Chapter 23 Luke 23
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate (vv. 1-5)
1 The whole group a rose up and took Jesus before Pilate, b 2 where they began to accuse him: c “We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” d
3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “So you say,” e answered Jesus.
4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no reason to condemn this man.”
5 But they insisted even more strongly, “With his teaching he is starting a riot among the people all through Judea. He began in Galilee and now has come here.”
Interesting Stuff:
a The group refers to the Sanhedrin which had met early that morning.
b Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of the province of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36 (refer to ‘Pontius Pilate’, p. ix). His main headquarters was in Caesarea but he was in Jerusalem during Passover to prevent any trouble that might arise with the large number of Jews from different parts of the world gathered there for this festival.
The Sanhedrin had been deprived by the Roman government of the right to carry out capital punishment, i.e., the death penalty. So, Jesus had to be handed over to Pilate for execution. The trial took place in the magnificent palace built by Herod the Great which was where Pilate was staying.
c The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus executed but they lacked the power because only the governor had the power to inflict the death penalty. This was to prevent them from simply using their legal processes to kill off any supporters of the Romans. From the Jews’ point of view, Jesus’ crime was blasphemy but this was not an offence that merited the death penalty in Roman eyes. Thus the Jewish leaders had to draw up their accusations in terms that would seem serious to the Romans.
d They accused Jesus of three things but only the second and third charges were serious enough for Pilate to consider. The word ‘Messiah’ was used deliberately to imply to Pilate that Jesus was a political activist and a threat to the Roman kingdom.
e Jesus affirms that he is a king, but then he explains (see Jn 18:33-38) that his kingdom is not like the earthly kingdoms of this world.
Questions:
- Who did the Sanhedrin take Jesus to see (v. 1)?
2. What were the charges brought against Jesus (v. 2)?
3. What question did Pilate ask Jesus and what was Jesus’ reply (v. 3)?
4. What conclusion did Pilate draw from Jesus’ answer to him (v. 4)?
5. What was the Sanhedrin’s response to Pilate’s statement about Jesus (v. 5)?
Summary of Section:
- The whole group from the Sanhedrin took Jesus before Pilate and accused him of misleading the Jews and telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor, and claiming to be the Messiah, their king.
- Pilate then asked Jesus whether he was the king of the Jews.
- Jesus replied that it was as he said.
- Then Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd that he could find no reason to condemn Jesus.
- They protested and insisted even more strongly that Jesus was starting a riot among the Jews throughout Judea with his teaching. He began in Galilee and had now come to Judea.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- The Sanhedrin’s accusation contained three distinct charges. The first (misleading the people) would have been of concern to Pilate, who wanted no internal strife among the Jewish people. But it was outside Roman control. The second (opposing pay- ment of taxes to Caesar) and third (claiming to be king) would concern Pilate more.
- Luke has already shown (20:20-26) that the second charge was untrue. The third one then became the key issue for Pilate. They deliberately used the term ‘king’ to imply that Jesus was a political activist and a threat to Roman rule.
- Jesus did not answer directly Pilate’s question just as he did not answer directly the Sanhedrin’s question (22:70) of whether he was the Son of God. He knew that Pilate, like the Sanhedrin, would never acknowledge his true identity and so he told Pilate that it was as Pilate said.
- Pilate was clearly unwilling to handle the case. He recognised that the Jewish leaders wanted nothing less than death for Jesus but he could see that Jesus had not done anything that merited the death sentence. So it suited him to send Jesus to Herod when he found out that Jesus came from Galilee which was under Herod’s rule.
- Dissatisfied with the outcome of the hearing before Pilate, the Jewish leaders renewed their accusations with greater vehemence and urgency.
Jesus’ Trial before Herod (vv. 6-12)
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked, “Is this man a Galilean?” 7 When he learned that Jesus was from the region ruled by Herod, f he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Herod was very pleased when he saw Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been wanting to see him for a long time. g He was hoping to see Jesus perform some miracle. 9 So Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law stepped forward and made strong accusations against Jesus. 11 Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus and treated him with contempt; h then they put a fine robe i on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 On that very day Herod and Pilate became friends; j before this they had been enemies.
Interesting Stuff:
f This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. He was king of the territories of Galilee and Perea . His headquarters was in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, but like Pilate, he was also in Jerusalem because of the Passover. He had probably gone there hoping to please his Jewish subjects.
Although Herod and Pilate were rivals (see v. 12), Pilate did not want to handle this case. So he sent Jesus to Herod.
g Herod had been worried about who Jesus was (9:7-9) and had wanted to kill him earlier (13:31), although they had never met.
h The examination of Jesus must have frustrated Herod because he did not get any answers to his questions. Neither did he get to see Jesus perform any miracles. Jesus never refused a sincere questioner but Herod certainly had no interest in who Jesus really was.
i The adjective used suggests that the robe was ‘shining’ or ‘brilliant’. This was an attempt at mocking Jesus’ ‘claim’ to be the king of the Jews.
j They became friends in the sense that they had joined together in their hostility towards Jesus.
Questions:
- What did Pilate do when he heard that Jesus was a Galilean (vv. 6-7)?
2. Why was Herod pleased to see Jesus (v. 8)?
3. How did Jesus respond to Herod’s questions (v. 9)?
4. How did Herod react to Jesus’ lack of response to him (v. 11)?
5. What happened between Herod and Pilate as a result of this incident (v. 12)?
Summary of Section:
- When Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, the region ruled by Herod, he sent Jesus to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
- Herod was very pleased to see Jesus because he had heard about him and had wanted to see him. He especially wanted to see Jesus perform a miracle.
- He asked Jesus many questions but Jesus did not answer.
- The chief priests and teachers of the Law brought many strong accusations against Jesus.
- Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus. They treated him with contempt and put a fine robe on him before sending him back to Pilate.
- On that day, Herod and Pilate became friends although they were enemies before.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This section is found only in the Gospel of Luke.
- Herod’s curiosity to see Jesus stood in contrast to what appeared to be a complete lack of response on Jesus’ part. Having finally seen Jesus, Herod heard nothing from him. This probably contributed to his treating Jesus with contempt. But like Pilate, he could not find anything legal to charge Jesus with.
- Luke’s emphasis on the presence of the Jewish leadership again was probably to show that they were the force behind the events of Jesus’ trial.
The Sentencing of Jesus (vv. 13-25)
13 Pilate called together k the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people. Now, I have examined him here in your presence, and I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of. 15 Nor did Herod find him guilty, for he sent him back to us. There is nothing this man has done to deserve death. 16 So I will have him whipped and let him go.” l
18 The whole crowd cried out, “Kill him! Set Barrabas m free for us!” n (19 Barrabas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again. 21 But they shouted back, “Crucify him! o Crucify him!”
22 Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free.”
23 But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. 24 So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. 25 He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished. p
Interesting Stuff:
k Pilate’s summoning of the chief priests and leaders and the people showed that he was ready to make a public announcement.
l All the Gospels made it plain that Pilate was reluctant to sentence Jesus to death because he recognised that Jesus was innocent. So he tried to appease the Jews by asking to have Jesus illegally whipped even though there were no charges against him. This whipping or scourging, though not intended to kill could sometimes be fatal. In Roman law, this ‘light beating’ was sometimes given together with a warning from the judge so that the accused would take greater care for the future.
m The name ‘Barrabas’ means ‘son of Abba’. Pilate offered them a choice between Jesus and an obviously evil and dangerous criminal.
n This was probably due to the chief priests’ and leaders’ manipulation of the crowd onto their side. It was also due to the presence most likely of Barrabas’ supporters who were there to take advantage of the opportunity to get their friend released.
o As a means of execution, crucifixion was particularly cruel and brutal. It was reserved by the Romans especially for those who resisted the authority of Roman occupation.
The victim was usually flogged beforehand and forced to carry his own crossbeam to the site of execution. There they were nailed or bound to a cross, tree or stake naked, usually at major crossroads, and subjected to all kinds of punishment and ridicule. There was little blood loss and the body organs were intact. Thus death came slowly, sometimes over several days as the body succumbed to shock or suffocation.
The corpse was typically left to rot or as food for scavenging birds so that the people would have a somber reminder of the fate of those who dared to rebel against the Roman authorities.
p Luke’s account is shortened. From the Gospel of John, we find that Pilate had already handed Jesus over to the soldiers for scourging or flogging before he passed the sentence on Jesus (see Jn 19:1-5). He was now handed over to be crucified.
Questions:
- What did Pilate tell the Sanhedrin and the people when he called them back to hear his judgment on the case (vv. 13-16)?
2. How did the crowd react to Pilate’s pronouncement to set Jesus free (v. 18)?
3. Who was Barrabas (v. 19)?
4. What happened when Pilate appealed to the crowd to set Jesus free (v.20)?
5. What did Pilate say on his third appeal (v. 22)?
6. What made Pilate finally give in to the wishes of the crowd (vv. 23-25)?
Summary of Section:
- Pilate called together the Sanhedrin and the people and told them that he had examined Jesus in their presence and had not found him guilty of any of their accusations against him.
- He said that Herod had reached the same conclusion because he sent Jesus back.
- Pilate suggested having Jesus whipped and then set free since he had not done anything that deserved death.
- The whole crowd, however, shouted and demanded that Pilate kill Jesus and set Barrabas free instead. Barrabas was someone who was put in prison for murder and for starting a riot in the city.
- Pilate appealed to the crowd two more times but they kept demanding that Jesus be crucified.
- After the third appeal when the crowd had continued to shout and demand for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate gave in to them.
- He passed the sentence on Jesus that they wanted and set Barrabas free.
- He then handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- For the first time in the account of Jesus’ trial, ‘the people’ were brought together with the Jewish leadership. Luke makes it very clear that it was the Jewish leaders together with the Jewish people who called for the crucifixion of Jesus.
- This final phase of Jesus’ trial was marked by Pilate’s three-fold attempt to free Jesus in opposition to the heightening efforts on the part of the Jewish leaders and people to have Jesus executed. Through Pilate, Luke emphasises the innocence of Jesus.
- Pilate, however, was not totally blameless in that he attempted to have Jesus flogged even though he declared that Jesus was innocent. His action was more to win and maintain favour with the Jewish people. In the end, this led him to give in to the demands of the crowd, to release one who was guilty and to punish one who was innocent.
- Although Luke had emphasised God’s plans and purposes for Jesus throughout the whole Gospel, he now emphasises the human factor – the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people themselves demanded the death of Jesus. God’s divine purposes cannot be accomplished without the part played by human beings.
The Crucifixion of Jesus (vv. 26-49)
26 The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene q named Simon r who was coming into the city from the country. They seized him, put the cross s on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don’t cry for me, but for yourselves and your children. t 29 For the days are coming when people will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them!’ 30 That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ u and to the hills, ‘Hide us!’ 31 For if such things as these are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” v
32 Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. 33When they came to the place called “The Skull,” w they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father!
They don’t know what they are doing.” They divided his clothes x among themselves by throwing dice. 35 The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
36 The soldiers also made fun of him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, y 37 and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
38 Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” z
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”
43 Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise a’ with me.”
44 It was about twelve o’clock b’ when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; c’ 45 and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. d’ 46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” e’ He said this and died.
47 The army officer f’ saw what had happened, and he praised God, saying, “Certainly he was a good man!” g’
48 When the people who had gathered there to watch the spectacle saw what happened, they all went back home, beating their breasts h’ in sorrow. 49 All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.
Interesting Stuff:
q Cyrene was an important city in Libya, North Africa, that had a large Jewish population.
r Simon was probably a Jew who was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
s Men condemned to death were usually forced to carry a beam of the cross, often weighing 14 to 18 kg, to the place of crucifixion. This was the crossbar or beam on which the hands of the victim would later be bound or nailed. Jesus started out by carrying his (see Jn 19:17) but he had been so weakened by the flogging that Simon was forced to help him.
t Jesus was thinking not of himself but of them. He wanted their repentance not sympathy because he was thinking with compassion about the doomed city and its inhabitants. He was directing the women to look beyond the present circumstances and to mourn on behalf of the city because of its sins. He was warning them of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans that would take place in the future (some 40 years later in A.D. 70). This would be when they and their children would suffer terribly. It would be so terrible that not to have children would be regarded as a blessing, even though the Jewish view was that children are God’s blessings. u People would seek escape through death rather than endure continuing suffering and judgment.
v This was a proverb or saying. Different interpretations have been suggested. One is that if they treat the Messiah this way when the ‘wood is green’, what will their situation be when he is withdrawn from them and they suffer for their rejection in the dry period? Another is that Jesus was warning of a future judgment on those who reject Jesus that would be even worse than the events surrounding his crucifixion.
w The Latin word for this is calvaria from which we get ‘Calvary’. It might have received its name on account of the shape of the hill or rock projection on which crucifixions were held.
x All who were crucified were stripped naked and any possessions they had on them would be taken by the executioners. ‘Casting lots for Jesus’ clothing’ is the common translation and unwittingly, the soldiers fulfilled the prophecy in Ps 22:18. To be stripped of clothing signified gross indignity and the loss of a person’s identity. Luke was pointing out the utter humiliation experienced by Jesus that God Himself had predicted.
y This was wine vinegar, a sour drink carried by the soldiers for the day. Jesus refused a sedative drink which was supposed to help ease the pain (Mk 15:23) but later he was given the vinegar drink when he cried out in thirst (Jn 19:28-30). Here, however, the soldiers were continuing in their mockery of Jesus by offering him the cheap wine.
z An inscription announcing the crime for which the condemned man was being executed was set up as a deterrent to prevent similar behaviour. Jesus was depicted as having made a claim to the throne and thus was a threat to the Roman emperor. It was probably Pilate’s revenge on the Jewish leaders who had hounded him about Jesus. He had written what they were accusing Jesus of claiming to be.
a’ This comes from a Persian word which means ‘garden’. It was taken over into the Greek language to symbolise a place of beauty and delight. It was used to refer to the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:8- 10) and also to the place of future bliss and rest between death and resurrection (2 Co 12:2-4; Rev. 2:7).
b’ Other translations used the Jewish way of reckoning time and have the term ‘sixth hour’. The Jewish day begins at sunrise (about six o’clock in the morning) and ends at sunset (about six o’clock in the evening). They consider the day to have 12 hours of daylight and so each hour is one-twelfth of the period of daylight. An hour varied in length at different times of the year but the sixth hour was always at midday, i.e., 12 noon. Jesus had been put on the cross at the third hour, i.e., about 9 a.m. in the morning (Mk15:25).
c’ Other translations have it as ‘the ninth hour’.
d’ This was the curtain that separated the ’Holy of Holies’ from the Holy Place in the Temple (refer to ‘The Temple’, p. x). It symbolised the separateness or holiness of God. The tearing of the curtain symbolised Jesus’ opening the way directly to God.
e’ Jesus’ last words were quoted from Ps 31:5 in which the psalmist entrusts himself into God’s care, believing that God would rescue him from his enemies. Here in the midst of darkness and death, Jesus showed his faith in his Father and entrusted himself into His hands.
f’ Other translations have the term ‘centurion’. He would have been in charge of the execution.
g’ Some translations have the word ‘righteous’ instead of ‘good’. The meaning could either be ‘this was a righteous man’ or ‘this man was the Righteous One.’ The Gospel writers Matthew and Mark report the centurion’s words as ‘this man was the Son (or son) of God’. Both ‘Son of God’ and ‘Righteous One’ would have been essentially the same terms. The same could be said of ‘son of God’ and ‘righteous man’. Which one the centurion meant is difficult to determine. Regardless, it would seem that the centurion somehow recognised God’s hand at work in Jesus and that Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against him by the Jewish authorities.
h’ This was a sign of anguish, grief or sorrow over sin.
Questions:
- Describe Jesus’ journey to the place where he was crucified (vv. 26-31).
What did Jesus say to the crowd on the journey?
2. Narrate the events at the scene of the crucifixion up to the time Jesus died. Include the comments made by the people there and Jesus’ response to them (vv. 32-49).
3. Show how Jesus was compassionate towards other people even when he was hanging on the cross.
4. Where was Jesus when he asked his Father to forgive the people because they did not know what they were doing (v. 34)?
What do these words of Jesus tell us about him?
5. What were the last words uttered by Jesus on the cross (v. 46)?
How did the army officer on duty respond to all he saw and heard (v. 47)?
Comment on the significance of these utterances of Jesus.
6. What is the significance of Jesus’ death?
Summary of Section:
- As the soldiers led Jesus away, they met Simon from Cyrene. They seized him and made him carry the cross behind Jesus.
- A large crowd of people followed him including some women who were weeping and wailing for Jesus.
- Jesus turned to them and told them not to cry for him but for themselves and their children.
- He said that the time is coming when those who never had children would be called blessed, and people would prefer death rather than go through the suffering at that time.
- Two criminals were also led out to be crucified with Jesus at the place called ‘The Skull’. One hung on his left, the other on his right.
- When Jesus was crucified, he prayed asking God to forgive the people for they did not know what they were doing.
- The soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.
- The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him. They said that if Jesus were the Messiah, he should save himself just as he had saved others.
- The soldiers also made fun of him and offered him cheap wine to drink. They told him to save himself if he were really the king of the Jews.
- Above him were written the words ‘This is the King of Jews.’
- One of the criminals also hurled insults at Jesus telling him to save himself and them as well if he were the Messiah.
- The other criminal, however, rebuked him, asking whether he feared God or not. He said that they deserved their punishment but Jesus had done no wrong.
- He asked Jesus to remember him when he comes as king. Jesus promised him that he would be with Jesus in Paradise that day.
- At twelve o’clock the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock. Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two.
- Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” Then he died.
- The army officer saw what happened and praised God, saying that Jesus was a good man.
- The people who were there saw what happened and all went home beating their breasts in sorrow.
- All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Luke does not focus on the gruesome details of the crucifixion or the torment of Jesus. He just gives the bare facts of what happened and concentrated instead on the significance of Jesus’ death, on his identifying with the sin of the world and his spiritual anguish as he took the punishment for that sin.
- In this last scene before his death, Luke shows us that not all the Jewish people had aligned themselves against Jesus. He mentioned the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, the criminal who acknowledged Jesus’ innocence and the Roman official who affirmed that Jesus was the righteous one of God.
- The presence of two criminals with Jesus emphasised the humiliation of his execution and his identification with sinners in his death as well as in his life.
- From the cross, Jesus addressed God twice as Father, confirming that he, as the Son of God, fully accepted all that he was going through as fulfilling his Father’s divine purpose. What is significant to note is that although Jesus ‘could not save himself’, he was able to save others. He asked God to forgive those responsible for the crucifixion and he promised salvation to the criminal who was crucified with him.
- None of the four Gospels said that Jesus ‘died’. The word used, which in some versions is translated ‘breathed his last’, was not a normal word for saying that someone had died. They were all pointing to the fact that there was something unusual in Jesus’ death.
- The tearing of the curtain symbolised that Jesus’ death had taken away the barrier of sin that had prevented us from coming directly into God’s presence. Now we can freely come into God’s presence because of Jesus’ death on the cross for us.
- Luke mentions the responses of three groups of people who witnessed Jesus’ death. The first two groups were cast in a more positive light than the third:
i) The Roman official, who was most likely a Gentile, had that remarkable insight to recognise God’s hand at work in Jesus and that he was a righteous man.
ii) The crowd who had earlier joined the Jewish leadership in demanding Jesus’ execution were now returning home in sorrow or mourning.
iii) Lastly we are told that all those who knew Jesus personally, presumably his followers and the apostles as well, were distanced from Jesus. They had remained with him thus far but at this point, they stood aside and watched, uncertain of how to respond to Jesus’ death.
The Burial of Jesus (vv. 50-56)
50-51 There was a man named Joseph i’ from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honourable man, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Council, j’ he had not agreed with their decision and action. 52 He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. k’ 53 Then he took the body down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock l’ and which had never been used. 54 It was Friday, m’ and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women n’ who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it. 56 Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes o’ for the body.
On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.
Interesting Stuff:
i’ Arimathea was a village in the hill country about 32 km (20 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. But as Joseph had a tomb near Jerusalem, he had evidently left his home town and come to live in the capital city. It is most likely from Luke’s description that Joseph was a follower of Jesus or at least that he had come to believe in him.
j’ This referred to the Sanhedrin. Because the vote against Jesus was unanimous (Lk 22:70; Mk 14:64b), it was very likely that Joseph was not there when the decision was taken.
k’ The remains of an executed criminal were often left unburied or at best put in a dishonoured place in a poor man’s field. A near relative, such as a mother, might ask for the body but it was a courageous gesture for Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, to ask for Jesus’ body. Not only was Jesus buried, he was also wrapped in linen cloth and anointed with spices and perfumes, and given the honour of being buried in a new tomb. This was unlike what normally happened to an ordinary executed criminal.
l’ Tombs were cut into the rocky hillsides of Palestine. Being expensive, they were often used more than once. But here, Jesus was placed in a new tomb, one that had never been used.
m’ Some translations have ‘Preparation Day’, referring to Friday, the day before Sabbath. This was the day when preparations were made for keeping the Sabbath.
n’ The women saw where Jesus was buried and thus they would not make the mistake of going to the wrong tomb, as suggested by some people, when they returned.
o’ Typically, preparation for burial involved washing, anointing and clothing the body. The warm climate in ancient Palestine demanded a speedy burial, with spices and perfumes used, not for the purposes of embalming the body but to counter the stench of decay. Yards of cloth and large quantities of spices were used in preparing a body for burial. Seventy-five pounds (34 kg) of myrrh and aloe (some versions have ‘one hundred pounds’) were already used on the first evening of Jesus’ death (see Jn 19:39). Because it was nearing Sabbath, Jesus’ body had to be placed in the tomb. The women wanted to purchase more to anoint the body of their Lord. Thus they went back to prepare what they wanted with the intention of going back after the Sabbath was over to anoint the body.
Questions:
- Who was Joseph of Arimathea and what kind of a person was he (vv. 50-51)?
2. When did Jesus die on the cross (v. 54)?
What did Joseph do after Jesus died on the cross (vv. 52-54)?
3. Why did the women follow Joseph (v. 55)?
4. What did they do after that (v. 56)?
Summary of Section:
- There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honourable man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Sanhedrin, he had not agreed to their decision to crucify Jesus.
- He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took down the body, wrapped it in a linen sheet and placed it in a tomb which was new and dug out of solid rock.
- The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph to see the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it.
- Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes for the body.
- It was Friday and the Sabbath was about to begin. On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Luke focuses on the faithfulness of the women who saw things through to the end. They saw that the burial of the body was done in haste because it was nearing Sabbath. Thus despite their sorrow and pain, they did all the preparations necessary and then followed the Law to rest on the Sabbath before going back to complete Jesus’ burial.
- Although Jesus’ death was one of humiliation and identification with sinners, yet he was given an honourable.
- burial that would normally be denied someone who was crucified. He was placed in a new and expensive tomb, and given all the proper spices and perfumes to complete the process of burial.
- Luke gives special mention to Joseph of Arimathea who was responsible for providing the honourable burial that was fitting for Jesus as the Messiah of his people. Although he was part of the Sanhedrin, he had not agreed to the Sanhedrin’s decision and action against Jesus.
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