Death

Key Phrase: “It is finished” [Literally “paid in full” the stamp placed on paid mortgages]

Intro

At the Passover meal Jesus shares the bread and the wine and says to remember him when eating it. Then Judas betrays Jesus and hands him over for trial.

Pilate finds Jesus is innocent, but he gives the Jews a choice to release Jesus or a criminal, Barabbas. (Releasing a Jewish prisoner was a Passover custom.) The Romans beat and then crucify Jesus. As he dies, the veil hanging in the temple that separated the inner and outer temple is torn from top to bottom signifying the barrier between man and God has been destroyed. With Jesus’ last words, he tells us that he has paid the debt for all sin; the sacrifice of the last Passover Lamb is complete. So, when God judges all people, as he did Egypt, He can pass over those who turn to Jesus for forgiveness of sin.

Death

 Luke 22:7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. . .

 14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.[1] 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

 17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.[2] . . .

22 For it has been determined that the Son of Man[3] must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” . . .

 39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. . .

 47 . . . a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. . .

 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. . .

 63 The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” . . .

 66 At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,[4] 67 and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?”

   But he replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. 68 And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.[5]”

 70 They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?”

   And he replied, “You say that I am.”

 Luke 23:1 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.

 13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. . .

 18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” . . .

24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. . .

 32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[6] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. . .

 39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 44 By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 

 John 19:28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[7] 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” 

Luke 23:66 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”[8] And with those words he breathed his last.

Connect

Jesus has told his followers that he must leave them. He has tried to prepare them, but nothing could prepare them for the single most important event in all human history.

Footnotes

[1] Luke 22:14 Or reclined together.

[2] Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts omit 22:19b-20, which is given for you . . . which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

[3] Luke 22:22 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.

[4] Luke 22:66 Greek before their Sanhedrin.

[5] Luke 22:69 See Ps 110:1.

[6] Luke 23:33 Sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word for “skull.”

[7] John 19:28 See Pss 22:15; 69:21.                                    

[8] Luke 23:46 Ps 31:5.