30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 18 Luke 23 36-38 Jesus the King of Israel and the Christ
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Fri 31 Dec 2021 – Jesus the King of Israel and the Christ - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (18) - Bible reading: Luke 24:45-49
“Lord Jesus, we thank you that as You hung on the cross, it was established that You were the King of Israel and You were the Christ. You were the redeemer and You were the Saviour of the world. Lord, this was a momentous time as You were lifted up, You were drawing all peoples to Yourself. Thank You for all that was done for humanity on the cross. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.”
Luke 23:36-38 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, (37) and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." (38) And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
While the Jews were mocking Jesus, they established for the world a crucial connection that Jesus, who was accused as the King of the Jews, by the Romans, was the Christ, the redeemer of the world.
Mark 15:32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
Jesus acknowledged before the Sanhedrin that He was the Christ, the Son of the Most High God.
Mark 14:61-62 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, " Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (62) Jesus said, "I am . And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
This was the pivotal point of human history. Jesus, who was accused as the King of the Jews or the King of Israel, was also the Christ, the redeemer of the whole world.
Salvation for the whole world had to come from the Jews. This was the Abrahamic covenant that God’s blessing will come upon all the families of the earth.
This was now being established as Jesus hung on the cross.
Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "
Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Jesus was brought as a baby to the temple at Jerusalem and this was what took place at that time.
Luke 2:25-35 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (26) And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon about the Lord’s Christ.
(27) So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, (28) he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: (29) “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; (30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation (31) Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, (32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
This was the important link that Simeon was affirming, through revelation from the Holy Spirit, of God’s salvation for all people, a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.
(33) And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. (34) Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (35) (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Simeon spoke these words, specifically to Mary, that Jesus will be ridiculed and mocked. She would also have to undergo pain in her soul, which is a prophecy of the death that Jesus would die.
There was another prophetess, Anna, who also spoke of Jesus being the redeemer of Israel.
Luke 2:38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
This was a confirmation that Jesus was the redemption for Jerusalem and the King of the Jews.
When the Lord rose from the dead, this was the crucial point of His message to the whole world.
Luke 24:26-27 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory ?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The Lord elaborated further.
Luke 24:45-49 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
This was how Jesus connected it all to Himself that He was the King of the Jews and He was also the Christ, the redeemer of the world.
Friends, if it were not for the cross, on which Jesus died, we would have had no hope.
Thought to ponder
Let us glory in the cross of Christ.