Luke 23, a visual study from The Lampstand Project.
Father, forgive them.
Jesus before Pilate. Before Herod. Pilate declares his innocence three times. Barabbas chosen. Simon of Cyrene. The crucifixion. The thief on the cross. The death. The burial.
Three movements. Trials, the cross, the burial.
Luke 23 is distinctive in its portrayal of Pilate and in three uniquely Lukan elements: the scene before Herod, the exchange with the thief on the cross, and the women who see the tomb and note how the body is laid. Luke emphasizes the innocence of Jesus — Pilate says it three times — and his compassion to the very end: Father, forgive them.
A chapter in 3 movements.
Tap any numbered marker to read its part
“I find no guilt in this man.”
Three trials. Pilate’s three declarations. Barabbas chosen.
The whole assembly brings Jesus before Pilate. They accuse him: we found this man misleading our nation and forbidding tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king. Pilate asks: are you the King of the Jews? He answers: you have said so. Pilate says: I find no guilt in this man. They are urgent: he stirs up the people throughout all Judea. When Pilate hears that he is under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sends him to Herod.
Herod is very glad, having wanted to see Jesus for a long time, wanting to see a sign. He questions him at length. Jesus says nothing. Herod and his soldiers treat him with contempt, mock him, array him in splendid clothing, and send him back to Pilate. Pilate again: I have found no guilt deserving death. Herod found nothing either. I will release him after punishment. But they cry out all together: away with this man! Release Barabbas. Pilate a third time: what evil has he done? But their voices prevail, and Pilate delivers Jesus over to their will.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The road. The crucifixion. The thief. Paradise.
They seize Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and lay on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. A great multitude follows, and women who mourn. Jesus turns to them: do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and your children. When they come to the place called the Skull, they crucify him and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
One of the criminals rails at him: are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us. The other rebukes him: do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he says: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus: truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. The exchange is the most intimate moment of the crucifixion in Luke — and it happens on a cross.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.”
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
The darkness. The death. The burial.
It is now about the sixth hour, and darkness comes over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light fails. The curtain of the temple is torn in two. Jesus cries with a loud voice: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Having said this, he breathes his last. When the centurion sees what has taken place he praises God: certainly this man was righteous. The crowd returns home beating their breasts. All his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stand at a distance watching.
A man named Joseph, from Arimathea, a member of the council, a good and righteous man who had not consented to the council’s decision, goes to Pilate and asks for the body. He takes it down, wraps it in a linen shroud, and lays it in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. It is the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath is beginning. The women follow and see the tomb and how his body is laid. Then they go home and prepare spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rest according to the commandment.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.”
The first words from the cross in Luke are a prayer for those who are doing the crucifying. The soldiers cast lots for his clothing. The rulers scoff. The soldiers mock. The criminal rails. Against this backdrop the prayer is not resignation but active intercession: Father, forgive them. They do not know what they do. It is the most concentrated expression of grace in the Passion narratives.
The chapter of the cross.
The whole assembly brings Jesus before Pilate. They accuse him: misleading our nation, forbidding taxes, claiming to be Christ a king. Pilate finds no guilt in him. He sends him to Herod, who is in Jerusalem. Herod is glad — he wanted to see a sign. Jesus says nothing. Herod and his soldiers mock him and send him back in splendid clothing. Pilate a third time: I have found no guilt deserving death. But their voices prevail. Pilate delivers Jesus over to their will.
They seize Simon of Cyrene and lay the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus. A great multitude follows. Jesus turns to the daughters of Jerusalem: do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and your children. He is crucified. Father, forgive them. One criminal rails at him. The other rebukes him and asks: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Darkness covers the land for three hours. Jesus cries: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. He breathes his last.
“Truly this man was righteous!”Luke 23:47 ESV
All scripture quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV). A study from The Lampstand Project.