Luke 23: 32 ¶ And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Two condemned men are crucified next to Jesus, one on the one side
and one on the other. Matthew 27:58 and Mark 15:27 refer to them as thieves.
There were many more crimes for which you could receive capital punishment
under Roman rule than we would allow for today. Rome was essentially a military
society almost constantly at war with someone and justice was harsh. Jails were
places to keep a person awaiting execution. Executions were public and the
suffering imposed on the condemned was particularly brutal. They were also
public spectacles, entertainment in a world without television or movies.
The penalty for any crime depended mainly on your citizenship status
and social class. Non-Roman citizens (Paul was a Roman citizen as revealed in
Acts), lower class Romans, and non-citizens had the most brutal and painful
forms of execution reserved for them. In criminal cases the governor, Pilate,
had sole authority. And while Roman citizen Paul could appeal to Caesar
non-citizens like Jesus and the Apostles had no right of appeal. This is one
clear reason for God’s plan of allowing this to happen in His plan for
redeeming mankind to Himself in this culture and at this time. Pilate was
forced into his decision by political necessity and his own lack of moral
courage and once the command was given there would be no appeal.
For verse 34 please note this cross-reference;
Psalm
22:18 They part my garments among them, and
cast lots upon my vesture.
God’s plan was unfolding and His executioners had no idea what
their part in that plan was. Think of Joseph talking to his brothers in Genesis
acknowledging that when they sold him into slavery there was a higher will than
their wicked intentions toward him.
Genesis
50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil
against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Men and women make a choice to do evil or good yet have no control
over how far their choice will take them or what greater purpose they will
serve or be used for.
Matthew
18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Jesus, God in the flesh, hanging on a cross, is mocked by the
Jewish rulers and the Roman soldiers. For verse 36 note this cross-reference;
Psalm
69:21 They gave me also gall for my
meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Pilate himself mocked the Jewish rulers in the placement of a
placard calling Jesus king of the Jews in three languages; Greek, Latin, and
Hebrew. Hebrew was for the Jews. Greek was the dominant language of the culture
of the Roman world which is why Paul refers to Gentiles as Greeks. Latin was
the official language of Rome. Our Bibles are mainly rooted in these three
languages from the Old Testament Hebrew, the New Testament Greek, and the first
complete Bible containing Old and New Testaments in the middle of the second
century, the Old Latin Bible. Of course, this does not make these sacred
languages as Bible writing can be found in Aramaic and scholars tell us that
Christian and Jewish writings were made in every language of the age and area
and were translated from one into the other and then back again. See H.C.
Hoskier’s Concerning the Genesis of the
Versions of the New Testament.
Now a curious thing happens. Here is a man, a bad guy, a condemned
prisoner who has never been to church, never prayed a 1-2-3 repeat-after-me
prayer in front of a preacher and a congregation or been baptized, appealing to
Christ, who promises that this very day the man will be with Him in paradise. Where
is Paradise?
The same word is used by Paul and John to describe something that
is in Heaven above.
2Corinthians
12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Revelation
2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
There is a great gulf between Heaven and Hell that no man can
cross and yet in the world of the spirit those suffering in one can understand
the joy of the other. See;
Luke
16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man,
which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which
fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar
died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also
died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he
lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in
his bosom. 24 And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good
things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented. 26 And beside all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass
from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,
that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into
this
place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto
him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses
and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the
dead.
Now on a side note and bear with me a moment here, the Greeks
received a great deal of second-hand knowledge of Hebrew belief over the
previous thousand years from the mouths of slaves they had taken of the Hebrews
in war. The Greeks, as merchants and mercenaries, were everywhere in the
Ancient Near East. Greek words and roots are found in the main languages from
that influence as well as Alexander the Great’s empire later in the dominant
Hellenistic culture that his conquests spread. But, the Greeks were always
there. They even fought on both sides of battles such as Nebuchadnezzar of
Babylon and Necho of Egypt’s Battle of Carchemish, historical writers tell us.
The Greeks were Javan, a
word used seven times as Javan and
also used for Greece and Grecia. Javan was a son of Japheth from
Genesis 10.
Zechariah
9:12 ¶ Turn you to the strong hold, ye
prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow
with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and
made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Jeremiah
46:2 Against Egypt, against the army of
Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king
of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of
Judah.
Joel
3:6 The children also of Judah and the
children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them
far from their border.
Later, Christian Greek writers insisted that while Plato was
uncertain of where Greek myth came from that it grew partly as a mixture of
Hebrew belief with, for instance, based on his story, Hercules being a
combination of Samson and Jonah. In the same respect the Greeks’ version of
Hell, which they called Hades, consisted of a place of the damned and one of
the blessed not far from each other.
Christian writers used this reference to Hades as the root word from which our Hell is translated as the Bible uses words and concepts already
understood from Greek culture to explain concepts that have a definite
difference in meaning. A study can be made of different Greek words translated
for wine or love that, in the context, have basically the same meaning in the
Bible. But, the Greek mythology of the detail and story of Hades is a cultural
creation and while perhaps based on Hebrew understandings went, like Roman
Catholic and Eastern Orthodoxy way beyond any clear statements of the Bible. In
other words, Greek mythology was created for cultural and political reasons
using, in part, the Bible stories told by Hebrew captives and from Greek
interaction with Hebrew culture as a foundation.
This brings me to my point that perhaps Paradise was taken to
Heaven by Christ. Many evangelicals claim this, that Paradise and Hell were
side by side in the heart of the earth, as the Greeks would perhaps admit, but
that after Christ preached He took Paradise to Heaven. The text does not
explicitly say this, though. It is assumption based on assumption and
presumption. It may be true but you would have a hard time arguing it from the
revelation of the text itself just like you have a hard time arguing Calvinism
and Arminianism, that people are created to go to Hell or Heaven and have no
choice or that people can gain and lose their salvation repeatedly. The text
doesn’t say so and can even seem contradictory if you stick to an “ism” when
interpreting it so be careful coming up with a structure of thought about what
the Bible is saying between the lines and then forcing the Bible to back up
what you are saying.
The text says that by this thief’s acknowledgement that Jesus is
Lord He is promised that he will be in Paradise that day with Jesus. This
reminds me of Jesus’ activity in healing. As healing was an immediate response
to faith so here in Luke 23 so is salvation.
Luke 8:48
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Luke
17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go
thy way: thy faith hath made
thee whole.
Luke 23:44
¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and
there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the
temple was rent in the midst. 46 And
when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he
glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that
sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the
women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Now, here comes one of those perplexing verses for modernists who
want to interpret the Bible like they do the owner’s manual for their car. It
says literally in verse 44 that in about the sixth hour, which would be noon,
as the daytime measured by the Sun, if it was visible, was from 6am to 6pm our
time, there was a darkness over all the
earth.
First, though, let’s talk about time.
John
11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any man walk in the day, he
stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
This is a general understanding of the hourly divisions of the
typical day. These are not, “it was 12:01pm.” In the ancient world a reference
to time was a general thing, say, within the hour. They were more likely to
say, “work begins at first light,” rather than, “show up at 7am for work.” The
industrial regime of time where your days are commanded by a clock and you are
expected to be at a certain place by a certain minute would not have been
understandable by most people until the last couple of hundred years. This is
one reason why factories had such a hard time with employees who came from a
farm tradition although mechanical clocks were common by then. Time was
relative, not exact, and a person could understand showing up at dawn but the
concept of being “clocked in” by 7am was, at first, very strange. Whether the
darkness started at noon exactly or at 12:15 or 12:37 we cannot know in this
life because it came over the earth in about the sixth hour, sometime in the
sixth hour, so the apostle John would not have been standing in the crowd
consulting with his non-existent stopwatch.
Sun dials were in use for thousands of years and are the oldest
known device for measuring time. In Isaiah, at least seven-hundred years before
Christ, we have a mention.
Isaiah
38:8 Behold, I will bring again the
shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz,
ten degrees backward. So the sun
returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
Some sources report that the earliest use of a minute for dividing
an hour into 60 periods of 60 seconds is reported in the 1200s AD. Just want to
point out not to read today’s “accuracy” back into the Bible measurement of
time. It is not necessary to do so to understand what is being said to us.
This reference to all the earth might be a reference only
to that part of the world and not a solar eclipse that would have been seen in
that part of the world although God does use “natural” events to accomplish His
purposes. Although as I said before I do
not want to make this study of Luke a harmonization of the Gospels I think some
cross-references here, as in other places, would be most helpful.
Matthew
27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was
darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mark
15:33 ¶ And when the sixth hour was
come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Remember two things. One, that the darkness over the land of Egypt
in Exodus 10 would not have been over the entire planet. Two, when the Bible
refers to the earth in most places neither is it referring to the frozen tundra
of Siberia or the jungles of the Amazon River basin. It almost always is a
reference to Palestine where events are taking place after the focus is
narrowed down to Abraham’s departure from Ur in Genesis, chapter 11.
Regarding verse 45, the veil in the tabernacle was to divide the
people from the most holy place.
Exodus
26:31 ¶ And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and
fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: 32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of
shittim wood overlaid with
gold: their hooks shall be of
gold, upon the four sockets of silver. 33
And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring
in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide
unto you between the holy place
and the most holy. 34 And thou shalt put
the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Solomon carried that over into the temple, of course.
2Chronicles
3:14 And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and
fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. 15
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits
high, and the chapiter that was
on the top of each of them was
five cubits.
Matthew and Mark both report that the veil was torn from top to
bottom indicating that this thick piece of fine twined linen was torn by God,
not man. The barrier between mankind and God, the profane and the sacred, was ripped
apart. God made provision to dwell with mankind, in their heart of hearts. This
is an act of God, not performed by human willpower.
John
1:12 But as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The only work that man or woman can do to initiate this act of God
is to believe and have faith that what Christ said about Himself was true, to
believe that He was God in the flesh, and in His resurrection.
John
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John
6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him.
John
10:30 I and my Father are one.
Romans
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The Cross was enough to pay for our sins against God restoring and
reconciling mankind to what was lost in Adam and Eve’s sin against Him, which
nature we inherited.
1Corinthians
1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God.
Ephesians
2:14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [Jew
and Gentile] 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make
in himself of twain [Jew and Gentile]
one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in
one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were
afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Hebrews
9:24 For Christ is not entered into the
holy places made with hands, which are
the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often,
as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of
others; 26 For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world: but
now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself.
The Empty Tomb was sufficient for our justification.
Romans
4:25 Who was delivered for our
offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The receipt of this free
gift of eternal life is based on belief and faith.
Romans
4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness.
Ephesians
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: 9 Not of
works, lest any man should boast.
1Timothy
6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.
Hebrews
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The deposit on this promise
of eternal life is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of God and of
Christ. There are so many verses that detail this it would take up many pages
to list them all.
John
14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we
will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.
Romans
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
2Corinthians
1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given
the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts.
46 says And
when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
SPIRITS little s ECCL where our spirit
goes
Psalm
31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit:
thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Matthew and Mark both have Jesus quoting the first verse of Psalm
22, a Psalm about His mission, struggles, agony, and those who will be born of
the Spirit.
Matthew
27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark
15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being
interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Psalm
22:1 ¶ « To the chief Musician upon
Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. » My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? why art thou so
far from helping me, and from
the words of my roaring?
John reports this;
John
19:30 When Jesus therefore had received
the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the
ghost.
For verse 47 Matthew and Mark also report the Centurion, the Roman
army officer in charge, as saying something additionally to a righteous man. They have him
acknowledging that Jesus must be the Son of God, a declaration that would save
the Centurion like the thief on the cross.
People watching mourned in grief and desperation and the women who
had helped Jesus and the disciples stood back and watched Him die, no doubt,
weeping bitterly.
Luke 23:50
¶ And, behold, there was a man
named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel
and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also
himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen,
and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was
laid. 54 And that day was the
preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after,
and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and
ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Joseph of Arimathea, whom Matthew reported was a disciple of
Jesus, not only is featured notably in all four Gospels at Christ’s crucifixion
making himself responsible for Christ’s burial but there are extra-Biblical
myths about him that are interesting. Several legends began to arise about him
as early as the second century and eventually he became a part of Britain’s
legend of King Arthur as the first keeper of the Holy Grail. Christ would not
be placed in a family tomb with the remains of other deceased persons as was
customary.
There is a prophecy in Isaiah 53 of note that may hint at Joseph
of Arimathaea’s involvement here.
Isaiah
53:9 And he made his grave with the
wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence,
neither was any deceit in his
mouth.
Verse 51 seems to indicate that he was part of the counsel that
condemned Christ but was against that condemnation.
Luke,
chapter 24
Luke 24:1 ¶ Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
The women who ministered to Jesus and the Apostles came to the
tomb on the first day of the week, our Sunday, early in the morning. This is
indeed the time that early Christians would worship, before going about their
daily labors. Sunday was not a day off for 300 years after Christ’s resurrection.
They brought spices to prepare the body of Christ, having had to refrain on the
Sabbath.
We get an indication here of first-century burial practices in
Judea, such as placing the body in a rock-hewn tomb and packing spices around
it to inhibit the smell of decaying flesh.
Jesus was hurriedly placed in the tomb, the sepulcher, due to the
approaching Sabbath. Some scholars write that a typical Jewish burial was done
in two phases. The first, where the body was laid in the tomb and prepared with
spices, wrapped, and placed in the tomb, and the second, much later, when the
bones of the deceased were placed in a separate container called an ossuary. Christ’s
resurrection would prevent this from happening. Of course, the poorest people
would not have this kindness visited on them as ground burials were not
uncommon.
The stone that was placed in front of the tomb was rolled away. Matthew
27 is more detailed in giving the significance of this stone to keep the
disciples from stealing Jesus’ body and the reference to the temple guard or
Roman soldiers guarding it.
Matthew
27:57 ¶ When the even was come, there
came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’
disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and
begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body,
he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he
had
hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre,
and departed. 61 And there was Mary
Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of
the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that
deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre
be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal
him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error
shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate
said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and
setting a watch.
Jesus’ body is gone and two men stand there in shining clothing
and they ask one of the great questions of the Bible; why seek ye the living among the dead? They continue with another
wonderful declaration for the ages; He is
not here, but is risen. These supernatural figures from the other side, the
spirit world, in shining clothing remind Jesus’ followers that He told them
these events would take place.
The women run and tell the Apostles who do not believe them. Peter
runs to the tomb and sees the burial clothes of Jesus neatly folded and no sign
of Him. He doesn’t understand. Again, this shows that the Jews were not looking
forward to the Cross as many evangelicals say. They had no clue in spite of
being told over and over by Christ Himself of these events.
Luke 24:13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
A Greek stadion from
which the translators used a more common measure to them, a furlong, was 606 feet 9 inches. So
threescore or 60 with a score being twenty would equal a journey by foot of a
little less than 7 miles.
Verse 21 is another one of those indicators that the Jews were not
expecting their Messiah to suffer and die and then be resurrected. They were
expecting Him to somehow restore Israel to a position of prominence, free of
the yoke of Roman rule. See what they ask the risen Christ in Luke’s book
entitled The Acts of the Apostles which we call simply Acts.
Acts
1:6 ¶ When they therefore were come
together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again
the kingdom to Israel?
As I noted previously in my comments on Luke 7 and 18 I read in a study
entitled A History of Messianic
Speculation in Israel from the First through the Seventeenth Centuries by
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver that there was an expectation of two messiahs at times,
one; Messiah ben Joseph and, two; Messiah ben David. One is a conqueror and one
suffers for the people of Israel and dies fighting the enemies of God and
Israel. Jewish tradition also refers to, “The Four Craftsmen.” The Dead Sea
Scrolls also speak of something like a war-messiah from the tribe of Ephraim
dated to the first century before Christ, a suffering Messiah, and a priestly
Messiah figure. There is some question about when these interpretations came
about but it is interesting to consider. All of the prophecies were fulfilled
in one man; Jesus Christ.
This makes it quite clear that the Jews, unlike what most
evangelical preaching says, were not looking forward to the Cross, the death,
burial, and resurrection of their Messiah. They had no clue.
This is reinforced throughout the gospels.
Mark
9:9 And as they came down from the
mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had
seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves,
questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean…31 For he
taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the
hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall
rise the third day. 32
But they understood not that saying, and
were afraid to ask him.
John
20:9 For as yet they knew not the
scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Peter had no previous knowledge or understanding of this prophetic
event to come.
Matthew
16:21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus
to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many
things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised again the third day. 22 Then
Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord:
this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he
turned, and said
unto
Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou
savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
This is why Paul, in his argument with the Jews at Thessalonica
had to first teach them from the Old Testament that the Messiah had to suffer
and die before he could preach that Jesus was indeed that very Christ.
Acts
17:1 ¶ Now when they had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of
the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was,
went in
unto
them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs
have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and
that
this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Again, in his letter to the Hebrews he makes it quite clear in the
context of the Old Testament sacrifices in Hebrews 9:23-28 which I will quote
fully in a minute.
But, Jesus told them that the things that are about to happen to
Him were written of in the books by the Prophets. First, there is the most
famous passage in Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12.
Also regard this important prophecy made by Abraham just before a
ram is found in a thicket for his sacrifice in place of his own son.
Genesis
22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will
provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
The entire Psalm 22, the first verse of which Jesus quoted from
the Cross, is a prophecy of Christ. There are many others. Notice this
reference in Hosea.
Hosea
6:2 After two days will he revive us: in
the third day he will raise us up, and we shall
live in his sight.
I could go on from the Prophet Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18
and referenced in Acts 3 through Job’s acknowledgement in Job 19 that he would
see his Redeemer, who is God, in the flesh in the latter days though Job’s own
body was consumed away. But, what is clear is that the Jews did not get it, did
not understand what was to happen. Don’t think badly of them as I recently
spoke to a person who considers themselves to be a Christian and is active in
their church who did not know that Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 22
from the Cross. There seemed to be no clear teaching on the Messiah to come in
first-century Judea. Tying together all of the threads of the Old Testament
regarding the Jewish Messiah was left up to Christ before His Crucifixion and
after His Resurrection as in Luke 24 here on the road to Emmaus.
They thought the Christ would come as a king first and this is
what Satan was trying to accomplish in His temptation of Christ in chapter
four, trying to get Jesus to take the Crown before the Cross and subvert His
mission. Here is another verse about His suffering.
Zechariah
12:10 And I will pour upon the house of
David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they
shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his
only son, and shall be in
bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
But from the time of Christ’s birth even to His execution the
powers that be even referred to Him as being a king, which in the first place
greatly concerned them and in the latter gave them a source of spite at the
Jews and mockery. First, Herod the Great.
Matthew
2:1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men
from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the
east, and are come to worship him. 3
When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born. 5 And they said unto
him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of
Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then, at the end, Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
Mark
15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying,
Will ye that I release unto you the King
of the Jews?
The people, at points, wanted to make Jesus king.
John
6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that
they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Even after His Resurrection His disciples wondered when He would
restore Israel’s lost glory.
Before, though, Christ assumes the role of a king over a physical
kingdom He must suffer for the sins of the world. His disciples did not
understand this. As Paul will say;
Hebrews
9:23 ¶ It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these. 24
For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true;
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often,
as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgment: 28 So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for
him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
These disciples report back to the eleven remaining Apostles what
they have seen and how the risen Christ revealed Himself to them. Again, we
have one of the great statements of the Bible we should remember at all times, The Lord is risen indeed. It is on this
statement of fact that our faith is based. Without it, Christianity is just
another philosophy as people like the news commentator Bill O’Reilly appears to
believe, that Christianity is just a philosophy and that there is no need to
believe that Jesus was God in the flesh as the Scriptures insist.
Luke 24:36
¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself
stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and
affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled?
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see;
for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his
hands and his feet. 41 And while
they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here
any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece
of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43
And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the
words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me. 45
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day: 47 And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of
these things. 49 And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye
be endued with power from on high.
Again, Jesus appears to His followers. Standing in the midst of
them He says Peace be unto you. This may not be just a wish but a
declaration of peace between God and man through Christ and these disciples. In
speaking of Jew and Gentile Paul said;
Ephesians 2:14 ¶ For he is
our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us; 15 Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto
God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were
afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
They are afraid that they are seeing a ghost, the passing figure
of someone they loved who was so mercilessly taken from them, of whom they had
high expectations. But, Christ points out that He has a physical body that can
be touched and can eat with them, a resurrection body.
He again repeats what they have not understood, His mission and
the necessity of their Messiah to suffer and die for mankind. It is now their
task to preach to people to turn from their sins and be forgiven of them by God
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The seal of this command, this
commission, will be the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, promised to come on them
as they wait in Jerusalem.
Matthew
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Christ gives this command more fully, as reported by Luke in Acts.
Acts
1:1 ¶ The former treatise have I made, O
Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after
that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he
had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed
himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them
forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 ¶
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth. 9 And when he had spoken
these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out
of their sight. 10 And while they looked
stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white
apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven.
Then, the promised gift from heaven that empowered them.
Acts
2:1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Note
the two types of tongues in the context here, one of a form or appearance and
one of another discernible human language.]
24:50 ¶
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands,
and blessed them. 51 And it came to
pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into
heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
So ends Luke’s Gospel. He will continue his reporting of these
historical events in Acts.
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