Luke 23 Summary - 5 Minute Study

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LUKE 23 IN 5 MINUTES

WHEN:

• The events of chapter 23 were part of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

• These events took place between approximately 26-31 A.D..

CHARACTERS:

• Jesus - The Messiah and Son of God.

• Enemies of Jesus - The chief priests, Pharisees, scribes, elders, and Sadducees.

• Pontius Pilate - The 5th governor of the Roman province of Judaea.

• Herod - Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and ruler of Galilee and Perea.

• Joseph - A member of the Jewish council from the town of Arimathea.

WHERE:

• These events occurred in Jerusalem during the last week of Jesus’ life.

OUTLINE:

• JESUS ON TRIAL BEFORE PILATE (23:1-7):

  • The Jewish authorities brought Jesus to the governor, Pilate, hoping to get permission to crucify Him.

  • When Pilate learned Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Him to Herod Antipas, who had jurisdiction in Galilee.

• JESUS ON TRIAL BEFORE HEROD (23:8-12):

  • Herod questioned Jesus but Jesus didn’t respond to any of his questions.

  • Herod wanted Jesus to perform a miracle but Jesus didn’t oblige him.

• PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS (23:13-25):

  • Having not found a reason to execute Jesus, Herod sent Him back to Pilate.

  • Pilate told the Jews he was planning to release Jesus due to their lack of evidence against Him.

  • But the Jews protested, yelling, “Crucify, crucify Him!”.

  • Lacking the courage to stand up to the crowd, Pilate relented and gave his permission for the crucifixion.

• THE CRUCIFIXION (23:26-49):

  • Jesus was taken to a place called “the Skull” and crucified along with two thieves.

  • Jesus prayed that God would forgive the people “for they know not what they do.”

  • He was mocked by the Jewish rulers and the Roman soldiers who crucified Him.

  • A sign was put over His head reading, “The king of the Jews.”

  • While they hang dying, one of the thieves mocked Jesus, but the other asked Jesus to save him.

  • Several miracles occurred while Jesus was on the cross. The sun was darkened in the middle of the day and the veil of the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

  • Jesus died at the 9th hour (3pm) after speaking the words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

• THE BURIAL (23:50-56):

  • Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, requested Jesus’ body, and buried it in his own purchased tomb.

  • The burial had to be completed quickly, because it was the Day of Preparation before the Sabbath.

BIG PICTURE:

• This chapter and the following chapter describe the most important event in human history.

• Jesus’ death and resurrection are humanities only hope of escaping punishment for sin.

• The Old Testament led up to this event and the church of the New Testament looks back to this event.

APPLICATION:

• Jesus died so we don’t have to.

• Every person on earth has sinned.

• The Bible says the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23).

• Jesus sacrificed Himself and died in our place, so we can be forgiven.

• In one sense, Jesus’ death was ugly, savage, and brutal.

• In another sense, it was the most beautiful thing in the world.