* The Events of The Passion Week. Not all activities are listed.
Friday (Six days before Passover meal.)
-Jesus arrives in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem (John 11:54-12:1).
-Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet at a banquet (John 12:2-11).
Saturday (Sabbath. Started at dusk on Friday.)
-Though it is not recorded, Jesus left Bethany and returned to Ephraim near the Jordan River. (John 11:54-57)
Sunday (Now called Palm Sunday. 1st day of the Passion Week.)
-Jesus heals blind men while approaching Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:34-43).
-Jesus eats at Zacchaeus house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).
-Jesus continues onto Jerusalem (Mark 10:52; Luke 19:28).
-Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19).
-Jesus's weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
-Jesus looked at the Temple at dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Mark 11:11).
Monday (10th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14).
-Jesus cleanses the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17).
-Jesus healed and taught until dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Matthew 21:14-17; Mark 11:18-19).
Tuesday (11th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus explains the withered fig tree to his disciples (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26).
-Jesus's authority questioned (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).
-Jesus teaches in the temple (Matthew 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4; John 12:20-50).
-Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King (Matthew 23:1-39).
-Jesus anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11).
Wednesday (12th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-No details about what Jesus did except Luke 21:37-38 which says he taught every day in the Temple.
-The Jews plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Thursday (13th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-The Passover meal begins at dusk, the start of the 14th of the month Abib (see below notes).
-Jesus and the disciples eat Passover meal, now known as the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18).
-Jesus comforts the disciples and prays in the upper room. Then they leave Jerusalem (John 14:1-16:33).
-Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Friday (14th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. Now known as Good Friday.)
-According Hebrew time Jesus is arrested and tried during the night to daylight. (Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
-The Jewish leaders turn Jesus over to Pilate at dawn. Pilate questions Jesus then sends him to Herod, who sends Jesus back to Pilate (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:15).
-Jesus's crucifixion starts at 3:00pm. He dies just before sunset. (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
-Jesus is quickly buried at dusk just before Hebrew day end. (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath. 15th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins).
-Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven.
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) See Resurrection chart below.
-Jesus's morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-Jesus appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
-Jesus appeared to ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath)
-Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later
-Jesus talks and eats with seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection.
-Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
* Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and goes thru the night till the next day's sunset.
* Passover always starts at twilight on the 14th day of the month (Leviticus 23:5), not the same day of the week every year. Therefore, Passover starting on Thursday is rare. Passover usually starts on another day of the week. Passover starting on a Thursday the year Jesus was crucified. This timing made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the feasts associated with the Passover.
1st) Jesus was crucified on Friday (still Passover) and died before sunset that same day.
2nd) Jesus was in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday) rest. The Sabbath that Jesus was buried was also the beginning of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20, 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is always on the first Sabbath after Passover.
3rd) Jesus rose on Sunday, the third day since his death. That Sunday was also the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave (Leviticus 23:9-15; Exodus 23:16, 19, 34:22). The first fruit (barley harvest) of the land was waved before the Lord. Jesus' resurrected as the first fruit (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, 23).
All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus and this could have only happened that particular year, the year Passover started Thursday night.
* The Hebrew calendar considered an event lasting for an entire day even though it was only a few hours or even minutes long. Therefore, Jesus died and was buried at the end of the Hebrew day (twilight) on Friday and he is considered to have been buried that day too. The same can be stated for Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. Even though he was in the grave for a few moments after dawn before he rose, he is considered to be in grave Sunday and rise from it on Sunday.
I. Jesus Was Crucified (23:26-51)
* The woodcut is by The Elder, Urs Graf (Swiss, 1485-1529). The title is "Christ Bearing the Cross". This is one of many plates from "Passio domini nostri Jesu Christi". The original was black and white. It is now in public domain.
Jesus (red garment) is carrying the cross. Jesus is looking back to his left toward Simon, the man the soldiers conscripted to help Jesus carry the cross. A soldier is about to hit Jesus and his fellow soldier to his right is delighted while the man with curly hair to his left is horrified. Behind the man helping Jesus carry the cross are two women comforting each other. Behind the two women are either more women and a man wearing a religious hat or crown. To Jesus' right is a nearly naked man whose hands are bound. An angry soldier in a red hat and pants sneers at him. The long procession is making its way down a road out of Jerusalem in the upper right. They are traveling toward two men one of which is holding a spear, perhaps the one that would piece Jesus' side after he died allowing water and blood to flow from his side. The last in the procession is a group of spear possessing soldiers who have stopped walking.
>1. Why did they have to let Simon carry Jesus' cross on the way?
* Luke 23:26 "As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus."
* Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21 also record Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus's cross part of the way. Mark adds that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. They were probably with there father and would have witnessed Jesus' crucifixion. The Apostle John does not include this detail in his gospel.
Mark says that Simon was on his way in from the country. "Country" is "agros" in the original Greek (a transliteration) meaning "field" a place for cattle, "land", and "farm" as in a hamlet or village. He like many pilgrims for the holiday would have stayed outside the city gates in open land.
* Psalm 22 reveals Jesus agony while being crucified.
* "they seized Simon from Cyrene" -Just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
* "Cyrene" -Cyrene is located in northern Africa west of Egypt (now Libya) founded by a colony of Greeks (630 B.C.) It was the capital city of the Roman district of Cyrenaica during the New Testament era. Cyrenaica and Crete formed one province. Simon of Cyrene (now Tripoli) may have belonged to the rather large population of Greek-speaking Jews who resided in the city during the first part of the first century A.D. The Jews were introduced in Cyrene by Ptolomy, the son of Lagus, because he thought they would contribute to the security of the place. Jews from Cyrene were in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:10) and Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Acts 6:9). Converts belonging to Cyrene contributed to the formation of the first Gentile church at Antioch (Acts 11:20). Among "the prophets and teachers" who "ministered to the Lord at Antioch" was Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1).
* Jesus had been tortured by the temple guards, Herod's guards, and the Romans before he was forced to carry the cross. Also, he had not slept in more than 24 hours, not during his preaching and teaching in the temple the day before, not while he prayed on the Mount of Olives, and not during the trials.
* Simon perhaps became the first convert to Christ from his area because of this. The fact that Mark (who was the youngest gospel writer) mentioned his sons indicates that Simon's sons were prominent in the early church.
* Carry the Cross.
Jesus had been tortured by the temple guards, Herod's guards, and the Romans before he was forced to carry the cross. He had not slept in more than 24 hours, not during his preaching and teaching in the temple the day before, not while he prayed on the Mount of Olives, and not during the trials. He was exhausted. The Roman guards, wanting to hurry the crucifixion, conscripted someone to carry the cross the rest of the way.
Simon may have become the first convert to Christ from Cyrene because of being forced to carry the cross. The fact that Mark (who was the youngest gospel writer) mentioned his sons, Alexander and Rufus, indicates that Simon's sons were prominent in the early church. (Mark 15:21)
Simon probably wondered why God made him carry someone else's cross. Later, he probably realized that through this, his sons would become Christians with an important place in the church. God works in ways we cannot comprehend, even through hardship.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:26.
>What was the women's reaction as they followed and watched Jesus carrying his cross?
* Luke 23:27 "A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him."
* "A large number of people followed him" -Luke is the only gospel writer to mention the large crowd. The people must have been a mixture of believers and those who mocked Jesus as he carried the cross.
* "including women who mourned and wailed for him." -The women were most likely all believers in Jesus. We know that a large number were at the foot of the cross. So they must have followed him. Being that none of the gospel writers say they were outside the high priests house, nor Pilate's and Herod's questioning we cannot be sure when and how they joined the procession. Perhaps the apostles John and Peter went back to the upper room and told them all they experienced in the garden. They were probably in the crowd in Pilate's Praetorium court.
>What did Jesus teach about himself and about God's judgment to the weeping women? (28-31)
* Luke 23:28-31 "Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then 'they will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?'"
* Luke is the only one to record this.
* "Daughters of Jerusalem" -Indicating some may have put their faith in him that very week by listening to his teaching. It is also possible, that no matter who was being crucified women joined the processions.
* "the tree is green" -Jesus, the Messiah is there. Jesus had told his disciples several times that while he was on the earth, those who hate God will direct all their anger on him.
* "when it is dry" -Jesus is not there because he ascended to his Father in heaven. When Jesus is gone, those who hate God will direct their anger on his people.
* Jesus is prophesying what the Roman's would do in 70 A.D. less than 30 years from Jesus' crucifixion.
* Jesus is thinking of others even though he is suffering.
* Cover us! -They would not commit suicide for it was a sin. They did not want to fall into the hands of Roman soldiers. So they wanted some horrible tragedy to kill and bury them. Eventually, during the last Jewish hold out on a flat fortified citadel, Jews ran off the top and fell to their death rather than be captured by the Romans.
* Cover us!
Jesus was rejected by the Jewish leaders, like a perfect block is rejected as a cornerstone by architects. The reason was not that he was God's chosen Messiah. The reasons Jesus was rejected were that he was either not the kind of Messiah they wanted or because they wanted the job. Jesus said so in The Parable of the Tenants (20:9-19), and when he told them the exultant seat of the Messiah was greater than the highly praised King David (20:41-47).
While being led to the place of crucifixions, a large crowd, including women, followed Jesus. The women mourned and wailed for him. Some say they were mostly the general citizenship of Jerusalem who usually mourned for the men the Romans crucified. Others say they remembered his words and miracles and were generally sad that he was going to die. A mixture of both is probably true.
Jesus turned around and addressed the women. He said that they should weep for in less than 40 years the Romans will surround Jerusalem and lay it to waste to such an extent that they will want themselves and their children to die in a terrible natural disaster. He concludes, "For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (31)
Will a day come soon that, because of a grave misunderstanding of Scriptures and selfish thinking people will be like the crowd that followed Jesus? On that day, many who now say, "Lord, Lord," will reject Jesus and mourn for the wrong reasons. Many refuse to carry their cross now will reject Jesus' cross then.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:27-31.
>2. Why did they crucify Jesus between two criminals?
* Luke 23:32-33 "Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left."
* "both criminals" -See verse 18.
* "the place called the Skull" -The original Greek word is "kranion" (a transliteration) and can also be translated "Cavalry". Latin is "Calvaria". Aramaic (and perhaps Hebrew) is "Golgotha" (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22, John 19:17) meaning "place of the skull". It was commonly known enough to have a name. Two common beliefs about the name are:
1) that is was a spot where executions ordinarily took place, and therefore abounded in skulls. This is the least likely reason for neither the Romans or the Jews would allow corpses decay in the open.
2) it may come from the look or form of the spot itself, bald, round and skull-like, and therefore a mound or hill rock, in accordance with the common phrase -for which there is no direct authority -"Mount Calvary".
The location of Calvary is currently thought to be one of two places, The one longest believed to be the site is east of the Temple, next to a ramp leading up to the temple grounds. It has a long standing church on it and is most believed to be the true location. Mark 15:29 seems to indicate a road was nearby. This makes sense because the Romans used crucifixion as a deterrent. They wanted it to be as public as possible.
* "crucified him" -The Roman's invented crucifixion though it is true that older societies (i.e. Assyrians and Persians) impaling corpses on long sticks. Constantine I abolished crucifixion in 4th centenary A.D. I go into detail on the nature of crucifixion in the commentary for other gospels.
* Jesus being in the middle may have been intentional since he had such a large following.
>What was Jesus' prayer on the cross for those who crucified him?
* Luke 23:34 "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
* Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
* "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
* Jesus taught his disciples to do the same saying, "...and forgive us our trespass as we forgive though who trespass against us..."
>What can you learn about Jesus through his prayer?
* "for they do not know what they are doing." -If ignorance does not excuse a crime, it at least diminishes the atrocity of it. However, these persons well knew that they were crucifying an innocent man; but they did not know that, by this act of theirs, they were bringing down on themselves and on their country the heaviest judgments of God. In the prayer, Father, forgive them! that word of prophecy was fulfilled, He made intercession for the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12." (Adam Clarke's Commentary)
* "Father, forgive them" -This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:12: He made intercession for the transgressors. The prayer was offered for those who were guilty of putting him to death. It is not quite certain whether he referred to the Jews or to the Roman soldiers. Perhaps he referred to both. The Romans knew not what they did, as they were really ignorant that he was the Son of God, and as they were merely obeying the command of their rulers. The Jews knew, indeed, that he was innocent, and they had evidence, if they would have looked at it, that he was the Messiah; but they did not know what would be the effect of their guilt; they did not know what judgments and calamities they were bringing down upon their country. It may be added, also, that, though they had abundant evidence, if they would look at it, that he was the Messiah, and enough to leave them without excuse, yet they did not, in fact, believe that he was the Saviour promised by the prophets, and had not, in fact, any proper sense of his rank and dignity as "the Lord of glory." If they had had, they would not have crucified him, as we cannot suppose that they would knowingly put to death their own Messiah, the hope of the nation, and him who had been so long promised to the fathers. 1 Corinthians 2:8. We may learn from this prayer-
1st. The duty of praying for our enemies, even when they are endeavouring most to injure us.
2nd. The thing for which we should pray for them is that God would pardon them and give them better minds.
3rd. The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion teaches men to pray for the forgiveness of enemies; no other disposes them to do it. Men of the world seek for revenge; the Christian bears reproaches and persecutions with patience, and prays that God would pardon those who injure them, and save them from their sins.
4th. The greatest sinners, through the intercession of Jesus, may obtain pardon. God heard him, and still hears him always, and there is no reason to doubt that many of his enemies and murderers obtained forgiveness and life. Comp. Acts 2:37, 42, 43, 7:7, 14:1.
(Barnes' Notes on the New Testament)
>About his cross being the cross of forgiveness of sin? (John 1:29, 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24b)
* John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
* John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
* 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
* The suffering Jesus endured on the cross is all about atoning for and forgiving sins. The resurrection of Jesus is all about hope for the believer's future.
>3. What does Jesus' cross and his prayer teach us about sin?
* "And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." -Though they didn't acknowledge or change he prayed for them.
* All sin is horrible to God. Only Jesus' torture though an innocent man, could be the price of horrible sins.
* 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
* Colossians 1:19-20 "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
* Psalm 65:1-5 "Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas...
>About Jesus' grace?
* The Hardest Thing To Do.
Consider all that Jesus allowed to happen to him. His friend betrayed him. He was arrested. His disciples and friends abandoned him. The men guarding him beat and mocked him. The existing religious leaders of the religion he started condemned him to death by crucifixion. They brought him to civil leaders, created false charges, and demanded that he be crucified.
The civil leader flogged him even though he knew he was innocent. Then he allowed the religious leaders to crucify him to appease them. The soldiers put a rob on him and a crown of thorns. They mocked him and beat him. They paraded him naked and bleeding through the city streets. They nailed him to a cross and put his battered body on display. They divided his clothes amongst themselves.
Jesus' response to this while dying on the cross was, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Forgiving someone we love of one violation can be the hardest thing to do. Yet, Jesus forgave everyone who violated Him because he was obeying his Father, he loved to the end, and they acted in ignorance (Acts 3:17; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8).
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:34a.
>How can we receive Jesus' forgiveness and be cleansed of all our unrighteousness? (1 John 1:9; Luke 11:4)
* 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
* Luke 11:4 "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
* Ephesians 2:4-10 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
>How can we forgive others and their sins?
* By the grace of God through faith in Jesus we follow his example and obey his command.
>4. How did the people surrounding Jesus' cross respond to him and his being hung on a tree: the soldiers; the people who stood watching; one of the criminals?
* Luke 23:35-38 "The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
* "The people stood watching" -Was is common to watching men die by crucifixion? I cannot see how strangers would be interested in viewing this though often a twisted heart can become fixated on such things.
* "the rulers" -Matthew 27:34, Mark 15:31, and John 19:20-21 clarify that the rulers were the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
* What Does that Mean?
The church name for the first Friday after Passover is "Good Friday", so someone long passed labeled it. It is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ. Many have stated an opinion on the label. It is just a label to me. Like all long well used labels, it means one thing to someone, and then the same label will mean something altogether different to someone else.
Take, for example, another label with different meanings depending on the reader. Over Jesus's head hung a lie that cannot be more true, depending on the individual. "This is the King of the Jews," it read (38). Pilate intended it to be the official Roman sentence, the reason Jesus was crucified. It is also probable that he intended it to be an insult to the Jewish leaders. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and not deserving the capital punishment, but their shouts, "Crucify him," prevailed (23). He also placed it above Jesus's head as insurance for being accused of political corruption. So, for Pilate, "King of the Jews" had several meanings.
The label over Jesus's bleeding head was self-justification to the Jewish religious and social leaders. "He saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One," they said (35). Jesus, during their mock trial, had clearly stated that he was the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Son of God, who would be seated at the right hand of the Mighty God (22:67-70). Since he was now nailed to a cross with a mocking label over his head, they felt proud that they were right about him, for Jesus did not save himself. Pride blinded them to the true meaning of what it meant to be King of the Jews. As his disciples now suffer for his sake, so Jesus suffered for their redemption. He would not come down. He would die King of the Jews.
The two criminals crucified with Jesus, one on each side, had different meanings for Jesus being the King of the Jews (32, 39-42). For one, Jesus was someone to hurl insults at, a place to expel hate and rage. For the other, Jesus being the King of the Jews, was his last hope for salvation from eternal punishment (41-42). He sought pardon from the King. He asked, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom, when you come with your kingly power."
So now I sit pondering what it means to me that Jesus is the King of the Jews.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:26-43.
>How did they reveal their spiritual ignorance? Why didn't Jesus save himself?
* "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." -They were mocking Jesus, but if these Biblical scholars truly knew the Scriptures they would have been able to answer this statement.
* Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
>5. What request did the second criminal make of Jesus?
* Luke 23:39-42 "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
* "hurled insults at him" -No other reason other than anger towards God.
* "Save yourself and us!" -Indicates the wrong idea of what the Messiah was suppose to do when he came.
* "Don't you fear God," -God's judgement because of rebellion and sin.
* "fear God" -"The sufferings of this person had been sanctified to him, so that his heart was open to receive help from the hand of the Lord: he is a genuine penitent, and gives the fullest proof he can give of it, viz. the acknowledgment of the justice of his sentence. He had sinned, and he acknowledges his sin; his heart believes unto righteousness, and with his tongue he makes confession unto salvation. While he condemns himself he bears testimony that Jesus was innocent. Bishop Pearce supposes that these were not robbers in the common sense of the word, but Jews who took up arms on the principle that the Romans were not to be submitted to, and that their levies of tribute money were oppressive; and therefore they made no scruple to rob all the Romans they met with. These Jews Josephus calls robbers, the same term used by the evangelists. This opinion gains some strength from the penitent thief's confession: We receive the reward of our deeds-we rose up against the government, and committed depredations in the country; but this man hath done nothing amiss, out of place, disorderly, -nothing calculated to raise sedition or insurrection; nor inconsistent with his declarations of peace and good will towards all men, nor with the nature of that spiritual kingdom which he came to establish among men; though he is now crucified under the pretense of disaffection to the Roman government." (Adam Clarke's Commentary, 1831)
* ""since you are under the same sentence?" -Meaning the same sentence as Jesus, but not for the same reason.
* "But this man has done nothing wrong." -Honestly acknowledge Jesus' sacrifice.
>What can we learn from this man?
* "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve." -Honest admission that often, if not always we are the cause of our misfortune and calamity.
>What did Jesus promise him? (39-43)
* Luke 23:43 "Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
* The Place After the Cross.
Jesus hung on the cross between two criminals. Crucifixion was for the worst of the worst. Crucifixion was for those who committed murder, treason, or incited a revolt against Rome. The two men hanging on either side of Jesus committed one of those crimes (41).
One condemned criminal ridiculed Jesus. The other defended Jesus. The latter requested, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus called his kingdom paradise.
Paradise is from the Greek noun "paradeisos" (a transliteration). It is from Persian origin, meaning a forest and a park, especially the Garden of Eden. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, predating Jesus' time) used paradeisos in Genesis 2:8-10 to describe the Garden in Eden, and in Nehemiah 2:8 for the Persian king's forest. Mankind, through sin, lost Eden. Jesus removed sin by shedding his blood on the cross. So now I have access to Jesus' Paradise through his blood.
Paradeisos is used in two other places in the New Testament. Revelation 2:7 records Jesus telling the apostle John, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Jesus overcame the cross to share paradise with those who overcome through faith in him. "Jesus, remember me in your paradise."
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:42-43.
II. Jesus Died (23:44-49)
>6. What happened from Hebrew time 6 to 9? (44-45)
* Luke 23:44-45 "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two."
* "about the sixth hour" -"Hour" in the original Greek is the noun "hora" (a transliteration) used both literally and figuratively. Roman and modern time periods are not the same as Hebrew time periods. Luke is stating Hebrew time which is noon (12am) modern and Roman time.
* "the ninth hour" -Hebrew time which is 3pm modern and Roman time.
* "darkness came over the whole land" -Recorded by the Synoptic gospels (Luke 23:44-45, Mark 15:33, and Matthew 27:45) John does not record the darkness. Matthew and Mark records the darkness ended when Jesus dies, after he cried out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Neither Luke nor John record Jesus saying this.
* "for the sun stopped shining" -Luke, Mark 15:33, and Matthew 17:45 are not clear practically why this happened. People have suggested that the sun stop shinning because of heavy cloud cover, a solar eclipse (does not last three hours), God the Father simply blocking the sun's light from reaching earth, or the sun actually stopped shinning for three hours. Another reason why it was not a solar eclipse is because the Passover is always when there is a full moon and solar eclipses do not happen during a full moon. Full solar eclipses can only happen during a new moon.
>What does this mean?
* During this times God the Father separated from God the Son because God placed on Jesus the sin of the people. Jesus' cry just before his death, quoting scripture reveals this to us. The physical darkness represents the spiritual darkness that Jesus experienced.
>Why would the detail about the curtain be important?
* "And the curtain of the temple was torn in two." -The curtain of the temple separated the most holy place (holy of hollies) where only the high priest could enter once a year from the holy place (sanctuary) (Exodus 26:31; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 18:7). It was one piece approximately one arm length thick. It hung from ceiling to floor and from wall to wall.
* Hebrews 10:19-22 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."
* Hebrews 9:1-10 "Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.'
* It's Curtains for You.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke say that the sun stopped shining from six until nine while Jesus was on the cross. They are using Hebrew time, not modern time. Hebrew time has the first hour at sunrise and the twelfth hour at sunset. So, the sixth hour in Hebrew time is noon in modern time, and the ninth hour in Hebrew time is 3 pm in modern time during spring. The darkness of all mankind's sin was placed on Jesus, and the unique union between God the Father and God the Son was suspended for three hours. Jesus was fulfilling God's foreordained will, the the three hours of darkness.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke note what appears to be an insignificant event when Jesus paid the price for mankind's sin with his death on the cross. They say the curtain of the temple was torn in two. This curtain separated the most holy place and the holy place, symbolizing sin separating us from entering God's presence (Exodus 26; Hebrews 9 3-10, 10:19-22). With my sin removed, I now have direct access to God.
Hebrew's author wrote, "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22) Time to meet the maker of my new soul and spirit.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:44-46.
>7. In what way does Jesus' last cry indicate his victory?
* Luke 23:46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last."
* "Jesus called out with a loud voice"
* "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
* "When he had said this, he breathed his last."
* Last Words, Exact Words.
The last words spoken before the last breath usually reveals much about a person and their life priority, their belief, and their destiny. Jesus' last words, according the John and Luke, are, "It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (46; John 19:28) Jesus' priority was to finish the work given him by his heavenly Father. Jesus' belief was that he had completed that work and would now be going to his Father. Jesus' destiny was to sit at his Father's right hand in paradise.
I have said many times in my commentaries that Jesus died for my sins. However, none of the four gospel writers record that Jesus died, meaning to cease living and existing. Luke and Matthew record that Jesus "breathed his last," also translated "yielded or gave up the ghost". Mark and John record that Jesus "gave up his spirit". They were not using artistic, flowery words. They were relaying the facts properly. Jesus' physical body ceased working, but continued to exist in soul and spirit. Three days later, his body came to life again, his soul and spirit reentered that body, and Jesus walked out of the grave.
Physical death is not the end. "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27) "Pray... that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36) "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:2-3)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:46.
>8. How did the Roman centurion respond as he watched Jesus on the cross?
* Luke 23:47 "The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'"
* Matthew 27:54 and Mark 15:39 also record the response of the Centurion guarding Jesus. He probably either became a early convert or most likely his response was of such remarkable circumstance that it had to be memorable to those at the cross. John, who was at the cross at the time does not record his words. John's gospel account, written last of the four, usually does not repeat what the content of the other three.
* "The centurion" -The Roman soldier is not mentioned by name. There is a slight possibility that this centurion is the one in Luke 7:1-10 (Matthew 8:5-13). Also possible is he was part of the lottery of Jesus' clothes (34; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24) and offering Jesus, mocked Jesus (36; Mark 15:32), and offered wine vinegar (36; Matthew 27:34, 48-49; Mark 15:23, 36).
* "centurion" -A Roman military officer normally in charge of 100 soldiers. They were usually career soldiers and formed the real backbone of the Roman military force. Cornelius, who converted at Peter's testimony was also a Centurion (Acts 10:1, 22) In Acts 27:3, the centurion Julius treated the apostle Paul with courtesy.
* "The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are uniformly spoken of in terms of praise, whether in the Gospels or in the Acts. It is interesting to compare this with the statement of Polybius (vi. 24), that the centurions were chosen by merit, and so were men remarkable not so much for their daring courage as for their deliberation, constancy, and strength of mind.", Dr. Maclear's N. T. Hist. (Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* "praised God" -Fear of God, according the Matthew, incited praise. He recognized God's signs and did not want to encore God's wrath for carrying out the crucifixion for a innocent person. Some have suggested that the centurion also wanted to publicly vindicated Jesus after seeing the mighty signs from heaven.
* "and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'" -Matthew and Mark add that he called Jesus either "a" or "the" Son of God as well.
* Some commentaries stand by the belief that the Centurion said either "Surely this was a righteous man," or "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Then, they state the two are "essentially equivalent terms". True, however, what seems strange to me is that they do not consider the Centurion said both. The Centurion saying both makes complete sense to me, "Surely this was the Righteous One, the Son of God." I consider all the extra stuff that records happened at the cross that Matthew, Mark and Luke do not. This is just one more thing that they did not include, while keeping their testimony true.
>What had happened?
* "seeing what had happened" -Matthew 27:54 adds the details. "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
* Paying attention to all that is taking place around us can help determine what God is doing and saying. This can be done at the time or in meditation, prayer, and thanksgiving later.
>Why was his response and testimony significant?
* "a righteous man" -Can also be "The Righteous One" meaning more than innocent.
* The words of this Centurion soldier is significant testimony.
>How did the bean of light shine in this man's heart as he saw Jesus' cross?
* Surely this man...
The unnamed career Roman soldier, a Centurion in charge of at least 100 soldiers, was assigned to conduct Jesus' crucifixion. Centurions were chosen on merit, remarkable for their deliberation, constancy, and strength of mind, more so than daring courage. This Centurion led Jesus from Pilate's verdict and the hatred of the Jewish religious leaders with a company of men through the streets of Jerusalem to the place of execution, oversaw his nailing to the cross, gambled for Jesus' clothes, mocked Jesus, offered Jesus wine vinegar, heard all that Jesus said on the cross, and observed the manner of his death.
The Centurion saw the sun go dark for three hours, the earthquake, and all that happened when Jesus was crucified and gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:54). This hardened soldier became terrified of the judgment of God. He carried out what he must have known was an unjust sentence. The fear of God's judgement moved him to praise God and declare, "Surely this was a righteous man, the Son of God." His testimony is recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The significance of his testimony cannot be understated.
Some wonder what the fear of God is and believe it has little or no merit in Christianity because they have not experienced it. Yet, the fear of God's judgment has compelled many to regret and even repent of terrible acts, such as this man. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and its end is experiencing the love and forgiveness of God... if we only ask.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 23:47.
>What can you say about Jesus' cross that shines light upon those who are in darkness?
* Luke 23:48-49 "When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things."
*
III. Jesus Was Buried (23:50-56)
>9. Who buried Jesus? (50-51)
* Luke 23:50-51 "Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God."
* Matthew 27:57 "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus."
* Mark 15:43 "Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."
* John 19:38-39 "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds."
* "a man named Joseph, a member of the Council" -Luke does not used the word Sanhedrin in his gospel account nor the book of Acts. He uses the term in Luke 22:66, 23:50, Acts 17:33, 22:5 and 12. Therefore, the Council is the same as the Sanhedrin here, except perhaps Luke may be calling the entire group who condemned Jesus to crucifixion "The Council" for the chief priests were not necessarily in the Sanhedrin.
* John adds that Nicodemus helped Joseph bury Jesus (John 19:38-39).
* "who had not consented to their decision and action" -This is the Sanhedrin and chief priest's decision to put Jesus to death.
* "rich man" -Not all rich are unholy. Joseph was not like the rich young ruler who had approached Jesus a few week's before his arrest.
* "the Judean town of Arimathea" -Not from Galilee.
* "Judean town of Arimathea" -The location of Arimathea is not certain at this time. Arimathea is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birth-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1, 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama in Benjamin (Mat 2:18). (Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* "he was waiting for the kingdom of God." -Interesting comment by Luke concerning waiting for the kingdom of God. Joseph believed in Jesus, meaning he believed Jesus was the Messiah. Now, even though Jesus died and thus countered the then belief that the Messiah would become king of Israel and drive out Rome, Joseph believed still in Jesus, enough to boldly ask Pilate for Jesus' body and bury him. In doing these two things he publicly showed faith and loyalty to Jesus.
* Luke, whose readers are not clashing with Palestinian Jewish leaders (as are Matthew's), is more apt to distinguish different elements within that leadership than Matthew. In Jesus' day, Judaism was quite diverse, because no one group could lay claim to all the power; but after a.d. 70, when much of the competition had been eliminated by the destruction of the temple (the Sadducees' power base) and the scattering of other groups, some of the Palestinian leaders sought to consolidate their religious power. (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament)
>What did he boldly do? (52)
* Luke 23:52 "Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body."
* He was not ashamed of his faith in Jesus.
* "Going to Pilate" -Pilate would only be the one who could release Jesus's body. No Jew and not even a Roman soldier could release Jesus's body because technically Pilate was the only person who could issue capital punishment. Pilate's claim that he washed his hands of Jesus's death, was mostly ceremony, except the spiritual note that the Jews who yelled, "Crucify him" also said, "Let the blood be on us and our children".
>Why are the details of how Jesus was buried important? (53)
* Luke 23:53 "Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid."
* Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."
* "wrapped it in linen cloth" -Required by Jewish custom, but not part of the Mosaic Law.
* "placed it in a tomb cut in the rock" -Very common for centuries in Judea and Galilee as Apostle John states (John 19:40).
* "one in which no one had yet been laid." -John adds that the tomb was in a garden that was near the place Jesus was crucified. Matthew adds that Joseph owned the tomb, prepared for himself (Matthew 27:60).
* The Law of Moses, nor any other book in the Bible gives instruction on a proper way to bury the dead. However, many passages from Genesis on describe the way Israel buried the dead. They are considered custom with rituals and were very important to Jewish society. One part of the Law that directed Jewish burial customs was Deuteronomy 21:23 which said a body must not stay on a tree over night, and Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Israel) were all buried in the cave of Machpelah. (Genesis 23:19, 25:9, 49:31, 50:13). Cremation were only on rare cases where the body had decayed following mutilation or the thread of plague. Embalming was also very rare even though practiced by the Egyptian rich elite.
>What day was it in Hebrew time? (54)
* Luke 23:54 "It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin."
* "Preparation Day" -Prepared for the Sabbath, which did not allow for the preparation of food or anything else that was considered work.
* "Sabbath" -The last day of the Hebrew week which according to the Mosaic Law required rest.
* "about to begin" -It began, as all days did, at sunset.
* Preparation days was the sixth day of week in which Jews prepared life's necessities to avoid work on the sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-14; John 9:14-16). Preparation of food, completing work, and spiritual purification were included. The Hebrew day began and ended at 6 p.m., so the day of preparation extended from 6 p.m. on Thursday until the beginning of the sabbath at 6 p.m. Friday.The Feast of Passover was immediately followed by the holy convocation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:1-7). No one worked on either of these holy days, so a day of preparation was set aside to prepare for the holiday period (John 19:14). John explicitly identified the day of preparation as the day of Jesus' execution (John 19:14,31,42) and placed the Last Supper before Passover (John 13:1). The Synoptic Gospels, however, dated the Last Supper on the day of Passover (Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7). This apparent contradiction in dating may depend on whether the gospel writers were referring to the preparation day for the sabbath or to the preparation day for the Passover." Steve W. Lemke (Holman Bible Dictionary)
>10. Who were the witnesses to Jesus' death and burial?
* Luke 23:55-56 "The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment."
* Luke 23:49 "But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things."
* Concerning the resurrection account, Luke 24:10 "It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles." They might at been at the tomb with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
* "The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee" -Matthew says Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Mark states these women and adds that the second Mary is the mother of Joses. John adds that Nicodemus, whom he mentions an encounter with Jesus in his chapter 3. John does not mention the women.
* "saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it" -Luke was stating this to show they knew Jesus' body was very dead and they would know where to go on Monday.
* "Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes." -They had a plan. They truly loved Jesus. Spices and perfumes were used at burial to soften the smell.
* But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment." -Still faithful Jews.
>What do you know about them?
* Luke 23:49 "But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
* Matthew 27:61 "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."
* Mark 15:47 "Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid."
* John 19:38-39 "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds."
>What do Jesus' death and burial mean to us?
* What is a Christian burial? I have been to several funerals, most of which can be considered Christian. Yet, none have been like Jesus's burial. None of the services have read any of the gospel accounts of Jesus's burial (Luke 23:50-56; Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:31-42) for enough sorrow is contained the the death of someone we personally interacted with. Rather, the funeral messages I have heard focus on the person's past and/or their "resting place" in heaven.
When I look back at the funerals I attended, I can remember many details. So, I have no doubt that the woman (55; Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:40-41, 47), Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council (Sanhedrin), and Nicodemus, also a member of the Sanhedrin (John 19:39), remembered all the details of Jesus's burial. Overwhelming sorrow fills the soul upon remembering the death and burial of the loved one.
Jesus died as the sun touched the horizon, the end of modern Friday's light and the Hebrew sixth day of the week. Sabbath was about to begin, the seventh Hebrew day (54). Because of the Laws given through Moses, no one could work on the Sabbath, which started at twilight. So, the small group of bold followers quickly lowered Jesus' body, wrapped it in linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut in rock, one in which no one had yet been laid (53). Tombs in the ancient Middle East contained family members. This tomb was new and therefore empty. Jesus's body was alone through the Sabbath's night, the next day's morning and day, through sunset, and the next day's night (per Hebrew calendar). His body was alone. But his being was escorting past deceased soul's including one of the criminals crucified with him, into paradise.
Those who loved Jesus are one with him in his burial (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
