Project 119: Luke 23:26-49
| Project 119 | Ben Winder
“The Dying Jesus”
This seems a short account of such a world changing event, and especially of one that has been the focus of much writing, countless songs, untold art, and deepest contemplation. As many Christians recite together each Sunday, even this coming high, holy Sunday of resurrection, “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.” Indeed, He did.
Jesus has died. Praise be to God this is not the end of the story, but it is an important part of the story we would do well to encounter as fully as possible.
As you read this gospel witness to Jesus’ crucifixion this day, take careful note of all those who play small parts in it. The soldiers. Simon from Cyrene. The crowd. The wailing daughters of Jerusalem. The criminals crucified beside him. Those casting lots for his clothes. The watching people. The sneering leaders. The mocking soldiers. The praising centurion.
And there, in the middle of it all, the dying Jesus.
All those who knew Him stood at a distance and watched.
Let it be for us, too. Let us stand at this distance of both geography and time, and take it all in.
As you do perhaps you might respond in prose or song or art or contemplation. Whatever it draws out of you, may it also draw you in. May you find your own place in this account of the Righteous One of God, crucified, dead, and buried.
Luke 23:26-49 (ESV):
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.