Jesus: Delusional Dreamer or God's Messiah? - Luke 23:33, 35-49 - April 5, 2009

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus: Delusional Dreamer or God’s Messiah? – April 5, 2009

This is lesson one (1) in our series of study entitled “Gospel Crossroads.”

Our scripture is Luke 23:33, 35-49; Matthew 27:50-54.

Our scripture for the month of April will be:
April 5 – Luke 23:33, 35-49 – Jesus: Delusional Dreamer or God’s Messiah?
April 12 – Luke 24:1-8, 36-40, 44-46 – Jesus’ Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?
April 19 – Acts 1:4-8 and 2:1-4, 12-16 – Jesus’ Followers: True Witnesses or Wishful Thinkers?
April 26 – Acts 2:22-24, 32-41 – Jesus the Savior: Accept or Reject?

We begin a new series of study. Who is JESUS? How a person answers that question is important. Many religions acknowledge JESUS as a prophet. History tells us that HE lived on earth. GOD’S Word tells us the complete plan of GOD regarding the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of JESUS. People can read and study the facts in the Bible but each person must decide on his/her own whether or not JESUS was delusional or the promised Messiah.

It takes a step of faith to believe. A step of faith is a simple thing but often so hard to
do. We want the confirmation that CHRIST is real before we take the step of faith to believe. However, it is only after we take the step of faith that we have the confirmation in our heart. We can believe that bridge will hold us but until we get on the bridge, we won’t know for sure.

JESUS had been tried, beaten and sentenced to die upon the cross for sedition. The Pharisees were upset with JESUS because HE did not observe their legalist practices and the Sadducees were upset with HIM because HE cleansed the temple. These two (2) groups banded together and accused JESUS of blasphemy. The Roman government officials could not condemn a person to death for blasphemy; however, they could sentence a non-Roman to death by crucifixion for sedition or a serious crime. The Roman government officials did not think JESUS was guilty of sedition but political pressure persuaded them to sentence JESUS to death.

Crucifixion was a horrible way to execute a human being. It was a long process, designed to inflict maximum pain, torture and humiliation. The person being crucified basically died from suffocation. The will of a person to live would cause the victim to keep pushing themselves up to get a breath of air. Each time the victim would slump and push himself up it inflected great pain on his body. If the Romans wanted to speed up the death process, they would break the legs of the victim(s).

John 19:31-37:

31 Since it was the preparation day,[12] Jn 19:14 the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special[13] Lit great day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that [their bodies]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. be taken away.[14] Dt 21:22–23 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified[15] Jn 1:14–15,34 so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.[16] Jn 21:24 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:[17] Jn 13:18; 17:12; 19:24 Not one of His bones will be broken.[18] Ex 12:46; Nm 9:12; Ps 34:20 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced.[19] Zch 12:10

JESUS suffered great pain but HE willingly gave HIS life for every person who has ever lived on earth or will ever live on earth. Even though HE gave HIS life to satisfy the sin debt for all people, each person must accept and acknowledge what CHRIST did in his /her behalf. GOD works within the heart of every person to give him/ her the opportunity to accept or reject JESUS as his/her SAVIOR. This requires a step of faith and is as simple as “LORD, I believe.” It is not the words uttered but the attitude of the heart. I read an account of a man simply saying “LORD, I give up.” That was his step of faith. Circumstances had brought him to the point of surrender.

Satan does not want a person to become a born-again believer. Satan wants a person to wait, think about such a decision and gather more facts. Satan tells many that they have plenty of time, so just wait. Satan does not tell you that you are being robbed - of the joy of the LORD, of the joy of building a loving, intimate relationship with HIM and of the confirmation of the HOLY SPIRIT in your heart that you are GOD’S children.

Let’s read Luke 23:33, 35-38:

33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.

35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine[12] Ps 69:22 LXX 37 and said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 An inscription was above Him:[13]
Other mss add written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters

THIS ISTHE KING OF THE JEWS

The condemned person had to carry his own crossbeam. We know from other scripture that Simon the Cyrenian JESUS was forced to carry the crossbeam for JESUS. The crowd of people who followed along was a mixture of those who loved JESUS, curiosity seeks, those who hated HIM, those who wanted to see if HE would do something spectacular and the list goes on.

The question I ask you and I ask myself, if I were among that crowd, why would I be going along with HIM? I would likely be a skeptic. I would likely think,” I have heard of this famous preacher, WHO could heal the sick, cure the blind, cast out demons and raise the dead. I want to see HIM get out of this situation. If HE does get out of it, I might consider following HIM.” I think verse 35, comes close to describing my attitude toward JESUS.

The soldiers nailed HIM to the cross and later offered HIM sour wine when HE said “I thirst.” The wine could have been like a pain killer or a cruel way to keep HIM alive longer. JESUS refused the sour wine.

It was common for the crime a person committed to be placed on a sign and displayed above the victim’s head. This was to let all onlookers to know why the person was being crucified. Pilot had the sign “This is the King of the Jews” placed above the head of JESUS. We find in the Gospel of John 19:20-22:

20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew,[8] Or Aramaic Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ” 22 • Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

In my opinion, I think Pilot saw JESUS as the Messiah. It would not surprise me to visit with Pilot in heaven.

JESUS was crucified between two (2) criminals. This added to the humiliation and disgrace of JESUS. HE was counted as a common criminal, yet without cause.

Let’s read Luke 23:39-43:

39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[14] Or began to blaspheme Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[15] Other mss add Lord when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “• I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

One of the criminals yelled insults at JESUS. He must have heard of JESUS because he said “Aren’t YOU the Messiah?” He likely heard of all the miracles JESUS had performed, so he would try to coerce HIM into using HIS power to free them. This criminal had a self-serving attitude toward CHRIST. Many of us have this same attitude. JESUS, do something spectacular and I will believe in YOU. I used to think that, until, I realized that whatever HE would have done, I would have explained away as something that was going to happen anyway.

Criminal one is defiant in the face of death. This reveals the attitude of his heart.
Criminal two recognized and acknowledged his fate. He realized that he was about to come face to face with GOD. In an indirect manner he seemed to acknowledge his sins, which revealed a repentant heart. He acknowledged that JESUS had done nothing wrong. We do not know if he had heard of JESUS before this moment but he recognized JESUS as an innocent man about to die for something HE did not do. But notice what else criminal two said in verse 42 – “Jesus, remember me[15] Other mss add Lord when You come into Your kingdom!”. I think his statement was as good as LORD, I believe in YOU. JESUS thought so because HE said, “• I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

The moment we acknowledge JESUS as our SAVIOR our citizenship is in heaven. Criminal two felt unworthy and asked JESUS to remember him. JESUS saw his heart and gave him the most exciting news he could get – “Today you will be with ME in paradise.” Those must have been comforting words to someone who felt so unworthy. I wonder if criminal two’s witness and JESUS’ confirmation that he would be with HIM in paradise caused criminal one to reconsider his plight. We do not know. Only eternity will reveal the answer.

JESUS told criminal two that today he would be with HIM in paradise. In essence paradise is heaven. Some believe until JESUS paid the penalty for sin, paradise was the holding place for departed spirits who acknowledged and believed in GOD awaiting the day JESUS would give HIS life for the sins of mankind.

The word “paradise” comes from the Persian word for “garden or parks.” When the word “paradise” was used it referred to the lush, beautiful gardens located at palaces. When “paradise” was used in the Greek translation of the Septuagint, it was used to describe the Garden of Eden. In the New Testament “paradise” refers to heaven. If “paradise” is where JESUS is, then that is good enough for me.

It is also important to know that the moment a born-again Christian dies he/she is present with the LORD.

Let’s read Luke23:44-49:

The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon,[16] Lit about the sixth hour and darkness came over the whole land[17] Or whole earth until three,[18] Lit the ninth hour 45 because the sun’s light failed.[19] Other mss read three, and the sun was darkened The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.”[20] Ps 31:5 Saying this, He breathed His last. 47 When the • centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.[21] Mourning 49 But all who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Matthew 27:50-54: (Matthew gives us additional information.)

50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary[25] A heavy curtain separated the inner room of the temple from the outer. was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest[26] Lit saints having fallen asleep; that is, they had died were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 When the • centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”[27] Or the Son of God

JESUS was crucified about 9:00 AM and died about 3:00 PM. HIS death was marked by dramatic physical phenomenon – darkness came over the whole land about noon until about 3:00 PM. There was an earthquake. The curtain in temple sanctuary split from top to bottom. The reason the curtain was split from top to bottom was because GOD split it. This curtain separated the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies and the priest was the only person allowed to go into the Holy of Holies. Now that JESUS had given HIS life to pay the sin debt GOD had imposed upon mankind, the opportunity for all people to come to GOD through JESUS was open. Believers and those who desire to be forgiven of their sin no longer need to go through a priest to petition GOD. All can go to GOD through CHRIST for salvation and once saved, believers can go directly to GOD with all their requests. Once believers acknowledge JESUS as their SAVIOR, they, experience the miracle of rebirth, receive eternal life, are born into GOD’S family becoming HIS children and become citizens of heaven.

JESUS uttered HIS last words which expressed complete trust in the FATHER and revealed that JESUS gave up HIS spirit into the care of the FATHER. This moment of trust and complete dependence upon the FATHER touched the heart of the centurion.

The events of the day got the attention of the centurion. He acknowledged JESUS as a righteous man. The events, also, got the attention of the crowd. They went away beating their chests, which was a sign of grief over the death of JESUS. Beating the chests was an acknowledgement and recognition of personal guilt and involvement in the death of JESUS. The darkness likely revealed that their actions were condemned by GOD and the earthquake confirmed they had just witnessed the death of a Godly man.

When a person can acknowledge guilt and personal sin he/she needs to take the step to seek forgiveness.

Those who knew JESUS, including the women, did not feel the guilt and remorse because they were not party to HIS conviction. They knew HE was the SON of GOD and knew these events confirmed that HE was GOD’S SON. JESUS remained faithful to the FATHER and to HIS calling to the end.

If JESUS had taken matters into HIS own hands and come down from the cross, HE would not have saved Himself, the thief on the cross next to HIM or anyone else. The fact that JESUS remained faithful to the end by giving HIS life, HE saved the world from the penalty of sin and death and secured eternal life for all who believe in HIM.
Does this event prove that JESUS was the SON of GOD? No. If not, then what event proves that HE was who HE said HE was? What happened on EASTER?