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.
3. Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit (23:44-49)
Luke 23:44-49
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ??Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. ??The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ??When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ??But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Signs that the rescue is in progress…
-At noon Darkness covers the land.
-The Temple veil is torn in two. The curtain hid the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God. Only the High Priest
could enter, and only once a year. “It is as if the secret of God’s presence, hitherto barred to man, was thrown open to all.” (Barclay)
-Jesus Cried with a loud voice. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
-Jesus died with a prayer on his lips.
-This is Psalm 31:5 with one word added - Father.
-This is the first prayer that every Jewish mother taught her child to say last thing at night.
The basis upon which all men are saved is the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God - Jesus came to be that for us. The centurion - praised God and said Surely this was a righteous man. The people - beat their breasts and went away. All who knew him watched from a distance. Special mention: The women - those faithful women who stayed until the end … and who would be first to discover the empty tomb.
This prayer was an act of dedication. Moffatt gives this translation: “I trust my spirit to thy hands.”
Conclusion: At Golgotha we are reminded….
1. The tremendous love of the Savior (Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”)
2. The crushing power of the Enemy. (Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you…” Luke 22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”)
3. The global battle being fought. (Luke 22:42-44 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”)
4. The passionate call to the lost. (Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”)
5. The vivid reality of the reason.(Luke 2:11 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”)
6. The urgent need for a decision (Luke 12:40 “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”)
Communion
After Communion
Galatians 1:3-5 “…The Lord Jesus Christ…gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
We are lost and found only in the power of Jesus!
May our church be a place where the lost can be found!
Jesus came to seek and save the lost … he sought and saved me, and he will save you! He is still seeking and saving the lost.
What are your next steps today?
Note: I will not be publishing new sermon notes for next week (April 20, 2025).
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Questions for Discussion
1. We covered a lot of ground this morning. When you think about Pilate’s role in the story of Jesus, why does he render a judgment that he obviously disagrees with?
2. How does this story demonstrate the power of the Enemy, Satan?
3. What does the choice between Jesus and Barabbas reveal about human nature and societal values?
4. Both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus. We know that Peter returned, Judas did not. When we are facing up to a failure in our own lives, what factors can help us return rather than run away?
5. Luke says little about Jesus’ physical death. Instead he focuses on people’s attitudes to the man on the center cross. What attitude toward Jesus does each group or individual reveal? (soldiers, leaders, the crowd, the criminal, the centurion)
6. What does the interaction between Jesus and the criminal on the cross reveal about forgiveness? How can we learn from the criminal who turned to Jesus at the last moment?
7. Why is the tearing of the temple curtain significant? What does that mean for us today?
8. How do you think the people watching—like the centurion or the women—felt during and after Jesus’ death?
9. What emotions do you feel as you reflect on the crucifixion? Do you think about this scene very often?
10. How does the centurion's declaration after Jesus' death inspire your faith?
