LUKE LESSON 57
WE will begin this lesson in Luke 23:26 "And as they led him away,
they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country,
and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear [it] after Jesus."
Most people who were crucified carried their own cross, but the
cruelty with which they had scourged Jesus had left His physical body
so weak that there was a need for someone to carry this heavy cross
for Him. Cyrene was a part of northern Africa. There were Jews living
in that area and many believe Simon was a Jew, as well as being
an African. In St. Mark, we read that he was the father of Alexander
and Rufus. Again, many believe they were prominent among the followers
of Jesus. This was feast time and possibly that was why Simon was in
Jerusalem at this time. Another reason is that for God's purposes, He
wanted a black man to carry the cross. God uses little things like
this to show His acceptance of different races of people. Even though
they seemed to force this on Simon, we see no protest on his part. He
will have a crown in glory for helping the Lord. There is a great deal
of spiritual meaning here, as well. Jesus said all believers must take
up their cross daily and follow Him. It may not be a wooden cross, but
we, too, have one to bear, Simon took up the cross and followed Jesus.
Luke 23:27 "And there followed him a great company of people, and
of women, which also bewailed and lamented him."
These women loved Jesus and showed open grief for the things that
were happening that day. It seems many of His followers had found out
about it by now and some were following.
Luke 23:28 "But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of
Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your
children."
Jesus has compassion on these women. His thoughts even now in His
great physical agony is not for Himself, but for these women. Jesus'
problems will soon be over. He tells them to weep for themselves and
their children. In the very near future, Jerusalem would be under
siege. The war will destroy this city. I believe it goes much further,
too. Jesus knows the persecution His followers will face.
Luke 23:29 "For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they
shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare,
and the paps which never gave suck."
Again, this is spoken for that near future overthrow of Jerusalem,
but it goes on, also, until the end when the last terrible war will
come. Then will these Hebrew women, who thought it a curse from God
not to have children, be happy not to have a child to go through all
the problems.
Luke 23:30 "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on
us; and to the hills, Cover us."
This, perhaps, was speaking of the terrors of the soon overthrow
of Jerusalem, but also the Jewish women, even until now, have seen so
much terror (as in world war II). Even now, it is not safe for a
Hebrew to walk along the streets around Jerusalem.
Luke 23:31 "For if they do these things in a green tree, what
shall be done in the dry?"
The green tree signifies life. That is what Jesus offered, life.
When this offer of life is gone (the dead tree). what then?
Luke 23:32 "And there were also two other, malefactors, led with
him to be put to death."
These malefactors were truly criminals. guilty. and deserving
punishment.
Luke 23:33 "And when they were come to the place, which is called
Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the
right hand, and the other on the left."
This place was called Calvary, Golgotha, and a place of a skull.
They crucified Him. This we say so quickly, when in fact, they nailed
Him to the wooden cross. They put a nail in each of His hands and
nailed His feet to the cross, as well. I would like to say, right
here. that even at this moment. Jesus was in complete control. The
only reason they could do this, is because He chose to die for you and
me. His death on that cross for each of us was so that we might live.
At no time was Satan, or any of his demons, forcing Jesus to do
anything He didn't want to. He was looking down through time and
seeing you and me. He knew if He got off the cross, we would go to
hell. Our faces are what kept Him on the cross.
Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
We see from this statement Jesus makes that He takes no thought
for Himself. but, as usual. is thinking of others . The two thieves by
His side have need to pray;. "Father, forgive me". but Jesus has no
sin. His prayer, "Father forgive them" denotes a need for all of us
for forgiveness for our part in this terrible punishment. These
soldiers did not even have the courtesy to wait until He was dead.
They divided His belongings right before Him. The one garment which
had no seam was desired of all, so they cast lots for it. The movie
"The robe" is based upon this garment which had no seam. It was taken
from an ancient book other than the Bible.
Luke 23:35 "And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also
with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save
himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God."
Notice, it is not the people deriding Him, it is these religious
rulers. They mocked Jesus as if he had to prove something to them. I
believe they knew all the time that He was the Messiah. There had been
too many miracles done in their presence for them not to know.
Luke 23:36 "And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and
offering him vinegar,"
This vinegar was like a pain killer, but Jesus refuses; wanting to
go through this for all of us. Their mocking will be turned to sorrow
when the earth starts to quake and darkness covers the land at
noonday.
Luke 23:37 "And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save
thyself."
They had no idea of the whole purpose of the crucifixion. The sad
thing is that Jesus was dying for their sins, too.
Luke 23:38 "And a superscription also was written over him in
letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE
JEWS."
The Jews had tried to get Pilate to change this to say that He
said He was the King of the Jews. Pilate would not do it. He was the
King of the Jews.
Luke 23:39 "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed
on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." Luke 23:40
"But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation?" Luke 23:41 "And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath
done nothing amiss."
These two men, the one on the left and the other on the right, had
very little in common, except that they were both guilty of
committing a crime. The one on the left, I believe, fussed at Jesus
and said, "if you are Christ, save us". You see, he had no faith at
all. He would die in his sin. The one on the right was very different.
First, he feared God which is the beginning of wisdom. He had faith
that Jesus was sinless, as well. He said he deserved punishment, and
we will see the Lord forgives him.
Luke 23:42 "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom."
He makes Jesus Saviour and Lord in this one statement. In Romans
10:9, we see that we must believe in our heart and confess with our
mouth, and he has done both here.
Luke 23:43 "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To
day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
We read in Revelation 2:7 about the paradise of God. This is
heaven. Jesus' Spirit and man's spirit will be in heaven that day.
Jesus will dismiss His Spirit from His body on the cross and command
it to go to the Father. Then He goes to hell, preaches, and brings
back captivity captive.
Luke 23:44 "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a
darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour."
Another writer says this darkness came at noonday. The three hours
of darkness here. I believe. symbolize the three days and nights
Jesus' body lies in the grave. The Light of the world seems to go out.
This light is Jesus.
Luke 23:45 "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple
was rent in the midst."
In Matthew 27:51. we find that this veil was rent from the top to
the bottom. God tore the curtain. Jesus opened the way to the very
throne of God to all believers in Christ. This also symbolizes the
wall being removed between Jew and Gentile. Both must believe in
Jesus. Jesus opened the way to God for us.
Luke 23:46 "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he
gave up the ghost."
Notice. He did not say I commend my body. This is where Jesus sent
His Spirit to God. His body goes to the tomb, not His Spirit. The
third day after He had preached in hell. His Spirit rejoins His body
and comes out of the tomb.
Luke 23:47 "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified
God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man."
He was sorry, but it was a little late.
Luke 23:48 "And all the people that came together to that sight,
beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and
returned."
These people have realized that this was truly their Messiah! The
smiting of the breasts shows that they are truly sorrowful.
Luke 23:49 "And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed
him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things."
The happenings of this day reassured all of them of the fact that
Jesus Christ was truly Messiah.
Luke 23:50 "And, behold, [there was] a man named Joseph, a
counsellor; [and he was] a good man, and a just:" Luke 23:51 "(The
same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) [he was] of
Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the
kingdom of God."
This Joseph had been of the very religious group who had Jesus
killed. Joseph had not consented to the crucifixion. He had gone
against the rest of the Sanhedrin. He had accepted Jesus as Messiah.
Luke 23:52 "This [man] went unto Pilate, and begged the body of
Jesus." Luke 23:53 "And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and
laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man
before was laid."
This happened immediately, because they had to get Jesus' body in
the tomb before 6 P.M., the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath. Joseph
was a rich man and had this beautiful tomb already. This fulfilled
Scriptures that said Jesus would be buried with the rich (Isaiah
53:9). The linen was symbolic of righteousness.
Luke 23:54 "And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew
on."
This just means they were in a hurry. There were about three hours
between His death and burial.
Luke 23:55 "And the women also, which came with him from Galilee,
followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid."
Notice the love of the women for Jesus. they were not anxious to
be separated from Him. They followed to the tomb.
Luke 23:56 "And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments;
and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment."
These women knew how strict the law was about the Sabbath. Had
they gone on the Sabbath day, they would have been stoned to death.
They did have everything prepared to be there the first thing on
Sunday. The loyalty of the women is not overlooked in Luke.
Luke 57 Questions
1. Who carried Jesus' cross for Him?
2. What country was he from?
3. Did he carry it before or after Jesus?
4. Why did they need someone to carry His cross?
5. What two men were his offspring?
6. Why was this particular man chosen?
7. All believers must take up their cross _______ and follow Him?
8. Who bewailed and lamented Jesus' crucifixion?
9. Who did Jesus call these women?
10. Who did He tell them to weep for?
11. What would these women say that was not natural for Hebrew women
to say?
12. What will they say to the mountains?
13. What was meant by the green tree in verse 31?
14. Who would be put to death with Jesus?
15. What was the place called where Jesus was crucified?
16. What is very important to remember about who is in control?
17. His death was so that we might ____________.
18. What prayer did Jesus say to the Father for them?
19. What should be the prayer of the two thieves?
20. Who derided Jesus saying, save yourself?
21. Who mocked Him and offered Him vinegar?
22. What was written over Him?
23. What 3 languages was it written in?
24. What different attitudes did the two thieves have?
25. The one said to Jesus, _____ remember me.
26. Where did Jesus say He would be that day with Him?
27. Where is this place?
28. When was the darkness over the face of the earth?
29. What does the author believe the three hours of darkness
symbolize?
30. What happened to the veil in the temple?
31. Why is this important?
32. What did Jesus say, exactly, when He commanded His Spirit to leave
His body and go to the Father?
33. What did the Centurion say after all this?
34. What did the people do that shows they knew they sinned?
35. Who. besides His acquaintance, watched this?
36. Who went and begged Pilate for Jesus' body?
37. What group was he a part of?
38. Did he agree with them about Jesus?
39. Why did he have to be a rich man?
40. Where did they bury Jesus?
41. Why were they in a hurry to bury Him?
42. Who followed after Joseph to see where the tomb was?
43. What did the women do on Saturday to get ready to go to the tomb
Sunday?
44. What would have happened to them. if they had gone on Saturday?
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