Luke

Chapter 23:26-56 (ESV) -  And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 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!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Question to consider: Who do you say Jesus is?

Honestly, I could probably spend the next week breaking down every aspect of Jesus’ crucifixion, but I think it’s even more important to just read it in its entirety. People ask why Jesus is the only way to heaven and blaspheme God for pouring out His wrath on sin. Every man-made religion and philosophy professes that man is basically good, and that it is possible for us to reclaim that goodness through our own efforts. Jesus is the only one through all of history who was without sin and was willing to take our sins upon Himself, be nailed to a tree and receive the full cup of God’s wrath for every sin since the fall of Adam. 

Pilate hung a sign over Jesus as a message to the Jews that they should despair of any attempt to fight against Rome, but Jesus would instead be king over the whole earth. Simon of Cyrene saw it. Luke will mention him again in the second part of his epic to Theophilus. Joseph, the Pharisee from Arimathea, saw it. One of the two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus saw it. A Roman centurion saw it. Do you?

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving us hope instead of despair. Help us to see our faithful king, even in the midst of all the loud voices that continue to shout against Him. As the world continues to get darker, please help the light of Christ to shine more brightly. Amen.