Luke 23

The Explanation

Early in the morning, the leaders dragged Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. "This man calls himself a king!" they shouted. Pilate looked at Jesus and asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered quietly, "So you say." Pilate turned to the crowd and said, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

But the leaders would not stop. When Pilate heard Jesus came from Galilee, he sent him to King Herod. Herod was excited. He hoped Jesus would do a trick for him, some miracle to watch. But Jesus said nothing at all. Herod's soldiers laughed at him, dressed him in a fancy robe to mock him, and sent him back to Pilate.

Three times Pilate said, "I have found no crime in him." Three times the crowd screamed louder. "Crucify him! Crucify him!" They wanted a murderer named Barabbas set free instead. Pilate gave in. He let the innocent man be nailed to the cross, and the guilty man walk free.

Soldiers led Jesus out, carrying his cross. They grabbed a stranger, Simon, and made him carry it too. Women cried in the street. Jesus turned and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me." At the place called The Skull, they nailed Jesus between two criminals. "Father, forgive them," Jesus prayed, "for they don't know what they are doing."

People mocked him. Soldiers offered him vinegar. One criminal insulted him. But the other criminal turned and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus answered, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

At noon, darkness covered the land. The curtain in the temple tore in two. Jesus cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And he died.

What Does This Mean?

Would you have shouted with the crowd, or would you have stood quiet like the soldier who watched Jesus die and said, "Certainly this was a righteous man"? Nobody in this story is neutral. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, yet he still let it happen. That is how strong fear and pressure can be.

But here is the heart of it: Jesus was not a victim who got surprised by all this. Even while dying, he forgave the men nailing him down. Even while suffering, he promised Paradise to a dying criminal who had done nothing to deserve it. That is not weakness. That is love stronger than pain.

The Common Thread

God had promised for hundreds of years that he would send someone to rescue his people, not by force, but by giving himself. Jesus is that promised King, even though his crown that day was made of mockery, not gold. The sign above his head said "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS," and it was true, more true than the soldiers knew. The torn curtain in the temple meant something enormous: the wall between people and God was torn open, because Jesus took the punishment himself.

For You

Think of the criminal next to Jesus. He did not clean himself up first. He simply said, "Jesus, remember me." That is a prayer you can pray too, on any day, when you have messed up. Jesus does not wait for you to be perfect. He answers people who come to him honest and empty-handed.

This week, try forgiving someone the way Jesus forgave, even before they say sorry. It is hard. It is also exactly what he did for you.

Talk About It

Why do you think Pilate let Jesus die, even though he said Jesus was innocent?

What do you think it felt like for the criminal to hear Jesus say, "Today you will be with me in Paradise"?

Praying Together

Dear Father, thank you that Jesus forgave the people who hurt him. Thank you that he still welcomes people who come to him. Help me to forgive others too, and to remember that you always remember me. Amen.