Luke Death Narrative
I. Divide and Title
A. Segmental Divisions
22.1-46 Jesus’ final moments with the disciples
22.47-65 Jesus is arrested
22.66-23.43 Jesus is tried and crucified
23.44-56 Death and Burial
B. Paragraph Divisions
22:1-6 The plot to kill Jesus
22:7-38 The Last Supper
22:39-46 Jesus in the garden
22:47-53 Jesus is arrested
22:54-62 Peter denies knowing Jesus
22:63-65 Jesus is mocked
22:66 -71 Jesus before the Jewish authorities
23.1-5 Jesus before Pilate
23.6-12 Jesus before Herod
23.13-25 Jesus is returned to Pilate
23:26-43 The Crucifixion
23:44-49 Jesus dies on the cross
23:50-56 Jesus laid in the tomb
II. Structural Analysis
A. Recurrences
1. Death: The book seems to focus on this concept with extreme attention. We see the theme of death played out in the plotting done by the Jews at the beginning of the section and the entire trial is the examination of the prospect of death for Jesus. The actual act of the crucifixion moves closer to the death theme by actually showing three people going through a death sentence and the final act of Jesus’ own death. It is this dynamic that makes the book look to the eternal realities of life and see how this life and the next will come to be for each and every person.
Evidence: 22.1-6, 23.26-43,44-49
2. Trial: Luke presents to the readers a cycle of trials that show how Jesus was tried for the crime of blasphemy by the Jews and civil uprising by the Roman government. This series of events takes place through a weaving of the different trials or hearings that Jesus went through to reach the verdict of crucifixion. The cycle went from the Jews to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod and from Herod back to Pilate, with Pilate making the final decision to allow the crucifixion.
Evidence: 22.66-71, 23.1-5,6-12,13-25
3. Denial: The author presents a specific look at the realities of people’s denial of Jesus. The first comes from Peter, second from the Jewish leaders and third from the crowds that called for Jesus to be crucified. These denials become key to the fact of Jesus ministry and mission among the people of God.
Evidence: 22.54-62,66-71, 23.13-25
4. Darkness: Luke shows how darkness plays a role in the action of this section at the arrest of Jesus, the Jewish trial and the crucifixion. The darkness at the arrest and the trial are both because the events happened during the night but the crucifixion does seem to be a supernatural darkness that seems to bring irony to the event.
Evidence: 22.39-46,47-53,66-71, 23.44-49
5. Statements of Faith: Luke records the words and actions of those who were witnesses of the crucifixion and their specific responses towards Jesus reveal their faith. The criminal on the cross expresses acceptance of Jesus while dying on the cross. The centurion states the Jesus was a righteous man after His death. Joseph shows his faith through the act of giving Jesus his burial tomb.
Evidence: 23.39-43,44-49,50-56
B: Relationships
1. Orientation: This section of the book opens with the general statement about the plot to kill Jesus and how the religious leadership of Israel were preparing to find a way to have Jesus killed for His teachings. However, to do this they would need to work through the Roman government because to do otherwise would cause far too great an ordeal for them with the people.
Evidence: 22.1-6
2. Pivot: The section seems to move with the fact that Jesus is arrested by the Jewish authorities and it is from that point that this whole part of the narrative begins to change shape and move into new territory. The whole fabric of the core disciples becomes undone and the group frays apart.
Evidence: 22.47-53
3. Climax: The main climax of the section comes during the death of Jesus on the cross and it reveals the completion of His ministry towards the cross. This aspect of the narrative shows the reader that the death of Jesus was a needed part in the process of salvation. The death of Jesus become the cornerstone of the section and communicates the key theme or message of the author; Jesus is going to die at the hands of the Jewish authorities.
Evidence: 23.44-49
4. Completion: The death Of Jesus brings the main message of the section to its logical completion. It is this event that reveals the nature of the work of Christ to bring to all people the gift of salvation. The aspect of Jesus suffering at the hands of the Jewish authorities and the Roman government was foretold by Jesus Himself. The author shows how Jesus brought the message of His ministry to its highest point as He died on the cross. and resurrection brought the message and work of salvation to its proper point of completion.
Evidence: 23.44-49
5. Concession: The author builds up the message of Christ for the forgiveness of all people and shows how Jesus goes to those who have been forgotten and left behind by the Jewish society. This is the main point of the message of Jesus because God loves all of His people. Luke brings this message to it apex with Jesus forgiving the criminal on the cross; it was an outcome that none would have predicted and none would have expected. Jesus did the unexpected and the unheard of by extending forgiveness and grace to a common criminal.
Evidence: 23.39-43
6. Preparation: The author shows how Jesus set the stage for the coming denial of Peter by telling him that the denial was coming. Peter swore that he would not deny but the fact came to be that Peter did deny Jesus three times. This becomes a key factor for the ministry of Christ by showing that Jesus does indeed know things of the future.
Evidence: 22.7-38 prepares the reader for 22.54-62.
III. Identify Strategic Area
A. Window Passage: The key passage within the death narrative would have to be found in the death of Jesus in 23.44-49. It is this passage that communicates the key theme for the whole section and it shows the actual events of Christ’s death becoming a reality.
B. Reasons for Selection: The passage shows the key message of the section and communicates the most important part of this sectional narrative. It is the death of Jesus that provides the needed information that shows the plan of God being revealed to all humanity.
IV. Contextualize
A. Paragraph Fit: The strategic area found in this section occurs at the end of the narrative account and shows the key relationship of Jesus’ death with the rest of the section. This reveals the whole key message of the section to the reader and connects the section with the book narrative. The passage completes this section of the narrative with the burial of Jesus in Joseph’s tomb and shows how the death of Jesus communicates the whole of the sections message, meaning and purpose.
Recurrences and Relationships
a. Recurrences
1. Death: The book seems to focus on this concept with extreme attention. We see the theme of death played out in the plotting done by the Jews at the beginning of the section and the entire trial is the examination of the prospect of death for Jesus. The actual act of the crucifixion moves closer to the death theme by actually showing three people going through a death sentence and the final act of Jesus’ own death. It is this dynamic that makes the book look to the eternal realities of life and see how this life and the next will come to be for each and every person.
Evidence: 22.1-6, 23.26-43,44-49
2. Darkness: Luke shows how darkness plays a role in the action of this section at the arrest of Jesus, the Jewish trial and the crucifixion. The darkness at the arrest and the trial are both because the events happened during the night but the crucifixion does seem to be a supernatural darkness that seems to bring irony to the event.
Evidence: 22.39-46,47-53,66-71, 23.44-49
3. Statements of Faith: Luke records the words and actions of those who were witnesses of the crucifixion and their specific responses towards Jesus reveal their faith. The criminal on the cross expresses acceptance of Jesus while dying on the cross. The centurion states the Jesus was a righteous man after His death. Joseph shows his faith through the act of giving Jesus his burial tomb.
Evidence: 23.39-43,44-49,50-56
b. Relationships
1. Climax: The main climax of the section comes during the death of Jesus on the cross and it reveals the completion of His ministry towards the cross. This aspect of the narrative shows the reader that the death of Jesus was a needed part in the process of salvation. The death of Jesus become the cornerstone of the section and communicates the key theme or message of the author; Jesus is going to die at the hands of the Jewish authorities.
Evidence: 23.44-49
2. Completion: The death Of Jesus brings the main message of the section to its logical completion. It is this event that reveals the nature of the work of Christ to bring to all people the gift of salvation. The aspect of Jesus suffering at the hands of the Jewish authorities and the Roman government was foretold by Jesus Himself. The author shows how Jesus brought the message of His ministry to its highest point as He died on the cross. and resurrection brought the message and work of salvation to its proper point of completion.
Evidence: 23.44-49
B. Passage Flow: This passage flows out of the final ministry narrative of Jesus when He arrived in Jerusalem and it is this part of His ministry that spurs the Jewish leaders to plot to kill Jesus. The final opposition to Jesus and His ministry is to finally kill Him for what He was doing among the people. This event of death then flows into the account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
The resurrection account is the next logical step in the chain of events that makes up this book and Luke weaves these accounts together in a tight bundle to create a constant moving picture of the life and ministry of Jesus.
This passage that communicates the event of Jesus’ death reveals the full magnitude and power that Jesus had, both positive and negative, with the people of Israel. Jesus died as a sacrifice for the sin of the world and even makes a request of the Father to forgive the people for this action of crucifixion.
C. Key Insights
1. The Lukan narrative seems to build the theme of death over a long period of time with the first prediction of death in chapter nine. The completion of this part of the book is extremely important for the understanding of Jesus message and mission. The death of Jesus shows the plan of God by revealing the means that salvation would be delivered to the people.
2. The death of Jesus prepares the readers for the coming event of the resurrection because if one part of Jesus’ prediction came true the second would also be more likely to come true. The death of Jesus is signaled by the Jewish leaders getting their revenge on Him and showing their own religious ignorance and arrogance by having Him killed.
3. In the event of the crucifixion Jesus was still acting with compassion towards those who were watching Him die and those who were dying with Him. It seems that in Jesus’ suffering there was an aspect of ministry that He could still complete. The act of His death brought people to a new level of faith and showed them that there was reason to place their trust in Him. Jesus ministered with compassion even in His own death.
V. Investigate
A. Selection of study topic: The Gospel accounts have much of the same information on the death of Jesus and it would seem that there would be little or no ambiguity between these narratives. However, there is one particular area of the narrative that most of the gospels contain different information; the words of Jesus on the cross. Each of the narratives contain different sayings of Jesus during the crucifixion that reveal something of the nature of Jesus’ character and His personal ministry with the people.
B. Data Collection: This study will be somewhat limited in its scope because it will be focused primarily on the nature of the gospel narratives but further study will result where there are ties to the Old Testament. The gospel accounts seem to have three common themes that run through the narratives; Jesus’ address to God, Jesus’ address to people and General statements.
a. Jesus’ address to God: These are statements that Jesus makes as a voice crying out to God the Father. These are the sayings that reveal a deeper nature about the relationship between Jesus and the Father and they show the dynamics of Christ’s work in the role of salvation.
Evidence: Lk. 23.34,46; Mt. 27.46; Mk15.34
Luke 23.34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23.46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Matthew 27.46 and Mark 15.34 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
b. Jesus’ address to people: The authors of the gospels record Jesus speaking to the general public who were attending the crucifixion and these statements are deeply rooted in His human relationships. These statements reveal the nature of Jesus’ personal relationships and show how He valued people. Even in the situation of crucifixion Jesus was still deeply concerned with the welfare of others.
Evidence: Lk. 23.43; Jn. 19.26-27
Luke 23.43 “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
John 19.26-27 Speaking to John and Mary. “Dear woman, here is your son ... here is your mother.”
c. General statements: There is also a category of Jesus’ sayings that were not specifically directed towards any person or group of people. These sayings give some detail to the message and mission of Jesus. They reveal a special type of message that shows the human side of Christ’s personal existence.
Evidence: Jn. 19.28,30; Mt. 27.46; Mk 15.34
John 19.28 “I am thirsty”
John 19.30 “It is finished”
Matthew 27.46 and Mark 15.34 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Note: The reason that the statement in Matthew and Mark appears in two areas is because of the nature of the statement. In one respect the statement is Jesus crying out to God in the midst of His deep suffering on the cross. This would make the statement an address to God.
However, there is another aspect to this phrase that does not appear in the text. This specific phrase is quoted from Psalm 22.1 and may be a reference back to the O.T. scripture. The Psalm is one that communicates the fact that the Psalmist feels utterly alone in the midst of His enemies and God is nowhere to be found. This could easily describe the nature of Jesus’ death on the cross and may have been an O.T. reference to the suffering of the savior.
VI. Consult
A. Word Study: Death
1. Old Testament Understandings
a. Hebrew Terms: The primary Hebrew term for death comes from the word mut, which means to die or to kill, and the key usage of this term was to refer to someone who had either died or been killed.
b. Hebrew Culture: The deeper understanding of death was that it is the enemy and opposite of life. Thus, it became a symbol of the general basis for the measure of a person’s relationship with God. God is the source of life and to fall out of relationship would make a person dead because they are out of relationship with God.
2. New Testament Understandings
a. Greek Terms: There are two key Greek terms in the New Testament that describe the aspect and concept of death. Nekros, which means dead or dead body, was a primary Greek term that was used by those in philosophical schools and was understood that the body was nothing more than dead matter. This is sharply contrasted by the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and was no longer dead matter. Thanatos, means death, was used to describe the reality of being dead or the fact that a person was bound to die. The New Testament often uses this to describe the concept of spiritual death.
b. Source of Death: Death was not a natural part of the human existence before the fall of Adam and thus was not part of God’s original intention for the existence of humanity. Death is the result of sin and the separation of humanity from the presence of God. It is by the fact of original sin that the whole of humanity has been condemned to die and the cause of death is rooted with Adam. “The wages of sin is death” Romans 6.23
c. Nature of Death: The reality of death is twofold because it is part of the physical or biological aspect of life and it is part of the aspect of the spiritual existence away from God. The aspect of biological death is part of the sinful human existence and ca not be changed but the concept of spiritual death can be changed by faith in Jesus Christ. The death of the spirit is the full and final separation from God.
d. The death of Jesus: The understanding of the death of Jesus comes from a basis of the incarnation because it was a death of the body and it was a separation from the presence of God. Jesus experienced the physical death through His crucifixion and that physical body died on the cross. Jesus also experienced separation from God in the fact that God left Him alone there on the cross because there was the feeling that Jesus had been abandoned by the Father during His suffering on the cross.
B. Commentary NICNT Luke 23.44-49
1. Comment
Verses 44 and 45: These verse communicate the role that Jesus took during His suffering and death on the cross. It is this message that shows the attitude of the writer about Jesus and the suffering that He endured. Jesus bore the punishment and shame of humanity when He hung on the cross because He experienced the utter and complete separation from God, the Father. Through this crucifixion Jesus became the substitute for all of humanity and gave them the opportunity to be made right with the Father.
Verse 46: Jesus suffered on the cross for many hours before He died but even in this suffering He ended His life with peace and trust in the Father. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Jesus prayed to the Father just before He died and since He gave up His life He has become the Lord over both life and death.
Verse 47: The testimony of the centurion is both powerful and provoking because he shows faith, even as a pagan observer, and realized that Jesus was far more than anyone realized. The centurion had watched the way that Jesus had died on the cross and it struck him so vividly that he was moved to believe the claims that Jesus had made about Himself and His ministry.
Verses 48 and 49: Those who watched the crucifixion were struck by the way that Jesus had died and they were all overwhelmed with the burden of guilt over the thing that they had watched happen to Jesus. Some may have even been calling for Him to be crucified but now they saw their mistake. The followers of Jesus that were still within the area watched the event from a distance too grief stricken to watch the suffering at any closer place. The messiah was dead and the hope for a new Israel had died with Him.
2. Personal Response: I find the commentary of the author to be nothing short of brilliant because of the depth that the scholarship digs into the passage and pulls the nuggets of shear truth out of the passage. This part of the work seems to have extremely good scholarship and reveals a pattern of deep thought that marks this work with a clear distinction for vivid exegetical communication. The author brings out the various dynamics of the death of Jesus and reveals some of the finer points related to the understanding of Jesus’ role in the work of salvation.
VI. Present
1. Jesus became the substitute for humanity: Jesus died and suffered the separation from God, so that, no one else would have to be eternally separate from God. It was this sacrifice that makes it possible for any and every person to have a relationship with the Father. God built a bridge back to humanity by sending Christ as the final sacrifice for sin and death and by this act ransomed us back from the results and consequences of sin.
2. Jesus laid His life into the Hands of the Father: The event of the death of Jesus was clearly one of the deepest and most moving sacrifices ever made in human history. The fact that Jesus died with peace in the Father reveals that this was indeed a matter of complete trust and faith. In the midst of Jesus suffering He laid His life in the arms of the Father.
3. The point of death: The death Of Jesus brings the main message of the section to its logical completion. It is this event that reveals the nature of the work of Christ to bring to all people the gift of salvation. Jesus’ death was a real event; it was suffering a death of the body and it was suffering a total separation from the presence of God. The act of His death brought people to a new level of faith and the way that Jesus died showed all who witnessed it that there was reason to place their trust in Him. Jesus ministered with compassion even in His own death.
VIII. Apply
A. Author’s Expectations: Luke most likely expected the people who read this book and see the ministry and suffering of Jesus as the means that the Father chose to use to bring the people back to Himself. Jesus paved the way back to God by standing in the place of humanity. It is this work that made Jesus the savior and it was this work that only He could complete. Jesus paid the price and met the requirement for us to be made right with the Father. Luke expects His readers to see the work of the savior and to respond with the same faith as the criminal and the centurion because they saw the savior doing the Fathers business.
B. Motivation for Action: Luke shows the result and change that takes place when Jesus impacts lives of people who were far from holy and it is this aspect of the section that most reveals the ministry and mission of Jesus. The primary motivation for the reader is to respond to the death of Jesus with faith and place their lives in the hands of the Father.
C. Modern day application: The suffering and sacrifice of Jesus is still valid for our modern society because we live in a world that is filled with meaningless death and destruction. Jesus’ sacrifice was not without purpose or meaning because His death was a part of a larger purpose that rests in the divine will of God. He died as a substitute for all of humanity and by this sacrifice we can have the chance for new life that will never end. True life can not come from anything found in this world because this world is fallen and will move towards decay. Jesus has died to bring this fallen world back into right relationship with the Father.
D. Christian Truth: The only way to get to the Father is through the work and sacrifice of the Son. This is the way to find life that does not fade away or end at the point of death. Death is only the end of this mortal existence and a new life awaits us in the presence of the Father.
