The Way - Day 023 (Luke 23)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Luke 23:1-56
The religious leaders who had taken Jesus captive (22:66-71) took Jesus to Pilate, a Roman authority and the governor of Judea, and they falsely accused Him of being rebellious against government authorities (23:1-2). Obviously, these charges against Jesus made Him seem as if He was a threat to those in authority, but the accusations were nothing more than a plot to put Jesus away. Pilate asked Jesus directly, “Are You the King of the Jews?" (23:3a) and Jesus answered saying, "It is as you say" (23:3b). The gospel of John provides more detail of the conversation between Jesus and Pilate regarding Jesus' claim to be a king, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:33-37). Jesus assured Pilate that His kingdom was not an earthly one, but a divine one. Pilate decided that he had heard enough and told the religious leaders that he found no fault with Jesus (23:4), but the Jews insisted that Jesus was guilty, so Pilate sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem for the Passover (23:5-7).

Luke records that Herod was actually glad to see Jesus because he had heard of Jesus' ability to perform great miracles and he desired to see one performed (23:8). Herod began questioning Jesus, but He did not answer (23:9). The religious leaders began to passionately accuse Him before Herod so he "...treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate" (23:10-11). Pilate then declared to the religious leaders that neither he nor Herod had found Jesus guilty (23:13-15). In order to silence the Jews, Pilate suggested that Jesus be released, as was customary during the Passover feast (23:16-17); however, the Jews began crying out, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" (23:18). Luke describes Barabbas as one "who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder" (23:19). Pilate attempted to pacify the crowd, but they continued to demand the release of Barabbas rather than Jesus (23:20-23). "So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one [Barabbas] they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will" (23:24-25). As Jesus was being led away to be crucified, many followed Him and mourned at His coming fate (23:26-27), but Jesus warned of coming judgment upon the nation (23:28-31).

Although Luke does not document how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures through His death (see Matthew and John's account), he does present Jesus as the One who is able to forgive sin. Jesus was beaten, mocked, and then crucified between two thieves (23:32-38) for crimes He did not commit, but His death was part of God's plan in bringing forgiveness of sin to the world. It is obvious that the two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus were sinners. One of them spoke blasphemies against Him saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us" (23:39), but the other thief rebuked him saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong" (23:40-41). The thief, recognizing his own sin and the hope he had through Jesus, turned to Him and said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (23:42). Jesus responded to the criminal's request saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (23:43). Jesus affirmed this man's salvation on the basis of his repentance and belief, which is still the only way to find hope and salvation.

A supernatural darkness came over the earth from noon until 3:00pm and then Jesus died, having committed His spirit into the hands of God (23:44-46). He willingly gave Himself up to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. After His death, Joseph of Arimathea, a believer and one who was awaiting the kingdom of God, approached Pilate and received permission to bury the body of Jesus (23:50-52). Joseph wrapped His body in linen and laid Him in a tomb (23:53-54). The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee observed the place where Joseph had buried Jesus and determined to prepare Jesus' body for burial themselves (23:55-56). Jesus, the Savior and Deliverer, was now dead and buried in the tomb. The Jews and Satan probably thought that they had finally triumphed over Jesus, but the events to follow would soon prove that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Dear God, thank You for the forgiveness of sin that You freely sent to the world through Jesus Christ!