Luke 23:50

Luke 23:50 says, And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just:  There at Jesus's crucifixion was a good and just man named Simon.  Not everyone there was there to condemn Jesus.  At times, as followers of Christ, we may be in the midst of unbelievers, but we must not allow them to influence how we feel about Jesus.  Verse fifty-three adds, (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.  This man Joseph was from Arimathaea, a Jewish city, and had not consented to the counsel and deed of those who had condemned Jesus, though he himself was waiting on the kingdom of God.  We should never have our opinion of Jesus swayed by the actions of others.  Verse fifty-two states, This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  Jesus's closest followers, His disciples, had abandoned Him, but this religious leader went to Pilate and begged Pilate to allow him to take the body of Jesus and bury Him.  Joseph could have put himself in danger by identifying with Jesus, even after He was crucified.   We may place ourselves in danger by identifying with Jesus Christ today, but we need to be like Joseph and do so anyway.  Verse fifty-three adds, And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.  Joseph took the body of Jesus down from the cross and buried it with respect in a new tomb that had been cut into a stone.  At this point, the body of Jesus was but an empty shell.  Though Joseph was a good man, we see no evidence that he expected Jesus to return from the dead to prove Himself to be the awaited Messiah.  It is not enough to simply view Jesus as  good Man Who didn't deserve to die,  but we must acknowledge Him as the only begotten Son of God, Who died to bring salvation all people.  Of course, even though Jesus died for everyone, unless we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord, it does us no good.  Verse fifty-four continues, And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.  Joseph had to hurry in his preparations for and burial of Jesus's body, because the sabbath was getting close.  As a Jew, Joseph would have wanted to follow the laws of the Sabbath, which we pretty much ignore today.  Verse fifty-five says, And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.  The women who had followed Jesus followed Joseph to see where He would bury His body.  The disciples were no where to be found anywhere near the body of Jesus at this time.  In their minds, it was over.  If we only see Jesus on the cross or in the tomb, then our hope of salvation is over.  Verse fifty-six adds,  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.  These women who had followed Jesus from Galilee returned to where they had been staying and got spices and ointments ready to anoint Jesus's body with, but they first had to rest on the Sabbath according to Jewish law.  We should never allow religious traditions to keep us from serving Christ if we are a follower of His.

Luke 23:39

Luke 23:39 says, And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  One of the malefactors, or thieves as we know from another gospel account, mocked Jesus, telling Him if He were the Christ, to save Himself and them.  He did not understand that the only way for Jesus to offer salvation to everyone who would accept it was for Him to sacrifice Himself.   We need to understand that we cannot manipulate Jesus into doing our will.  Verse forty adds, But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  The other thief asked the one mocking Jesus did he not fear God, since he himself was also dying on a cross.  When we are faced with certain death, there will never be any other time to make things between God and us right.  Verse forty-one continues, And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  He then said that the other thief and he were guilty so their death was justified, but that Jesus was guilty of nothing.  We likewise are all guilty of sin, and the penalty of sin is death.  This does not just apply to some sins, but to all sins.  Verse forty-two continues, And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  This thief then quit talking to his fellow thief and started talking to Jesus.  He did not ask Jesus to physically save him, but to remember him in paradise.  This is what we come to Jesus for, and that is everlasting life through our faith in Him.  Verse forty-three declares, And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  Jesus told this guilty man because of his faith in Jesus that today he would be with Him in paradise.  The grave was not the end for Jesus, nor will it be for anyone.  Our decision about Jesus Christ and whether or not we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord determines where we will spend eternity.  Verse forty-four states, And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  For about three hours in the middle of the day there, there was darkness over all the earth.  There has never been a darker time than when Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, died on the cross for all the sins of all mankind.  The really sad thing about this is that many people, like the thief who mocked Jesus, will go away into everlasting punishment with the price of their sins already paid had they only accepted salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-five adds, And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in half.  The veil of the temple separated God from the people, except for the priests at certain times, and it was no longer needed.  There would now be nothing standing between anyone and God.  We no longer have to go to the priest to seek God's guidance as followers of Christ, but we are a part of the priesthood of believers.  Verse forty-six says, And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  Jesus cried out to His heavenly Father and said He commended His spirit to Him, and then He gave up the ghost.  Those who hung Jesus on the cross did not kill Him, but He willingly sacrificed Himself for the sins of all mankind.  Verse forty-seven adds, Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.  One of the soldiers, when he saw what had happened, pronounced Jesus to be a righteous man.  We still have to individually decide Who Jesus is.  Verse forty-eight states, And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.  Beating their breasts was a sign of ridicule for Jesus and a lack of caring about His death.  This is still the attitude of far too many people today.   Verse forty-nine adds, And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.  The followers of Jesus, including the women, stood far away watching what was happening.  As followers of Christ, we cannot stand far away from Him when things seem hopeless, but must spiritually draw even closer to Him.

Luke 23:26

Luke 23:26 says, And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.  A Cyrenian named Simon was commanded to bear the cross of Jesus part of the way.  We can never really bear the cross of Jesus completely, because we cannot die for the sins of others being guiltless ourself, but we are told to take up our own cross daily, dying to self will.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.  A great company of people, many the same ones who had praised Jesus on His entry into Jerusalem, now cried out in pity with and compassion for Him, because they had heard what a great Man He was.  Still, they did not see Him for Who He really is.  Many people today may see Jesus as a great man and prophet and feel bad about what happened to Him, but still not see Him as God's only begotten Son and the only Savior of mankind.  Verse twenty-eight states, But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  Jesus turned to the crowd and told the women not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves and their children.  Jesus was doing what He came to do, and those around Him were the ones who needed salvation.  Until and unless we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, then we should be weeping for ourselves.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.  Jesus spoke to the women because the day was coming when people would say that women without children were more blessed than those who were,because of the coming destruction and suffering for the people of Isreal.  Verse thirty says, Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.  Jesus warned them that the days were coming when they would rather have the mountains fall on them than to continue to live with the suffering that was to come.  We have likewise been warned that one day this suffering at the hands of the world will come on Christians.  Verse thirty-one adds, For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?  Jesus was the green tree, and the people of Israel were the dry tree according to Matthew Henry.  If Jesus, an innocent Man could be put to death, then what would happen to those who had no faith in Him.  God did not spare His only begotten Son, so we should not expect Him to save us if we do not put our faith in Jesus.  Verse thirty-two states, And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  Jesus wasn't the only One going to be put to death on a cross that day.  Two other malefactors were going with Him, but Jesus was the only One Who was innocent.   We are all going to die one day, and some people may die for crimes they have committed, but our death will save no one.  Verse thirty-three adds, And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Jesus was crucified between the two malefactors.   In a sense, He was given the place of honor in death, but in truth, His was the only death that mattered.  When we die, if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then our death will cause a permanent separation from God.  Verse thirty-four declares, Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  Even as Jesus hung on the cross, He asked the Heavenly Father to forgive those who put Him there, because they didn't know what they were doing.  They thought they were just killing another man, not truly realizing Who He was.  This does not mean that God is going to forgive us today if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, because we now know Who He is.  Verse thirty-five adds, And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.  Those standing around Jesus, including some of the rulers, began to deride Jesus and call on Him to save Himself.  They thought they were ending Jesus reign, but they were just ushering it in.  Jesus was on the cross because He chose to be, and not because He was helpless to save Himself.  We must likewise put our lives in His hands if we are to be saved.  Verse thirty-six continues, And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  The soldiers also mocked Jesus,  offering Him vinegar to drink.  In effect, until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we mock Him.  Verse thirty-seven says, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  They still thought Jesus was coming to be the earthly king of the Jews and not the Heavenly One.  Many people today still have a misconception about Who Jesus was and is.  For many, even though they acknowledge that He lived, His life ended forever on that cross.  Verse thirty-eight states, And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Though they wrote it in derision, in the three predominant languages of those around Jesus that day, they proclaimed the truth.  Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews, and of anyone else who will put their faith in Him.

Luke 23:13

Luke 23:13 says, And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,  Verse fourteen adds, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:  After Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate to be judged, Pilate called the chief priests and religious leaders of the people of Israel to Him.  Pilate said they had already brought Jesus before him, and he did not find Jesus guilty of anything they were accusing Him of.  Still, Pilate really didn't say that Jesus wast totally innocent.  In order to be saved, we must acknowledge that Jesus Himself was innocent of any sin, but died for ours.  Verse fifteen continues, No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.  Pilate said that Herod likewise said Jesus was guilty of nothing deserving death.  No matter how many authorities examine the life of Jesus, they will never find any sin in His life.  Verse sixteen states, I will therefore chastise him, and release him.  Pilate did the say that he would chastise Jesus, though he had found no fault with Him, and then release Him.  There are still people today who attempt to discredit Jesus, even when they find no fault with Him.  Verse seventeen adds, (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)  Pilate was going to release Jesus as the person who was released for the Feast of the Passover, even if they were guilty.  Jesus should have been released simply because He was innocent, but Pilate was attempting to get around simply releasing Him because He was, because those who brought Him there wanted Him dead.  We cannot work around deciding Who Jesus is.  We either declare Him to be innocent, or we declare Him worthy of death.  Verse eighteen declares, And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:  The religious leaders and those there with them cried out for Jesus to be killed and for Barabbas, a very bad man who was offered as a choice to be released instead of Jesus, to be released.  People today still choose to put others, sometimes even bad people, ahead of choosing Jesus.  Verse nineteen adds, (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)  Barabbas was actually guilty of sedition and murder as well, but the Jewish religious leaders still chose to have him set free instead of Jesus.  Verse twenty says, Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.  Pilate still wanted to release Jesus, so he spoke to the people who were demanding His death once again.  Pilate was the authority and did not need the permission of anyone to set Jesus free, in whom Pilate had said he found no fault in.  We can never sidestep the decision about Who Jesus is.  Verse twenty-one declares, But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.  The people still cried out for Jesus to be crucified.  Verse twenty-two adds, And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.  For the third time, Pilate said he could find no cause to put Jesus to death, so he would chastise Him and set Him free.  This was still not what he should have done.  Pilate was trying to please the religious leaders, but he should have taken responsibility and done what he knew was right.  By ignoring his responsibility, Pilate was just as guilty as those crying for Jesus to be crucified.  We can either accept Jesus or give in to the world, but everyone will make the decision one way or another.  Verse twenty-three states, And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.  The people continued to cry out for Jesus to be crucified, and the people and the chief priests prevailed.  No matter how loudly people may cry out against Jesus, He will always be innocent, and we certainly don't need religious leaders who claim to be Christians attempting to discredit anything that Jesus teaches us.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.  Pilate gave in to the crowd and said it should be as they required.  He was willing to send an innocent Man, Jesus, to the cross simply to appease the religious leaders and the crowd.  Anytime someone rejects Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, they are in effect wanting to send Him to the cross to stay.  Verse twenty-five continues, And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.  Pilate released Barabbas, a guilty man, and turned Jesus over to the will of the people.  If anyone is to be saved, he or she must accept Jesus above any other person or any other thing in this world. 

Luke 23:6

Luke 23:6 says,When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.  Pilate's only response was to ask whether Jesus was a Galilaean.  They could answer this question without lying, but it had nothing to do with what they were accusing Jesus of.  We can mix truth in with lies today, but it still doesn't make the lie to be true.  Verse seven adds, And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.  When Pilate realized that Jesus fell under the jurisdiction of Herod, instead of setting Jesus free since he had found no fault with Him, Pilate passed the buck as we would say today.  Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to be judged.  There are still people today who pass the buck on deciding about Who Jesus is.  Verse eight states, And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.  Herod was delighted to see Jesus, because he had heard a lot about Him and wanted to see Him perform a miracle.  This is also the reason many people desire to meet Jesus today, and that is to see what He can do for them materially or physically.  Verse nine adds, Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.  Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer Him.  Jesus does not perform at our command to entertain us.  He calls us to salvation, but He does not perform miracles to amuse us or to convince us of Who He is.  Verse ten says, And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.  Jesus may not have answered Herod, but the chief priests and scribes angrily accused Him with false accusations.  People continue to attempt to discredit Jesus with false accusations about Who He is or what His word says, but hopefully it isn't those who call themselves Christians who do so.  Verse eleven adds, And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.  Herod and his men of war mocked Jesus and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate, who had already said he found no fault with Him.  When Jesus does not perform as people expect Him to today, they often send Him away, mocking Him while they do so.  Verse twelve continues, And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.  Pilate and Herod, who had been enemies, became friends as they dealt with judging Jesus.  There are still many people today who would normally be or had been enemies who are united in trying to discredit Jesus. 

Luke 23:1

Luke 23:1 says, And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.  Many of the same people who had welcomed Jesus as King now led Him to Pilate like a criminal.  They were most likely just followin g the crowd in both cases.  This still happens too often today.  Verse two adds, And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.  They then lied about what Jesus had been saying, making it seem like He was attempting to overthrow Pilate.  The only way anyone can discredit Jesus is through lies.  Verse three states, And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.  Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews, and Jesus said that was what Pilate was saying.  Pilate had to make up his mind about Who Jesus was, and so does everyone at some point in life.  Jesus knew Who He was, so it was up to Pilate whether he would acknowledge it or not, and He still knows Who He is today, and it is up to us whether we acknowledge it or not.  Verse four adds, Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.  Pilate told the chief priests and the people that he could find no fault with this man Jesus, and no one ever will.  Verse  five says, And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.  The people were even more determined to find some fault with Jesus, saying He was teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning in Galilee.  This was true, but their implication was that Jesus was teaching something against Pilate without really saying so.  People often attempt to say that Jesus said things that He did not say.  

Luke 22:47

Luke 22:47 says, And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.  While Jesus was asking the disciples why they were sleeping instead of praying, Judas was busy getting ready to betray Him.  Even if we are not praying and doing what God has called us to do, we certainly don't need to betray Him.  Yet, anytime we fail to follow Jesus by faith and do what He has called us to do, are we not in effect betraying Him?  Verse forty-eight adds, But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?  Jesus asked Judas if he would betray the Son on man, Jesus Himself, with a kiss, a sign of devotion.  It is not enough for us to go through the motions of being intimately close to Jesus if we are just doing so while betraying Him by our thoughts.  Verse forty-nine states, When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?  When the other disciples saw what was happening, they asked Jesus if they should smite those there to arrest Him with the sword.  They were unable to stay awake while Jesus was praying, but now they were ready to physically defend Him.  If we are not spiritually in tune with God, we may take bold actions that we claim are for God, but they may not be what He wants us to do.  Verse fifty adds, And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.  From another gospel account, we know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.  Peter was always ready to take bold actions while he thought Jesus was setting up an earthly kingdom.  Some Christians today seem more ready to defend earthly institutions than they are to pray and share God's word.  Verse fifty-one declares, And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.  Jesus told the disciples to quit fighting, and He restored the ear to the servant who had lost it.  We can never advance God's kingdom by the use of force, but can only do so by obediently obeying God's will for our life, and we certainly don't need to stop others from doing what God wants them to do, as the disciples were attempting to do in this case.  Verse fifty-two adds, Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?  Jesus asked the chief priests why they came as thieves in the night with swords to arrest Him.  Had Jesus not been willing to go with them, they would not have been able to force Him, no matter how many there were of them, nor how well they were armed.  Jesus was not forced to go to the cross, but He went because it was the only way to salvation.  Verse fifty-three continues,  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.  Jesus said that when He was in the temple that these religious leaders would have been able to arrest Him at any time, but they instead chose to come like a thief in the night to do so.  Jesus is not hidden away today, but can be found at anytime if we only seek Him.