Second Sunday of Lent – March 1, 2026

Holy Trinity Church – Tom Mount

 

Introduction

  • We continue our study of Luke’s Gospel. Last week we considered how Jesus was abandoned by Peter when he denied him three times, he was abused by the temple guards, and he was accused by the Jewish leaders of being a false Messiah.
  • Today, we will look at the accounts of his trials and crucifixion.

Jesus is tried: Lk 23:1-25

  • Last week, we learned that Jesus had a total of six legal proceedings. Last Sunday we referenced the first three: Annas (Jn 18:12-13), Caiaphas (Jn 18:24), Sanhedrin (Lk 22:66). Today, we consider the last three: Pontius Pilate (Lk 23:1), Herod Antipas (Lk 23:7), Pilate again (Lk 23:11).
  • Just a few observations:
  1. Three charges are brought by the Jewish leaders against Jesus: 1) he subverts/misleads the nation, 2) he tells the people to not pay Roman taxes (cf. 20:20-26), and 3) he claims to be the Messiah-King, implying he intends to try to overthrow Roman authority. The first part of this claim is true, but the second is fabricated. All are either outright lies or distortions of the truth.
  2. Jesus doesn’t try to defend himself. In response to Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ responds with a simple: “You have said so.” A modern equivalent might be: “If you say so” i.e., if you want to assign that title to me, fine: it fits. In response to Herod’s questions and proddings, Jesus remains silent (Isa 53:7).
  3. Pilate and Herod exonerate Jesus. They both knew how jealous and power hungry the Jewish leaders were. So, Pilate suggests a compromise: he will punish Jesus and release him (a fustes, a beating; vs. a flagella vs. a verbera). But the people/leaders insist he be crucified, and Pilate finally gives into their demands.
  • So, in Luke’s narrative, Jesus is led to his place of execution outside the city, near one of the main roads. The vertical post, the pallus, would remain in the ground. The prisoner would carry the horizontal bar or patibulum on back, then the Romans would tie or nail him to it. It would take hours, sometimes days, for someone to die of blood loss, strangulation, or exposure.

Jesus is led to his execution: Lk 23:26-43

Luke 23:26: The Romans conscript Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus’ crossbar.

  • Cyrene is modern Tripoli, Libya.
  • Simon is likely a Jew on pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover. After Jesus collapsed, Simon carried the cross bar or helped Jesus carry it. He likely became a Christian later.

Luke 23:27-31: The women mourn Jesus and Jesus warns them

  • “Blessed are…” – In the future, things will become so terrible in Jerusalem that mothers will envy women without children.
  • “They will say to the mountains” – i.e., “Let me die! Let me get crushed by a mountain rather than continue in this pain. From Hosea 10:8: judgment oracle vs. Israel (Rev 6:16).
  • “Tree is green… dry” – i.e., “If the Romans do this to an innocent man in a time of relative peace, imagine what they will do to the Jews who revolt and deserve punishment?”
  • This warning is an expression of mercy. Jesus is inviting them to examine their lives. He continues to demonstrate mercy in the final section:

Luke 23:32-43: Jesus shows mercy

  • Place of the skull – Calvaria, Ln. for “skull;” Golgotha, Ar. for “place of the skull.”
  • “Father forgive them” – later the martyr Stephen will pray a similar prayer (Acts 7:60).
  • “Divided up his clothes by casting lots” – dice; a common practice, predicted in Ps 22:18.
  • “written notice” – Jesus’ abuse continues to the very end. Even the legal notice, the titulus, mocks his title of King of the Jews. It is supposed to state the criminals name and crime.
  • “One man…but the other.” – These two men are representative of all humanity.
  • “Today, you will be with me in paradise”—the place of the righteous dead in the underworld (Heb. sheol; Gk. hades). It was also called “Abraham’s side” (cf. Lk 16:22). At Jesus’ ascension roughly forty days later, Paradise was relocated to heaven. When Jesus ascended, he took with him this criminal and all those who died trusting in God before this time (cf. Eph 4:8-10). Now, when Christians die, we go directly into the presence of God in the intermediate heaven (Phil 1:20-24; 2 Cor 5:1-8).
  • One of Jesus’ final acts on earth was to assure one more person of their eternal salvation. The guy didn’t live a righteous life and didn’t go on to live good life. But right at the end of his life, he is saved. What mercy!

Takeaway

 

During this Lenten season, meditate often on the mercy of Christ.