Luke 23:44-56

Darkness fell.

The sun stopped shining.

Was it some sort of solar eclipse? Was it a heavy fog? It was as if the whole of creation was grieving at what was happening to the one through whom all things were made (John 1:3).

The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple and shielded it from public view was torn from top (heaven) to bottom (earth). Access to God was now possible for all because of Jesus’ death.

The centurion was there to oversee the executions and he was clearly affected by what he saw. We don’t know if before this moment he was a ‘God-fearer’, but he certainly was now. Those who had been mocking now shamefully slunk away. Some of his followers, including the women from Galilee, watched from a distance – hearts torn apart and hopes dashed by what they had seen.

And then there’s Joseph (and Nicodemus with him according to John). He was a religious leader who had not gone with the crowd. He had not agreed with what had been done to Jesus. He did not want Jesus’ body left on the cross as it was forbidden by the law to leave dead bodies out overnight. So Joseph carried out this act of compassion, treating Jesus’ body with respect.

still in secret?

He told me, “No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit…”

He explained Scripture like no-one I have ever heard before.

He understood God.

He understood me.

I thought he was The One.

But he can’t be. Look at what they have done to him.

He did not deserve that. He never harmed anyone.

At least Joseph and I can give him a decent resting place.

That’s the least I can do for him.

Response:

Hold on, what about the women? They got spices ready but were too late to do anything before the Sabbath started (at nightfall on the Friday). So they waited.

Good Friday has passed. The Sabbath has started. We wait.

What would it have been like to have been one of Jesus’ followers on that Sabbath? Would you have carried out any of your normal religious rituals? Would you have given up? Would you have run away and hidden? Or would you have cherished the spices ready to go and anoint his body the following day as one final act of devotion?

When all seems lost and all seems hopeless, may God give us the faith of those faithful women.

Luke 23:26-43

Jesus had encouraged his followers to “take up your cross and follow me” (Luke 9:23). He also said, “²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

It was customary for those to be crucified to be forced to carry the cross beam to the place of their execution. Jesus, exhausted from all he had endured, stumbled under the weight and fell. Simon from Cyrene helped Jesus by carrying his cross and taking his heavy yoke upon him.” It is possible that Simon from Cyrene became a believer, which is why Luke mentioned his name as those reading his gospel knew who he was talking about. If this is true Simon’s journey of faith began in the most extreme of circumstances.

Jesus died a humiliating death: reserved for hardened criminals and revolutionaries. While Jesus was no criminal, he was revolutionary. It was a revolution of peace and love. The two criminals crucified alongside Jesus deserved their fate, but while one joined in the mockery the other sensed something different about Jesus. Perhaps he had heard Jesus speak about the Kingdom of God, seen him caring for the poor and downtrodden. Maybe he had just heard of Jesus’ reputation. Whatever it was he realised that he really was in the presence of the King of the Jews who was about to claim his Kingdom.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

It was a simple request, with no detailed confession of faith. But it is enough.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Response:

Try repeating the words of the second criminal as a prayer. Place emphasis on different words each time you repeat it.

Listen to Jesus telling you: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Thank God that Jesus’ death has opened the way for us all to be with him. Thank God that we do not need to understand everything: that faith in Jesus is enough. Ask him to give you Jesus’ yoke, and to teach you how to follow him. Ask for Jesus’ help in carrying your cross today.

Luke 23:1-25

Jesus was kicked around like a football from Pilate to Herod to Pilate. He was kicked to Pilate who tried to avoid the situation by kicking him to Herod, who kicked him back to Pilate, who tried to kick him out but didn’t have the courage. Jesus presented the authorities with a problem: he was not a threat to them but the religious leaders were stirring up a crowd that was a threat to public order.

Pilate’s solution (1): let the Jews handle it themselves; send him to the provincial puppet monarch, Herod.

Herod’s solution when Jesus refused to entertain him: ridicule Jesus and send him back to Pilate.

Pilate’s solution (2): ignore the facts; satisfy the crowd’s blood lust by offering to have Jesus flogged and then satisfy his conscience by releasing him.

Jesus presented the crowd with a problem: do they listen to Jesus or take the side of the religious leaders?

The crowd’s solution: demand to get rid of Jesus, demand the release of a murderer. The religious leaders would have been delighted that the crowd which only days before had proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah in defiance of them was now baying for his death and supporting their position.

Pilate’s solution (3): give in; release Barabbas and sacrifice Jesus in the name of political expediency and a quiet life.

In the middle of this mayhem and havoc there are glimpses, albeit distorted ones, of what Jesus has come to do. Luke tells us that “that day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.” It is a hint, a foretaste, of what Jesus will achieve on the cross: reconciliation is breaking out. Even Barabbas’s release is a hint of what is to come: Jesus died in his place.

Prayer:

Start by telling God the Father how you feel about how Jesus was treated.

Jesus died in your place too: tell God how that makes you feel.

Pray for people who are estranged and in need of someone to help them be reconciled. Pray that we will have the courage to speak the truth, even in the face of significant opposition.

Personal Problems

When I think of my God in agony on the cross I blame Pilate – you just can’t wash your hands of that, buddy.

When I look at the smoking gun in my hand and the corpse at my feet I blame the manufacturers, the government and the police.

When I enjoy watching the images of depravity and destruction on my television I blame the censors and those who project such things into my living room.

When I lie and cheat to save my own skin I blame those who forced me into the corner.

When I lie awake at night worrying about the effects of what I have done I blame God for giving me a conscience.

Luke 22:63-71

It starts to get more brutal from now on. It begins with mockery and grows into beating, bullying and insults. A beaten and sleep-deprived Jesus is then brought before the Council again and questioned further. The religious leaders are looking for any hint of a reason to take him to the Romans: can they portray him as a revolutionary, a troublemaker, or a threat to public order? Jesus would not play their games.

Jesus finally spoke the truth about himself – a truth he knew that they would not believe – and the Council decided that he had condemned himself. He was indeed guilty. He was guilty of being the Son of God. He was guilty of not conforming to human expectations. He was guilty of speaking the truth.

Have you ever been unjustly accused of something? Have you ever felt misrepresented or hard done by? Jesus knows what that is like.

Injustice is still rife in our world. This is taken from the website for International Justice Mission:

Today, millions of lives around the world are in the grip of injustice.

More children, women and men are held in slavery right now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade: Millions toil in bondage, their work and even their bodies the property of an owner.

Trafficking in humans generates profits in excess of 32 billion dollars a year for those who, by force and deception, sell human lives into slavery and sexual bondage. Nearly 2 million children are exploited in the commercial sex industry.

In many countries around the world, paedophiles find that they can abuse children with impunity. And though police should be protectors, in many nations, their presence is a source of insecurity for the poor. Suspects can be held interminably before trials, imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

The land rights of women are violated on a massive scale worldwide, but with particular ferocity in Africa, leaving widows and other women in vulnerable positions unable to care for themselves or their children. Around the world, women suffer the double trauma of rape – and seeing their perpetrators face no consequences.

Often lacking access to their own justice systems and unable to protect themselves or their families from those more powerful, it is overwhelmingly the poor who are the victims of these brutal forms of abuse.

What can we do? Pray. Campaign. Lobby. Act.

Luke 22:54-62

Peter had done his best. He was trying to be true to his promise to Jesus that he would never leave him and would die for him. None of the others had made it as far as Peter. And then the accusations and questions started:

“This man was with [Jesus].”

“You also are one of them.”

“Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

“What did you do on Sunday?”

“You go to church don’t you?”

“Are you a Christian?”

Have you faced the crowd around the fire in the courtyard at work, at school, at college, among your friends? Did you respond like Peter? Have you heard the cockerel crowing and had Jesus turn around and look you in the eye? How did he look? How did you feel?

Response:

If only I’d kept my mouth shut – making promises he knew I wouldn’t keep. If only I’d kept my eyes open – instead of falling asleep. If only I’d kept my mouth shut – when they accused me. If only I could stop the tears from flowing.

Offer Jesus your regrets, ask for his forgiveness and receive his restoration.

Each day this week we will follow Jesus from the moment of his arrest, through his trial to his execution. Before you read the passage you may find it helpful to pause, take a few long, deep breaths, and offer the time and space to God. Ask his Spirit to lead your thoughts and responses. As you read the passage, or even reading the reflection, if your thoughts or emotions take you in a different direction follow them – see where God might lead you.

Luke 22:47-53

Where are you in these events?

Are you one of the disciples struggling to catch up with what is happening having fallen asleep (v.45)?

Are you in the crowd waiting to see what is going to happen?

Perhaps you are even Judas, greeting Jesus with a kiss?

Do you plan to take out the opposition?

Are you angry with Jesus and wanting to get rid of him?

Wherever you are in the narrative, re-read it and consider what Jesus would say to you if the scene was paused for a moment and it was just you and Jesus.

Jesus didn’t refuse Judas’s kiss. Matthew tells us that Judas kissed Jesus. Luke tells us that in response Jesus pointed out the hypocritical nature of what Judas was doing. A kiss usually signified devotion, warmth, love. Judas’s kiss signified disillusionment, betrayal, hate.

Jesus welcomes us all. He accepts us with our mixed motives, our misunderstanding, even our hypocrisy. There is no mistake he cannot redeem (even cutting off someone’s ear!). There is nobody he does not love.

Prayer: Jesus take me as I am, I can come no other way. Help me to be honest with myself and with you. Thank you that you welcome me as I am. Thank you that you can redeem any situation. Help me to let go of confusion, insincerity, anger, defensiveness and instead respond to those around me with your grace and acceptance.

Be blessed, be a blessing