The Grave Cannot Hold Me

Luke 23:50 - 24:12

Last week we read in Luke of the death of Jesus – His trials and His brutal flogging, His being ridiculed and mocked, His carrying His cross and needing assistance, His words of prophecy to the women following behind Him, His crucifixion, His prayer that His Father would forgive those involved because they did not know what they were doing, the casting lots for His clothing, the sign saying “This is the King of the Jews,” His discussion with the two criminals being crucified on His left and right, His final words, and His death. Luke 23:49 mentioned that those who knew Jesus watched all this from a distance.

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 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. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. – Luke 23:50-54

Do Not Weep for Me

Luke 23:1-49

We are rapidly coming to the end of the book of Luke, which we have been going through line by line all year, and with it, we are even more rapidly coming to the end of Jesus’ life. Last week we read how Jesus was arrested in the garden at the Mount of Olives at night, betrayed by Judas. We saw Peter strike a servant’s ear with a sword, and then we saw Jesus miraculously heal him; yet, they went on with the arrest. Peter followed the group taking Jesus to the house of the chief priest, and we saw how Peter denied that he was with Jesus three times, just as Jesus had foretold. That night, Jesus was mocked and beaten by the men who were guarding Him. It says that they even blindfolded Jesus, struck Him, and then said, “Prophecy! Who struck you?”

I have been reflecting about that event this week, and I have also thought about a scene from the book of Acts (chapter 22) where the Apostle Paul is about to beaten, and then reveals that he is a Roman citizen. Everything immediately changes, because it is unlawful to do this – Roman citizens had many rights and privileges that the common person did not have.

I Am

Luke 23:35-71

We have been going through Luke line by line all year, and we are rapidly coming to the end of the book and the end of our journey in this series. Last week we talked about the Last Supper, where in the midst of a traditional Passover service, Jesus forever changed the meaning of it all by saying that we should take the cup and the bread in the future not especially in remembrance of the delivery of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but in remembrance of Jesus. The former things were but foreshadows of the much greater things which were about to happen before the disciples’ very eyes. Jesus said of the bread, “this is My body, broken for you,” and of the cup, “this is My blood, poured out for you.”

Now Jesus had been trying to tell them that He would soon die, for quite some time. But in the past, Luke says the disciples didn’t understand any of it. Once, in response, Peter said, “surely not, Lord!” and Jesus responded, “get behind Me, Satan.” The disciples, I think, didn’t understand any of it because they didn’t want to understand any of it. They have been following Jesus for more than three years, now, and have come to love Him because of who He Is. He showed strength, majesty, holiness, righteousness, purity, love, kindness, compassion, mercy. He showed all the attributes of God because He was God. And yet, He was man. He hungered, He thirsted, He became tired – in short, He was 100% human, God in the flesh, subject to all the weaknesses and limits of the human body. He could feel pain, He could bleed, and He could die.

Last Words

Luke 22:1-28

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. – Luke 22:1-2

Over the past several weeks we have seen more and more signs that our year-long journey into the book of Luke is rapidly coming to an end. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the foal, or colt, of a donkey amid shouts of “Hosanna” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” and He knew that He was entering Jerusalem for the last time, in this life. As He looked down upon Jerusalem, He wept, because He knew it would not be long until it and its people were utterly destroyed. Last week, John taught from Luke 21, where Jesus gave more details about what He correctly foresaw would happen to Jerusalem. Jesus taught about signs of this as well as signs of His eventual return.

Signs of the End

Luke 21:5-38

As a recap, we are now in the final week before Jesus’ crucifixion. Carl taught three weeks ago on the triumphal entry of Christ. Jesus is now in Jerusalem. It is the Passover week. Pilgrims are coming from all over the world to celebrate in the Holy City. Jesus has been totally rejected by the leaders who are now actively seeking some way to kill him. We’ve also seen him cleanse the temple, drive out the money changers, and take authority in His Father's house. And He is teaching daily in the temple. The answers he gives are so filled with truth and authority that no one dares to ask him any more questions.

I want to take the scenic route to get into this passage today. I spent a considerable amount of time reading about the Temple. (In case you wanted to know what considerable means that means I spent too much time reading about the Temple.) But, I think it is helpful to understand some of the later verses regarding the destruction of Jerusalem.