In Lesson 145 Jesus was on His way to the place outside the city where He would be crucified. Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22 and John 19:17 identifies the place by the Hebrew word, “Golgotha”, while Luke uses the Greek word “Calvary”. Both have the same meaning, that is, “the place of the skull”. There are several traditional thoughts concerning this place (the early historian Origen held that it was the place where the first man Adam was buried and where his skull was found, another is that the hill where these executions took place was shaped like a skull). Probably the most logical reason for the name is that the Romans left skulls there to make the place more fearsome and foreboding.
I believe the best way to describe the events of the cross is to look at the seven things Christ said while He was being crucified. But, before we look at that, a reminder of what has taken place before is needed. Over the years religion has succeeded in distorting the image of Christ on the cross. Artist’s renderings and statuary representing the crucifixion show Christ on a traditional tall cross, His body is clean, with a cloth around His midsection and small trails of blood trickling from His hands, feet and forehead. The Scriptures and history give us a different picture. He was beaten nearly to death, to the point He was unrecognizable as the Jesus His friends, followers and family knew. He was naked and nailed to a smaller tau cross with large spikes. It is not my intention to overly sensationalize this scene, but some accuracy is needed.
So, now He is nailed to the cross and the first thing He says is found in Luke 23:34. “Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not understand what they are doing.” He began His public ministry with prayer (Luke 3:21-22) and a confirmation from the Father that He was, indeed, the Son of God (look at John 1:29-34 for a more detailed account). In a later lesson we will look at events following the cross that will confirm again that He is the Son of God.
That the Father was willing to forgive is evident, beginning with Pentecost and subsequent events recorded in the New Testament (see Acts 2:36-37), and to this day for all that will repent and turn to Him. But, as we follow the account in Luke 23, the people who witnessed His crucifixion, along with the religious leaders and soldiers mocked Him: “He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God” (verse 35); “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself” (verse 37).
This only confirmed their arrogance and ignorance. They failed to recognize what was unfolding before their very eyes – the detailed fulfillment of all that was promised by Moses and the Prophets almost 1500 years earlier. And they had so distorted what God had revealed to them that they failed to understand why the Messiah was to come and the sacrifice He would make of Himself on their behalf. If He saved Himself, as they suggested in their derision, He could not save them!
Before we go to the second thing He says, we should look at the account of the four soldiers dividing Jesus’ “garments”, the plural of himation (John 19:23). However, a distinction is made regarding His “coat”. This is an unfortunate rendering, as most people would think of a coat as being a heavy outer garment. The word is chiton, a seamless inner garment worn next to the skin. It usually had long sleeves and reached down to the knees, some went all the way to the ankles. Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:40 comes to mind here, “If a man takes you to court, and takes away your coat (chiton), let him have your cloak (himation) also.” So, the soldiers cast lots to see who would take Jesus’ seamless inner garment, because they didn’t want to damage it. This was a fulfillment of Psalms 22:18.
The second thing Jesus says while on the cross has to do with the two thieves who were being crucified at the same time (see Isaiah 53:12). The Gospel accounts tell us one thief was on His right, the other on His left (Mark 15:27, John 19:18). Matthew’s account tells us that as the crowd was mocking Jesus, the two thieves were joining in and mocking Him as well (Matthew 27:38-44).
One of the thieves continued to revile Jesus, “If You’re really the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39) Then the other had a change of heart and repented (Luke 23:39-42). Read Luke 23:39-42 and then find the following as I point out this second thief’s clear reasoning regarding his own situation and acknowledgment of Who Jesus is. This is a classic example of repentance.
He feared God (verse 40), he rebuked the other thief for not fearing God (verse 40), he admitted his own helpless condition (verse 40), he agreed that he deserved to be punished for his crimes (verse 41), he believed Jesus was innocent of any wrongdoing (verse 41), he called Jesus Lord, demonstrating his submission (verse 42) and finally, he expressed belief in the eventual triumph of Christ’s kingdom (verse 42).
Then, based on this short confession, we see Jesus’ second statement as He responds in verse 43, “I’m telling you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Of course this destroys any additional requirements religion may have put in place for salvation or deliverance. The thief could not have been baptized (either by immersion or sprinkling). He was not a member of any particular denomination or group or belief system. He simply recognized his helplessness, recognized Jesus as his Lord and demonstrated confidence in a future kingdom.
The two thieves represent a divided humanity. One believed in Christ and secured an eternity with God (John 14:6). The other rejected Him and will spend eternity without God in anguished torment. This is John 3:36, “He that believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he that does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” I have to point out “believes” is pisteuo, a present participle that expresses continuous action. And while it’s true the thief did not have to maintain his belief for very long, since he was about to die; Jesus recognized the sincerity of his confession. On the other hand the impenitent thief had nothing to look forward to but God’s wrath (orge, indignation) that would lead to His judgment (Romans 2:5-9).