Luke 23 - Look Up At the Cross!

Luke 23 - NIV

Luke 23 - Enduring Word Commentary

Key Verses

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Commentary

What is so interesting to me about this text is that here you have the two men with the most power, Pontius Pilate and King Herod, and they find no basis to charge Jesus with anything. Certainly he had done nothing deserving of death, they reasoned. So who was it that demanded that Jesus be crucified?

The people. The crowd even demanded a known murderer, Barabbas, to be released. Pilate appealed to him again, but they refused to listen to him. Even Pilate could see how unjust is was to punish Jesus for he had done nothing. But instead of listening to Pilate they started shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 

What had Jesus possibly done to incite these people to turn on him like this. After all, Jesus had only done miracles and healed many people. He lifted up the downtrodden and the diseased. Healed the lepers and lame. He gave hope to the adulterer and the tax collectors. He did nothing to suggest that he wanted to overthrow Pilate or Herod. The only possible connection was that Jesus was called the "Messiah". The word also meant  "Anointed One" or "King".

You will notice that Jesus did not deny being the Messiah. He could have never lied and denied who he really was. The people were also under immense pressure from the religious leaders, who had brainwashed them into thinking Jesus was not who he said he was. They were also disillusioned because they had expected Jesus to be a military king. Finally, this was prophesied and God willed it to happen. 

Here are some Old Testament prophecies predicting his death:

Psalm 22:16–18: Predicts being surrounded by "dogs" (Gentiles) and "evil men," having hands and feet pierced, and garments divided by lot.

Isaiah 53:5–9: Describes the Messiah as "wounded for our transgressions," "bruised for our iniquities," and buried with the rich, despite being killed with criminals.

Zechariah 12:10: Foretells that "they will look on me, the one they have pierced".

Deuteronomy 21:23: Mentions that anyone hanged on a tree is cursed, prefiguring death on a wooden cross. - Google AI

The irony is very thick, as the one man who should have feared Jesus, Pilate, was not afraid of him at all. He was more afraid of the riot which would happen if he didn't do anything to Jesus. The other irony is that the man who deserved to die, Barabbas, was let go. The guilty man was let free, and the innocent one was put to death. Does that sound familiar?

In a nutshell this is the gospel. Though you have not probably murdered anyone, you have sinned. Before a holy and perfect God, you stand guilty just like Barabbas. Jesus stands before God perfectly innocent. So what would be the logical thing to do? Punish us and let Jesus go free. 

Yet, the gospel is that Jesus took the punishment we deserved. Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death". Sin brought death into the world through Adam, and we are all born of Adam. But this situation gave God the ability to reveal His great attribute ... love.  

Paul writes in Romans 5:8, "God proved his love to us, as while were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 

1 John says, "No greater love than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends!" John 15:13

Application for Life

1. Have you ever wondered if God could love you with all the bad things you have done in your life? Look at the cross! 

2. Have you ever wondered why you could never up to God's perfect standard of goodness? Look up at the cross. 

God loves you so much He gave up His own Son to die for us, so that we might have eternal life! 

Do you believe that? Have you accepted God's grace in Jesus Christ? It is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. And, where you spend eternity will depend on it!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending Your Son to pay the penalty for all of our sin. We didn't deserve it. We couldn't earn it, But You gave Your love away. We accept your free gift of grace by faith. In view of your mercy, may we lead a life of sharing your love to those who don't deserve it. Why? Because we didn't deserve it. Amen.