GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
With people, places, definitions ...Part 3 of 3, chapters 19:28-24
TOWARDS THE END Spring c AD30
THE FINAL ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM
(also Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19)Luke 19:28-44 - After these words (the parable of the ten minas or pounds), Jesus walked on ahead of them on his way to Jerusalem.
Then as he was approaching Bethphage and Bethany, near the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent off two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the village just ahead of you, and there you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. And if anybody asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say, 'the Lord needs it.'"
So the messengers went off and found things just as he had told them. In fact, as they were untying the colt, the owners did say, "Why are you untying it?" and they replied, "The Lord needs it." So they brought it to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks upon it, mounted Jesus on its back. Then as he rode along, people spread out their coats on the roadway. And as he approached the city, where the road slopes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples shouted praises to God for all the marvellous things that they had seen him do.
"'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Psalm 118:26)
they cried. "There is peace in Heaven and glory on high!"
There were some Pharisees in the crowd who said to Jesus, "Master, restrain your disciples!"
To which he replied, "I tell you that if they kept quiet, the very stones in the road would burst out cheering!"
The sight of the city moves him to tears
And as he came still nearer to the city, he caught sight of it and wept over it, saying, "Ah, if you only knew, even at this eleventh hour, on what your peace depends - but you cannot see it. The time is coming when your enemies will encircle you with ramparts, surrounding you and hemming you in on every side. And they will hurl you and all your children to the ground - yes, they will not leave you one stone standing upon another - all because you did not know when God Himself was visiting you!"
JESUS DRIVES THE BUYERS AND SELLERS FROM THE TEMPLE
(also Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19)- This is the second recorded incident of this nature. The first came in John 2:12-25 at the start of Jesus' three year ministry:
Luke 19:45-48 - Then (after Jesus had wept over the city of Jerusalem) he went into the Temple, and proceeded to throw out the traders there.
"It is written," he told them, "
'My house is a house of prayer' (Isaiah 56:7),
but you have turned it into a
'den of thieves!' (Jeremiah 7:11)"
Jesus teaches daily in the Temple
Then day after day he was teaching inside the Temple. The chief priests, the scribes and the national leaders were all the time trying to get rid of him, but they could not find any way to do it since all the people hung upon his words.
Luke 20:1-47
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS IS QUESTIONED
(also Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33)Luke 20:1-8 - Then one day (after arriving in Jerusalem) as he was teaching the people in the Temple, and preaching the Gospel to them, the chief priests, the scribes and elders confronted him in a body and asked him this direct question, "Tell us by whose authority you act as you do - who gave you such authority?"
"I have a question for you, too," replied Jesus. "John's baptism, now - tell me, did it come from Heaven or was it purely human?"
At this they began arguing with each other, saying, "If we say, 'from Heaven,' he will say to us, 'Then why didn't you believe in him?' but if we say it was purely human, this mob will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they replied that they did not know where it came from.
"Then," returned Jesus, "neither will I tell you by what authority I do what I am doing."
THOSE WHO WON'T ACCEPT GOD: "THE WICKED TENANTS OF THE VINEYARD". Also "THE REJECTED STONE"
(also Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12)Luke 20:9-19 - Then (while Jesus was in the Temple and the chief priests, scribes and elders questioned him about his authority) he turned to the people and told them this parable: "There was once a man who planted a vineyard, let it out farm-workers, and went abroad for some time. Then, when the season arrived, he sent a servant to the farm-workers so that they could give him the proceeds of the vineyard. But the farm-workers beat him up and sent him back empty-handed. So he sent another servant, and they beat him up as well, manhandling him disgracefully, and sent him back empty-handed. Then he sent a third servant, but after wounding him severely they threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do now? I will send them my son who is so dear to me. Perhaps they will respect him.' But when the farm-workers saw him, they talked the matter over with each other and said, 'This man is the heir - come on, let's kill him, and we shall get everything that he would have had!' And they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. What do you suppose the owner will do to them? He will come and destroy the men who were working his property, and hand it over to others."
When they heard this, they said, "God forbid!"
But he looked them straight in the eyes and said, "Then what is the meaning of this scripture -
'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone?' (Psalm 118:22)
The man who falls on that stone will be broken, and the man on whom it falls will be crushed to powder."
The authorities resort to trickery
The scribes and chief priests longed to get their hands on him at that moment, but they were afraid of the people. They knew well enough that his parable referred to them.
THE PHARISEES AND HERODIANS QUESTION HIM - PAYING TAXES
(also Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17)Luke 20:20-26 - They (the scribes and chief priests) watched him, however, and sent some spies into the crowd, pretending that they were honest men, to fasten on something that he might say which could be used to hand him over to the authority and power of the governor (the Roman Pontius Pilate).
These men asked him, "Master, we know that what you say and teach is right, and that you teach the way of God truly without fear or favour. Now, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
But Jesus saw through their cunning and said to them, "Show me one of the coins. Whose face is this, and whose name is in the inscription?"
"Caesar's," they said.
"Then give to Caesar," he replied, "what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."
So his reply gave them no sort of handle that they could use against him publicly. And in fact they were so taken aback by his answer that they had nothing more to say.
THE SADDUCEES QUESTION HIM - RISING FROM DEATH
(also Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27)Luke 20:27-40 - Then (again after the question on taxes) up came some of the Sadducees (who deny that there is any resurrection) and they asked him, "Master, Moses told us in the scripture, 'If a man's brother should die without any children, he should marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.' Now, there were once seven brothers. The first got married and died childless, and the second and the third married the woman, and in fact all the seven married her and died without leaving any children. Lastly, the woman herself died. Now in the 'resurrection' whose wife is she of these seven men, for she belonged to all of them?"
"People in this world," Jesus replied, "marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of reaching that world, which means rising from the dead, neither marry nor are they given in marriage. They cannot die any more but live like the angels; for being children of the resurrection, they are the sons of God. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed to be true in the story of the bush, when he calls the Lord
'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' (Exodus 3:6,15).
For God is not God of the dead, but of the living. For all men are alive to him."
To this some of the scribes replied, "Master, that was a good answer."
And indeed nobody had the courage to ask him any more questions.
JESUS IN RETURN, ASKS A QUESTION - ABOUT THE EXPECTED MESSIAH
(also Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37)Luke 20:41-44 - But Jesus (having answered the Sadducees' question about resurrection) went on to say, "How can they say that Christ is David's son? For David himself said in the book of psalms -
'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.' (Psalm 110:1)
David is plainly calling him 'Lord'. How then can he be his son?"
JESUS CRITICISES THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW (OR SCRIBES) AND THE PHARISEES
(also Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40)Luke 20:45-47 - Then while everybody was listening (to the debate), Jesus remarked to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the scribes, who enjoy walking round in long robes and love having men bow to them in public, getting front seats in the synagogue, and the best places at dinner parties - while all the time they are battening on widow's property and covering it up with long prayers. These men are only heading for deeper damnation."
Luke 21:1-38
JESUS COMPARES THE RICH MAN'S GIVING WITH THE WIDOW'S OFFERING!
(also Mark 12:41-44)Luke 21:1-4 - Then (again after warning his disciples about the scribe's hypocrisy) he looked up and saw the rich people dropping their gifts into the treasury, and he noticed a poor widow drop in two coppers, and he commented, "I assure you that this poor widow put in more than all of them, for they have all put in what they can easily spare, but she in her poverty has given away her whole living."
JESUS DESCRIBES THE END-TIMES AND HIS RETURN
(also Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37)Luke 21:5-38 - Then (after the debate with the Pharisees and Sadducees ....) when some of them (the disciples) were talking about the Temple and pointing out the beauty of its lovely stonework and the various ornaments that people had given, he said, "Yes, you can gaze on all this today, but the time is coming when not a single stone will be left upon another, without being thrown down."
So they asked him, "Master, when will this happen, and what sign will there be that these things are going to take place?"
"Be careful that you are not deceived," he replied. "There will be many coming in my name, saying 'I am he' and 'The time is very near now.' Never follow men like that. And when you hear about wars and disturbances, don't be alarmed. These things must indeed happen first, but the end will not come immediately.
And prophesies world-wide suffering
Then he continued, "Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in this place or that. There will be dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven. But before all this happens, men will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogue or prison, or bringing you before kings and governors, for my name's sake. This will be your chance to witness for me. So make up your minds not to think out your defence beforehand. I will give you such eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict it. But you will be betrayed, even by parents and brothers and kinsfolk and friends. and there will be some of you who will be killed and you will be hated everywhere for my name's sake. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish. Hold on, and you will win your souls!
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed forces, then you will know that the time of her devastation has arrived. Then is the time for those who are in Judea to fly to the hills. And those who are in the city itself must get out of it, and those who are already in the country must not try to get into the city. For these are the days of vengeance, when all that the scriptures have said will come true. Alas for those who are pregnant and those who have tiny babies in those days! For there will be bitter misery in the land and great anger against this people. They will die by the sword. They will be taken off as prisoners into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the heathen until the heathen's day is over. There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth there will be dismay among the nations and bewilderment at the roar of the surging sea. Men's courage will fail completely as they realise what is threatening the world, for the very powers of heaven will be shaken. Then men will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and splendour! But when these things begin to happen, look up, hold your heads high, for you will soon be free."
Vigilance is essential
Then he gave them a parable.
"Look at a fig-tree, or indeed any tree, when it begins to burst its buds, and you realise without anybody telling you that summer is nearly here. So, when you see these things happening, you can be equally sure that the kingdom of God has nearly come. Believe me, this generation will not disappear until all this has taken place. Earth and heaven will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
"Be on your guard - see to it that your minds are never clouded by dissipation or drunkenness or the worries of this life, or else that day may catch you like the springing of a trap - for it will come upon every inhabitant of the whole earth.
"You must be vigilant at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to come safely through all that is going to happen, and stand in the presence of the Son of Man."
And every day he went on teaching in the Temple, and every evening he went off and spent the night on the hill which is called the Mount of Olives. And the people used to come early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.
Luke 22:1-71
THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS
(also Matthew 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2; John 11:45-57)Luke 22:1-2 - Now (after speaking about the end-times, teaching the people in the Temple each day, and ....) as the feast of unleavened bread, called the Passover, was approaching, fear of the people made the chief priests and scribes try desperately to find a way of getting rid of Jesus
JUDAS ISCARIOT DECIDES TO BETRAY HIM
(also Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11)Luke 22:3-6 - Then (following Jesus' teaching about the end-times, and as the chief priests and scribes plan to get rid of him) a diabolical plan came into the mind of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. He went and discussed with the chief priests and officers a method of getting Jesus into their hands. They were delighted and arranged to pay him for it. He agreed, and began to look for a suitable opportunity for betrayal when there was no crowd present.
THE LAST SUPPER
(also Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; John 13:1-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)Luke 22:7-30 - Then (as in Matthew and Mark) the day of unleavened bread arrived, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed ....
Passover lamb - At the climax of the power-struggles between Moses and the Egyptian Pharaoh leading to the Exodus (Exodus 7-12), a Passover lamb without defect was sacrificed. It's blood was used to mark the houses "passed over", or spared the death of their first-born - both human or animals -
.... and Jesus sent off Peter and John with the words, "Go and make all the preparations for us to eat the Passover."
"Where would you like us to do this?" they asked.
And he replied, "Listen, just as you're going into the city a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he is making for. Then say to the owner of the house, 'The Master has this message for you - which is the room where my disciples and I may eat the Passover?' And he will take you upstairs and show you a large room furnished for our needs. Make all the preparations there."
So they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them it would be, and they made the Passover preparations.
Then, when the time came, he took his seat at table with the apostles, and spoke to them, "With all my heart I have longed to eat this Passover with you before the time comes for me to suffer. Believe me, I shall not eat the Passover again until all that it means is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Then taking a cup from them he thanked God, and said, "Take this and share it amongst yourselves, for I tell you I shall drink no more wine until the kingdom of God comes."
The mysterious words which were remembered later
Then he took a loaf and after thanking God he broke it and gave it to them, with these words, "This is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me."
So too, he gave them a cup after supper with the words, "This cup is the new agreement made in my own blood which is shed for you. Yet the hand of the man who is betraying me lies with mine at this moment on the table. The Son of Man goes on his appointed way: yet alas for the man by whom he is betrayed!"
Jesus again teaches humility
And at this they began to debate among themselves as to which of them would do this thing.
And then a dispute arose among them as to who should be considered the most important.
But Jesus said to them, "Among the heathen it is their kings who lord it over them, and their rulers are given the title of 'benefactors.' But it must not be so with you! Your greatest man must become like a junior and your leader must be a servant. Who is the greater, the man who sits down to dinner or the man who serves him? Obviously, the man who sits down to dinner - yet I am the one who is the servant among you. But you are the men who have stood by me in all that I have gone through, and as surely as my Father has given me my kingdom, so I give you the right to eat and drink at my table in that kingdom. Yes, you will sit on thrones and rule the twelve tribes of Israel!
THE LAST NIGHT CONTINUED AND THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
(also Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42; John 13:31-38; 18:1-2)Luke 22:31-46 - (As Jesus concludes the Last Supper and teaches about humility, he continues ....) "Oh Simon, Simon, do you know that Satan has asked to have you all to sift like wheat? - but I have prayed for you that you may not lose your faith. Yes, when you have turned back to me, you must strengthen these brothers of yours."
Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison or even to die with you!"
"I tell you, Peter," returned Jesus, "before the cock crows today you will deny three times that you know me!"
Jesus tells his disciples that the crisis has arrived
Then he continued to tell all, "That time when I sent you out without any purse or wallet or shoes - did you find you needed anything?"
"No, not a thing," they replied.
"But now," Jesus continued, "if you have a purse or wallet, take it with you, and if you have no sword, sell your coat and buy one! For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me -
'And he was numbered with the transgressors' (Isaiah 53:12).
So comes the end of what they wrote about me."
Then the disciples said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."
And Jesus returned, "That is enough."
- The reference to swords is at odds with Jesus' usual teaching. He may have been referring to the disciples need to be as strong and determined in spiritual battle as the sword-armed soldier is in his earthly fight. "That is enough" should probably read, "that is enough of such talk" -
Then he went out of the city and up on to the Mount of Olives, as he had often done before, with the disciples following him. And when he reached his usual place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not have to face temptation!"
Then he went off by himself, about a stone's throw away, and falling on his knees, prayed in these words - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me - but it is not my will, but yours, that must be done."
And an angel from Heaven appeared, strengthening him. He was in agony and prayed even more intensely so that his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Then he got to his feet from his prayer and walking back to his disciples, he found them sleeping through sheer grief.
"Why are you sleeping?" he said to them. "You must get up and go on praying that you may not have to face temptation." (A crowd of people now arrive led by Judas Iscariot.)
JESUS IS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED
(also Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; John 18:3-12)Luke 22:47-54a - While he was still speaking (to his disciples about temptation as he prayed) a crowd of people arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the twelve. He stepped up to Jesus to kiss him.
"Judas, would you betray the son of Man with a kiss?" said Jesus to him.
And the disciples, seeing what was going to happen, cried, "Lord, shall we use our swords?"
And one of them did slash at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus retorted, "That will do!"
And he touched his ear and healed him. Then he spoke to the chief priests, Temple officers and elders who were there to arrest him, "So you have come out with your swords and staves as if I were a bandit. Day after day I was with you in the Temple and you never laid a finger on me - but this is your hour and the power of darkness is yours!"
Then they arrested him .......
After his arrest Jesus appears before three separate authorities:
(1) Annas still a "chief priest", and the Sanhedrin of which Caiaphas is the High Priest;
(2) Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator of Judea and Samaria; and
(3) Herod Antipas, Jewish tetrarch of Galilee and Perea visiting Jerusalem at that time.
Pontius Pilate actually sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion
JESUS IS TRIED BEFORE THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES; PETER BETRAYS HIM
(also Matthew 26:57-27:2; Mark 14:53-15:1; John 18:13-28)Luke 22:54b-23:1 - (After arresting Jesus, the armed crowd and the Temple officers ....) marched him off to the High Priest's house. Peter followed at a distance, and sat down among some people who had lighted a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting round it. A maid-servant saw him sitting there in the firelight, peered into his face, and said "This man was with him too."
But he denied it and said, "I don't know him, girl!"
A few minutes later someone else noticed Peter, and said, "You're one of these men too."
But Peter said, "Man, I am not!".
Then about an hour later someone else insisted, "I am convinced this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean!"
"Man," returned Peter, "I don't know what you're talking about."
And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. The Lord turned his head and looked straight at Peter, and into his mind flashed the words that the Lord had said to him ... "You will disown me three times before the cock crows today." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Then the men who held Jesus made a great game of knocking him about. And they blindfolded him and asked him, "Now prophet, guess who hit you that time!" And that was only the beginning of the way they insulted him.
In the early morning Jesus is formally interrogated
Then when daylight came, the assembly of the elders of the people, which included both chief priests and scribes, met and marched him off to their own council (the Sanhedrin). There they asked him, "If you really are Christ, tell us!"
"If I tell you, you will never believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from now on the Son of Man will take his seat at the right hand of almighty God."
Then they all said, "So you are the Son of God then?"
"You are right; I am," Jesus told them.
Then they said, "Why do we need to call any more witnesses, for we ourselves have heard this thing from his own lips?"
Luke 23:1-56
Jesus is taken before Pilate and Herod
Then they rose up in a body and took him off to Pilate .....
JESUS BEFORE THE ROMAN PONTIUS PILATE; THE SENTENCE
(also Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:2-15; John 18:29-19:16a)Luke 23:2-25 - (Members of the Sanhedrin have taken Jesus before Pilate and .....) began their accusation in these words, "Here is this man whom we found corrupting our people, and telling them that it is wrong to pay taxes to Caesar, claiming that he himself is Christ, a king."
But Pilate addressed his question to Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Yes, I am," he replied.
Then Pilate spoke to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find nothing criminal about this man."
But they pressed their charge, saying, "He's a trouble-maker among the people. He teaches through the whole of Judea, all the way from Galilee to this place."
- Only Luke’s Gospel reports that Jesus also appears before Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea:
When Pilate heard this, he enquired whether the man were a Galilean, and when he discovered that he came under Herod's jurisdiction (as tetrarch of Galilee), he passed him on to Herod who happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was delighted, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time. He had heard a lot about Jesus and was hoping to see him perform a miracle. He questioned him very thoroughly, but Jesus gave him absolutely no reply, though the chief priests and scribes stood there making the most violent accusations. So Herod joined his own soldiers in scoffing and jeering at Jesus. Finally, they dressed him up in a gorgeous cloak, and sent him back to Pilate. On that day Herod and Pilate became firm friends, though previously they had been at daggers drawn.
Pilate declares Jesus' innocence
Then Pilate summoned the chief priests, the officials and the people and addressed them in these words. "You have brought this man to me as a mischief-maker among the people, and I want you to realise that, after examining him in your presence, I have found nothing criminal about him, in spite of all your accusations. And neither has Herod, for he has sent him back to us. Obviously, then, he has done nothing to deserve the death penalty. I propose, therefore, to teach him a sharp lesson and let him go."
But they all yelled as one man, "Take this man away! We want Barabbas set free!" (Barabbas was a man who had been put in prison for causing a riot in the city and for murder.) But Pilate wanted to set Jesus free and he called out to them again, but they shouted back at him, "Crucify, crucify him!"
Then he spoke to them, for a third time, "What is his crime, then? I have found nothing in him that deserves execution; I am going to teach him a lesson and let him go."
But they shouted him down, yelling their demand that he should be crucified.
Their shouting won the day, and Pilate pronounced the official decision that their request should be granted. He released the man for whom they asked, the man who had been imprisoned for rioting and murder, and surrendered Jesus to their demands.
HIS CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH
(also Matthew 27:32-50; Mark 15:21-37; John 19:16b-30)Luke 23:26-46 - And as they were marching him (Jesus) away, they caught hold of Simon, a native of Cyrene in Africa, who was on his way home from the fields, and put the cross on his back for him to carry behind Jesus.
On the way to the cross
A huge crowd of people followed him, including women who wrung their hands and wept for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, do not shed your tears for me, but for yourselves and for your children! For the days are coming when men will say, 'Lucky are the women who are childless - the bodies which have never borne, and the breasts which have never given nourishment.' Then men will begin
'to say to the mountains, Fall on us! and to the hills, Cover us!' (Hosea 10:8)
For if this is what men do when the wood is green, what will they do when it is seasoned?"
Jesus is crucified with two criminals
Two criminals were also led out with him for execution, and when they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him with the criminals, one on either side of him. But Jesus himself was saying, "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing."
Then they shared out his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood and stared while their rulers continued to scoff, saying, "He saved other people, let's see him save himself, if he is really God's Christ - his chosen!"
The soldiers also mocked him by coming up and presenting sour wine to him, saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, why not save yourself?" For there was a placard over his head which read, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals hanging there covered him with abuse, and said, "Aren't you Christ? Why don't you save yourself - and us?"
But the other one checked him with the words, "Aren't you afraid of God even when you're getting the same punishment as he is? And it's fair enough for us, for we've only got what we deserve, but this man never did anything wrong in his life."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
And Jesus answered, "I tell you truly, this day you will be with me in paradise."
The darkness, and the death of Jesus
It was now about midday, but darkness came over the whole countryside until three in the afternoon, for there was an eclipse of the sun. The veil in the Temple sanctuary was split in two. Then Jesus gave a great cry and said, "Father,
'into your hands I commend my spirit.' (Psalm 31:5)"
And with these words, he died.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT
(also Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:39-41; John 19:25-26a)- The identity of all the women has not been completely solved:
Luke 23:47-49 - When the centurion saw what had happened, he exclaimed reverently, "That was indeed a good man!"
And the whole crowd who had collected for the spectacle, when they saw what had happened, went home in deep distress. And those who had known him, as well as the women who had followed him from Galilee, remained standing at a distance and saw all this happen.
HIS BURIAL
(Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:31-42)Luke 23:50-56 - Now there was a man called Joseph, a member of the Jewish council. He was a good and just man, and had neither agreed with their plan nor voted for their decision. He came from the Jewish city of Arimathaea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. He took it down and wrapped it in linen and placed it in a rock-hewn tomb which had not been used before.
It was now the day of the preparation and the Sabbath was beginning to dawn, so the women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph, noted the tomb and the position of the body, and then went home to prepare spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested, in obedience to the commandment.
The life and ministry of Jesus on earth is over - tortured to death on a Roman cross and consigned to the grave. Everything he did, no matter how wonderful or wise - his miracles, his parables, the Sermon on the Mount - mark him as a superb teacher, a miracle-worker, a man of unsurpassed personality, but still a man. And sometimes,almost a madman from his seemingly more outrageous statements and claims.
In evidence of failure, his followers are desolate, mostly scattered and without hope. The few that remain prepare to give him a proper burial. There seems nothing left to suggest the birth, 2,000 years ago of a life and world-changing religion that claims to be unique, to come directly from the creator God of the universe, and which is offered freely to all the people of Earth and perhaps beyond.
THE NEW BEGINNING Spring cAD30
Luke 24:1-53
THE EMPTY TOMB
(also Matthew 28:1-8,11-15; Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-13)Luke 24:1-12 - But at the first signs of dawn on the first day of the week (Sunday), they (the women who accompanied Jesus from Galilee and who after his resurrection, had rested throughout the Saturday Sabbath in obedience to the Fourth Commandment) went to the tomb, taking with them the aromatic spices they had prepared. They discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on going inside, the body of the Lord Jesus was not to be found. While they were still puzzling over this, two men suddenly stood at their elbow, dressed in dazzling light. The women were terribly frightened, and turned their eyes away and looked at the ground. But the two men spoke to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here: he has risen! Remember what he said to you, while he was still in Galilee - that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and must be crucified, and must rise again on the third day."
Then they did remember what he had said, and they turned their backs on the tomb and went and told all this to the eleven and the others who were with them.
It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna (one of Jesus' earliest women followers and wife of Chuza, Herod Antipas' steward, Luke 8:3), the mother of James (the "other" Mary), and their companions who made this report to the apostles. But it struck them as sheer imagination, and they did not believe the women. Only (the apostle) Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He stooped down and saw the linen clothes lying there all by themselves, and he went home wondering at what had happened.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND HIS APPEARANCES TO HIS DISCIPLES
(also Matthew 28:9-10,16-17; Mark 16:9-14; John 20:14-21:14; Acts 1:1-5; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)Luke 24:13-44 - Then on the same day we find two of them (disciples) going off to Emmaus, a village (location uncertain) about seven miles from Jerusalem. As they went they were deep in conversation about everything that had happened. While they were absorbed in their serious talk and discussion, Jesus himself approached and walked along with them, but something prevented them from recognising him. Then he spoke to them, "What is all this discussion that you are having on your walk?"
They stopped, their faces drawn with misery, and the one called Cleopas (possibly Clopas, the husband of Mary who was present at the crucifixion) replied, "You must be the only stranger in Jerusalem who hasn't heard all the things that have happened there recently!"
"What things?" asked Jesus.
"Oh, all about Jesus, from Nazareth. There was a man - a prophet strong in what he did and what he said, in God's eyes as well as the people's. Haven't you heard how our chief priests and rulers handed him over for execution, and had him crucified? But we were hoping he was the one who was to come and set Israel free ...
"Yes, and as if that were not enough, it's getting on for three days since all this happened; and some of our womenfolk have disturbed us profoundly. For they went to the tomb at dawn, and then when they couldn't find his body they said that they had a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of our people went straight off to the tomb and found things just as the women had described them - but they didn't see him!"
Then he spoke to them, "Aren't you failing to understand, and slow to believe in all that the prophets have said? Was it not inevitable that Christ should suffer like that and so find his glory?"
Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them everything in the scriptures that referred to himself. They were by now approaching the village to which they were going. He gave the impression that he meant to go on further, but they stopped him with the words, "Do stay with us. It is nearly evening and soon the day will be over."
So he went indoors to stay with them. Then it happened! While he was sitting at table with them he took the loaf, gave thanks, broke it and passed it to them. Their eyes opened wide and they knew him! But he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Weren't our hearts glowing while he was with us on the road, and when he made the scriptures so plain to us?"
And they got to their feet without delay and turned back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven and their friends all together, full of the news - "The Lord is really risen - he has appeared to Simon (the apostle Peter) now!"
Then they told the story of their walk, and how they recognised him when he broke the loaf.
Jesus suddenly appears to the disciples
And while they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, "Peace be to you all!"
But they shrank back in terror for they thought they were seeing a ghost.
"Why are you so worried?" said Jesus, "and why do doubts arise in your minds? Look at my hands and feet - it is really I myself! Feel me and see; ghosts have no flesh or bones as you can see that I have."
But while they still could not believe it through sheer joy and were quite bewildered, Jesus said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
They gave him a piece of broiled fish and part of a honeycomb which he took and ate before their eyes. Then he said, "Here and now are fulfilled the words that I told you when I was with you: that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must come true."
HIS COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD
(also Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; John 21:15-23; Acts 1:6-8)Luke 24:45-50 - Then (after Jesus had eaten with the disciples, and showed them how his death and resurrection had fulfilled prophecy) he opened their minds so that they could understand the scriptures, and added, "That is how it was written, and that is why it was inevitable that Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead on the third day. So must the change of heart which leads to the forgiveness of sins be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
"You are eye-witnesses of these things. Now I hand over to you the command of my Father. Stay in the city (of Jerusalem), then, until you are clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them outside as far as Bethany, where he blessed them with uplifted hands.
JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN
(also Mark 16:19-20; Acts 1:9-11)Luke 24:51-53 - While he was in the act of blessing them he was parted from them and was carried up to Heaven. They worshipped him, and turned back to Jerusalem with great joy, and spent their days in the Temple, praising and blessing God (while awaiting baptism in the Holy Spirit).
In a short time, the disciples, totally demoralised by the death of Jesus are transformed. They are soon taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ fearlessly to much of the known world and often in the face of every form of opposition, persecution, and soon, brutality, torture and death.
The Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of the New Testament reveal part of this early story that continues to the present day.
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