KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE
[With Reference to the Events Concerning Jesus’ “Passion,” note how Jesus’ love is amazingly displayed throughout and therefore ‘stand in awe of God, the Most High.’]
Lesson Thirty-nine
At Golgotha (Calvary) – Cont’d. – Matthew 27:54-58 (Mark 15:39-45; Luke 23:47-52; John 19:31-38)
Matthew 27:54-58 – 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
V.54 – Mark’s account: Mark 15:39 – And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Luke’s account: Luke 23:47-48 – 47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
Beat their breasts – This was an expression of deep sorrow.
Centurion – Roman officer who, originally, was in charge of 100 soldiers.
V.55-56 – Mark’s account: Mark 15:40-41 – 40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
Luke adds: Luke 23:49 – But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Including the women who had followed him from Galilee – Luke 8:1-3 – After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
John’s account: John 19:31-37 – 31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
V.31 – A special Sabbath – (NLT) – It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
V.36 – Exodus 12:46 – “It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. Note that the Passover lamb was a type of Christ, as the following passages indicate.
John 1:29 – The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Corinthians 5:7 – Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Psalm 34:19-20 – 19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
V.37 – Zechariah 12:10 – “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
V.57-58 – A rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph – For more about Joseph, see: Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-51; John 19:38.
General Application: Proverbs 28:26 – He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. Jesus was “kept safe” because He “walked in wisdom.” Let us ask the GOD OF LOVE to help us to do the same.
See James 3:13-18.
Luke 13:24 – “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.