Jesus Loved to His Death
May 17 | Rick Thiemke
Stream from your smart TV by going to our Youtube channel: youtube.com/@ViaChurch
Luke 23:1-56
Jesus Before Pilate
1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 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!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
We have heard the story of the crucifixion many times. Some of us have heard it since childhood, yet, Luke does not simply want us to understand what happened to Jesus. He wants us to see who Jesus is. At the cross, the heart of Jesus is not hidden from us. It is revealed.
Even in Suffering, Jesus Moves Toward Sinners in Mercy
Luke’s account moves from mocking and violence to mercy and love. Jesus is beaten, rejected and crucified between criminals, yet even there He continues to move toward sinners with compassion (verses 32-34). While others mock Him as powerless, Jesus refuses to save Himself in order to save others. This is the strange glory of the Kingdom of God. The King reigns through self-giving love (Philippians 2:5-11).
The contrast between the two criminals becomes deeply personal (verses 39-43). One joins the crowd in demanding Jesus to rescue Himself. The other sees something different in Jesus. In weakness, suffering and apparent defeat, he sees a King. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus responds with mercy even in His final hours: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Until His dying breath, Jesus is still welcoming sinners home.
This is what we come to know about Jesus at the cross: suffering does not turn Him inward. It draws His mercy outward.
Then darkness falls over the land (verses 44-46). Luke is showing us that something far deeper than physical suffering is happening. Jesus is carrying the weight of sin, evil, judgment and separation. The torn curtain signals that, through His death, a way is being opened back into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-22). Jesus willingly lays down His life and entrusts Himself fully to the Father (Psalm 31:5; John 10:18).
Even creation itself seems to tremble at the death of Jesus.
Even in Death, Jesus Draws Weak People Near
Luke also shows us something beautiful happening around the cross. A centurion begins to see. The crowds leave beating their breasts. The women remain near. Joseph of Arimathea courageously steps into the light and publicly identifies himself with Jesus (verses 47-56).
None of them fully understand resurrection yet. Their faith is incomplete. Their hopes are shattered. But their love for Jesus keeps them near Him.
Sometimes discipleship looks like confidence and clarity. Sometimes it looks like staying near Jesus in grief, confusion and unanswered questions. Luke reminds us that even weak faith can still cling to a strong Savior.
As we look at the crucifixion, we are not merely learning doctrines about Jesus. We are getting to know Him. We are seeing the One who loves sinners to His death. The One who forgives enemies, welcomes the broken, opens the way to the Father and holds His people fast even in the darkest place.
And because of that, the cross is not only the place where Jesus died. It is the place where the love of God is most clearly seen.
Discussion Questions
Where in your life are you tempted to protect yourself first instead of moving toward others in the self-giving love of Jesus?
Which person or group in Luke 23 do you most relate to right now, the crowd, the criminals, the centurion, the women or Joseph, and why?
What would it look like for you to stay near Jesus in a season where your faith feels weak, your prayers seem unanswered or your hope feels fragile?