Luke 23 - Jesus' Crucifixion, Death, and Burial and Four Unlikely Characters in the Final Scene!

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Jesus' Trial Before Pilate

The Jewish leaders tried to pass off Jesus' conviction to the Pilate, the Roman governor. The charges they brought him up on were tax evasion and claiming to be a king. They thought this would be sufficient to alarm Pilate, but he really didn't see Jesus as a threat at all. In fact, he said, "I find no basis for charging him!"

So Pilate sent him to King Herod, who was also in Jerusalem. He was ruled in Galilee, Jesus' home town. Herod found it amusing to meet Jesus, who he had heard so much about. Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus answered none of them. Jesus was not up for the "dog and pony" show. So Pilate tried to humiliate Jesus by dressing him in an elegant robe and sending him back to Pilate. Ironically Herod and Pilate became friends that day, as they were presumably at odds before this brought them togetber. 

They found no common ground except their opposition to Jesus. - Guzik

Then something interesting happens. Pilate wants to punish him lightly and get him out of his hair, but the crowd shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him." 

This was a strange, almost insane scene: a cruel, ruthless Roman governor trying to win the life of a miracle-working Jewish teacher against the strenuous efforts of both the Jewish leaders and the crowd. - Guzik

So Pilate now had a bigger problem on his hand, a riotous crowd. Even after Pilate agreed to punish Jesus but not give him the death penalty, they cried even louder, "Crucify Him!".  The crowd wanted Jesus to be punished and a known criminal and murderer to be released.  It is hard to see a motive for the people to be so angry and vindictive toward Jesus. He had never hurt anyone. He healed and delivered many people of their diseases, demons, and afflictions. He loved those who were abandoned by the community. I think it shows this was God's sovereign will being carried out by the very people who Jesus would die for. 

With no solution in sight, Pilate released Barabbas. Jesus who is completely innocent is punished, while a man completely guilty is set free. In a sense we are all like Barabbas. We deserved death, but we released from our death sentence. Jesus paid a debt he didn't owe, for we who owed a debt we couldn't pay. 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

We know Jesus' crucifixion was brutal and took an incredible toll on him. 

The goal of the scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death. “As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock. The extent of blood loss may well have determined how long the victim would survive the cross.” (Edwards)

We meet a man named "Simon of Cyrene". He was most likely a Jewish pilgrim from North Africa, near modern day Libya. Jesus was too weak to carry the crossbar, which was about 100 pounds. Simon was made to carry Jesus' cross. Though Simon didn't have a choice, Jesus tells us to make a choice when he tell us to "pick up our cross and carry it." 

Jesus was crucified next to two other criminals, who like Barabbas, were being justly punished. Meanwhile Jesus asks His Father to forgive the people calling for his crucifixion stating,  "For they know not what they do!" Even in Jesus' most torturous moment, he is thinking of others. They were guilty and he is innocent but he is the One doing the pardoning. 

But rather than recognizing what an incredible man Jesus is, they sneer at him and mock him. They say he wants to save others, but he can't save himself. Though he is severely hydrated and they cruelly offer him a wine vinegar drink. Not only is he mocked by the people and rulers, but even the criminal next to him takes a shot at him saying, "You say you are the Messiah. Save yourself and us!"  

The most beautiful part of the story though is the other man next to him on his own cross. He rebukes the other criminal by saying, "We are getting what we deserved, but this man did nothing." And then he asks Jesus, to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.

This thief on the cross is the first man to be justified by faith. He admitted his sin and he placed his faith in the sinless one. He asked Jesus for the salvation that he knew only Jesus could give. Jesus responded to this man's cry for mercy by saying, "Today you will be with me in paradise".

In this scene on the cross, we see the true nature of the Gospel. 

The Death of Jesus

Even though very few people on earth grieved Jesus' death and saw the injustic of it all, God's creation saw it. The remarkable darkness all over the earth showed the agony of creation itself in the Creator’s suffering. - Guzik

For three hours darkness came over the whole land. This was symbolic that Jesus' light was being extinguished. Jesus, the light of the world, had gone dark. Symbolically the temple curtain was torn in two. The temple curtain separated anyone from going into the holy of holies, where God dwelt by His Spirit. 

The tearing of the temple veil signified at least two things. First, now man has free access to the throne of grace by the cross. Second, no one should ever think again that God dwells in temples made with hands. - Guzik

Finally, Jesus speaks his last words on this earth. "Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit." In another version he says, "It is finished!" Jesus had completed his mission on earth. He had revealed the great love of the Father, the manifested the reality of God's kingdom, and had gone to the cross to pay for the sins of the world. He had perfectly fulfilled the Father's will. 

A nearby Centurion could not help but conclude, "Surely this man was the Son of God." A Centurion was a soldier in charge of 100 Roman men. He was a man of great authority, but he recognized an authority much greater than himself. 

Meanwhile all of his disciples had fled the scene save for a few women who followed him. Most of those who knew him stood off in the distance watching all of what happened. 

The Burial of Jesus

We see another unlikely man come to give Jesus a decent burial. Joseph of Arimathea was a part of the Jewish ruling council, and it says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He wrapped Jesus in linen and laid him in a tomb which was cut out of a rock. 

Tombs like this were very expensive. It was quite a sacrifice for Joseph of Arimathea to give his tomb to Jesus, but Jesus would only use it for a few days.

While some of Jesus' closest friends were nowhere to be found, these four men played a key part of Jesus' last day on earth. 

Simon of Cyrene

The thief on the cross.

A Roman Centurion

Joseph of Arimathea

No one could or would make up this story with these characters. it is another proof that the story of Jesus' death and resurrection is true. It is history. It really happened. And thank God chapter 23 is not the end of the story. Standby for Chapter 24 tomorrow!