48: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:26 – 56)

They were ignorant of the seriousness of God’s judgment against their sins and of the Messiah’s work. Though Jesus was righteous, they ridiculed Him even as He died. Yet the death of this righteous man was part of God’s plan. When they saw what had happened, they were shocked at what they had done and troubled by its consequences. Their ignorance and violence had crucified the most innocent man.

👉 Read Luke 23:26 - 56

Q1. Many people cried when Jesus carried the cross. When Jesus saw them, he said, “Daughters of (            ), do not cry for me, but for yourselves and your children.” Verses 29–30 describe the severity of the afflictions of the coming day of judgment. If suffering of the cross was inflicted on the innocent Jesus, how much more severe would the coming judgment on Jerusalem be? The green wood refers to (           ), the innocent one, and the dry wood refers to (           ), which was facing judgment.

Many people cried when Jesus carried the cross. When Jesus saw them, he said, “Daughters of ( Jerusalem ), do not cry for me, but for yourselves and your children.” Verses 29–30 describe the severity of the afflictions of the coming day of judgment. If suffering of the cross was inflicted on the innocent Jesus, how much more severe would the coming judgment on Jerusalem be? The green wood refers to ( Jesus ), the innocent one, and the dry wood refers to ( Jerusalem ), which was facing judgment.

Jesus’ crucifixion foreshadows the coming judgment. Jesus’ warning was fulfilled historically in the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman forces under Titus in AD 70 and ultimately points forward to the final judgment in the last days.

“Do not cry for me.” We should repent rather than merely sympathize with Jesus.

Q2. Jesus said, "Father, forgive their sins. They don't know what they're doing." According to their taunt to Jesus in v35-37, what was their misunderstanding about how the Messiah would save His people?  

They thought the Messiah should not die but triumph over His enemies, especially Romans.

For such misunderstanding, Jesus said they didn’t know what they were doing.

“The Skull” — Golgotha (Aramaic/Hebrew), Calvary (Latin). Luke explained the meaning of the name of the place. It casts a gloomy image of dead bones and skulls, portraying destructive judgment that brings complete death and leaves only bones and skulls behind.

“Father, forgive them…” Many significant manuscripts omit this part. 

The Jews would have said verse 35. The Gentiles said verse 36-38. The Jews misunderstood their Messiah’s works. The Gentiles didn’t know His death was to open the door of salvation for them.

Q3. What words of the robber showed his faith?

“This man has done nothing wrong.” “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

He acknowledged that Jesus was the righteous Messiah and believed that, even through His death, Jesus would enter His Kingdom. He believed that Jesus’ Kingdom would triumph over sin and that the righteousness of God would prevail.

Q4. When Jesus was crucified, (            ) lost its light, and darkness came to the land from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. And (          ) was torn in two, which meant the way to God was opened by His death. Jesus calling out with a loud voice, “(                  )” After He said this, he breathed his last. It was a Gentile centurion who recognized Jesus as righteous. He said, “Certainly this man was (       ).” All the crowds who saw what had taken place returned home, beating their (      ).

When Jesus was crucified, ( the sun ) lost its light, and darkness came to the land from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. And (the temple curtain ) was torn in two, which meant the way to God was opened by His death. Jesus calling out with a loud voice, “( Father, into your hands I commit my spirit )” After He said this, he breathed his last. It was a Gentile centurion who recognized Jesus as righteous. He said, “Certainly this man was ( innocent ).” All the crowds who saw what had taken place returned home, beating their ( breasts ).

By dying on the cross while bearing His people’s sins, Jesus entrusted Himself completely to the Father, leaving all that would follow—God’s acceptance of His plea for forgiveness and His resurrection—in the Father’s hands.

Verses 39-43 portrays the cross was the will of God.

They knew Jesus was not an ordinary prophet and that He could be the Messiah. However, when they saw an innocent prophet handed over to the Romans because of their leaders’ jealousy and crucified in the most shameful way, they were shocked by the outcome. They knew that God was angry over the shedding of innocent blood in the Promised Land, and they realized that they had made a terrible mistake. They were troubled about the consequences of what had happened and regretted their own part in it—whether they had shouted for His crucifixion or remained silent in the face of such violence. Something like this, “How could this happen?” 

Q5. Though Jesus suffered such a humiliated death, Joseph, one of the council members, a good and (            ) man, buried Jesus in a new tomb. There were women who prepared (                ) for Jesus’ body. They rested the Sabbath according to the (                 ).

 Though Jesus suffered such a humiliated death, Joseph, one of the council members, a good and ( righteous ) man, buried Jesus in a new tomb. There were women who prepared ( aromatic spices and perfumes  ) for Jesus’ body. They rested the Sabbath according to the ( commandment ).

Jesus’ glorification has started. 

New tomb: Tombs were commonly reused in those days. After the body had completely decomposed, the bones could be collected and placed in an ossuary or another part of the tomb, leaving the burial place available for another body. Jesus was executed as a criminal among robbers, but He was buried honorably in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea. This fulfilled Isaiah 53:9: “They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death.”

According to the commandment: This may be the last time in Luke that Jesus’ followers are described as acting “according to the commandment.” Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the Law would reach its fulfillment in Him. Though the women did not yet fully understand God’s plan through the cross, they faithfully approached Jesus within the guidance and boundaries of the Law and their conscience. They did the best they could according to what God had revealed to them, while God was about to reveal something far greater through the resurrection.