The Passion of Christ Luke 23 The Passion

  • Slides: 40
Download presentation
The Passion of Christ Luke 23

The Passion of Christ Luke 23

The Passion of Christ • Do you remember the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion

The Passion of Christ • Do you remember the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ?

The Passion of Christ • Do you remember the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion

The Passion of Christ • Do you remember the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ? • Did you see the movie? • After seeing the movie, I can remember walking out of theatre, no one looking at each other, our eyes straight ahead, looking to just get away

The Passion of Christ • Did you know that if we look back through

The Passion of Christ • Did you know that if we look back through the generations and millennia – mentioning the Cross instantly puts people into one of several camps and creates a response from apathy to anger • Perhaps this is also true for those who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in person • Today, I would like to focus on the reactions and interactions between those players, and hopefully get a sense of how they felt and how we feel when we think about the Cross

The Passion of Christ • I do not know about you, but for me,

The Passion of Christ • I do not know about you, but for me, whenever this section of the gospels comes along my stomach tightens and I feel anxious • Anger wells up in me as I think about what they did to my Lord and for some reason I start wanting Pilate to have some backbone and stand up to the crowds and let Jesus go

The Passion of Christ • But then I must balance those feelings with the

The Passion of Christ • But then I must balance those feelings with the knowledge that once it was time, Jesus very carefully said and did just exactly what was needed to be crucified • Allowing it is one thing – but to purposefully orchestrate things so that it happened – all the while being completely innocent – blows my mind

The Passion of Christ • Let’s look at different groups of people or individuals

The Passion of Christ • Let’s look at different groups of people or individuals which are presented in Luke 23 and see if we can identify which camp, they might be in at the mention of the Cross

The Passion of Christ The Jewish Religious Leadership • The Jewish religious leaders needed

The Passion of Christ The Jewish Religious Leadership • The Jewish religious leaders needed to rid their world of one who threatened their leadership, their popularity with the people, and their religious system • But religious charges would not do it in Pilate’s court • They needed to have political charges

The Passion of Christ The Jewish Religious Leadership • Notice how the Jewish religious

The Passion of Christ The Jewish Religious Leadership • Notice how the Jewish religious leadership tailored their claims so that a Gentile ruler might take notice • He is misleading our nation • He is forbidding us to pay tribute to Caesar • He Himself is Christ, a King • The Jewish religious leaders viewed the Cross as an answer to their perceived needs

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • The Jewish religious leadership had brought

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • The Jewish religious leadership had brought Jesus before the ruling Roman authority in Judea and Samaria, Pontius Pilate • Pilate really did not care if anyone was misleading the Jews or if someone declared themselves to be king of the Jews, if Roman rule was secure • Jesus had answered the issue of tribute in Luke 20: 25 when He said “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s”

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • When the Jewish religious leaders’ arguments

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • When the Jewish religious leaders’ arguments that Jesus was misleading, telling us not to pay taxes, and that He is a king – do not work, they resort to an argument they think will – He is creating rebellion and rioting – a threat to the Peace of Rome – which the Romans hated • The priests repeated their charges with a vehemence, giving witness to Jesus ministry, mentioning that He was from Galilee

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • As is often the case, when

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • As is often the case, when someone does not want to take responsibility for something, they pawn if off on another authority • Pilate figured this was a Jewish matter, so he sends Jesus off to Herod, whom Pilate disliked anyway

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Herod really wanted to see Jesus

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Herod really wanted to see Jesus – not to hear the Gospel or to worship Him, but to see Him perform a miracle • Jesus did not grant Herod anything, not even a word – Herod is the only one to whom Jesus said nothing • John the Baptist had already said things to Herod, whose heart was hard, so Jesus had nothing to add

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • So, in front of Herod, the

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • So, in front of Herod, the chief priests and scribes “vehemently accused” Jesus (Luke 23: 10) – probably shouting at Him • For his part, Herod goes from longing to see Jesus to “contempt” and “mocking” – treating Him shamefully – dressing Him in clothing to mock His kingship – and then sending Him back to Pilate

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • There is this odd little thing

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • There is this odd little thing that Luke adds – that Pilate and Herod became friends that day • Pilate and Herod were uneasy rivals – Pilate ruling Judea and Samaria and Herod ruling Galilee and Perea • When Pilate acknowledged Herod’s authority and when neither could figure out what to do with Jesus, the rivalry between them faded

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • While Pilate did not know what

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • While Pilate did not know what to make of Jesus, he did know one thing – Jesus was innocent • Now the Jewish religious leaders, knowing they could not win on principle, got the crowd on their side, and won by sheer determination and threatening to do the one thing that would get Pilate into personal trouble – start a riot

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Pilate had been in trouble for

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Pilate had been in trouble for this before from Rome, and if it happened again, he might be removed from his position as governor • We are told that the crowd cried out together to release a known murderer and to crucify Jesus – which Pilate was forced to obey, whether right or wrong

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Notice that Pilate released a man

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Notice that Pilate released a man convicted of insurrection and murder • Does this remind us?

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Notice that Pilate released a man

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • Notice that Pilate released a man convicted of insurrection and murder • Does this remind us? • Satan, who Jesus said was a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8: 44) and who sinned against God by rebelling against His authority

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • So, man has allied himself with

The Passion of Christ Men of Power • So, man has allied himself with Satan from the garden and now chooses a man like Satan over a man like God • The men of power viewed the Cross with indifference, and used it to aid their ability to continue in power • They did not want to be involved

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • The soldiers along with

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • The soldiers along with Herod treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him • Later they would “cast lots” to divide His garments • We do not see in Luke the scourging of Jesus, where a leather cord embedded with bits of glass and metal was repeatedly lashed against the prisoner

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • Executions in the U.

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • Executions in the U. S. are designed to be “humane” and as least painful as possible • Crucifixion was created by the Persians but perfected by the Romans to provide maximum pain and torture in death • However, what Luke focuses on here, is the attitude of Jesus: “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23: 34)

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • The men of authority,

The Passion of Christ Men of Authority – Soldiers • The men of authority, the soldiers, apparently thought their authority allowed them to mock openly and with impunity • They viewed their actions as part of their duties • They looked at the Cross as a tool used in completing their responsibilities

The Passion of Christ Women • Not everyone wanted Jesus to be killed •

The Passion of Christ Women • Not everyone wanted Jesus to be killed • We are told that women were mourning and lamenting for Jesus • But even in His hour of suffering, Jesus is thinking about others – that the present situation for these women and the people of Jerusalem was nothing in comparison to the events to come in Jerusalem

The Passion of Christ Women • Luke later tells us that the women witnessed

The Passion of Christ Women • Luke later tells us that the women witnessed Jesus death and witnessed His burial, before they went to prepare spices and ointments to properly embalm His body • They followed, they mourned, they witnessed burial, and they prepared to treat Jesus’ body with normal respect • They viewed the Cross as the instrument which killed their Lord

The Passion of Christ Crowds • The crowds joined the men of power in

The Passion of Christ Crowds • The crowds joined the men of power in crying out to Pilate to release Barabbas and to crucify Jesus • They followed and watched the events which resulted in Jesus’ death • Luke tells us: “And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. ” (Luke 23: 49)

The Passion of Christ Crowds • The crowds had participated in convincing Pilate to

The Passion of Christ Crowds • The crowds had participated in convincing Pilate to condemn Jesus • Later they would realize that they had made a great mistake • The crowds first viewed the Cross as the answer to their earthly needs, but later felt remorse for their actions

The Passion of Christ Criminals • Two criminals were crucified with Jesus • Both

The Passion of Christ Criminals • Two criminals were crucified with Jesus • Both asked for salvation • One wanted to avoid punishment for sin without repentance • The other recognized Jesus’ innocence and that he deserved punishment – he wanted mercy through Jesus

The Passion of Christ Criminals • That is the chief difference between the saved

The Passion of Christ Criminals • That is the chief difference between the saved and the unsaved: recognition of sin, repentance, and a cry for God’s mercy • Here we see two opposites views of the Cross

The Passion of Christ Criminals • The one criminal saw the Cross as a

The Passion of Christ Criminals • The one criminal saw the Cross as a time for Jesus to save Himself and the criminal • The other criminal saw the Cross taking the innocence life of Jesus, knew that Jesus was going to a much better place, confessed his sins, and asked for mercy

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • Luke mentions two

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • Luke mentions two notable exceptions to the views held by other similar people involved with Jesus’ crucifixion • The first is a soldier, a man of authority, a centurion in charge of the soldiers charged to perform the crucifixion • He saw Jesus’ behavior toward His enemies

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • He heard the

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • He heard the words spoken to the repentant criminal • He saw the supernatural darkness • He heard Jesus’ prayer to God • He saw Jesus give up His life

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • He then praised

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – The Centurion • He then praised God, saying “Certainly this man was innocent. ” (Luke 23: 47) • The centurion came to see the Cross as taking the life of an innocent man, for a greater purpose

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – Joseph • We are told that

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – Joseph • We are told that Joseph was from the Jewish town of Arimathea, that he was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to the decision and action of the council • We are also told that he was looking for the kingdom of God

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – Joseph • He went to Pilate

The Passion of Christ Exceptions to Views – Joseph • He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, received permission, took the body, wrapped it, and placed it in a tomb which had not been used • He viewed the Cross similar to the women, as a vehicle which had killed his Lord, and respect for the body required that it be buried before the start of the Sabbath

The Passion of Christ • As we reflect on these participants to the crucifixion,

The Passion of Christ • As we reflect on these participants to the crucifixion, we ask

The Passion of Christ • As we reflect on these participants to the crucifixion,

The Passion of Christ • As we reflect on these participants to the crucifixion, we ask Where are you?

The Passion of Christ • Are you a person who thinks they do not

The Passion of Christ • Are you a person who thinks they do not need to deal with Jesus’ death? • Are you one who is inclined to follow Him but are perhaps afraid of what your peers might say? • Maybe you have “seen it all” and life experience has jaded your opinion

The Passion of Christ • Maybe you should be more like the Centurion who

The Passion of Christ • Maybe you should be more like the Centurion who watched carefully, then praised openly? • Or perhaps you are in the crowd, which will you do: follow the crowd to do evil, or mourn over your own sin? • Finally, we are all like one criminal or the other – which will you be?

The Passion of Christ Will you seek a new appreciation for what Christ did

The Passion of Christ Will you seek a new appreciation for what Christ did for you on the Cross?