Day 317 – Luke 23, John 18-19

Talking Points

• So many huge prophecies are being fulfilled and confirmed in the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Pilate, operating on the information fed to him by the Jewish leaders, skeptically asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus responds, “It is as you say” (Luke 23:3). Hundreds of years earlier, God had promised King David that his throne would endure forever. Now, Jesus announces He fills that very throne. The last King of Israel is the eternal King!
• Inundated in the lies, posing, and posturing of the political world he lived in, and greatly frustrated, Pilate asks Jesus a reasonable question — a question repeated by searchers in all generations — “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Unknowingly, he was talking to the Truth.
• Pilate found no guilt in Jesus (John 18:38). He wanted to release Him (Luke 22:16, 22). He even made attempts to let Jesus go (Luke 23:22, John 19:12). Yet, in the end, Pilate conceded to the demands of the crowd and knowingly condemned an Innocent to die.
• Our verses record, with all things accomplished to “fulfill the scripture,” Jesus said, “It is finished!” and He died (John 19:28, 30). The gospel accounts reveal it was not a quiet statement weakly muttered under His breath, but actually a great shout of victory! In that very moment, redemption was secured, sin was paid for, and Satan was crushed. In that very moment, every requirement of the Law was satisfied and every single prophecy of Scripture regarding the Messiah’s life and death was fulfilled. There would be no need for anyone to come behind and wrap up loose ends. In fact, there would not be one thing left for anyone to do! In every sense of the word — it is finished! Praise the Lord!

Thoughts

A man, Simon of Cyrene, was pushed into service by the Roman soldiers. He was forced to carry the cross bar of the Lord’s crucifix to Calvary. He walked, carrying this imposing timber, behind the anguished steps of Jesus. We know from Scripture that Simon had two sons, Alexander and Rufus. We do not know if they were there with him on this day. From the context, we can imagine, most certainly, he was a Jew heading to Jerusalem for the Passover. We know he never expected this harsh inconvenience. The Bible doesn’t say anything more about Simon.

I wonder if he ever realized, maybe on this day, or perhaps on some other — he carried his Lamb’s cross? I wonder if it was not lost on Simon, the symbolic blood he had come to celebrate was actually the blood that dripped in the path he had walked? I wonder if, passing off this beam to the One who would die on it, he recognized His Savior’s eyes? Simon would escape the Roman soldiers’ wrath and walk off this hill. Thankfully for Simon and for us, Jesus remained.