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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Thursday, 30th November 2023

Pastor Joshua Zhang

This chapter is very heavy and difficult one to understand. This chapter is not the end, because Jesus sacrificed Himself and the way to the tree of life was opened. Going back to the Passover in 33 AD, the Passover at that time was from 6 o’clock in the evening on Thursday to just before 6 o’clock in the evening on Friday, and the Sabbath began at 6 o’clock on Friday. “I was with you in the temple all day long, and you did not lay hands on me. But now is your hour, and darkness has taken over.” (Luke 22:53) If Jesus was not willing, darkness would not take over, and they would not be able to capture Him. At this time, Jesus was willing to give Himself up.

At the Passover meal, Jesus established a new covenant, which is the Holy Communion. When people see the bread and cup, they remember that Jesus broke his body and shed his precious blood for us. Chapter 23 follows the Passover night described in Chapter 22. That night there was prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Holy Communion, etc., everything is related to Chapter 23.

The Son of God became the perfect atoning lamb. “Then all the people arose, and brought Jesus before Pilate, and accused him, saying, We see this man seducing the nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he is the Christ and the King. Pilate asked Jesus, saying, Who are you? King of the Jews? Jesus answered and said to him, “You have said so.” (v.1-3) Faced with the accusations of the people, Jesus did not say a word. He answered nothing else but His identity and relationship with the Father. Jesus is truly the King of the Jews, and more than that, He is the King of everyone, the Son of God.

Pilate couldn’t find any crime in Jesus, and he didn’t want to offend everyone, so he handed him over to Herod. They were originally in competition with each other, but on that day Pilate sold a favour to Herod and sent Jesus to him, and they became friends. Herod was very happy and asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus said nothing. Herod found no crime and sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, so he brought out the murderer Barabbas, hoping that the crowd would choose Barabbas and release Jesus. However, the crowd would rather release Barabbas. Pilate said for the third time that Jesus could find no sin. The crowd clamored again and again, and Pilate handed Jesus over to them to do as they pleased (see v.4-25). Jesus was handed over to the people throughout Israel, who demanded that He be crucified.

This passage talks about the way Jesus went to the cross, what was in His heart, and the reactions of the people around him on the way. They did not understand Jesus’ thoughts. “As they were bringing Jesus away, a certain Simon of Cyrene came from the country; and they seized him, and laid the cross upon him, and made him carry it on his back, and follow him.” (v.26) Jesus was beaten, and his flesh was torn all over. , the cross was too heavy to carry, and He had reached the limit of his body. Jesus did not use his divinity to anesthetize himself at this moment, but emptied himself and walked the way of the cross as a fully human being.

“A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women; and the women wailed and wept for Him. And Jesus turned to them and said to them, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (v.27) -28) The women cried bitterly for Jesus, not knowing that the pain He suffered at this time was to bring healing and life to the world.

“If these things are done on the sapful tree, what will happen to the dry tree?” (v.31) “The sapful tree” refers to Jesus Himself, but also to God’s people, the new kingdom, and the new world. Israel. Even trees with sap have to face great difficulties, and God has not exempted them from the difficulties. Then the dry trees, that is, the old Israel and the people who do not know God, have even more difficulties and suffer even more. Israel is about to be destroyed, and then these women will really face disaster and will cry bitterly for themselves and their children.

When Jesus was walking on the road to the cross, everyone pitied Him and wept for Him, but Jesus said that He was a tree with sap and had His plan to be fulfilled, but no one understood it.

“And when they came to a place called Calvary, they crucified Jesus there, and also the two criminals: one on the left and one on the right. Then Jesus said to them, Father, forgive them; for what they have done , and they did not know it. And the soldiers cast lots to divide his garments among them.” (v.33-34) Jesus was crucified on Calvary calmly. No one could understand the pain of His hands and feet that were pierced. He endured this. In all the pain, he still prayed to the Father for the soldiers to forgive them all their sins. In the dark moments, when Satan was in power and wanted to kill Him, He was willing to surrender Himself because He believed in the Heavenly Father. He only had the Father in His heart. He saw what the Father wanted to do and was willing to put down everything to accomplish it.

Two criminals were crucified with Jesus. One mocked Him, but the other said to Jesus: “Please remember me when you come into your kingdom” (see v.39-42). Jesus was already nailed to the cross, bruised and breathless. He was leaning on the rough cross, bleeding all over, thirsty, and in agony. “Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you Be with me in paradise.” (v.43) Jesus knows what He wants to accomplish. He wants everyone to return to Paradise with Him, to be with God the Father, that is, back to the Garden of Eden, where God is for us. A prepared home.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions; if there were not them, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, Where I am, you may also be there.” (John 14:2-3) What Jesus suffered so much to accomplish was to bring us to paradise.

“It was about noon, and darkness fell over the land until early in the morning, and the sun was darkened; and the veil of the temple was torn in two in the middle. Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Father, I surrender my soul to It is in your hand. Having said this, I gave up my breath.” (v.44-46) From noon to three o’clock that day, the sun was blazing, but everything was dark. At this time, the curtain of the temple was torn. Two halves, and at the same time Jesus said, “Father, into Your hand I commit My Spirit to You.” Jesus personally delivered His spirit into the hands of the Father, and then “breathed out.” The original text is “He breathed out (His breath left)”, which is the active form. There was darkness all over the earth. Jesus handed over His Spirit. At that moment, the way to the tree of life was opened. The veil was rent, and the way into the Holy of Holies was opened. The Spirit of Jesus entered the Holy of Holies. He actually took us in, The Father’s will was fulfilled.

In Genesis Chapter 3, God drove the first man, Adam, out of the Garden of Eden. Now Jesus is the second Adam. His Spirit opens this bloody road, which is the road to the tree of life, leading to God, where He will take us all. , this is what Jesus wanted to accomplish and what Luke recorded.