Bible Discussion — Luke 23

May 28, 2008, 12:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, Connie, Josh J, Steve  | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com looks at the next chapter of Luke, Luke 23.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

 
INTRODUCTION:
Steve:
Jesus is brought before the rulers of the area, who rightfully find no fault in Him. But at the insistence of the religious leaders, and the crowds they whip into a frenzy, He is beaten, mocked, ridiculed, whipped, and brutally murdered. Yet at all times He responds with love. With forgiveness.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Connie:
Verse 11 says that Herod (contemptuously) gave Jesus a beautiful robe while mocking Him, then sent Him away. In John’s Gospel, He still had it on the way to the cross. I wonder if that’s part of what the soldiers drew lots over in v.34. All I remember from John is a tunic with one seam, but it does say there were four parts — enough for four men.

Chloe:
Verse 56 says of the women preparing the burial spices and perfumes, “But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” Just thought it was interesting.

Josh:
Jesus’ words in v.43 — “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” — are often used in the debate over whether we go straight to heaven when we die, or lie in some dormant state until the resurrection.

I don\’t care much one way or the other, but what I hadn\’t even thought of until this reading is that Christ himself wasn\’t even going to paradise that day. He had some other stops to make first.

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Give Us Barabbas
Chloe: Subversive Nation
Chloe; Connie: Barabbas
Josh: Cover Us!

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
Josh:
I wrote an article about this already, but this was a pretty good day, despite the mourning at the time.

Chloe:
We are Barabbas, the ones rescued from our deserved fate at the cost of Jesus\’ life. We are Simon of Cyrene, called to carry the cross of Christ. We are either one thief or the other, and sometimes both, ridiculing and praising Jesus in turn.

Steve:
We might have heard it many times before, but it is no less important that “the curtain of the temple was torn in two” in the hour of Christ’s death. That thick and weighty symbol of separation from God was removed forever by the power of sinless sacrifice.

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Steve:
Pilate asked if Jesus was from Galilee, not because he cared, but because he wanted to pass him off to someone else. It seems that one of the most popular ways to use rules is in evading responsibility.

Josh:
I wonder what Herod would have done if Jesus had actually performed a miracle. Would he have believed, or would he have taken it as some parlor trick?

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Chloe:
23:31 — “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

Steve:
23:34a — “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ ”

Connie:
23:47 — “So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’ ”

Josh:
23:46 — “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”

 
PORTION YOU WOULD MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Chloe:
When Jesus says, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” I get confused. Does that mean Jesus went to paradise directly after dying? Does it mean that right after we die we go to paradise? Or is it a reflection of the fluidity of time for God?

Steve:
Or (continuing Chloe’s question), is the pause in the wrong place: “I tell you the truth today — you will be with Me in paradise”?

Josh:
I mentioned last week my hang-ups with Judas. I\’m reminded again as I see the description of Joseph of Arimathea: “. . . a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed.”

So Jesus’ death was God\’s plan, but the godless carried it out, while the godly did not. Can God\’s plan be sinful?

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
Connie:
This is a dark chapter. We’ve all had dark nights in our lives and we will have more, but because of that, we can help others get through theirs — by focusing on Jesus’ resurrection, and the life and hope that He brings.

That’s the message the world needs, the message we need to bring to the world.

 
CONCLUSION:
Steve:
Jesus has died. Tears have been cried. He has been placed in the tomb. Spices have been prepared to preserve and anoint His body.

But the story is not over.


Comments

Leave a comment!