(Luke 23: 1-49)
After Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem before throngs of adoring people who praised God exclaiming: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” things began to take a turn for the worse as the Pharisees saw their status quo being threatened by this unconventional rabbi preaching an even more unconventional message of love and forgiveness. Even as Jesus was teaching at the temple in Jerusalem the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were plotting to have him killed. Feeling the threat of the popularity of this outside-the-box thinking rabbi the Council of Religious Leaders condemned Jesus and took him before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea. Once before Pilate they said: We have found this man misleading our people, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he is the Christ, a king. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews Jesus responded: That’s what you say. Pilate didn’t see what the big deal was and told the chief priests and those who had followed along to see what was going to happen that he found no legal basis for any sort of action against Jesus. But the Jewish leaders objected strenuously, saying: He agitates the people with his teaching throughout Judea—starting from Galilee all the way here. Like most savvy politicians Pilate saw a way to get the problem off his plate and onto the plate of another. He inquired as to whether or not Jesus was a Galilean and when he learned that Jesus was from Herod’s district, he instructed the Jewish leaders to go see Herod who was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
We’re told that Herod was very glad to see Jesus, for he had heard about Jesus and had wanted to meet and see him for quite some time. He had heard all about the miracles and healings that Jesus had been performing and was hoping Jesus would perform some sign for him. When Jesus appeared before him, he was questioned by Herod at length but did not respond. The chief priests and legal experts were there and were fiercely falsely accusing Jesus. Herod couldn’t be bothered as he was away from home and intent on enjoying the Passover celebrations, so he and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt as he didn’t entertain them with any miracles or signs. Herod mocked Jesus by dressing him in elegant clothes and sent him back to Pilate. To Herod’s way of thinking Jesus wasn’t causing any problems for him in Galilee so why should he bother himself with a matter that didn’t concern him?
Well, you can imagine how thrilled Pilate was when he learned that the chief priests were back with Jesus in tow demanding that something be done. He was probably somewhat irritated that Herod didn’t handle this “Jewish” problem. So, he called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said: You brought this man before me as one who was misleading the people. I have questioned him in your presence and found nothing in this man’s conduct that provides a legal basis for the charges you have brought against him. And Pilate also pointed out that Herod found no fault with him either. Pilate tells them that Jesus has done nothing that deserves death and informs them that he’ll have Jesus whipped and then let go thinking that will satisfy the crowd. But with one voice they shouted: Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us. This had to have surprised Pilate as Barabbas had been thrown into prison because of a part he played in a riot that had occurred in Jerusalem and for murder. At this point Pilate is probably wondering how this whole thing went sideways and why suddenly it is his problem. So, Pilate addressed them again because he didn’t see Jesus as a threat and wanted to release him, but they kept shouting out: Crucify him! Crucify him! For the third time, Pilate said to them: Why? What wrong has he done? I’ve found no legal basis for the death penalty in his case. Therefore, I will have him whipped, then let him go. Well that failed to satisfy them and they continued shouting that Jesus be crucified. Being a career politician and not wanting this to get back to Rome Pilate knew the importance of striking a compromise and, at this point, Jesus now became more of a political threat than a human being with rights and dignity. The irrational voices of the angry crowd won out and Pilate issued his decision to grant their request releasing Barabbas and handing Jesus over to their will.
After getting what they wanted they led Jesus away grabbing Simon, a man from Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside for the Passover observances. They put the heavy cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus as the angry crowd grew and their shouting intensified. But in the crowd were some women who were mourning and wailing for Jesus as what was happening to their Messiah unfolded before their tear-filled eyes. Jesus turned to the women and said: Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Rather, cry for yourselves and your children. The time will come when they will say, “Happy are those who are unable to become pregnant, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed a child.” Then they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us” and to the hills, “Cover us.” If they do these things when the tree green, what will happen when it is dry? Quoting the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel.
After a long and tortured walk to outside the city wall they arrived at a hill called The Skull where the Romans performed their crucifixions of convicted criminals and enemies of the state. Luke tells us that Jesus was also crucified along with two criminals, one on his left and one on his right. As Jesus is hanging on the cross enduring unbelievable and unbearable pain he said: Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing. As this was playing out the soldiers at the foot of the cross drew lots dividing up Jesus’ clothing. As the people were standing around watching the leaders sneered at him, saying: He saved others. Let him save himself if he really is the Christ sent from God, the chosen one. And the soldiers also mocked him offering him sour wine and saying: If you really are the king of the Jews, save yourself. Above his head, meant to add insult to injury, a sign was affixed to the cross that read: “This is the king of the Jews.” And then one of the criminals hanging next to Jesus insulted him by saying: Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us! The other criminal rebuked him harshly saying: Don’t you fear God, seeing that you’ve also been sentenced to die? We are rightly condemned, for we are receiving the appropriate sentence for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. And then he turned towards Jesus and said: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus tenderly replied: I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke then tells us that around noon it got real dark with the darkness covering the whole earth until three o’clock in the afternoon, while the sun stopped shining. Suddenly, the great curtain in the sanctuary of the temple tore down the middle and then Jesus crying out in a loud voice exclaimed: Father, into your hands I entrust my life. When he said this, he breathed his last breath and died. Luke tells us that when the centurion who was stationed at the crosses saw what happened he praised God, saying: It’s really true, this man was righteous. Upon witnessing this the stunned crowd quietly left returning to their homes beating their chests in anguish realizing the injustice of what had been done to an innocent man. And everyone who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance observing these things trying to process how this all quickly went from a celebration to a tragedy, and wondered what was next.
And that’s the takeaway we have from what the Apostle Luke so eloquently records for us. Jesus, knowing how his mortal existence was going to end took upon himself all of this pain, abuse, suffering, humiliation, and physical death for us. He did it for his followers, the women in the crowd who looked on in horror. He did it for those in the crowd who were jeering and calling for his death. He did it for the Gentile Roman soldiers who mocked him and divided up his clothing. He did it for the thief who insulted him, and he did it for the thief who recognized him as the Messiah and asked to be remembered when Jesus entered into his kingdom. And he did it for us, for you and for me. So, we have to ask ourselves if Jesus bore this heavy and burdensome cross for us when we were least deserving, what crosses are we willing to unselfishly bear for him? And that’s the question we must contemplate during the coming week. Take time this week and reflect upon the crosses you have borne, the crosses you neglected to bear, and the crosses you are being asked to bear in his name and whether you will step forward like Simon of Cyrene and bear a cross for Christ.
Let us pray.
Jesus to Calvary did go; his love for sinners to show. And what he did there brought hope from despair. Gracious and loving Father, how grateful we are for the supreme sacrifice you showed through the life and death of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ who bore our sins on the cross at Calvary so that we too could come to know you as no other God. Show us through your gift of the Holy Spirt the crosses we can obediently bear in your service that will bring other sinners just like us into a loving relationship with you. A relationship where we realize just how much Jesus loves us. Because he gave his life. What more could he give? O how he loves you and me! In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.