these events and concluded Jesus was who He claimed to be, the Messiah, the Son of God, righteous in all respects.
48And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts.
49And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Luke 23:48–49 (NASB95)
These events were not private. They happened in public for all to see. The stories live on to this day in the Bible, which is the accurate retelling of these events. You can argue with it all you want, read “scholars” on the internet who present “reasons” and “scientific evidence” as to why it all happened, trying to explain it away. But, if you are going to look to an empty tomb on Sunday and thank God for the salvation in your heart that Jesus wrought on that cross, you must accept these events as truth. Otherwise, you are arguing against yourself.
50And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man
51(he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God;
52this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.
54It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.
56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Luke 23:50–56 (NASB95)
The body is laid in the tomb. All of Christ’s followers prepare for a funeral, but it is the Sabbath between now and then. They must rest and perform no work. All the preparations must be done in a hurry and now before the Sabbath. Once that passes, they can anoint the body and perform the rights. They are in for a surprise. We know that, but they do not. Right now, they are both mourning and terrified because if the leaders can do this to the one they thought was the Son of God, what can they do to them? God bless and Godspeed.