Luke 23:44-56 Bible Teaching

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Luke 23.48-end
24.1-12
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August 2nd 2020
So, we left off with the Centurian, seeing the earthquake and darkness and being terrified, proclaiming, certainly this was the Son of God.

Verse 48

48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Back to 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

Now, this passage appears to describe “all the people” meaning the onlookers, I suppose, and not the Jewish leaders or the Romans, coming together near the cross, and in light of all that had accompanied his death – the earthquake, the darkness, and the sufferings of Jesus – saw the judgements of God around them and in a token of alarm and perhaps fear, struck themselves in the chest as a sign of remorse, and returned, meaning to their homes. (verse 49)

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

MATTHEW Says it this way:

55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

The many woman, “beholding afar off,” or “watching from a distance,” were probably not allowed to come near the cross, because it was surrounded by soldiers who wanted room to work and did not want emotional disruption.

These women watched his suffering from a place, and apparently then approached his body once he had died and ministered unto Him.

Of course, these women had followed him throughout his ministry.

Matthew adds names even, which Luke omits and says:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Obviously, Mary was a common female name in Israel during the time of Christ.

In Hebrew the name is Miriam and was first given to Moses sister.

Then we have Mary the mother of Jesus. A virgin chosen by God to bear His Son, the Savior of the world. She lived in Nazareth, a city of Galilee and married
Joseph the carpenter. She was one of the Mary’s here at the cross.

The next Mary in the Bible is Mary Magdalene. Magdala was a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee and she was a follower of Christ as Luke 8:2 says that Jesus had cast seven demons from her so this must have dedicated her to Him and His cause.

She too was here at the cross and she is the first person to have seen the resurrected Lord – even before the Apostles – if you agree with one of the Gospel accounts over the others.

Then another Mary in the Bible is Mary of Bethany. This Mary was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She lived in Bethany a town close to Jerusalem.

We know that Jesus and the disciples were frequent visitors in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This Mary anointed Jesus’ head with costly oil. She was not at the cross – at least she wasn’t mentioned.

Another Mary who was at the cross is identified as Mary the mother of James the younger and Joseph and the wife of a man named Cleopas (who also went by the name of Alphaeus). She is mentioned all over the place in connection with Jesus crucifixion, burial, is called, “the other Mary” and was at the empty tomb as well.

Another Mary is the mother of John Mark. She is not mentioned until Acts 12:12 and she opened up her home for believers to meet for prayer, and it was during one of their prayer meetings that Peter was miraculously released from prison.

The last Mary in the Bible is mentioned as a member of the church at Rome. Paul includes her as one of the many people to greet at the end of his letter and describes her as one “who worked very hard” on behalf of the church (Romans 16:6).

Here at the cross the only non Mary mentioned is the mother of the Sons of Zebedee, and her name is Salome.

Now before we go back to Luke and our verse by verse there, John’s account inserts some details about what happens next that are important to the narrative.

He writes at chapter 19:31:

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

The law required that the bodies of those who were hung should not remain suspended during the night. (that is found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23).

Interestingly, that law was made when the punishment by crucifixion was unknown to the Jew and when those who were suspended from a tree (hung as it were) would almost immediately die. This is the context for that law.

Afterward, in the age where punishment was by crucifixion, life lingered on for four to even eight days. And I guess the Jews just allowed those bodies to hang up there because they were still alive.

But because it was the Passover, and the Jews wanted everything right, we can suppose they wanted all the dying to be dead and done with – and then taken down – so as to not ruin their celebration.

So, they requested that the death of those on the cross at this time might be hastened, and that the land might not be polluted by their bodies remaining suspended on the Sabbath-day.

To expedite their deaths, therefore, the Jews asked that their “legs might be broken.”

Think about this request! In order to keep the Holiday undisturbed they went to Pilate and asked if he would allow the legs of the crucified to be broken.

I suppose we could see this as an act of mercy, but it must also be seen as an act of total barbarism where those crucified were thought of nothing more than a wild animal.

It would sort of like a woman whose husband is dying and she is hosting the family for Thanksgiving and she askes someone to go in the day before and end his life so that Thanksgiving wouldn’t be overshadowed by his presence.

The effect of broken legs would have been, as mentioned before, that while they were suspended on the cross, the broken legs would not allow them to support themselves up to breathe and the added pain of the fractures would throw them into shock and rapid asphyxiation.

Roman historian Lactantius says that braking the legs was commonly done by the Romans to persons who were crucified.

John’s account adds some details that fulfill prophecy for us as he says:

32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

We can only suppose that this soldier did not believe that Jesus was already dead and in order to insure this was so took his spear and stuck it in the left side of the Lord.

Because an order was needed to break the legs it is believed that this soldier was also ordered to do this as a means to insure death.

While also brutal, but less barbaric, this action was important because it solidified the fact that Jesus was dead.

Had this not taken place, the stories surrrounding his resurrection could have been called into suspicion. Can’t you hear them now in our age of conspiracy theories where nothing can be as it is described?

“Jesus only pretended to die! Think about it! The Jews asked for leg breaking but he was passed over, then was taken down by Joseph by special permission and placed in his own private grave where all of his friends got together and revived him?

Right?

The spear to his side took care of all of that mess.

John adds:

And forthwith came thereout blood and water. Cardiologists say that this was proof that the spear reached his heart as the heart is surrounded by a membrane called the pericardium which contains a liquid that resembles water.

With both the heart and the pericardium pierced John described water and blood flowing out from the wound.
Then John adds, at verse 35 of chapter 19 a first-hand attestation and what could only be described as his purpose in writing his Gospel, saying

“And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

When John adds, “And he that saw it,” he is speaking of himself as John is accustomed to speak of himself in the third person in his writings.

Again, what does he say?
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

Believe it or not, this is John’s written witness. And then he adds the prophetic importance of these events, saying:

36 For these things (What we just described) were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

It is in Exodus 12:46 where YHWH commands that, relative to the Pashal lamb, that not a bone of its body would be broken.

With Christ, His own Son, assuming that role, this command would naturally and even more importantly, extend out to him in his sacrifice.

Some suggest that John is referring to Psalm 34:20 which says:

“He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken,” which is entirely possible.

And then, referencing the piercing of his side, John adds

37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

This is citing Zechariah 12:10.

It is highly unlikely that the Romans knew they were fulfilling scripture in the actions they took against Jesus.

From the scourging and the stripes that he received (by which we are healed) to the parting of his garments, to the crowing his head with thorns, to the not breaking his legs, to the piercing of his side – and more, that they were actually fulfilling what was written of Him hundreds of years before.

So back to Luke’s account:

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

Matthew tells us this all occurred when,
“even (or evening) was come.” Meaning, sometime after three o’clock in the afternoon, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

We don’t really know where Arimathaea was. There were several cities of that name in Judea but it is most frequently believed to be a place called, Rama (according to Matthew 2:18).

Luke says that this was a” city of the Jews ” and it is probable, therefore, that it was in the tribe of Benjamin and a short distance from Jerusalem.

This man maintained a high character, according to Mark 15:43 he “waited for the kingdom of God;” he was “a good man, and a just.”

We also know from Luke 23:51 that he “had set himself against the wicked purposes of the sanhedrim,” and from John that he was “a disciple of Jesus,” but not an open follower, because he feared the Jews.

Verse 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

No one had a right to remove a body but the magistrate and taking the proper channels Joseph obtained permission.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

John 19:40 adds, that this was done with spices. The Jews were accustomed to use myrrh, aloes, and other aromatics, in large quantities, when they buried their dead.

When they were not regularly embalmed, which was a long and tedious process, they would take linen and put folds in it and in those fold include these spices while wrapping the body in it all.

Sometimes they would lay the body on an actual mound of spices and we read about this in 2nd Chronicles 16:14 (which is in reference to Asa’s burial where they “laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and spices.”)

Because there was little time to properly embalm the body of Jesus, he was buried in this manner.

The women who attended him, either not being aware of this or desiring to show him more respect, returned to the sepulcher on the first day of the week, and prepared other spices with which to embalm him (that’s in some passages coming up here in Luke).

(verse 60 – speaking of the actions of Joseph of Arimathea who took Jesus body and wrapped it in linen)

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed.

This was a tomb (according to Luke and John) in which no body had ever been laid and John adds (19:41) that this was in a garden place where he was crucified.

In the Old Testament we read a story in 2nd Kings 13:21 where a dead guy was being hidden in a tomb and it so happened that that tomb bore the bones of Elisha, and when his dead body came in contact with the bones of Elisha, the man was brought back to life.

To avoid there being ANY SORT of suggestion that this is the same thing that happened to Jesus, the tomb was a place no body had ever been in before.

This was also a tomb Joseph had kept for himself, which was a common practice among the Jews then and people today.

Finally, in this burial an important prophecy was again fulfilled from Isaiah 53:9 where we read:

“he made his grave–with the rich in his death.”

Hung between thieves, buried with the rich! Amazing – especially that in His life and associations he was associated with the poor – that this would occur.

It would be like a homeless man in downtown Salt Lake having it prophesied that he would be buried with the rich and by some chance at his death him being taken and buried in the Huntsman sepulcher.

Now the graves or sepulchers were hewn out of rocks or sandstone walls. Burrowing into them they would create a small entrance and then as they burrowed deeper would expand the inside – big enough to place a body.

As a means to secure the tomb they would then get a stone that was manageable by a two or three men, and roll it to the front of the entrance.

So now let’s go back and pick up Luke’s narrative at verse 51 where he has been speaking of Joseph of Arimathea and says in a parentetical reference:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

This wraps chapter 23 of Luke up. However, John adds some things that Luke omits and I think they are important to add to the narrative.

So, at chapter 19 of John we read at verse 62:

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

The first day of the feast of the Passover was called the day of preparation, because all things were on that day got in readiness for the observances of the paschal week.

Remember that the Jewish day ended at sunset, the Passover meal was observed, and the sabbath at that time commenced.

To think that the Jews let the night pass before going to Pilate doesn’t make much sense but to suggest that the next day, which began at Sunset on the night that he died does – and that is when I think they went to Pilate, at a time when Jesus had been in the tomb for a couple of hours and not overnight.

So, they go to Pilate (verse 63 in John)

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Perhaps they actually heard Jesus say this but more likely they were told he said this. Whatever the case, they understood it to be one of his teachings.

One of the charges against Jesus was that he deceived the people, so it is not surprising that they referred to him as “that deceiver.”

And so with this argument they came to Pilate and said

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

In other words, for the next two nights and the intervening day make secure this tomb because if you don’t, his apostles might come and steal his body away and put it somewhere else and then claim that he rose from the dead, and . . .

“The last error shall be worse than the first,” meaning this deception will have a greater effect on misleading people than his first deceptions of pretending to be the Messiah.

John adds at verse 65 of chapter 19

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

This watch meant that Roman soldiers would oversee the tomb and make sure no funny business took place.

66 So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

According to Daniel 6:17, the cave where Daniel was cast was apparently fastened in the same manner and sealed with the king’s signet, like letters in Elizabethan times – you know with wax and a signet ring.

How they sealed a tomb is unknown but it is believed that twine or rope was placed around the stone that secured it and that was sealed with wax or clay – but not certain on this.

Once this was done, Pilate allowed a watch to be set. Interestingly, where the Jewish leaders thought that this was going to put a damper on the spread of the faith, in reality it only proved the resurrection of the LORD more of a reality.

And to this story we now go as we enter the last chapter of Luke chapter 24.

Let’s read

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Now, we won’t get through all of these verses today but in Luke’s account, the next thing he reports is the Road to Emmaus account.

I want to take a different approach to the resurrection and introduce to you a chart that was compiled by a group of men as a means to present the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection.

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Day
third day after the Crucifixion
the first day of the week
the first day of the week
the first day of the week
–
the first day of the week
Time
–
very early, just after sunrise
dawn
very early in the morning
–
early, while it was still dark
Mentioned at the tomb
–
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them
–
Mary Magdalene

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Number of women mentioned
–
3
2
> 3
–
1
Purpose of visit
–
brought spices to anoint the body
they went to look at the tomb
took the spices they had prepared
–
–
Conversation on the way
–
“Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
–
–
–
–
When was the stone rolled away?
–
The stone had been rolled away when they arrived.
After they arrived, an angel appeared, rolled the stone away and sat on it.
The stone had been rolled away when they arrived.
–
The stone had been rolled away when Mary arrived.

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Mentions an earthquake
–
–
yes
–
–
–
Who is mentioned at the tomb
–
one young man
one angel
two men
–
two angels
Description of appearance
–
dressed in a white robe
appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow
in clothes that gleamed like lightning
–
in white
When appeared
–
waiting inside the tomb when the women entered
came down in front of them to roll away the stone after they arrived
after the women entered the tomb
–
waiting inside the tomb when Mary entered (but were not there earlier when Peter and John looked inside)

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Where appeared
–
inside the tomb, on the right side
sitting on the stone door outside the tomb
“suddenly they stood beside them”
–
sitting inside the tomb, one at the head and one at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been
What did he/they say?
–
“Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.'”
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”
–
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
How did the women feel?
–
Trembling and bewildered
Afraid yet filled with joy
Frightened when the two men appeared
–
Mary thought the body had been stolen. She doesn’t seem to be afraid.
What did the women do?
–
Fled from the tomb and said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid
hurried away and ran to tell the disciples
bowed with their faces on the ground upon seeing the men, then remembered what Jesus had said, then returned to tell the disciples
–
Stood weeping outside the tomb, then looked in and saw the angels. She told them, “they’ve taken my Lord away.” Replied calmly to the angels.
What did the guards do?
–
–
They were terrified and shook like dead men. After the women left, they reported to the chief priests, who bribed them to say the disciples stole the body.
–
–
–

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Male disciples’ reaction to the story
–
–
They went to the mountain in Galilee as instructed.
They did not believe the women, because the story seemed like nonsense. But Peter ran to the tomb, saw empty linens, wondered what happened. Later, Jesus appeared to “Simon” and they believed.
–
Peter and the beloved disciple (presumably John) ran to the tomb and found empty linens. John “saw and believed.”

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
First appearance mentioned
To Simon Peter.
–
To the women shortly after they left the tomb. “Suddenly Jesus met them.”
To two disciples (one named Cleopas) walking to Emmaus the same day.
–
At the empty tomb, right after Mary spoke to the angels. She turned around and saw him standing there.
Reaction
–
–
They ran to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.
They did not recognize him until they broke bread with him at Emmaus.
–
She thought he was the gardener and asked if he had taken Jesus’ body away. After he said, “Mary,” she cried out “Teacher!”

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Jesus’ words
–
–
Do not be afraid. Tell “his brothers” to go see him in Galilee
He asked what they were discussing, then explained the prophecies about him. He disappeared as soon as they recognized him.
“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.”
“Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
“Mary.”
“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”
Second appearance mentioned
And then to the Twelve.
–
Mountain in Galilee
In Jerusalem, he appeared suddenly in a room where the disciples were assembled.
“He appeared to them over a period of forty days…”
That same evening, inside a locked room. He came and stood among them.
Reaction
–
–
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
They were startled, thinking they had seen a ghost.
–
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
Jesus’ words
–
–
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
He showed them he had flesh and bones and he ate a piece of broiled fish. He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
“… and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
“Peace be with you!” Then he showed them his hands and side. “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

1 Corinthians
Mark
Matthew
Luke
Acts
John
More appearances mentioned
“After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
–
–
–
“He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
(1) A week later, in the same locked room, to convince “Doubting Thomas.” (2) Many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples. (3) Miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Tiberias, reinstatement of Peter, and discussion of whether the beloved disciple would live until the Second Coming. (4) Jesus did many other things as well.
Ascension mentioned
–
–
–
“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
“He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”
–

Next week we will address these differences and see how they can be viewed reasonably but by faith.

PRAYER