LUKE 23:46-56
HE GLORIFIED GOD The sun was darkened that day, not some cloud cover over the sky to separate the light of the sun from the face of the earth. No reflected light would come from the moon. The planets in their orbits around the sun would have been darkened as the Lord Jesus Christ for those three hours endured what we would have had to bear for eternity in "outer darkness." No wonder there was a change in the people as some made their way in fear to their homes and those at Calvary remained standing in the darkness except for those who "sitting down they watched Him there." But doubtless they came to their feet with all the others when they heard the loud cry from the darkness, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me!" come in strength of voice from the Lord Jesus. The Jewish thief who was recently saved, the Gentile centurion who watched Jesus, the kinsfolk of the Lord Jesus including James and Jude, the women waiting for the end at the foot of the cross, the disciples watching from a distance - all would hear the cry of the Lord from Psalm 22. We know the reason this was fulfilled - that we could come to God through Him and never have to be in outer darkness for ever.
He knew everything had been accomplished when the call, "I thirst," came from His lips and He drank from the sponge filled with vinegar as evidence there was nothing left to do. All was done. The payment for sin was made. He could cry with a loud voice, "It is finished!" With a calmness and quiet assurance, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." What He had been sent to do was done - He knew it, God knew it and we know it. Nothing of any kind can be added to what he accomplished when He was on the cross. It would be out of order for us to try to fathom all He accomplished in those dark hours. It is enough for us to know that He knew everything a Righteous God demanded was finished, and fellowship with the Father was strong even as the Lord Jesus dismissed His spirit from His body.
The loud voice of the Savior, the darkness now lifted and the setting sun was again able to be seen; the great earthquake was so strong the rocks were breaking. The watching centurion was convinced testifying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man," and in so confessing glorified God. He wouldn't have known at the very time the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom giving visible evidence of access to God, thus glorifying God. The finished work of the Savior glorified God. The conversion of the thief, the centurion and the Lord's brothers glorified God. The silent changed crowd of people who were being readied for the preaching of the Gospel 50 days later, glorified God. Every time the Lord's people gather today to remember the Lord and show the Lord's death, we glorify God. Every new-born soul who comes to the cross confessing, "Jesus died for me," glorifies God. There has been glory for God from the cross-work of Christ continually since the time the centurion and those that we with him said, "Truly, this Man is the Son of God."
The watching people reacted in many different ways to the conclusion of the sacrifice Christ made that day. The women from Galilee and those kinsmen of the Lord stood watching from a distance to see what would happen next. Two men who had prepared for this event and must have believed He was going to die as He said, stepped out and identified themselves as disciples of Jesus. Joseph went to Pilate to get permission to take the body of Jesus from the cross and give it a proper burial. Nicodemus who had a huge store of myrrh and aloes and cloth came forward. Those watching people saw two men who really cared for the Lord but had not made it known, now come forward to do what needed to be done.
It is always a blessing to see those we least expect step forward and boldly act for the Lord at just the right time in just the right way. We may never think there are such people around who are just waiting to serve God, and God keeps them waiting until they can fulfill His purposes in His time. "He was with the rich in His death." The gentle, kind, quiet men of means were there for God to use when the time was appropriate to meet the need others could not. How wrong it is for us to pass judgment on, or ignore those who aren't as active as we think they should be.
The body of the Lord Jesus Christ was only a corpse to Pilate, but to those two men it was as precious as it was to Mary who had previously anointed His body "to the burying." The Lord had begun as a young boy to be about His "Father's business," and now finished the business in a way that brought glory to God. All who believed in Him then and now have a work to do whether in preaching, praying, laboring, serving or, as Joseph and Nicodemus, burying One in dignity and honor. Joseph had prepared the tomb, Nicodemus had prepared myrrh, aloes and cloth. Now the women returned to their places before the Sabbath to prepare spices with the good intention of coming on the first day of the week to add their testimony of appreciation to what was already done. It is possible to have good intentions after the fact. That is not a bad thing. It is just too late. It is better to be like Mary with her spikenard, Joseph with his new tomb and Nicodemus with the abundance of myrrh, aloes and cloth, prepared in advance by acting in faith on what the Lord had said would happen. We need to be ready to do what is needed in God's time - and we won't be too late.
They were common people from different walks in life
Who God was prepared to use. Some acted in faith, and others only by sight, But each, because of Christ had to choose To step out in public and make themselves known As those who were impacted by Him. Each in different ways to all of us have shown What the Lord Jesus means to them.
The centurion who was watching glorified God And spoke aloud about what he saw. What was in his heart he expressed in words As faith from his spirit did draw. He was awakened to testify Jesus was a righteous Man And said, "Truly, this is the Son of God." He challenges us to publicly state when we can That Jesus is our Savior and Lord.
Joseph may not have said much but with reputation intact Boldly made to Pilate and all men most clear - When the time came, he was fully ready to act And let everyone know who were there That he was a disciple and had prepared for this day By having a tomb ready to receive his Savior. Both he and Nicodemus each in his own way Were identified with Christ by their behavior.
We can learn from those people who appear On the pages of scripture just once - That God is able and willing to use even those who fear The disfavor of men of great consequence. But when the time came, they stepped out in faith - And we really need to do the same. There are people and events here who we must face When we are identifying ourselves with Jesus' name.
"I know Father, there have been times when I should have been much more public about my faith than I have been. In Thine own way open doors for Thy servant to be able to glorify Thee by identifying myself with the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
LUKE 24: v.1-12. THE TOMB AND THE TESTIMONIES: The women who came: Mary Magdalene; Mary the mother of James; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, steward of Herod [8:3; 24:10]; Salome, mother of James and John [Mat.27:56; Mk.16:1]. They had expected to see a body to cover with spices, but instead saw two men and an empty tomb. Their message to the 11 and the rest was not believed.
- The angels: giving positive affirmation of His resurrection; reminding them of the words of the Lord.
- Peter (and John): ran in haste; saw clearly for himself the evidence of resurrection; meditated on the events. v.13-35. THE WALK AND THE WORD:
- Cleopas and the other person: looking for the kingdom; considered His death a tragedy; only aware of the present; forgot the teaching a lesson of the past; didn’t recognized the reality of prophecy; were emotionally let down (sad); were taught from two of the three divisions of scripture; learned to see Christ in the Word of God; wanted more of the scripture and fellowship; heart was stirred and understanding enlightened.
- The Lord Jesus: He wanted then to see truth from the Word of God; He wanted them to see Christ from the Word of God; He wanted them to learn to know Him personally from the Word of God; He wanted them to see what they had in the scriptures of truth. v.36-49. THE APPEARANCE AND THE ASSURANCE:
- Jesus Himself: a resurrected body of flesh and bones; a visible presence; a physical presence able to be touched; proof of reality in eating before them; verbal words that here include all three divisions of the scripture (the Psalms are mentioned here).
- The disciples: He was in the center of the group; they heard Him speak audibly; He invited physical touch; they could see the evidence; their understanding was opened to comprehend the scriptures; they are commissioned to witness. v.50-53. THE BLESSER AND THE BLESSED:
He led them’ He lifted up His hand in blessing; He conferred upon them what they needed. He was parted and carried up into heaven. They worshipped Him. They returned with great joy. They were committed to the work of God in praising and blessing others. They were affirming their faith publicly as does the whole book of Luke.