Dig Deeper:
BEST SHOW IN TOWN: All through His ministry Jesus has been followed by massive crowds who just wanted to see the miracles and be part of the action, and this phenomenon continues until His dying breath. Herod is excited to have Jesus transferred to him, because "he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort (v8)." A large mob had formed in v21 in hopes of seeing a celebrity crucified, for they "gathered to witness the sight (v48)." Think about this today. What is it that motivates you to keep coming to see Jesus? Is it a true desire to experience grace and peace, or is it something else?
MOB RULE: Certainly we've seen in our society these past few months numerous instances in which truth takes a back seat to hype, but this is nothing new. Pilate found no reason to convict Jesus, but yet he gives in because the crowd's "shouts prevailed (v23)." These verses demonstrate a massive theological concept: God always gives people what they want. He gives these shouting, unthinking people exactly what they ask for: the death of His Son. Yet God gives you and I what we ask for as well: the peace and forgiveness possible because of the resurrection we will read of tomorrow. It's not that we are somehow better people than that mob 2,000 years ago, but it's because God in His grace has enabled our hearts to want and desire Him.
SUMMER IN THE PSALMS: So many of Jesus' final words, including what Luke records in v46, are direct quotations from the Psalms. It's important for us to remember that Jesus is fully God has he hangs dying on the cross, but don't forget that He's also fully human as well, and therefore is subject to the same weaknesses we share. As a man, we've seen Jesus so reliant upon memorized scripture, especially in the last few days of His life. This is another reminder why it's so important for you to be reading God's Word each day, and a reminder as to why we've centered our morning services around the Psalms in particular this summer.
WHY?? This chapter ends with a fascinating verse: the women who had come to support Jesus prepared spices for His burial, but rather than put them on right away, "they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment (v56)." They've just witnessed God incarnate die on a cross and the sky turn black and the temple curtain which hid God's presence was torn open (v45), yet they still follow God's command. Why do you think they did so?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God the Father, and His Son, the King of the Jews (v38)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: "Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God." (Psalm 31:5 & Luke 23:46)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
