CRUCIFIED KING
LUKE 23:32-38
(see also Matthew
27:32-44,
Mark 15:22-32, John
19:18-24)
Luke
23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
Susan: Here we have
another one of those words that is not in common use today—malefactors. From
the context, we know that these are others who have been condemned to death,
but we looked it up in the dictionary to be sure of the precise meaning.
The
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.
MALEFAC'TOR, noun [supra.] One who commits a crime;
one guilty of violating the laws, in such a manner as to subject him to public
prosecution and punishment, particularly to capital punishment; a criminal.
Susie: Matthew and
Mark clarify that the two were thieves or in some translations “robbers.” More
than one source speculated that the two thieves may have actually been a part
of Barabbas’s crew since robbery would not usually warrant the death penalty
unless there were other circumstances.
Matthew
27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand,
and another on the left.
Mark
15:27-28 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and
the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was
numbered with the transgressors.
Luke
23:33 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.
Susan: Calvary was
another name used for the place of crucifixion which the Jews called Golgotha
or “Place of the skull.”
Calvary - only in Luke 23:33, the Latin name
Calvaria, which was used as a translation of the Greek word Kranion, by which the Hebrew word Gulgoleth was
interpreted, "the place of a skull." It probably took this name from
its shape, being a hillock or low, rounded, bare elevation somewhat in the form
of a human skull. It is nowhere in Scripture called a "hill." The
crucifixion of our Lord took place outside the city walls (Hebrews 13:11-13)
and near the public thoroughfare. "This thing was not done in a
corner."
Susan: Jesus was an
innocent man sandwiched between two who were guilty.
Luke
23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment and cast lots.
Susie: This is the
first of seven statements Jesus made while on the cross. Here is a link to the
entire list: https://www.christianity.com/jesus/death-and-resurrection/last-words/what-are-the-seven-sayings-from-the-cross.html
Susan: Whereas most
people in the process of being executed would be praying, “forgive ME,” Jesus
who was innocent graciously prayed, “Father forgive THEM.” Jesus was in no need
of forgiveness because He was dying as the Father’s sacrificial Lamb, taking
the place of those guilty ones who trust in Him for salvation. The guiltless
took on the sin of the guilty in order that those who believe, trust in, rely
on Him might be redeemed by His blood.
Susie: For whom did
Jesus ask forgiveness? Certainly, the Roman soldiers who were merely carrying
out orders as executioners did not know exactly Whom they were nailing to the
cross. Pilate knew He condemned an innocent man but had no real understanding
of the true identity of Christ. The Jewish religious leaders who cried out for
Him to be crucified knew full well that He was not guilty of insurrection, but
they were blinded to the truth that He was their Messiah because of their
unbelief. Perhaps this prayer was for all who had a part in this unjust
execution. In that case, He may have even been praying for me because it was my
sin and yours for which He died. See the devotional post “Who Sent Jesus to the
Cross” at https://susiesmusings-ksh.blogspot.com/
Susan: The Apostle
John shares more specific details about the soldiers gambling for Jesus’s
clothing. They parceled out some of the garments but did not want to tear a
unique robe made with no seam.
John
19:23-24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments,
and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat
was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among
themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that
the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among
them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the
soldiers did.
Susie: As John’s
gospel notes, even the gambling for Jesus’s clothing was a fulfillment of Old
Testament prophecy:
Psalm
22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Luke
23:35 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.
Susan: The mob in
unison with the religious leaders stood gawking and mocking. Jesus hung
absolutely naked on the cross. Unlike the paintings that depict Him wearing
some sort of loin cloth, Jesus was completely exposed—exposed to the elements
and exposed to the glaring stares of the crowd—humiliated. Jesus came into this
world as a naked baby, and He died naked again and with no worldly goods since the
soldiers even took possession of the clothes off His back.
Susie: The religious
leaders led the scornful taunts, telling Him to save Himself if He really was
the Messiah. They still need a miracle to believe, but they do not really
expect one since they are completely blinded to the truth.
Luke
23:36-37 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him
vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Susie: The Roman
soldiers, pretending to do an act of kindness by offering Jesus a drink, gave
Him vinegar instead. This seemingly inconsequential detail was a fulfillment of
the following Messianic prophecy:
Psalm
69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar
to drink.
Susan: Mark says the
vinegar or sour wine was mixed with a pain-deadening agent:
Mark
15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it
not.
Susan: John MacArthur
explains why Jesus refused this narcotic in his note for Matthew 27:34:
MacArthur
Study Bible
27:34 wine mingled with gall. “Gall” simply refers
to something bitter. Mark 15:23 identifies it as myrrh, a narcotic. The Jews
had a custom, based on Prov. 31:6, of administering a pain-deadening medication
mixed with wine to victims of crucifixion, in order to deaden the pain. Tasting
what it was, Christ, though thirsty, “would not drink,” lest it dull His senses
before He completed His work. The lessening of physical pain would probably not
have diminished the efficacy of His atoning work (see notes on 26:38, 39). But
He needed His full mental faculties for the hours yet to come. It was necessary
for Him to be awake and fully conscious, for example, to minister to the dying
thief (Luke 23:43).
Susie: The soldiers
joined in the jeering by tempting Jesus to save Himself to prove He was the
King of the Jews. We have the benefit of looking back at the cross and realize
that Jesus was performing the greater miracle of purchasing our redemption, our
freedom from sin. This miracle of grace is far more important than displaying
God’s power by saving Himself from the cross.
Luke
23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and
Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
Susan: Where normally
there would be a plaque delineating the crimes of the criminal being executed,
Pilate had ordered that a sign be placed reading, “This is the King of the
Jews.” He had it translated into all the languages commonly spoken by the
people of Jerusalem. When the chief priests urged Pilate to change the sign to
read, “He said I am the King of the Jews,” he refused.
John
19:20-22 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus
was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek,
and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The
King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered,
What I have written I have written.
Ponder
this and Apply it: The main idea to
ponder in this passage is the extreme grace of Jesus that even as they nailed
Him to the cross, He prayed the Father would forgive them. He died in order to
extend that forgiveness to all who trust in Him. If you believe that Jesus was
and is the Son of God, that He died to free people from sin and enable them to
be in right relationship with God, and that God raised Him from the dead on the
third day, you are able to place your complete trust in Jesus. Romans 10:9 “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.” If you have
any questions about surrendering your life to Jesus, please contact us through
our website as we would like to pray for you and answer questions you may have.
Click on the link below and then click on the “Contact/Prayer/Donate” tab. www.PreciousJewelsMinistries.org
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