As part of “A New Christmas Tradition”, I am posting my thoughts on the Book of Luke as we read through one chapter per day in this month of December. I welcome you to read along, and share your thoughts in the comments.
Luke Chapter 23:
Verses 1-7: Pilate, in spite of all the accusations against Jesus, could find no fault in Him. Yet, rather than release Him, he sent Jesus to Herod.
Verses 8-12: Herod was glad to receive Jesus, because he hoped to see a miracle done by Him. Jesus was silent to all of Herod’s questioning. Rather than doing what was right according to the truth of the matter, Herod allowed Jesus to be mocked by his soldiers, and then returned Him to Pilate. Although Herod and Pilate had been enemies before, this same day they became friends.
Verses 13-25: Pilate called the Jewish religious leaders together and told them that both he and Herod had found no fault in Jesus. The custom at the time of the feast was to release some prisoner to the Jews. Pilate recommended releasing either Jesus or Barabbas. Barabbas was a known murderer, and Pilate likely expected that the Jews, given that choice, would not want Barabbas released and would therefore agree to have Jesus released. But he was wrong. The religious leaders were determined to have Jesus crucified, no matter what the cost. And Pilate, unwilling to stand against them for what was right, released Barabbas and delivered Jesus to their will to be crucified.
Verses 34: Jesus, while on the cross, prayed for those who were crucifying Him.
Verses 32-33, 39-43: Two others were crucified with Jesus. At one point, according to the accounts of Mathew and Mark (Mt 27:44, Mk 15:32), both of these criminals mocked Jesus, along with many of the crowd of onlookers. However, Luke records here that one of the two at some point recognized Jesus for who He was, confessed himself to be guilty and worthy of death, and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. He displayed a perfect example of a repentant sinner coming to Jesus for salvation. In the midst of His suffering, Jesus heard the prayer of this man and saved his soul.
Verses 45: As Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in half, from top to bottom (Mt. 27:51, Mk. 15:38). The way into the Holy of Holies was made open to us (Hebrews 9:2-14, 10:12-14, 19-22).
Verses 46-47: The centurion, after seeing all that was done, “glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”
Verses 50-53: Joseph of Arimathaea, a secret disciple of Jesus, came openly to Pilate asking for the body of Jesus. Nicodemus, who had previously come secretly to Jesus by night, came with Joseph to prepare Jesus’ body for burial and to lay Him in Joseph’s own new tomb.
Verses 54-56: Some of the women followed them to see where they would lay Him, and because the sabbath was near to beginning, they went home, prepared the spices and ointments to be used for Jesus body, and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Links to previous posts:
The Penitent Thief
Jesus: The Lamb Slain and Our High Priest
Ye Must Be Born Again
, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Death to sin and self is the only roadway to power. Will we become God’s fuel in bringing this to pass? Let us give the answer to God in some quiet place today as we covenant to wait upon Him until He has flooded our own souls with Himself.