23:13-25
Since Pilate was now faced with having to pass judgment, he told the Jews he found him innocent of the charges. He agreed to punish him and release him since he had done nothing deserving death. (15) Romans could punish the innocent to a degree, to warn them to be more careful.
The Jews, however, wanted Jesus crucified and Barabbas released. They were loud and insistent. Pilate tried three times to declare Jesus innocent. Since one of the duties of a governor, like Pilate, was to keep the peace, he did not want a riot on his hands. So, he agreed to release Barabbas and turned Jesus over for crucifixion. Luke does not explain, but the Romans had a tradition of releasing a prisoner at Passover to gain favor with the Jews.
We know, of course, that Jesus never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15) He did not violate Roman law either. Therefore, Pilate declared him innocent. Yet, his own people, the Jews, called for his death. Isaiah prophesied this, saying “By oppression and judgment he was taken away”. (Isaiah 53:8)
It is an interesting situation: Barabbas was guilty of the charges against him, yet was freed. Jesus was innocent, but was executed. It is a good example of the thinking of the mind darkened by sin, as set out in Romans 1.
It is also interesting to see how Barabbas’ situation and ours are similar. Barabbas was rightly facing execution for his crimes. But, Jesus took his place. Jesus died in his place. Because of this, Barabbas went free. His crimes were forgiven. Jesus, however, was condemned. Similarly, we are guilty of sin (Romans 3:23) and worthy of death. (Romans 6:23) But Jesus died for us, setting us free and forgiving our sins.
Charles Dickens used this idea in his book, The Tale of Two Cities. Sidney Carton put on the clothes of Charles Darnay and went to the guillotine in his place. He died that Darnay might live.
Crucifixion
23:26-38
Luke does not record the scourging Jesus received. Mark wrote that Jesus was scourged. (Mark 15:15) It involved whipping with a leather whip made of several strips of leather, with sharp pieces of bone attached to the ends. It was painful, stripped away skin, and caused a lot of bleeding. That is why Jesus was not able to carry the cross. They made Simon of Cyrene carry it and walk behind Jesus. (26) It was the custom to make the criminal carry his cross as a final humiliation before death, but Jesus could not do it.
Not everyone called for the death of Jesus. The group of priests and scribes did, along with a crowd they likely gathered for the purpose. But others followed Jesus mourning and lamenting. (27) This involved load moaning and crying. The NIV says they “wailed”. These were people who loved and followed Jesus, now mourning his ill treatment and death. Many of these were women, for he addressed them as “daughters of Jerusalem” (28)
But Jesus told them not to grieve for him, but for themselves in the coming judgment. (28) The phrase “the days are coming” refers to the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, as a judgment of God. Jesus said to weep for themselves and their children, because they faced this terrible judgment. In those days, it would be better to be barren and not have babies, because the suffering and death would be so bad. (29)
Those who faced this destruction would call for the mountains to fall on them because it would be better than to face the death and destruction that was coming. Jesus seems to have referred to Hosea 10:8. Hosea said “The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, ‘cover us’ and to the hills, ‘fall on us’.
Hosea warned Israel of the coming of the Assyrians to destroy the northern kingdom and take its people into captivity. That was similar to Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and Jesus’ Jewish followers would likely have understood the reference.
That language is used again in Revelation 6:16, when the kings of earth seek refuge from the wrath of God at the end of the age.
Jesus ended his prophecy with a saying “if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it was dry”. It is a way of saying, if you think this is terrible, wait until you see how bad it is at the destruction of Jerusalem, because it will be worse.
Jesus wanted the people to weep not only tears for the judgment that would come, but tears of repentance, that they might be saved and avoid the ultimate judgment.
Jesus was not the only one going to his death. Two criminals were also going. He was literally numbered with the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12) They were taken to a place called “the Skull”. If you read the King James Version, it says “Calvary”. There are numerous hymns that refer to Calvary also. That word is a transliteration of the Latin word “Calvaraie”. The King James translators apparently opted to transliterate a word from the Latin Vulgate rather than translate from the Greek.
Jesus was nailed to the cross with spikes through his hands and feet. As David prophesied in Psalm 22:16, “they have pierced my hands and feet”.
When Jesus was placed on the cross, he prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
Why would Jesus seek the forgiveness of his killers? First of all, it is part of his mission. He came to save the lost, dying for sins, so that men and women can be saved. J. C. Ryle wrote “as soon as the blood of the Great sacrifice began to flow, the Great High Priest began to intercede”. Second, he knew they did not fully understand what they were doing. Third, he set an example for us. He told us to love our enemies and be merciful. (Luke 6:35)
While Jesus hung on the cross dying, the mocking continued. Some gambled to obtain his garments. (34) This fulfilled Psalm 22:18, “they divide my garments among them, for my clothing they cast lots”.
The rulers, the members of the Sanhedrin, also mocked. They said “let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One”. They were making fun of him for claiming he was the Messiah since he was dying rather than conquering. This fulfilled Psalm 22:6-7:
“But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads:
He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him reside him, for he delights in him!”
Fortunately for us, Jesus did not save himself. Rather, he died to save us.
The Roman soldiers also mocked Jesus. (36) They also called on him to save himself. They mocked him for being the king of the Jews, for they knew there was no king in Israel, only Roman rule. They were saying, in effect, “some king you are; we are killing you”. Yet, the sign was true: Jesus was the king of the Jews.
They offered him sour wine to drink. This may have been to keep him from dying of dehydration, prolonging his suffering. It also fulfilled Psalm 69:21: “for my thirst they gave sour wine to drink”.
All of these fulfilled prophesies confirm for us that Jesus is God’s anointed one, the Messiah or Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man, who is savior and lord.
The last person Luke records as mocking is one of the criminals being crucified with him. He also yelled at Jesus, challenging him to save himself if he is the Christ”. This is a terrible display of human hate. Here the man is dying as a criminal, yet mocking Jesus for dying.
The other criminal did not mock. Rather he believed in Jesus, and rebuked his friend. He acknowledged the justice of his own death, but the innocence of Jesus. He said his friend should fear God since his death was imminent.
To Jesus, the man said “remember me when you come into your kingdom”. (42) This is a confession of faith. It shows his belief that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who will reign over all things.
Jesus acknowledged the man’s faith and confession. He said that man would be with him in Paradise that very day. “Paradise” is another way of saying “heaven’. (43)
This bears out the truth of Jesus’ words spoken earlier: “All that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)
It is always this way. One hears the gospel and reacts with derision. Another hears, believes, and is saved.
Jesus Dies
44:-49
Starting at noon, and ending at three, the day went dark. This is a literal event. It really got dark. It was also a symbolic event: it showed God’s judgment and wrath as Jesus bore it for us. Amos 5:18 says “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD: It is darkness and not light…is not the day of the LORD darkness and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?”
The curtain of the temple was also torn “in two”. (45) This was the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). No one but the High Priest could enter into the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence dwelt. But now that curtain is torn, symbolizing that men and women could now, through the work of Christ, come directly into the presence of God without the mediation of an earthly priest.
Jesus died then crying out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. At death, the human body ceases to function, but the spirit remains. The spirit of the believer goes to be in the presence of God. Ecclesiates 12:7 says “the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God, who gave it.”
That is why Paul could say he was torn between life an death, for death meant to depart and be with Christ. (Philippians 1:21-23) He also said if we are home in the body we are away from the Lord, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) Jesus’ human spirit went to the Father, his body having ceased to function, having died.
The Aftermath - Reactions
23:47-49
When Jesus died, people reacted to his death and the way he died. A centurion was there, probably as the leader of the group that carried out the crucifixion. He said “certainly this man was innocent”. (47) He praised God, evidently for the manner in which Jesus handled his death.
The crowd of people who came to watch the “spectacle”, evidently to be entertained, went home beating their breasts. This is an expression of sorrow or anger, indicating that the people believed Jesus was innocent and had been killed unjustly.
Finally, Luke noted that two groups of people stood off at a distance and watched. They were they women who followed Jesus during his ministry and his “acquaintances”. That is the first time that word has been applied to those around Jesus. It is not clear who they were, but they were at least people who knew Jesus. The NIV in fact says “all those who knew him”. It might have been those like Nicodemus who were not disciples, but either believed in Jesus or were impressed by him. It may have included the disciples.
Standing at a distance indicates they were still afraid to identify with Jesus. Let us not stand far off. Let us stand up for Jesus in word and in deed.
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