33 And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were scoffing at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured. And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, were returning, beating their chests. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things. Luke 23: 33-49 LSB
Luke 23: 33-49
22If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. Deuteronomy 21: 22-23
The place called The Skull - Outside the gate.
When they came to the place called The Skull - Skull translates the Greek word kranion (our English "cranium", cf Latin "calvaria" which gives us "Calvary") which equates with the Hebrew/Aramaic word Golgotha (or here) as explained in Jn 19:17. Luke does not refer to this as Golgotha. Mark 15:22 writes "they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull." (cf Mt. 27:33) While we do not know the exact location of the "Skull," we do know that as an outcast both of Israel and of Rome, Jesus “suffered outside the gate” (Heb. 13:12), outside the walled section of Jerusalem proper.
The name Skull refers (most common interpretation) to the fact that the site resembled a skull and today many consider this to be Gordon’s Calvary which can still be viewed a short distance from Jerusalem’s northern wall, not far from the Damascus Gate. This site was well known in Jesus' day and associated with unspeakable suffering and pain for the victims taken there to die. - Precept Austin
…11Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood. 13Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.… Hebrews 13: 11-13
There they crucified Him - A very short explanation, not very graphic to modern readers, and this is from Luke, the physician, but an all too familiar scene for the people of that era, much like public hangings and executions. The cross was a highly visible scene, and purposefully so, it sent a message to all who saw it, "this could be you." Luke's focus tends to be relational, conversational, a contrasting of the people present.
And the criminals - Two guilty men, this was the court of the King of kings, the companions of the innocent One. It is thought that in Barabbas we find the man meant for the middle cross, yet God has taken this place for His Lamb. Barabbas was guilty of all they punish Jesus for and then some.
V.34 Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing - I have to replay this a lot, especially of late, for the Bible makes no distinction between men as regarding sin, it says "all have sinned, all fall short", it is because of what is being described in this passage that anyone can have hope. God demands justice, for He is just, and He is also eternal, and so follows that every attribute is, including that which crowns all others, that He is holy. I am a human being as all other men and women are, creatures made in the image of God, yet fallen, and now an image marred. I needed Christ to die no less than any other man, and look, here is the way to actual empathy, true compassion. He has come down from heaven, become one of us, warned us, called men to repent, fulfilling everything that was spoken of Him by the prophets, this is the Passover, let your eyes drink it in and your ears eat it up, let it fill your heart to overflowing. The innocent One has asked His Father to forgive men their ignorance, and for those that believe this is eternal life, everlasting joy.
…43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.… Matthew 5: 43-45
V. 34b And they cast lots - These are the Roman soldiers, just doing their job, knowing nothing but cold indifference. It goes just like it was prophesied a thousand years before this day.
…17I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me. 18They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. 19But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.… Psalm 22: 17-19
V. 35 And the people stood by, looking on - He is famous in the land, the hope of many, but a misguided hope, that He will come down from the cross and make a kingdom according to their fancy, not understanding that something infinitely greater is taking place. This is the point upon which all of human History hangs, time and space are held up in this.
V. 35b He saved others let Him save Himself - Oh how some must have wished the mocking would be shut up by such an event, but that is human reasoning, it doesn't comprehend the significance of this moment, that one could hold up Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and read it with this background, it is all coming true. This is how much God hates sin, look at the Flood of Noah, of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the punishment of God's own people throughout history, now look to God's satisfaction, Jesus, beautiful, pure, without spot or blemish, that very sacrifice to which all others pointed. They taunt Him ignorantly, if He comes down then no one is saved, there is nothing to believe in, we are not having this conversation, history would have come to an end and God would have proven unfaithful to His word. You idiots, all of us, you don't want Him to quit, to fail, to come down from there, you need to look at Him, and see that it should be you up there, and that your sin is the reason for such a drastic sacrifice, you need to believe in Him.
5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… John 14: 5-7
V.38 This Is The King Of The Jews - How appropriate, you write and mock, but it is actually true, this is how difficult it is for men to see the truth, they know He saved others, healed others, He claimed to be the Messiah, yet it takes an act of God for men to even begin to comprehend this.
…17the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”…
…20Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.… Luke 4: 17-22
…23Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’ ” 24Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.…
…26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. 27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed— only Naaman the Syrian.” 28On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.… Luke 4: 23-28
…16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.… Matthew 16: 16-18
V. 39 And one of the criminals - Even they chimed in from their misery, the fuel of the stoics, even rebels in their death, finding the comforts of comedic relief.
V. 40 Do you not even fear God - Men admire this sort of hardness, this stoicism that laughs in the face of danger, charges into the arena of lopsided chances, faces off against insurmountable odds and is not easily brought under the yoke of those in power, but God too, doesn't that defy reason? If you are not broken by God it's only because He chose not to, for whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and it is His children that He chastens. If you die in defiance to Him, then don't kid yourself, you were foolishly smug, and that He allows you to remain in such a state, to say and do so bitterly, is only building up the case of your coming judgement. I would pray for brokenness, pray to be granted repentance unto salvation, "God, I would cry out, save me, save me from myself, save me from Your just wrath."
V. 41 And we indeed are suffering justly - What is this, this confession? Look here, this is the response of a repentant heart, the understanding of the gospel, and coming from a man who is nailed to a cross. He is the worst sort too, a thief, a murderer, probably an insurrectionist like Barabbas, a sinner like me, and yet He is seeing something here. "I am guilty", that is his statement in this court, the Court of courts, the one after the human authorities have already pronounced judgement on him. Between him and the other criminal is His Judge. Man may say whatever they want of you, true or not, but this thief is before God the Son and it is useless to lie, so he tells the truth, confesses.
…21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes. 22Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.… John 5: 21-23
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10
V. 41b But this Man has done nothing wrong - Acknowledging the sinless nature of Jesus, the requirement for this most special and efficacious of sacrifices, once and for all time. The eternally begotten Son, the Glory of the Father, the object of the Spirit's work in a man's heart, the guiltless for the guilty. This thief is a study of the gospel, his story inspires the mind to hope for and to wrestle with loved ones from beginning to end, to not take offense but rather proclaim the word of truth, the gospel of Christ up until your last breath. Sinner be warned, sinner believe, repent, and be saved.
V. 42 Jesus, remember me when You come in to Your Kingdom - He is acknowledging Him as Lord, and asking Him to do something from the heart of mercy, for the man cannot do any deeds, his hands are tied, literally nailed to a cross, his time is very short. This is the model of being born again, not of works, no boasting here, this is a sinner, known to everyone including himself, this is justification by faith alone in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. This man has nothing to offer other than his sin and belief, and neither do you.
…15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”… Romans 9: 15-17
V. 43 Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise - That is as good as it gets, that is Who I want to hear that I am saved from. What other voice in this world matters so much? Who has this authority?
…48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”… Luke 7: 48-50
V. 45 The veil of the sanctuary was torn into - Too much significance for me to cover in a few sentences, but the veil separated the onlooker from seeing into the Holy of Holies, the place of the Mercy seat, that God rent this in two means that He accepted the sacrifice of His Son, through Whom those Who are in Him now have access to the Father.
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,…
…22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.… Hebrews 10: 19-24
V. 46 Father into your hands I commit My Spirit - His will. This has been the statement of martyrs since.
…17The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” 19Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.… John 10: 17-19
V. 47 He began praising God - He saw the sky darken, this Man take great abuse, ask for forgiveness for His abusers, and then die when He decided, speaking to God, His Father. Another believer, first a thief and now a hardened soldier, melted by the love of God.
V. 48 beating their chest - Grief, disappointment, a crucifixion without much satisfaction, justice occurred but was mostly missed and very misunderstood by all but a few. It's not that they didn't want a Messiah, just not Him.
1Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.… Isaiah 53: 1-3
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