Luke 23

This chapter takes us all the way from Jeses' trial to His death and burial.Unbelievable cruel camaraderie takes place between to rival judges at Jesus' expense: "And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other." vv. 11-12

Note: the gorgeous robe was most likely one that Herod was ready to discard. The kings became friends thru the common cruel antics of making fun of Him.

On His way to Mt. Calvary, Jesus addressed some women that were lamenting Him. Only Luke records this: "....stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold , the days are coming when they will say, ' Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Then they will BEGIN TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US', AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US'. For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?'" vv. 28-30(Jesus is the green and the old Jewish nation is the dry.)

Jesus says to the one thief, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in PARADISE." v.43 Paradise is referred to only three times in the New Testament. The word means 'garden', same word used for Eden, but in all three uses in the NT, it speaks of Heaven.

Usually victims of crucifixion died much slower deaths, but He being in control, simply yielded up His soul. "And Jesus crying out with a loud voice said, 'Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.'" v. 46 Wow, what a sight to witness. No wonder the centurion standing with Him proclaimed His deity. I hope when it is my time to go, I can go like that...with that peace.

All four gospels mention a man named Joseph; he was most likely a member of the Sanhedrin but believed Jesus' claims. "This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut in the rock, where no one had ever lain." v. 52-53 Joseph, a wealthy man, probably had the tomb built for his own family. Christ being buried there was a wonderful fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9:

"His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet HE WAS WITH A RICH MAN IN HIS DEATH, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth."

Please take the time to read all of Isaiah 53. The whole chapter is the prophecy of Christ's trial, crucifixion and burial.