Luke 23:33-49 The crucifixion of Jesus

Luke 23:33-49 The crucifixion. Parallel passages Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-41, John 19:17-30. Luke records three scenes, each with a statement Jesus made on the cross. In the first scene (23:33-38), Jesus prays to the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. Pilate had put a sign up saying "the king of the Jews". But the religious leaders of the Jews mocked Him, as did the soldiers. One wouldn't expect anything else from Roman soldiers, but the religious leaders mocked His ability to save anyone since He was helpless on the cross.  It seems that they had no concept of God's plan of salvation. Or of God's ways, His nature, or His character. And yet Jesus asked the Father to forgive all of them.

          In the second scene (23:39-43) the thieves who are being crucified next to Jesus talk to Him. A clear contrast as one mocks Jesus, and the other has at least a good picture of truth. The thieves were being crucified because they were guilty of theft, but Jesus was being crucified even though He was innocent. And so the second thief had faith because he asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Since all three were dying on crosses, it is an indication that this second thief believed that there is life after death and that Jesus was going to establish His kingdom there. And Jesus' response to him was that that very day (before dark) he (the thief) would be with Him (Jesus) in Paradise. For a person in that situation, that must have been an incredible promise.  But the question we might ponder is how we respond when trouble befall us, troubles of our own making. Do we curse God and blaspheme, or question His ability to save? Or do we recognize our own culpability and please for mercy?

          The third scene (Like 23:44-49) records the final three hours from noon to 3PM, when there was darkness on the land, and then the end, Jesus quotes from Psalm 31:5. The veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus dies. The centurion is recorded as saying "Truly this man was innocent." Matthew 27:54 records that the centurion said, "Truly this man was the son of God." Perhaps he said both. The manner in which Jesus died, and the signs accompanying it, were enough to impress even the hardened gentile solider who witnessed it. And we are told, many other people, including many women, were also present and witnessed Jesus' death. The crowds who gathered to witness the spectacle were beating their breasts, but His followers, both disciples and women, watched from a distance.

          John 19:31-37 (but not Luke) records that the Jews asked Pilate to make sure the criminals were dead so that they would not be hanging on their crosses during the Passover. The basic idea was that if their legs were broken, they wouldn't be able to support their weight so they would hang their whole weight by their hands. This would result in suffocation. But when the soldiers came to Jesus they found that He was already dead and did not break His legs. This was a fulfillment of two prophecies. No bone of Him would be broken (Psalm 34:20). They will look on Him whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10). So the Roman army attested to the death of Christ and put to rest any claims that He only passed out and was revived after resting a few days. Roman soldiers would have paid with their own lives if they had made a mistake in regard to this, and were unlikely to risk error.

          The bottom line on this, as far as we are concerned, is given in I Corinthians 11:26: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." We were not there physically, but we give witness to these events when we partake of the Lord's Supper in faith. And 1 John 1:7:  "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." This is the defining moment in eternity. Both our cleansing in our daily walk and our place in eternity are determined by how we respond to this event.

          There is a theological question that comes up in my mind. How is it possible for Jesus' righteousness to be transferred to us, and the guilt for our sins to be transferred to Him? This propitiation is pictured in the Old Testament through the animal sacrifices that were commanded in the Mosaic law. (e.g. Leviticus 4:32-35) The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:4), but the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). How? I think there is a spiritual transaction that takes place that is indescribable. But the essence seems to be that we are identified with Christ on the cross, and therefore we died with Him as a punishment for sin, and we also are raised with Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) And this is only possible if we are in Him. How are we in Him when He is on the cross? This identification (this word actually falls far short of being "in" Him) may take many forms, but most likely these outward forms - public confession, baptism, participating in the Lord's Supper - are an expression and result of an inward decision and choice to identify with, accept, receive, surrender to Christ.