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The Cross

July 16, 2023

Luke 23:26-56

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Read Luke 23:26-31

  1. Put yourself in amongst the crowd of people following Jesus (and Simon of Cyrene) as Jesus makes His way toward His death. What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What do you make of the wailing, and the mourning and the chaos?
  2. What do you think Jesus means by His cryptic statement in verse 31?
  3. The entire narrative of Jesus’ suffering is full of very specific details. Why is this important? How does the rich tapestry of detail enhance our confidence in the accuracy and the reliability of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death?

Read Luke 23:32-38

  1. For the overachievers: do some research and find out how many elements in these verses were prophesied in the Old Testament in one way or another.
  2. Jesus did more than teach about loving your enemies. He lived it out, actively forgiving them while they put Him to death. How does this strike you? Who do you need to forgive?
  3. The mockers assumed that if Jesus were really God, he would save himself rather than suffer crucifixion. Is this kind of assumption still prevalent today? How might people today complete the following: “If Jesus were really God, he would
    Reveal Answer
    _.” What are some things you might have expected God to do that HE has not done? How do you think about that?

Read Luke 23:39-43

  1. Discuss how the two criminals on either side of Jesus provide an image of the two ways sinners can respond to Jesus.
  2. What do these verses suggest about what is necessary in order to end up in paradise with Jesus?

Read Luke 23:44-49

  1. What is significant about the 3 hours of darkness and the splitting of the curtain in the temple? Research this if needed.
  2. Why is it important that Jesus committed his spirit into God’s hands? In what ways do you commit your spirit into God’s hands?

Read Luke 23:50-56

  1. Reflecting on the death of Jesus can produce different responses every time we do so. As you reflected on the death of Jesus reading this passage this week, how were you affected? What stood out to you this time that was maybe more in the background in previous readings?
  2. Do you think it was difficult for Jesus’ followers to observe the Sabbath obediently? Do you think you would have been able to do that under the same circumstances?