Christ is Crucified

Luke 23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 

The penitent thief’s prayer reflected his belief that the soul lives on after death;  that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of men; and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death.

His request to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesus’ power.

All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation (v. 43).

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Jesus rewarded his faith with the promise that that very day, they would be together in Paradise. Paradise is the same as the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2, 4), and means the dwelling place of God.

Charles R. Erdman writes:This story reveals the truth to us that salvation is conditioned upon repentance and faith.

However, it contains other important messages also. It declares that salvation is independent of sacraments. The thief had never been baptized, nor had he partaken of the Lord’s Supper.…

He did in fact boldly profess his faith in the presence of a hostile crowd and amid the taunts and jeers of rulers and soldiers, yet he was saved without any formal rites.

It is further evident that salvation is independent of good works.…

It is also seen that there is no “sleep of the soul.” The body may sleep, but consciousness exists after death. Again it is evident that there is no “purgatory.” Out of a life of sin and shame, the penitent robber passed immediately into a state of blessedness.

Again it may be remarked that salvation is not universal. There were two robbers; only one was saved.

Last of all it may be noted that the very essence of the joy which lies beyond death consists in personal communion with Christ.

The heart of the promise to the dying thief was this: “Thou shalt be with me.” This is our blessed assurance, that to depart is “to be with Christ” which is “very far better.”

From Jesus Christ’s side one person may go to heaven and another to hell. Which side of the cross are you on?

Luke 23:44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 

Darkness covered the whole land (or earth, the Greek can mean either) from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, that is, from noon to 3:00 p.m. This could not have been caused by an eclipse, because the Jews used a lunar calendar, and Passover always fell on the full moon, making a solar eclipse out of the question. This was a supernatural darkness.

This was a sign to the nation of Israel. They had rejected the light, and now they would be judicially blinded by God.

Luke 23:45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. This pictured the fact that through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, a way of approach to God was opened to all who would come by faith.

 Hebrews 10:19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place :20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.

Hebrews 10:21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. :22 So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water.

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

 This quotes Ps 31:5, and the manner of His death accords with Jn 10:18. Normally victims of crucifixion died much slower deaths. He, being in control, simply yielded up His soul (Jn 10:18; 19:30), committing it to God. Thus He “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Heb 9:14).

Luke 23:47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

Matthew 27:54 and Mark 15:39 say the centurion stated, “This [man] was the Son of God.” Luke may be giving an equivalent expression; or, more likely, the centurion said both things.

Luke 23:48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. :49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The whole crowd was overcome by an awful sense of sorrow and foreboding.

 Some of Jesus’ faithful followers, including women who followed Him from Galilee, stood … watching this most crucial scene in the history of the world.

 Christ is Buried

Luke 23:50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.

All 4 evangelists mentioned him; Mark and Luke identified him as a member of the Sanhedrin; only Luke noted that he dissented from the council’s verdict against Jesus (v. 51).

Luke 23:51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.

 I.e., he believed Jesus’ claims. John 19:38 refers to him as a secret disciple.

Luke 23:52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

Joseph, a wealthy man, undoubtedly had the tomb built for his own family. It had remained unused. Christ’s burial there was a wonderful fulfillment of Is 53:9.

Isaiah 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

 Luke 23:54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

I.e., Friday, the day before the Sabbath.