Luke 23

 

The Eternal Judge kept silent for us

 

1 And the whole multitude of them got up and led him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this one perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, You say it. 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5 And they grew more fierce, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea from Galilee to here. 6 When Pilate heard Galilee, he asked if the man was a Galilaean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly: for he had desired to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to see a miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

 

  • The eternal judge didn’t defend Himself (John 5:22).
  • One word from Jesus could vaporize them all but He was there to die for their sins and give them eternal life.

 

10  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers humiliated him, and mocking him put in a gorgeous robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod became friends: for before this they hated each other. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said to them, You have brought this man to me, as one that incites the people: Look, having examined him before you, I have found no fault in this man concerning the charges you bring against him

 

  • The Jews didn’t give any credible proof of their accusations. There was none because the accusations were not true.

 

15  No, nor Herod: for I sent you up to him; look, he has done nothing worthy of death. 16 I will chastise him and release him. 17 (For it was necessary to release one to them at the feast.) 18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas: 19 (Who was cast into prison for a revolt made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify! Crucify him? 22 And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will chastise him and let him go. 23 And they insisted with great voices, requiring that he be crucified. And their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released to them the one that was cast into prison for sedition and murder, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

 

  • The insults, humiliation, and torture that Jesus received belonged to us.
  • Picture each one of us before the throne of Almighty God being judged for our wrongs instead of Jesus before the Jews, Pilate, and Herod. That's what He saved us from.
  • This was our judgment He was taking, displaying God’s unfathomable love for us. Because of this we won’t have to stand before the Almighty for all our wrongs.

 

26  And as they led him away, they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country and they laid the cross on him, that he might carry it behind Jesus. 27 And a great company of people followed him, of women who wailed and lamented for him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep 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, the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30 Then they will 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 will be done in the dry?

 

  • They were killing God, their Maker, when times were good. Jesus asked what they would do when things got bad? (Leviticus 26:29 answers that question.)
  • Jesus would soon finish His life obediently and triumphantly go to be with His father. Israel would soon be judged for rejecting their Messiah—that’s the dry.

 

Jesus forgave mankind as they were killing Him

 

32  And there were also two other criminals, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they came to the place called Calvary, there they crucified him and criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said , Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing. And they divided his clothing, and cast lots.

 

  • What an astounding picture of man’s evil and depravity contrasted to God’s love.
  • God’s people were killing their Maker and gambling for His clothes while He hung their taking God’s wrath against their sins for them.
  • John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

35  And the people stood watching. And also the rulers with them scoffed, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. 38 And an inscription was written above him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

  • Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he will strike the nations: and he will rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

He opened the way to God for all

 

39  And one of the criminals that was hanged blasphemed him, saying, If you are Christ, save yourself and us. 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, because you are in the same judgment? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of what we did: but this man has done nothing amiss. 42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 And Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, Today you will 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 torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit: and having said this, he breathed out his spirit.

 

  • Think about the sin of the world we live in today. Just one day’s sin is staggering.
  • Then multiply it by 6,000 years of Biblically recorded history. 
  • Then add all the world’s sin of the years to come.
  • That’s the load Jesus carried to the cross.
  • And it has been taken away as far as the East is from the West. All of it!
  • He took away the sin of the world.
  • God literally provided Himself as the sacrifice.
  • John 10:17 my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

 

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, watching the things that were done, beat their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintances, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood far off, watching these things. 50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good and just man: 51 (He had not consented to their counsel and action) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was cut in stone where no man ever laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath was coming. 55 And the women also, who came with him from Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was placed. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

  • At this time God’s victory over evil was complete and Jesus was in paradise with the criminal who had asked to be remembered by Jesus when He came into His kingdom.
  • During the three days Jesus body was in the grave His spirit made a trip into the dungeon housing the evil spirits that were judged in Noah’s day to announce His victory.
  • 1Peter 3:18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit: 19 By which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison; 20 Who were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 Like baptism also now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

 

                                                Luke 24

      

Jesus rose from the dead to give life to all forever

 

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb bringing the spices that they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They entered in, and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And as they were very perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

 

  • Revelation 1:18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
  • Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he always lives to make intercession for them.
  • John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet will he live

 

8  And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as nonsense; they did not believe them. 12 Then Peter got up, and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying alone, and departed, wondering in himself at what had happened. 13 And that same day, behold, two of them went to a village called Emmaus, about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem.

 

  • That would be seven and a half miles from Jerusalem.

 

God gives or withholds perception

He expounded all things in scripture concerning Himself

 

14  And they talked together of all these things that had happened. 15 And while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were withheld so that they would not recognize him. 17 And he said to them, What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad? 18 And answering him, one of them whose name was Cleopas said to him, Are you a stranger in Jerusalem, and do not know the things happening there these days? 19 And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one to redeem Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company astounded us, being early at the tomb; 23 And when they did not find his body, they came to us, saying, that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he is alive. 24 And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb and found it as the women had said: but they did not see him. 25 Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

 

  • Showing them Himself in the scriptures enabled fulfilling the first and great command to love Him with all our being (Matthew 22:37, 38). We must know Him to love Him.
  • Sermons can be ‘go and do’ or they can show people God and his great love for them. Verse 32 says this set their hearts on fire.
  • Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and on the throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from his loins upward, and from his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
  • Psalm 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

 

28  And they drew near the village where they were going: and he appeared to be going further. 29 But they compelled him saying, Stay with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. And he went in to stay with them. 30 And reclining with them, he took bread and blessed it and broke and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures?

 

  • The cure for lukewarm Christians is in the Word of God, looking at Jesus in His word from beginning to end.
  • Revelation 3:16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

 

He came to them and showed them

 

33  And they rose up that same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them, 34 saying, The Lord is really raised, and has appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. 36 And as they spoke, Jesus himself stood in their midst, and said to them, Peace to you. 37 But they were terrified and filled with fear and thought they were seeing a spirit. 38 And he said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do doubts come up in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: feel me, and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me have. 40 And when he had spoken this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

 

  • He showed them the wounds from the Roman spikes of crucifixion and the sword.

 

He promised to send His Holy Spirit to clothe us with His power from on high

 

41  And still disbelieving from joy and marveling, he said to them, Do you have any food here? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and part of a honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and ate before them. 44 And he said to them, This is what I said to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled that were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. 45 Then he opened their understanding so that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said to them, It is written, and it was right for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but you sit in the city of Jerusalem, until you are clothed with power from on high.

 

  • God had promised in Old Testament times to permanently give man His Holy Spirit to live inside man.
  • Before sins were paid for in full by the death of the Son of God, the Holy Spirit came and went from man.
  • Joel 2:29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit.
  • Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.

 

Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the eternal Father forever

 

50  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

  • Psalm 110:1 The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.
  • Hebrews 1:3 (Jesus) being the brightness of his glory, the expressed/exact image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: 8 But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.

 

 

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SUMMARY: Luke 23-24

 

  • The Eternal Judge kept silent for us
  • Jesus forgave mankind as they were killing Him
  • He opened the way to God for all
  • Jesus rose from the dead to give life to all forever
  • God gives or withholds perception
  • He expounded all things in scripture concerning Himself
  • He came to them and showed them His wounds for us
  • He promised to send His Holy Spirit to clothe us with His power from on high
  • Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the eternal Father forever