23 December — Luke 23, “The King Who Took Our Place; the Judge Who Took Our Judgement”
Hello friends, welcome to December 23rd. Luke 23 is the darkest day in history: mock trials, scourging, crucifixion. Yet it’s the day the King was tried so we could go free. The religious leaders accuse Him before Pilate: “We found this fellow perverting the nation… saying that he himself is Christ a King” (v. 2). They’re trying the King…for being King.
I’m visited today the Roman city of Verulamium in St Albans today, where in the Cathedral stands the grave of Alban, England’s first Christian martyr. According to Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Alban was a pagan Roman soldier who sheltered a fleeing Christian named Amphibalus during the persecution around AD 287, who led Alban to faith. When soldiers came, Alban swapped clothes with the Christian and gave himself up. Scourged and sentenced to death, he was beheaded on this hill. The executioner was so moved that he converted and refused to strike; another soldier did the deed. Both martyrs were buried here, and the city is now named after their memory. But the Lord Jesus was the King Who took our place, the Judge Who took our judgement. Luke 23 is the darkest chapter of history, yet the greatest beauty and grace pours out of it.
An old saying goes: “Christlike Christians are like bells. The harder you hit them, the sweeter the sound.” Alban rang true: persecuted, yet his sacrifice echoed his faith and love. That same sweet sound rings from Calvary in Luke 23, where the innocent King was “hit” hardest of all.
Part 1 – The Mock Trials (vv. 1-25) The whole multitude leads Jesus to Pilate. Charges fly: stirring up the people, forbidding tribute to Caesar, claiming to be Christ a King. Pilate asks, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “Thou sayest it” (v. 3). Pilate finds no fault, sends Him to Herod. Herod mocks, arrays Him in gorgeous robe, sends Him back. Pilate declares, “I find no fault in this man” (v. 4), three times. Yet the crowd cries, “Crucify him!” Pilate releases Barabbas, delivers Jesus to be crucified.
They’re trying the King…for being King. The innocent for the guilty. The Judge judged in our place.
Part 2 – The Road to the Cross (vv. 26-33) They lead Him away. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross. Multitudes follow, women bewailing. Jesus turns: “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves” (v. 28). At Calvary: “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (v. 33).
Yesterday, we showed you the ancient stone steps from Gethsemane down into the Kidron Valley and up to Caiaphas’s house—the very path Jesus was dragged that night, then back toward Calvary. Those steps are still there, worn by centuries. They remind me of Philippians 2: He “humbled himself… even the death of the cross.”
From the manger to those steps to the cross…He came all the way down for us.
Part 3 – The Seven Sayings: The Gift of the Beloved Son. As the King hangs there, His seven words reveal the wonder of Christmas: God gave His only begotten Son—not just to a manger, but to a cross.
- “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (v. 34) – Forgiveness for His enemies.
- To the thief: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (v. 43) – Salvation to the hopeless.
- To His mother and John: “Woman, behold thy son… Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27) – Care for others.
- “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46) – Bearing our sin.
- “I thirst” (John 19:28) – Fully human, fulfilling Scripture.
- “It is finished” (John 19:30) – The debt paid in full.
- “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (v. 46) – Trusting surrender.
The Father gave His beloved Son: from glory to Bethlehem’s stable, from the throne to those valley steps, from life to death. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…” (Rom. 8:32).
This Christmas Eve eve, behold the gift: the King tried, condemned, crucified, so you could be acquitted, crowned, alive forever.
Consider Him who endured the cross, for the joy of having you with Him. Like Alban, like the bell: hit hard, yet ringing sweet with grace.
See you tomorrow, Christmas Eve, for Luke 24. Grace and peace! 🙏
