Bible Study (4) - The Death of JESUS - Luke 23:32-49 - March 24, 2024 - Easter is Coming!!!

 

Bible Study (4) – The Death of JESUS – Luke 23:32-49 – March 24, 2024

JESUS died to pay the debt for our sin. Tragedy or Triumph? The death of JESUS revealed to all people that JESUS was 100% human. HIS resurrection by HIS FATHER, GOD, and the witness of HIS disciples and over 500 people living at that time, confirmed HIS resurrection.

There are over 500 prophesies that JESUS fulfilled such as:

The Messiah would be called a Nazarene (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 2:23).

He would speak in parables (Psalm 78:2–4; Matthew 13:10–15).

He would be called a King (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 27:37).

He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and a potter’s field would be bought with the money (Zechariah 11:12–13; Luke 22:47–48; Matthew 27:9–10).

He would be silent when accused (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:4–5).

He would be killed with criminals (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38).

He would be a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53, Romans 5:6–8).

First Corinthians 15 is an informative read but let’s consider verses 3-8:

(The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. As you recall Paul knew the Old Testament scriptures. He was a Pharisee and was a student of Rabbi Gamaliel. Paul had a personal encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus.)

³ For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time,^[a] he also appeared to me (Paul).

As Paul was on the road to Damascus to arrest the followers of JESUS, JESUS appeared to him. Paul’s life was changed by his encounter with JESUS.

Most of us do not have an on the road to Damascus experience with JESUS. When people accept JESUS as their Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into their human body and unites with their human spirit. They are born again in their spirit. All is confirmed by the resurrection of JESUS on that first Easter morning when the ladies found an empty tomb. Two angels confirmed, JESUS is not Here. HE has risen!!!

Do you believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead?

Do you realize as a Spirit-born Christian that you were also raised from the dead at the instant JESUS was raised? That is why as a Spirit-born person, you will never experience the death of your body/earth suit. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5:

5 For we know that if our earthly tent (human body/earth suit) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God (by being Spirit-born), an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent (human body), desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[a] we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

⁶ So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear* of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. *Meaning not to be afraid of GOD but to be in awe of GOD and having the utmost reverence and respect for GOD.

Our focus scripture is Luke 23:32-49

Let’s read Luke 23:32-34:

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Why was JESUS crucified between two criminals? To humiliate HIM. The positions on the king’s left, and right were positions of honor. The Romans wanted to dishonor JESUS, thus two criminals on each side.

In Matthew 20: ²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John) came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.²¹ And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” ²² But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, ^[e]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”²³ So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, ^[f]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” (Positions of Honor.)

Let’s read Luke 23:35-43:

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” (Temptation to show them WHO was. That is what Satan hoped HE would do but HE didn’t.)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ An inscription was above him:^[j] This Is the King of the Jews.

³⁹ Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at^[k] 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^[l] when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ And he (JESUS) said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

WOW! The penalty for sin would be paid in full the instant JESUS gave HIS sinless life in physical death. JESUS gave HIS life! NO ONE TOOK IT!

JESUS being crucified between two criminals gave us an example of a person with an unrepentant heart and one with a repentant heart. The criminal with the repentant heart went to paradise, the instant he died.

The Death of Jesus Let’s read Luke 23:44-49:

⁴⁴ It was now about noon,^[m] and darkness came over the whole land^[n] until three,^[o] 45 because the sun’s light failed.^[p] 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.”^[q] Saying this, he breathed his last.

Then what took place as described in Matthew 27:51 ⁵¹ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Original sin came to all mankind the instant the first Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit. Why all? Scripture reveals in Genesis 3:20 ²⁰ And Adam called his wife’s name Eve,^[g] because she was the mother of all living. Thus, the penalty for sin has been passed to every human born since.

That is why every human must be born-again in his or her spirit, as JESUS told Jewish Rabbi, Nicodemus, in John 3: ³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I (JESUS) say to you, unless one is born ^[a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Adam and Eve both sinned, thus sin came to all mankind.

JESUS willingly came to earth to live a sinless life so HE could atone for all sin. JESUS was tempted in all ways like humans are tempted, without sin. JESUS was and is the perfect human sacrifice acceptable to GOD to redeem every person from the penalty for his/her sin, which is eternal death.

GOD placed Adam in-charge of the Garden. Adam was a willing partner by eating the forbidden fruit. Doing so brought sin into the world for all people in all generations. Therefore, atonement for their, Adam and Eve’s, original sin came through GOD’S second Adam, JESUS.

This was GOD’S redemptive plan. When JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life, sin which blocked the entrance into Heaven was defeated. JESUS opened the door for all who place their faith in HIM to enter and receive eternal life though the miracle of being born into GOD’S eternal Family.

How does a Spirit-born person know that? GOD gives each person a guarantee. A “Guarantee?” Yes, the Holy Spirit as written in Ephesians 1: ¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[a] is the ^[b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

When JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for all sin, there was a physical display at that instant. JESUS gave HIS life to atone for the sins of mankind, which began with Adam and Eve. The vail or curtain that separated the Priest from the people split from the top to the bottom. Top to the bottom reveals that GOD made the split. The priest no longer had to make an acceptable sacrifice first for himself and then on behalf of the people. Since the death, resurrection, ascension of JESUS all people can come to JESUS, confess their sins, and ask JESUS to forgive him or her and ask JESUS to come into his/her life.

Just a thought, our closet becomes a secret place where we can communicate with GOD or simply pray. What is prayer? Talking to GOD.

All of this, in order for every person to have 24/7 access to GOD through faith in JESUS and to be Spiritually born into GOD’S eternal Family, never to be unborn.

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” ^[r] 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. ⁴⁹ But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

JESUS knew what power HE had. JESUS’ onlookers knew what power HE had. Yet, HE did nothing except to pray. When someone in whom you have placed your faith does not measure up to your expectations, what do you do? JESUS had a trusting, believing group who were expecting JESUS to do something spectacular according to their understanding of spectacular.

JESUS knew what power HE had. JESUS was on mission, the most vital mission for all of mankind, to pay for the price of sin, in full, for all who will ask JESUS to forgive him or her believing that HE died for their sins.

JESUS stayed the course and won the victory!!!

Isaiah 53:3: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

John 1:10-11: ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be^[e] children of God, to those who believe in his name, ¹³ who were born, not of natural descent,^[f] or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man,^[g] but of God.

Born-again through the miracle of Spiritual birth into GOD’S eternal Family, never to be unborn.

Do you accept this free Spiritual Gift or reject it? The decision is yours to make! Eternity is but a heartbeat away!

Blessings!!!