On the Road with Jesus Part 2

 Hello everyone. 

We will continue from my previous post and finish the story of the journey on the road to Emmaus.  

28 When they came to the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be continuing on, 29 but they urged him, “Stay with us! It’s evening and the day is nearly over.” So he stayed with them. 30 He sat with them and took bread, gave thanks, and broke it and then gave it to them.  31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but then he was gone.  
32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts aflame within us as he spoke to us on our way, and as he explained the Scriptures to us?  33 So they got up and returned to Jerusalem.  34 They found the Eleven and those who were with them, who told them that the :Lord had really risen and appeared to Simon. 35 Then Cleopas and his companion told them what had happened while they were on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. 

In verse 28, Jesus acts as if  he is continuing down the road, but Cleopas and his companion urge Jesus to stay with them.  At their urging, Jesus agrees to stay with them.  They still do not recognize Jesus, and don't recognize him until he breaks the bread and gives it to them.  Something about the way Jesus did this opened their eyes to his true identity.  Their eyes were opened, and they finally recognize him.  But, in that moment, he is suddenly gone.  

The two travelers now realize that they had been with Jesus all along, and it seems obvious.  They exclaim, “Were not our hearts aflame within us as he spoke to us on our way, and as he explained the Scriptures to us?” The Greek word used here is καιομένη (kaiomenē) is a form of καἰω, which means ‘to cause to be set on fire,” or “to burn.”  So, even though they were unaware of their traveling companions's true identity, being in his presence had set their hearts on fire. 

They recognized even before they understood that this was Jesus that there was something special going on here.  Jesus and his good, thorough explanation of the Scripture had set their hearts on fire.  

Was it the message or the messenger that had caused their hearts to burn?  The answer is “yes.”  Both being with  Jesus and gaining a better, more complete, understanding of the Scriptures is something that will set our hearts on fire.

With Jesus gone, these two disciples very quickly head back to Jerusalem.  It appears that they left right away rather than wait until morning, even though it was getting late.  Apparently it takes about two and half hours to walk seven miles at an average pace.  Less than that at a brisk pace, and they were in a hurry. 

Upon their return, they search out and find the remaining eleven apostles to tell them what they had witnessed. The Eleven confirm that had seen the risen Jesus. Cleopas and his companion tell the apostles about how Jesus had appeared to them, but that they did not recognize him until he broke the bread. 

By this point, Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus.  Peter had seen him.  Now Cleopas and his unnamed companion had seen him, yet the remaining apostles were still slow to believe, as we will see in the next section of Scripture.   

This story begins with two despondent disciples, believing that the prophet and redeemer of Israel had been crucified.  Darrell Bock summarizes this passage like this, “How can God possibly work through a crucified person?  Unknown to them, the answer appears in their midst….For Luke’s reader the account functions as a summary to provide assurance about resurrection.  God can work through crucifixion because it is followed by resurrection….The Lord is risen.  He lives and is in their midst.  God’s plan has not been thwarted.” (Bock, 1923.) Indeed, God works through challenging circumstances, and here He has worked and brought His greatest victory through the most dire of circumstances. 

In Jesus is life.  He is the Resurrection and the Life.  God cannot be thwarted.  It gives me hope in my own challenging circumstances, knowing that God is greater than my circumstances.  It reminds me of something I read recently in Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart.  Willard says, “What we most learn in Jesus’ yoke, beyond acting with him, is to abandon the outcomes to God, accepting that we do not have in ourselves - in our own hearts, souls, minds and strengths - the wherewithal to make this come out right, whatever this is.” (Willard, 218.)  

These thoughts encourage, but challenge me.  Jesus challenged Cleopas and his companion for their lack of faith.  Things didn't work the way they were expecting them to. It was up to them to trust God and leave the outcomes to Him. It is the same for us. 

     Darrell Bock, Luke: Volume 2 - 9:51-24.53, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 1996. 

     Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, Colorado Springs, Colorado, NavPress, 2002. 

On the Road with Jesus

Greetings.

 We are nearing the end of Luke, and in today's post we see the resurrected Jesus take a journey with two disciples.  Here is my translation of Luke 24:13-27: 

13 That day, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  14 They were talking to each other about all of the things that had happened. 15 As they were discussing these matters, Jesus came near them and walked with them.  16 However, they were kept from recognizing him. 17  Jesus asked, “What are these things that the two of you are talking about as you walk along? Then they just stood there in despair. 

18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered Jesus, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened over these last few days?” 

19 Jesus responded, “What has happened?”

They told him, “This all concerns Jesus of Nazareth. This man was a prophet, mighty in word and in action, both in the sight of God and all the people.  20 Our chief priests and leaders handed him over to a death sentence and he was crucified. 21 We had hoped that he was the One who had come to set Israel free.  22 On top of that, it has been three days since all of that took place, 22 and some of our women have amazed us.  They went early in the morning to the tomb, 23 and they did not find his body.  Then they came and told us about a vision in which they saw angels, who claimed that Jesus was alive.  24 So some of our number went to the tomb and they found things just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “Oh, how foolish and slow your hearts are to believe everything that is spoken by the prophets. 26 Did the Messiah not have to suffer all of these things, and then enter into his glory?” 27  Then, beginning with Moses, he explained everything that the Scriptures said about him. 

The scene of our story shifts from the empty tomb to two disciples taking a seven mile journey from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. One of the travelers is identified as Cleopas in verse 18.  The other traveler is not identified.  The two are engaged in a discussion of the recent events in Jerusalem, namely, the crucifixion and the story told by the women of the angelic at the tomb.  It seems that Cleopas and his companion are having a hard time believing that Jesus had risen from the dead, as they are dejected when Jesus approaches them. 

Jesus approaches the travelers as a stranger.  Verse 16 states that they were kept from recognizing Jesus.  So, these two were apparently at least acquaintances of Jesus.  Verse 13 does call them disciples.  We can assume that had they not been blocked from recognizing Jesus, they would have recognized him immediately.  What caused this inability to see clearly?  For whatever reason, God was using this uncertainty to teach them.  Eventually they would see clearly. 

As Jesus approaches them and asks them what they were discussing, verse 17 says that they just stood in despair.  Cleopas then asks Jesus, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened over these last few days?”  Apparently knowledge of the crucifixion had filled Jerusalem.  So much so, that the two disciples have a hard time believing that someone could walk out of Jerusalem without knowing about it.  The two were so dejected that, even though they are aware of the story of the women that Jesus had risen, they do not appear to believe it. 

Jesus feigns ignorance when they ask whether he is the only one in Jerusalem who is unaware of what has happened.  He asks them, “What has happened?” 

Their response is about Jesus and how they had hoped he was the Messiah.  They give a pretty accurate description of Jesus, describing him like this:

• A prophet.
• Mighty in word and deed.
• Mighty in God’s sight.
• Mighty in the sight of the people.  

That added that they had hoped that he would set Israel free.  Jesus did indeed set people free, but not in the way that they were expecting. 

They also told Jesus of the crucifixion and the story of the women who had gone to the tomb and found it empty, about the angels and about the claim that Jesus was now alive, and about how some of their number, presumably Peter and John, had gone to the tomb and also found it empty.  These two disciples share both despair and amazement.  

Undoubtedly, when Jesus hung on the Cross, dead, and was then buried in a tomb, they likely gave up hope.  They state clearly that they had hoped that Jesus was the one who would set Israel free.  This hope was crushed.  Of course, we understand that Jesus, the Messiah, had not come to break Israel free of Rome’s power.  He had actually come to set anyone and everyone free from an even stronger power, the power of Satan and sin.  

Jesus teaches them the truth that he had been trying to teach his disciples for some time.  Finally it seems that some understanding dawns on Cleopas and his companion.  Jesus expresses great disappointment with Cleopas and his companion.  He says to them, “Oh, how foolish and slow your hearts are to believe everything that is spoken by the prophets.”  Jesus had been telling his disciples for some time that he would be killed and be raised from the dead, but they have been slow to understand it and slow to believe it. Their failure to grasp this, according to Jesus, is foolishness.  Their options were foolishness or faith.  They didn’t really understand the vast body teaching in the Old Testament that testified to Jesus.  Understanding took them toward faith..  

Jesus starts with Moses and explains everything that the Scriptures said about the Messiah. He explains why he had to suffer and die, then he would enter his glory.  The suffering and death had to come first.  Then Jesus would be glorified.  He used the Old Testament to explain all of this to Cleopas and his companion, but in truth it was something that he had been saying to his disciples for some time.  This time, it appears that they finally understand.  

Did it take the crucifixion and resurrection for the disciples to understand what Jesus had been saying plainly to them?  Now that it has happened, perhaps Jesus is finally able to put into a perspective that they can understand.

One note here is that the Messianic current in Judea at the time did not involve anything like suffering or dying.  The Messiah was supposed to liberate Israel from the clutches of the evil Romans.  Dying on a cross at the hands of the Romans would, therefore, not be a part of the plan.     

Jesus uses the Greek word δόξαν (doxan), which means glory.  He had to suffer first, then enter his glory.  He used the OT to explain this.  Suffering first, then glory. It is possible that the beginning point of Jesus' trip through the OT was Deut. 18:15 where God promises to raise up a prophet among the Israelites. Jesus would then use the OT and his own life to show that he is indeed that Prophet. Of course, this is only speculation, but it does seem the story here. 

So, where are we?  Jesus has risen from the dead and has appeared in desguise to Cleopas and an unnamed traveling companion.  They are dejected about the death of Jesus, but he helps them to see things more clearly, taking them from foolishness (faithlessness) to faith. 

Sunday Came!

 Welcome back.

We are starting the last chapter of Luke today. In the narrative so far, Jesus has been crucified and buried in Joseph's unused tomb.  Here is my tranlation of what happens next (Luke 24:1-12):

1 Very early, on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared.  2 There, they found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.  3 They entered the tomb, but they did not find Jesus’ body.  4 They were perplexed about this, but then they saw two men standing by them in very shiny garments.  

5 They were afraid and bowed with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you search for the living among the dead? He is not here! He has risen! Remember what he said to you when he was in Galilee.  7 He said, “The Son of Man will be handed over into the hands of sinful men.  Then he will be crucified, but after three days, he will be raised.” 8 Then they remembered what he had said.  
9 When they had returned from the tomb, they told all of these things to the Eleven and all of the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, mother of James, and a few others, who told this to the Apostles.  11 What the women were saying seemed like nonsense to them, so the Apostles did not believe them.  12 But then Peter got up and ran to the tomb.  He bent over and saw just the linen cloth.  He left there amazed by what had happened. 

The women observed where Jesus had been buried, then returned home to prepare the spices, rested on the Sabbath, and now on Sunday morning, they have returned to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. 

Mark16:3 records that they ask each other about who would move the stone for them, but Luke mentions only that when they arrive the stone had already been moved.

They entered the tomb expecting to find Jesus’ body, but it was not there.  Luke tells us that they were very perplexed about this. We can only speculate about all of the thoughts going through their minds in that moment, but resurrection from the dead was probably not one of them. What they do see is two men in very shiny clothing.  Luke does not identify them as angels.  (Matthew only mentions one, but does identify him as an angel.) While not specifically calling the men angels, Luke does make the point that the women become fearful, which seems to be the usual response to seeing angels.  

The men in shiny clothes ask the women, “Why do you search for the living among the dead?”  Then they remind the women of what Jesus had been saying all along.  He had told them repeatedly that he would be killed and then rise from the dead, going as far back when they were all still in Galilee. (Luke 9:22)  Jesus had predicted his death numerous times and told them of his resurrection at least twice (9:22, 18:33)  Yet, all of this had taken them all by surprise.  The angels reminded them of what Jesus had been saying to them, and they remembered.  Undoubtedly, at the time Jesus had said it, it made no sense to them.  At this point, with an empty tomb and in the presence of angels, they were still slow to understand.  (In John’s account, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, as she stands outside the tomb weeping, and she mistakes Jesus for a gardener.)  Verse 8 tells us that the women do remember what Jesus had said.  So, whether it was easy or difficult to convince these women of Jesus’ resurrection, they do return convinced. 

They had after all come there to anoint a corpse, and did not expect to find a resurrected Christ.  

Verse 9 they return to the Eleven and the other disciples and tell them about what they have discovered at the tomb. Luke records that what the women were saying seemed like nonsense to the apostles. The Greek word used here is λῆρος (lēros).The word is defined as “that which is devoid of anything worthwhile, idle talk, nonsense, humbug.”  So, even though they had heard Jesus’ prophecies more than once, they were initially difficult to convince of its truth, and saw such talk as nonsense.

Even though the apostles regarded what these women were saying as nonsense, Peter does get up and run to the tomb. Like the women, Peter finds the tomb empty. Even though Jesus had been telling them that he would rise from the dead, the idea of it is so unimaginable, that when he does it, even his closest associates have a hard time believing it. It is not clear what Peter is thinking.  The Greek uses the word θαυμάζων (Thaumazone) which can mean wondering about, or it could mean marveling at.  

Friday had been terrible, but Sunday did come, and it was glorious.  Those who had been slow to comprehend what Jesus had been saying all along, were now slow to comprehend what was happening right in front of them.  Perhaps what they were seeing was just too amazing to be real. But it was real. 

The Secret Disciple

Hello everyone.

We will wrap up chapter 23 today, by looking at the burial of Jesus.  Here is my translation of verses 50-56:

50 There was a man there named Joseph, a member of the ruling council.  He was a good and righteous man.  51 (He had not agreed with these plans or these actions.) He was from a Jewish city called Arimathea.  He had been waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 He had gone to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus. 53 He took down the body, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of rock, in which no body had ever been placed. 54 It was the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.  55 There were women following along.  These were the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee.  They saw the tomb and how his body had been placed in it. 56 Then they returned home and prepared the spices and perfumes.  They rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commands.

Not all of the Jewish leadership was trying to kill Jesus.  Joseph of Arimathea did not consent to any of this, and is described by Luke as a good and righteous man.  John states that Joseph was secretly a disciple of Jesus, but had kept his discipleship secret due to fear of the other Jewish leaders.  (John 19:38) 

Joseph, however, in a bold move, goes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus in order to bury him. It appears that the secret is out. Joseph, in spite of his fear, goes public with his discipleship.  Honestly, it seems like an odd time to make an association with Jesus known.  Jesus is dead and therefore has the appearance of defeat at the hands of the very people that Joseph fears.  But Joseph, perhaps prompted by the Holy Spirit, steps forward at this moment, to set up the greatest of Jesus’ miracles by burying him in an unused tomb. 

John’s account also includes Nicodemus in the burial preparations, and it states that they used seventy-five pounds of spices for the burial..(John 19:39) Darrell Bock states using spices for burial was normal, but the amount that they used was unusual.  It was an amount that was generally reserved for kings. (Bock, 1875.) (Of course, it is fitting, since Jesus is a king, but he is a king of a different kind.)

As Joseph is taking charge of the burial of Jesus, there were women following.  This group of women had been following Jesus since his Galilean ministry.  They see the tomb that Joseph places Jesus’ body in.  It is not clear how large this group is.  Luke 24:10 mentions three by name and then says “and a few others.”  The three mentioned by name are Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary, the mother of James. 

After seeing where Jesus was buried, the women returned home to prepare spices and perfumes for Jesus' body.  Joseph and Nicodemus had already prepared Jesus/ body for burial with enough spices for a king.  Perhaps these women were unaware, or possibly they wanted to do more for the one who was their king and their Messiah.  

This all happens on Friday.  Saturday being the Sabbath, they all rest in accordance with the law.  The women had a plan and that was to go to the tomb early on Sunday to anoint the body of Jesus, not knowing that they would be the first to witness the greatest miracle of all-time.  

All seems bleak.  The would-be Messiah is dead and buried.  It appears that the dream is over and that the dark forces of evil have won. But, I will close today, as I did in my previous post, with the timeless words of Baptist minister S. M. Lockridge, “It’s Friday! But Sunday's a-comin’”

     Darrell Bock, Luke: Volume 2 - 9:51-24:53, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 1996. 

Reactions

 Hello everyone. 

In my previous post, we tallked about Jesus dying, and how the Creation and the Temple responded to his death.  In this post we will be able to see how some of the people who were present at the Cross reacted to it.  Luke 23:47-49 follows: 

47 Upon seeing this, the centurion began to glorify God, saying, “Certainly, this was a righteous man.” 48 Those in the crowd who had gathered for this spectacle, witnessed this, they began to beat their breasts in sorrow and leave. 49 But, all of those there who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, and watched these things happen. 

There is a Roman centurion, and he has watched all of these things happen. Now, remember, that as a Roman, he is a Gentile, and probably a non-believer.  But, according to Luke, upon Jesus’ death he glorifies God. He remarks, “Certainly, this was a righteous man.” There must have been something in the way that Jesus took his death by crucifixion that impressed this man greatly.  In both Matthew and Mark, the centurion comments that Jesus must be the Son of God. 

Also, it seems that many in the crowd now were reconsidering their choices.  Luke tells us that as the Sun darkened and the Earth shook, some of them began to see their mistake. They had consented to Jesus' death, and stayed to watch the spectacle.  But now, with judgment from the Earth and the Sun upon them, they begin to beat their breasts in sorrow, and begin leaving the scene. 

This scene foreshadows Acts 2:37, where the crowd is cut to the heart by Peter’s message and asks, “What shall we do?”  Some in the crowd on that day, may have already felt some conviction about their role in the death of Jesus, as they witnessed it, and the divine signs of judgment that came with it. 

Of course, not everyone present had consented to the crucifixion.  There were some in the crowd who knew Jesus.  They stood at a distance and watched.  Their number included, but was not limited to a group of women who had followed Jesus from Galilee. Luke doesn't tell us anything about their reaction to the Cross, but we can assume, based on the events that happen afterward, that they responded with absolute sorrow.  

Volumes have been written about Jesus and the Cross, and there is no simple way to sum it up.  But here is what we have seen so far.  Jesus, in abolute trust of his Father, allows himself to be crucified.  Even though he is innocent of any wrongdoing, he is given a place among the unrighteous and crucified with criminals. Meanwhile, Jesus' redemptive act brings signs of judgment on those who killed the Son of God.  

All seems bleak at this moment, but it doesn't remain that way. Soon the anguish will be turned to joy. Looking back at it, we understand the truth of these words spoken in a sermon many years ago by S. M. Lockridge;

"It's Friday.
The earth trembles.
The sky grows dark.
My King yields his spirit.

It's Friday.
Hope is lost.
Death has won.
Sin has conquered and Satan's just a laughin'. 

...It's Friday, but Sunday's a-comin'"

     

Killing God

Greetings to all.

We have come to the place in our story where Jesus dies.  This is an incredible moment, as one with all authority and all power, even power over death, is killed.  How can that happen?  How does one kill God? Let's look at Luke 23:44-46: 

44 From noon till about three, darkness covered all of the land, 45 as the sun failed to shine. The curtain in the temple was ripped in half. 46 Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After saying this, he died.

This is a very momentous occasion, as the creator of the Universe allows himself to be killed by his own creation, and the Creation itself responds in sorrow. The Sun goes dark for three hours, failing to shine. This is a fulfillment of Amos 8:9: 

In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

“I will make the sun go down at noon

   and darken the earth in broad daylight.”

Matthew records that in that moment the Earth shook, and rocks split in half. (Matt. 27:51.)

According to Darrell Bock, the darkness that comes over all the land is also a symbol of judgment.  He references Joel 2:31. "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” If this is a judgment against Israel for the death of Jesus, we do not see the sentence carried out until the destruction of Jerusalem forty years or so later. 

Attempts have been made to offer naturally occurring phenomena, like an eclipse, to explain the darkening of the Sun.  I would have to admit that an eclipse at the exact moment of Jesus’ crucifixion is, in and of itself, a startling coincidence.  However, it is not recorded as an eclipse.  I am sure that the Roman world knew what an eclipse was, and would have recorded as such. 

The Creation responds to the death of Jesus, and so does the Temple, the dwelling place of God. The Temple's curtain was torn into two pieces.  The tearing of the curtain is also quite possibly a symbol of the judgment that has come upon Israel.  The temple would no longer be the center of God’s activity, and like Jerusalem, would eventually be destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, never to return.  However, the tearing of the Temple curtain can be seen in a different, more pleasant light. It can also be seen as symbolic of a new open communication with God.  Entrance into the most sacred space in the Temple no longer requires a priest, like it done in Zechariah's story back in Luke 1.  That privilege is now open to all. 

Jesus then commits his spirit to his Father and dies. Only Luke shares these words as Jesus last.  “Father into your hands I entrust my spirit.”  John mentions Jesus saying, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Here is a question to consider. How do you kill God?  We have established throughout this study of Luke that Jesus is the Son of Man and has all power and authority. His authority extends over even death.  So then, how can he be killed?  He can only be killed if he allows it to happen. His enemies may have thought that they had achieved some kind of victory, but they had not.  They had merely done what Jesus had led them to do, and had predicted several times that they would do.  

I cannot adequately explain why it was necessary that God decide that Jesus must die on the Cross so that we can be forgiven.  However, that was the decision that was made, and now Jesus has made it happen.  Even though he had all authority, he chose to submit to another authority for a moment and allowed himself to be killed. 

At the Cross

Welcome.

In my previous post, we left off with Jesus on the road to the Cross.  Now, in Luke 23:32-43, Jesus reaches the place called The Skull, and there he is crucified.  Here is my translation:

32 Then they led him away with two other criminals in order to put him to death. 

33 They came to a place called The Skull and they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  34 Jesus said, “Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Meanwhile, they divided up his clothing and cast lots for them. 35 People were just standing there watching, but the chief priests mocked Jesus, saying, “He saved others, so let him save himself, if he is the God’s Messiah, the Chosen One."

36 The soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him sour wine,  37 saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”38 An inscription had been placed above him, stating “This is the king of the Jews.”   

39 One of the criminals who had also been crucified, blasphemed Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us.” 

40 However, the other man rebuked him , saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same punishment that he is.” 41 We are being treated justly, since we are receiving punishment worthy of things we have done. 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.  

43 Jesus said to him, “I’m telling you the truth, today, you will be with me in Paradise.”  

Jesus is led away to his crucifixion along with two other criminals.  He is placed on his Cross between them, one on his right and one on his left.  The idea of Jesus hanging between two criminals reminds me of James and John asking to sit at Jesus’ left and right when he comes in his glory.  (Mark 10:35-40.)  They tell Jesus that they can drink the cup that Jesus is going to drink.  I suspect that they had no idea that it involved being crucified.  It also recalls Isaiah 53:12, where it says that he was ‘numbered with the transgressors.’

Verse 33 tells us that Jesus was taken to a place that was referred to as The Skull.  This is where they crucified him.  Matthew, Mark and John all mention the name Golgotha as the place of the Skull.  Luke omits the name Golgotha and simply refers to it as the place called The Skull.

Luke does not go into a lot of detail about the crucifixion itself.  At times people were crucified by being tied to a cross.  However, we know that Jesus was nailed to the Cross because Thomas refused to believe unless he saw the nail marks. (John 20:25.) 

While on the Cross, Jesus is still pouring out love, even for his enemies.  He puts one of his most challenging teachings into practice, when he says, concerning his enemies, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  

At the same time, the soldiers have divided up clothing and are gambling over it.  Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus made himself nothing.  He really has.  Everything he has is taken from him, even his clothing.  

The Crucifixion has drawn a crowd.  Some are there to watch, while others have come to mock.  

I’m sure that the chief priests are there to make sure that their plan succeeds and Jesus really does die.  It is unlikely that they went often to witness a crucifixion.  These supposed men of God actually seem to be enjoying this barbarism. 

The ridicule doesn’t stop with the chief priests.  The Romans soldiers mock him as well.  The Romans probably had no real understanding of what was going on here.  They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  I would guess that they were unsure why someone who was claiming kingship would make no effort to save himself.  

Even the two criminals that were crucified with him were ridiculing Jesus. Eventually one of them saw the light, repented and rebuked the other man. It is hard to guess what sudden realization this man came to, but he asked that Jesus remember him when he comes into his kingdom. On the face of it, it is an odd time to become a follower of Jesus. If Jesus is about to die, what kingdom is he possibly going to come into?  He understand the answer to that now, but Jesus’ own disciples did not understand the nature of Jesus' kingdom at this point. 

Jesus responds to the man with nothing but love and forgiveness, telling him that later today the man would be with Jesus in Paradise.  The man was a ‘sinner’, perhaps a lifelong criminal, and yet he was going to make it to Paradise due to his 11th hour acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord.