From Gethsemane To Golgotha Series

From Gethsemane to Golgotha

Luke 22-23

Scriptures read in the service before the sermon:

Luke 22:31-34

Luke 22:39-48

Luke 22:54-65

Introduction

As we have read through the final hours of Jesus’ life, we journeyed from Gethsemane to Golgotha. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed with anguish while his disciples slept. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 

Angels strengthened him for the task ahead. 

-That night Jesus endured betrayals, trials, and beatings.

-Eventually Simon from Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus to the place called the Skull, Golgotha.

-In the combined Gospel accounts, there are seven “words”/phrases from Jesus while he was on the cross. Luke records 3 of those. 

1. Father Forgive Them (Luke 23:32-37)

Luke 23:32-37

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ??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. ??Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ??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.” ??The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them uses his last precious breaths to insult Jesus. People stood around watching, ‘Rulers’ taunted him and called him a liar, Soldiers mocked him.

Everyone thought his chief intention should be to save himself - the criminal, the rulers, the soldiers. What they didn’t know was that Jesus was dying to save every one of them. They did not deserve the salvation that Jesus offered. They challenged him and mocked him, he prayed. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

In this most painful hour, Jesus does not pray for himself, his loved ones, nor for his friends. He prayed for his enemies. The soldiers who were crucifying him. The teachers who hated him. The priests who bought him with silver. The traitor who sold him to them. The crowd who had cried "crucify him”. Lutzer says, “The Greek text implies that He kept repeating the words ‘Father, forgive them…’”

Clarence Cranford: “By this prayer from the cross Jesus was building a bridge of forgiveness over which his

tormenters could come in penitence to the Father.”

2. Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise (23:38-43)

Luke 23:38-43

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ??But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ??We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ??Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

One of the thieves expressed faith in the Messiah. He expressed fear of God - he was about to meet! He expressed guilt - he knew what he deserved. He expressed truth - Jesus has done nothing wrong! He expressed trust - remember me.

At his death Jesus is seeking and saving the lost. The thief had made a request of the King: Remember Me This was a daring prayer of faith. Clovis Chappell wrote about the idea that he only requested to be remembered - “he asked for no throne, no seat among the mighty, only to be remembered.” 

Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.‘Paradise’ - Persian word meaning ‘a walled garden’. When a Persian king wished to honor one of his subjects, he made him a companion of the garden, and he was chosen to walk in the garden with the king. Jesus promised more than eternity, he promised the honored place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven. (Barclay) “This offers a tantalizing hint that believers go to a place of delight after death and exist there before the end of days and consummation of God’s kingdom on earth.” (Swindoll)

Jesus gave assurance here…

-Assurance that life goes on

-Assurance of an abiding fellowship with himself. 

-Assurance of a heavenly home, paradise. 

-Assurance of the immediacy of our heavenly home. 

-Assurance that those who turn to him are saved. 

Spurgeon: “This man who was our Lord’s last companion on earth was His first companion at the gates of paradise.” A Criminal Who Becomes a Brother. What an ultimate demonstration of grace! The undeserving receiving unreserved love of God. Never look at the Thief as if he were a stranger. He is us … and we deserve the same for our sin. Jesus looks at us with love and forgiveness in the same way.