33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “ Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “ If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “ THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Observation – What does it say?
- They took Jesus to a place call “The Skull”
- The “they” here in the Luke account is unclear
- They crucified Jesus along with criminals
- Jesus was crucified in the middle between two criminals
- Jesus asked Father to forgive them
- Jesus said they did not know what they were doing.
- They gambled for Jesus clothes
- People stood by looking on
- The rulers were sneering at Jesus
- Luke say even the ruler. Make it appear this was unusual
- Even the rulers were sneering appears that others were sneering at Jesus
- Rulers expected that if Jesus were the Christ this would not and could not happen to him
- Jesus saved others but did not save himself.
- The soldiers mocked Jesus
- The soldiers offered Jesus sour wine
- The soldiers told Jesus to save himself.
- There was an inscription above Jesus saying “This is the King of the Jews”
- One of the criminals being crucified mocked Jesus.
- The other criminal told the first criminal to stop mocking Jesus
- The second criminal asked the first if he did not even fear God just before he was about to die.
- The second criminal said he and the other criminal were guilty
- The second criminal said their punishment was just.
- The second criminal said Jesus had none nothing wrong
- The second criminal knew who Jesus was
- The second criminal ask Jesus to remember him
- The second criminal knew that Jesus would come into His kingdom
- It was dark at the sixth hour or mid-day until the ninth hour
- It was dark most of the afternoon. 3 to 4 hours of darkness depending on how you count it.
- The sun was obscured most of the afternoon
- The veil of the temple was torn in two in the afternoon
- Jesus yelled “Father into your hands I commit My Spirit”
- After yell the above phrase Jesus died
- The centurion saw what happened
- The centurion said Jesus was innocent
- God was praised by the centurion saying Jesus was innocent
- When the darkness came and Jesus cried out the left in mourning
- Luke states that all Jesus acquaintances and the women were there. Matthew and Mark only mention the women John only mentions John and women
- Interesting choice of words, acquaintances, not friends, or disciples. The same word acquaintances is used in NASB, ESV, NKJV and KJV
- Jesus acquaintances were standing off at a distance
- Jesus acquaintances saw what was happening
Interpretation – What does it mean?
While Jesus was being crucified, Jesus asked for the forgiveness of His executioners. In his dying moments Jesus forgave as He told us to forgive. The soldiers the scribes and chief priest did not realize who Jesus was and so Jesus asked the Father to forgive them.
The 6th hour was from noon to 1 The 9th hour is from 3 PM until 4 PM so darkness last from 3 to 4 hours. During that time Jesus died.
The one criminal asked for forgiveness and to be remembered. Jesus told him that very day he would be with Jesus in paradise. The criminal did nothing to deserve his forgiveness. It was offered freely. The scribes and chief priest and soldiers did nothing to deserve forgiveness. It was offered freely. This is an example of how we are to behave. People may not deserve our forgiveness but we are to forgive freely.
Application – How does it work?
From the crowds stand point, if Jesus were really the Son of God why would he allow such things to happen to Him. Those who had hoped He would usher in the Kingdom of God and over throw the Romans may have felt betrayed. Jesus could not be the Messiah if he was being killed. They may have felt Jesus had misled them. They had believed a lie. Understanding that point of view is easy to understand why they taunted Jesus. They probably felt anger, not at the Roman soldiers or the chief priests but at Jesus The hopes they had placed in Jesus were all coming apart. They may have felt Jesus was a fraud. They may have felt the chief priest and scribes were right all along. “Hey you healed others why don’t you save yourself.” King of the Jew, Yea you are a fraud!”
It makes me wonder what I would have done if I had been there. What would you have done? I would like to say the worst I would have done is stand there quietly. I would like to say I would have mourned the death of my Lord. But more likely I would have been one those jeering and taunting Jesus. I probably would have been one of the worst. As I am honest with myself I see the darkness of my heart. Yes, I think I would have rejected Jesus. But praise God, Jesus would have forgiven me. Praise be to God because Jesus rose from the grave and does forgive me. He forgive you too. So what are you going to do about it. I will live for Him!
