The Gospel of Luke
Chapter 23
The events of Chapter 22 pushed toward a condemnation of Jesus before the assembled Sanhedrin at the home of the High Priest. The proceedings went on through the night, but it was illegal according to Sanhedrin rules to have a trial at night. Consequently, when daybreak came, they hastily assembled to ratify their decision and, when they considered they had their desired outcome, they decided to hustle Jesus to the Roman governor to execute Him correctly.
The Trial—Luke 23:1-25
It is always tempting for us to draw on the accounts of the other Gospel writers to fill in additional details in one telling. There certainly is value in that, but we should also remember that Luke has chosen the rendition that would most powerfully speak to Theophilus, apparently a Roman of some standing. Consequently, while we know that Luke has not included every part of the trial proceedings against Jesus, he has detailed what would be most helpful to his original reader’s faith.
Pilate would likely have followed the daily schedule of a Roman gentleman. Typically he would rise very early and immediately go to work, finishing his duties by midmorning. Then he would adjourn for a very carefully planned program of leisure, including the baths, some literary or musical pursuit and an evening banquet. Here, of course, he was in Jerusalem because of the Passover and the possibility of a riot or other disturbance. He would be readily available to authorities.
The Sanhedrin offered charges most likely to irritate and excite a Roman official. They charged Jesus with subversion, tax evasion, and rebellion, identifying the term “Christ” as a rival king to Caesar. When Pilate investigated the charges and asked whether Jesus were King of the Jews, the Lord agreed. Pilate realized that the Sanhedrin charges were ridiculous and stepped back out to announce his verdict: Not guilty. His words inflamed the priests, who were determined to have Jesus killed by judicial execution. They renewed their accusations and pointed out that Jesus had long been engaged in His preaching—ever since He left Galilee! This caught Pilate’s attention and gave him a way to pass Jesus off to another: Herod Antipas.
It so happened that Antipas was visiting in Jerusalem, doubtless for Passover. This Herod had first been afraid of Jesus, then wanted to kill Him, according to reports (Luke 13:31). Herod asked for a miracle, then peppered Jesus with questions that the Lord refused to answer while some priests kept up their accusations. Herod dressed Jesus in a robe fit for a king and sent Him back to Pilate—each executive deferring to the other, which patched up an earlier quarrel. Again Pilate made a formal answer to the priests and declared that neither he nor Herod found grounds for capital punishment for Jesus. However, he did offer to “punish” Him, to flog Him. Perhaps that might satisfy the Sanhedrin. It would not.
The priests began demanding
the release of Barabbas, a known rebel and murderer. Everybody knew that he was
guilty of the crimes of which they had accused Jesus to Pilate, yet they asked
for his release. Pilate tried to reason with them, but this mob demanded Jesus’
crucifixion and Barabbas’ release. Again he offered to punish Jesus, but they
will not have it. Unfortunately, Pilate had earlier in his career allowed
himself to be swayed by strong public opinion, and the Jews knew that if they
merely got loud enough, long enough, he would probably give in to them. And that
is exactly what happened. He released a known murderer and turned the sinless
Son of God over to them to be killed for no legal reason.
The Crucifixion—Luke 23:26-49
With the sentence pronounced, there was no reason to delay, so Jesus was led away to His death. Luke names Simon of Cyrene as the man who was compelled to take up the crossbeam on which Jesus was to be crucified. By naming the man, Luke seems to think he would be known, or at least known about, by Theophilus and we have reasons to think that at least one of his sons, Rufus, was a Christian in the church at Rome. As Jesus was going to His death, He was followed by many residents, especially women, of Jerusalem. Many young men met their deaths by crucifixion and it would be common for unrelated women to bewail the tragedy. It is not necessary that they actually knew Jesus, although they may have.
Jesus suddenly turned and addressed them, urging them to save their tears for themselves. He could see clearly what would happen to the city and its residents in the coming war. It would be better for women not to have children than to watch their children’s deaths. In fact, they would want to be crushed and buried instantly in that time, as the Samaritans wished for themselves at the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC (see Hosea 10:8). Jesus went on to say that if they would do such things now (in a time of peace), what might it be like later (when genuine war is underway)?
Now Luke tells us that there were two others led out with Him to be crucified, both criminals. They brought the condemned to “Cranion,” which in Latin translation is “Calvary” and literally means, “Skull.” Without any lurid detail, Luke simply says, “they crucified Him.” From the cross, Jesus pleaded for the Father to forgive this murder since they were ignorant of what they were actually doing. And Luke notes that the executioners cast lots for His clothing, which fulfills a phrase in Psalm 22:8.
While it was common for people to taunt condemned criminals, Luke explains that the Jewish leaders taunted Jesus with the term “Christ,” while the Gentile soldiers taunted Him as “King of the Jews,” which is a different idea, completely. Luke points out for us that this was the charge that was given as justification for His execution. One of the criminals crucified with Him joined in the mockery while the other, who may have begun and later had a change of heart, confronted the first with his own guilt and Jesus’ innocence. Then he asked Jesus to remember him in the kingdom and Jesus promised him paradise that very day. Of course it is important to remember that Jesus had the ability to forgive all sins and that the new covenant had yet to come into operation.
Around midday darkness set in until early afternoon. The curtain of the Temple was torn in two. Jesus called out to the Father and quoted Psalm 31:5 and died. The executioners realized that He had been innocent. The mourners turned away since the drama was ended and they went home, weeping. His disciples, though, including women who had followed Him from Galilee, waited and watched from a distance.
The Burial—Luke 23:50-56
One man, Joseph, was a member of the Sanhedrin but had not consented to any of the proceedings against Jesus. He was wealthy and was originally from Arimathea, a town about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem, but now he lived in that great city and was intensely interested in the kingdom of God. He obtained permission to remove the body, hastily prepared it for burial and placed it in a new tomb cut into the rock. This is specifically noted as Preparation Day (Friday) and the sun was setting, signaling the beginning of the Sabbath. The women carefully noted what had been done, then went home obtaining spices and perfumes to do a better job with the burial after the Sabbath rest. It is commonly noted that often the quiet or even hidden followers of Jesus are more faithful to Him than the brash and overconfident ones are.