THE GREEN TREE

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LUKE 23:26-56
Lesson #60
THE GREEN TREE

• Memory Verse: Gal 3:13
• Read Luk 23:26-31 God’s judgment because of the crucifixion
  • Simon of Cyrene, a visitor to Jerusalem probably for the Passover celebration, carries the back end of the cross to fulfill prophecy in Psa 109:24.
  • Then Jesus again gives a prophecy about God’s judgment on Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
    • Why is God going to judge Jerusalem?
    • Jesus previously spoke about judgment on the religious leadership because Judaism did not produce fruit for God.
      • However, Jesus makes this statement in the context of walking to the cross. This judgment will occur because of the crucifixion.
      • All the people will suffer this judgment because they supported the religious leadership, and because they called for the crucifixion of Jesus in place of Barabbas.
        • The event of the first fulfillment of this judgment will occur when the Romans destroy Jerusalem, the Jewish temple, the religious leadership, and the dispersion of the Jewish people in 70 AD.
        • The second fulfillment will occur at the end of the tribulation period of seven years when the Jews support the Antichrist believing him to be the Messiah. (Hos 10:8) (Rev 6:15-16)
    •  ^“For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (31)
      • The green tree represents innocence. Remember that the Romans found Jesus to be innocent of all the charges against Him.
      • The tree represents the cross. (Gal 3:13)
      • This is a proverb that means = If the Romans crucify those who are innocent, how will they treat the Jewish people when they rebel against Rome in 70 AD?
• Read Luk 23:32-56 The crucifixion events: (Mat 27:33-61 Mar 15:22-47 Joh 19:17-42)
  • All the Gospels describe certain details of the crucifixion such as Jesus’ seven statements from the cross (highlighted below). Notice that three of the statements are mentioned in Luke.
  • Here is the sequence of events from the 4 Gospels:
    • =1= Arrival at Golgotha (Luk 23:33)
    • =2= The offer of drugged drink is refused. (Mar 15:23)
    • =3= Jesus is crucified between two thieves. (Luk 23:33-38)
    • =4= “Father forgive them” (Luk 23:34) (prophecy in Isa 53:12)
      • Jesus forgave them for the crucifixion.
      • Their actions still had consequences of which 70 AD was the judgment.
    • =5= The soldiers gamble over his garments. (Luk 23:34)
    • =6= The Jews mock Jesus. (Luk 23:35)
    • =7= One thief next to Jesus repents. (Luk 23:39-43)
    • =8= “Today you shall be with me in paradise.” (Luk 23:43)
      • Remember we learned in Luk 16 that Paradise did not exist until Jesus created it at the crucifixion.
      • Now all believers after the crucifixion go to Paradise when they die to wait for the resurrection of the body in the rapture of the church.
    • =9= “Woman behold thy son” (Joh 19:26-27)
      • Jesus put his mother, Mary, in the hands of the disciple John.
      • He cared for her the rest of her life.
      • Jesus probably gave her to this disciple because John would be the one that lived into old age. All the other disciples were martyred early for their faith.
    • =10= Darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour. ( (Luk 23:44)
      • This was the same time period that the Passover lamb was killed in the temple.
        • The Passover lamb’s intestines were wrapped around its head like a crown which was called “the crowned sacrifice”.
        • To make sure the lamb cooked evenly, they pierced it with pomegranate sticks.
      • This was the same hour that the veil in the temple was torn by God from top to bottom to open the way into the Holy of Holies. (The veil was 60 feet by 40 feet and 4 inches thick.)
        • Believers in Jesus Christ now have direct access to God in prayer because of the crucifixion.
        • The believer in Christ does not have to go through any human priest to intercede for him with God for Jesus Christ is now our High Priest interceding for us. (Heb 7:25)
      • The darkness was God’s veil over the intimate details of the transaction between God, the Father and Jesus, the Son, to purchase our redemption. These details are too extreme for man to observe.
    • =11= “My God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat 27:46) (prophecy in Psa 22:1)
      • This was the point in time when Jesus became sin for us.
      • God could not look upon sin and was temporarily separated from Jesus.
    • =12= “I thirst” (Joh 19:28) (prophecy in Psa 69:21)
    • =13= “It is finished.” (Joh 19:30 )
      • This is a victory cry that our redemption was purchased and accepted by God.
      • (Rom 10:4 Gal 3:13)
    • =14= “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luk 23:46 prophecy in Psa 31:5)
    • =15= Jesus dismissed his spirit and died. (Luk 23:46)
      • He did not die as a martyr at the hands of angry men.
      • He did not die from crucifixion. Usually soldiers had to break the leg bones of crucified people so they would die of asphyxiation and unable to push themselves up with the legs to get a breath.
        • That is why scripture specifically tells us his legs were not broken. (Joh 19:31 and prophesied in Psa 34:20)
        • Also the Passover lamb was not to have any of its bones broken.
    • “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” (35)
      • Notice that the Messiah could have saved Himself because He was the chosen one of God.
      • But had he saved Himself, He could not have saved us.
      • He died willingly because He was in control. He could have had the angels remove Him from the cross, but in His obedience, He submitted to God’s plan.
  • There are seven statements from the cross. The number 7 is a Biblical symbol of completeness or perfection.
  • The prophetic sign, “King of the Jews”
    • Three languages represented in the declaration:
      • Greek = the language of education, literature, and science.
      • Hebrew = the language of religion.
      • Latin = the language of law and order.
    • While the soldiers mockingly nailed this sign to the top of the cross, it was supposed to legally list the charges for which the person was being crucified.
    • Instead, because Jesus was not convicted of any charges, they put this sign over Him which becomes a prophecy of His coming kingdom when He returns at the second coming.
  • “And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.” (49) (The prophecy is in Psa 38:11)
  • Joseph of Arimathea
    • Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin that delivered Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion.
    • However, Luke tells us that Joseph did not cast a vote for the plot against Jesus. The reason is probably because that trial was illegally held at night and all members of the Sanhedrin were not present. (51)
    • Another member of the Sanhedrin that was not present for the vote against Jesus was Nicodemus who also helped with the burial of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. (Joh 19:40)
    • “…a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.” (53)
      • Usually a wealthy family purchased a tomb where many members of the family were laid in niches in the wall.
      • This tomb was new and none of Joseph’s family had yet been buried there.
  • “And the women …And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” (55-56)
    • It was the usual job of women family members to anoint and prepare a body for burial. However, these women were believers that followed Him.
    • They could not finish the task of anointing the body with herbs and spices because of the beginning of the Sabbath at sunset. Their intention was to return after the Sabbath to complete the anointing. That is why they were there on resurrection morning.
      • Remember the story of the woman that anointed Jesus feet with perfume in Luk 7:36-39.
      • This anointing is a fore shadow of the women that could not complete the anointing after the crucifixion. (Joh 12:5).

Homework
Luke 24:1-53

• Application of Luk 23:26-56
  • What misconceptions has this lesson revealed to you about the crucifixion?
  • Why did Jesus have to die on the cross if He was innocent?
  • What difference does the truth of scripture make in your faith?
• Preparation for Luk 24:1-53
  • Read Luk 24:1-53
    • Why did Jesus admonish the two on the road to Emmaus for not recognizing Him?
    • What did Jesus say should be preached?
    • What was Jesus’ last instruction to the disciples?
  • Memory Verse: 1Cor 15:17