Every last opportunity
Jesus makes the most of every opportunity to glorify God and see His will done. He calls us to do the same, “take up your cross and follow and follow Him”. The closing chapters of Luke not only call us to do this, but show us how. Jesus demonstrates this clearly to the bitter end, and even shows what happens when others follow His call. The world is full of opportunities to achieve all manner of things, what are we using our opportunities for, and what will be the ultimate result of all our efforts?
Scripture
Luke 23:26-43 ESV And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. [27] And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. [28] But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ [30] Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ [31] For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” [32] Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. [33] And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [34] And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. [35] And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” [36] The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine [37] and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” [38] There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” [39] One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” [43] And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Bible Study Questions
Simon: Taking up the cross and following Jesus
Three of the four Gospels mention Simon of Cyrene by name. This means he must have been known to many of the first readers. John tells us that Jesus started out carrying His own cross, but that Simon was forced by the Roman soldiers to take over. In Matthew 18, Jesus taught that we should all take up our cross and follow Him. What does this mean, and how can we do it?
Luke 23:26-43 ESV And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
The Mourners: being warned of judgement
A large crowd followed Jesus to His execution. They were there for differing reasons, but to those who were mourning for Him, He had a clear and chilling warning. How was this prophecy of Jesus fulfilled in 70 AD, and how will it still be fulfilled in the future? Why is it so important for followers of Jesus to heed this warning, and to warn others as well?
Luke 23:27-31 ESV And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. [28] But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ [30] Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ [31] For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Matthew 24:19 ESV And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
Hosea 10:8 ESV The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.”
Revelation 6:15-17 ESV Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, [16] calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, [17] for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
The Criminals: on either side of Jesus, without excuse
Why do you think the Bible mentions the detail that Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one on either side? What opportunity did this give them both, that may not have been there had he been on one side and both of them on the other? What does this tell you about God’s grace and mercy?
Luke 23:32-33 ESV Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. [33] And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Romans 1:20 ESV For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The Ignorant: Jesus prays for their forgiveness
Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Here He walks the talk and practices what He preaches. Why is it so important for us to take every opportunity to forgive those who hurt us and pray that God forgives them?
Luke 23:34 ESV And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Isaiah 53:12 ESV Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
The Mockers: Jesus ignores their mockery, secure in His identity
Satan harassed Jesus in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry with these same words “if You are the Son of God”. Jesus proves that He is, by remaining faithful to His Father’s will. Here the enemy makes the most of another opportunity to do the same. This time Jesus doesn’t answer with words. How does He answer this time?
Luke 23:35-38 ESV And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” [36] The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine [37] and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” [38] There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Matthew 4:5-7 ESV Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6] and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” [7] Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
The Penitent: Forgiven and assured
Having started out mocking Jesus together with everyone else, the one criminal repents. He not only confesses his sin, accepts his due punishment and trust only in Jesus for salvation, but he also stands up for Jesus and identifies Him as God’s sinless and all powerful Messiah. How did he come to change so drastically? Who changed him?
Luke 23:39-43 ESV One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” [43] And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Mark 1:14-15 ESV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 2:38-39 ESV And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The Follower: Salvation to their household
Finally, we go back to Simon of Cyrene. What can we learn about him from the rest of Scripture, and what can we learn about the value of following Jesus, while carrying our cross?
Mark 15:21 ESV And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
Romans 16:13 ESV Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.