JESUS DIED AND WAS BURIED

Luke 23:44-56 / Keywords 23:46

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 

The Death of Jesus

23:44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Footnotes

e. Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:5

1. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, darkness came over the whole land from noon to 3 p.m. Even the sun seemed to turn its face from the injustice of sinful humanity. Jesus breathed his last with a loud cry, committing his spirit to his loving Father. His death was not a defeat or tragedy, but a glorious victory over sin and death, a victory of God’s love over Satan’s hatred. The curtain of the temple blocked sinful men to come to the presence of the holy God. Now that curtain was torn in two. Jesus’ shed blood opened ‘a new and living way’ for all sinners to go to God, be forgiven and have peace with God. Seeing what had happened, even the centurion, a hardened Gentile, praised God and testified, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Those women loyal to Jesus stood at a distance, watching all these things.

 

2. Joseph, a member of the council, courageously went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. It was an act of courageous faith. In this way he identified himself as a follower of Jesus. He took down Jesus’ body from the cross, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed in a new tomb cut in the rock. Jesus was buried and now the stage was set for his glorious resurrection.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for opening the way into the presence of God for me and all sinners. Help me live and die victoriously like Jesus.

One Word A new and living way to God