Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 23:32-49; Matthew 27:51-52 "THREE DIFFERENT RESPONSES"
Day 330 – Luke 23
Text: Luke 23:32-49; Matthew 27:51-52
THREE DIFFERENT RESPONSES
There were a number of “groups” of people at Golgotha who witnessed the death of Jesus. There were the soldiers, the passers-by, the scribes and the chief priests, and of course the Disciples of Jesus.
Luke recorded three distinct responses from the on-lookers as they witnessed the death of Jesus.
1. The Response of the Centurion in charge of the Crucifixion
The centurion was a Roman officer who is in charge of about a hundred soldiers. He would be one who has risen from the ranks. The rise to the rank of a centurion is seldom meteoric. The soldier would have to prove himself in many battles before he comes to the rank of a centurion. When a person becomes a centurion, you can expect him to be a man who has proven himself to be “as tough as nails”. A soft person would not survive in the Roman army, let alone rise from the ranks to become a centurion.
Luke recorded the fact that the soldiers had mocked Jesus when they crucified Him. They divided His garments among themselves (Luke 23:34). They also spoke cruel and caustic words against Him.
“The soldiers also mocked Him,
coming and offering Him sour wine,
and saying,
‘If You are the king of the Jews,
save Yourself.’ “
Luke 23:36
The six hours supervising the crucifixion of Jesus and the two robbers must have impacted the heart of the centurion deeply. What are some of the things that could have spoken to his heart?
a) Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness for all responsible for crucifying Him.
b) His loving concern for His mother.
c) His words spoken to one of the robbers.
d) The darkness that covered the land.
e) The cry of victory.
f) The words of complete trust uttered as a prayer as Jesus drew His last breath.
g) His courage and strength to bear all the pain associated with death by crucifixion.
Luke recorded the response of the centurion,
“So when the centurion saw what had happened,
he glorified God, saying,
‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’ “
Luke 23:47
The centurion would have superintended crucifixions before. Doing work like this was all part and parcel of a soldier’s many assignments. It would not be difficult to guess that in all his years of work, he had never seen Someone face death so triumphantly!
Mark also recorded the response of the centurion. He noted,
“So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him,
saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last,
he said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’ “
Mark 15:39
The remark of the centurion in Mark’s Gospel is even more striking! Even as he crucified Jesus, he would have received a briefing from his superiors concerning the condemned. As he supervised the crucifixion of Jesus, he would also have heard the many rude remarks made against Jesus. Somewhere, someone mentioned that Jesus called Himself the Son of God.
That must have been a remarkable statement! It may well have impacted the centurion deeply. He certainly concluded that if ever there was a Son of God, Jesus would be that Son! All that he had heard and seen that day made a truly powerful impression on his heart!
2. The Response of the On-lookers
As Jesus breathed His last, the on-lookers suddenly felt something touching their hearts deeply. Luke made this observation,
“And the whole crowd who came together to that sight,
seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.”
Luke 23:48
The chief priests and scribes had probably influenced the “whole crowd”. They too took up the cry of the chief priests and scribes. They must even have felt that they were justified in railing against a Person who called Himself “The Christ”, the “King of the Jews” . They probably did not evaluate what they were doing.
As time wore on, they too observed how regally Jesus conducted Himself. There was such a sense of dignity and strength in Him, till the very last moment. He did not rise to the jibes hurled against Him. Instead, He gave His attention to ministering to people whose needs He had felt, and that when He was in obvious pain!
What had they done? Why had they spoken against Jesus so vehemently? What if this Jesus was indeed their Messiah, and they had cruelly crucified Him? How terrible a sin that would be, if they had been wrong all this while! They left the scene of the crucifixion, confused and beating their breasts, an expression of deep remorse!
3. The Response of the Disciples of Jesus
Luke observed the third group of people who watched silently their Teacher dying on the Cross.
“But all His acquaintances, and the women
who followed Him from Galilee,
stood at a distance, watching these things.”
Luke 23:49
Mark also made a similar observation concerning the Disciples of Jesus.
“There were also women looking on from afar,
among whom were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses,
And Salome , who also followed Him and ministered to Him
When He was in Galilee, and many other women
Who came up with Him to Jerusalem.”
Mark 15:40-41
Both Gospel writers paid due respect and gave due honour to the women disciples. They may not have been the ones who were sent out to preach. They may not be the ones who were especially chosen to become apostles. However, they were still outstanding in their faithfulness and their unflagging support of their Master.
THE RENDING OF THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE
Matthew and Mark could not help but note that at the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, something else happened – at the Temple in Jerusalem!
“Then, behold, the veil of the Temple
was torn in two from top to bottom…”
Matthew 27:51(Cf Mark 15:38)
The death of Jesus coincided with the offering of the evening sacrifice at the Temple! The priests who were at the Temple that day must have been horrified. The rending of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies must have struck terror in the hearts of all who were there at the Temple! This must have been an act of God! There was no other way to explain the rending of the curtain the way it occurred!
ANOTHER OBSERVATION OF THE SUPERNATURAL WORK OF GOD
Matthew observed that when Jesus died, a supernatural work of God was observed,
“And the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
and the graves were opened;
and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised…”
Matthew 27:51,52
HOW DO YOU SEE JESUS?
If you were there at the scene of the crucifixion, and you observed all these things happening, how would you have responded? As we read the Scriptures about the death of Jesus, how was your heart impacted?
Does your heart and mind respond to all that you have read about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can you also say like the centurion, “Truly this was the Son of God?”