30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 44-49 THE DEATH OF JESUS 20 03Feb2022 Luke 23 48 Man must return to his Creator
📖 Luke 23:44-49
20 – 03 Feb 2022 – Man must return to his Creator - Luke 23:44-49 - THE DEATH OF JESUS - Bible reading: Galatians 6:7-8
“Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are showing us that if we do not surrender to You, the consequences for us will be dreadful. Lord, we pray that people will not continue to rebel against You but surrender their life completely to You. We give You all the glory and praise and in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
We have seen how the Roman soldiers, who conducted the crucifixion of Jesus, turned and acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God.
The message of the church to the world is that unless people turn and surrender their life to Christ, they will perish.
Luke 23:48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.
The whole crowd included the Jewish leaders and the people. This was a sad ending for this crowd that was persistent in crucifying Jesus.
When Jesus died physically, they should have shouted in celebration, but that was not to be. They beat their breasts and returned to their homes. It was as though their mouth was filled with gravel.
The world is determined to reject God and go its own way. The end is not joyful but full of sorrow.
The devil has ensured that man does not seek God. Man has rejected God and look at what man has reaped. We are reaping sorrow upon sorrow. Even at times like what we are experiencing, there is no remorse or repentance. It is just the beating of the breasts.
Let us trace the behaviour of this crowd from this one chapter of Luke 23
1-2 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. (2) And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
They were determined to put an end to Jesus.
5 But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."
The whole crowd, both the leaders as well as the people, were against Jesus.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.
Though Pilate did his very best to put sense into the crowd, they were not willing to listen to reason. They were relentless with their objective to crucify Jesus.
16-18 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (17) (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). (18) And they all cried out at once, saying, " Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas "—
Pilate gave the crowd another opportunity to the crowd, to let go of their demand of crucifying Jesus.
20-21 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. (21) But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"
Pilate was pleading with the crowd not to continue with their madness, but they were determined to have Jesus crucified.
22-24 Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." (23) But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. (24) So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
Then, as Jesus hung on the cross, they were not willing to let go but they mocked, ridiculed, blasphemed and sneered at Jesus . This was how determined they were to see the end of Jesus.
35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."
So, when Jesus died on the cross, they should have all celebrated for they were able to achieve what they had desired and demanded.
But, in the end, the whole crowd beat their breasts and returned.
Jeremaiah 4:18 “Your ways and your doings Have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, Because it is bitter, Because it reaches to your heart."
When man sows wickedness and rebellion against God, the end will be bitterness.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
God in His mercy gave several opportunities to this crowd to consider their ways, but they were determined to sow, evil and they reaped sorrow.
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same . Proverbs 22:8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow , And the rod of his anger will fail.
Man’s dealings and ways will return on Him.
Psalms 7:14-16 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. (15) He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. (16) His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
We have sinned against God and we are reaping what we have sown, yet man is not inclined to return to God. The Lord wants man to realise this truth, repent, return to Him and reap everlasting life.
Thought to ponder
Are you, single-mindedly, rejecting the ways of the flesh, and choosing the ways of the Spirit?