Uncategorized

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.

1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (v. 34) – Forgiveness for His enemies.
2. To the thief: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (v. 43) – Salvation to the hopeless.
3. To His mother and John: “Woman, behold thy son… Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27) – Care for others.
4. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46) – Bearing our sin.
5. “I thirst” (John 19:28) – Fully human, fulfilling Scripture.
6. “It is finished” (John 19:30) – The debt paid in full.
7. “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! 🙏

22nd December – Luke 22: “He Humbled Himself”

Hey friends, welcome to December 22nd. Luke 22 is the night everything changes: the Passover meal, the garden prayer, betrayal, denial, mock trials. It’s the night Jesus humbled Himself to the uttermost, stepping down into the deepest valley for us. Years ago, I walked the ancient stone steps from Gethsemane down into the Kidron Valley and up to Caiaphas’s house, the very path Jesus took that night under guard. Those steps are still there (see video above), though worn by centuries. They remind me of Philippians 2: “He humbled himself… even the death of the cross.”

Part 1 – With Desire I Have Desired (vv. 1-38) The chief priests and scribes seek to kill Jesus. Satan enters Judas. Yet Jesus says to His disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (v. 15). He takes bread: “This is my body which is given for you.” The cup: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (vv. 19-20). He washes their feet, teaches servant leadership, warns Peter of Satan’s sifting, yet promises, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (v. 32).

Even knowing betrayal is coming, His desire is for fellowship with them, and also with us.

Part 2 – Gethsemane: The Cup of Humbling (vv. 39-46) On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (v. 42). An angel strengthens Him. In agony, He sweats as it were great drops of blood. The disciples sleep. He rises: “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

Here is the heart of Christmas continued… the eternal Son, who stepped down into a manger, now steps lower still, accepting the cup of wrath we deserved.

Part 3 – Betrayal, Denial, and Mockery (vv. 47-71) Judas betrays with a kiss. Peter slashes Malchus’s ear; Jesus heals it, then says, “I AM HE.” They fall backward. Peter follows afar off, denies three times, the cock crows, Jesus turns and looks upon him, and Peter weeps bitterly. Before the council, they mock, blindfold, slap Him: “Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?” At dawn: “Art thou the Christ?” He answers, “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” They cry, “Art thou then the Son of God?” “Ye say that I am.”

The night of His betrayal, He humbled Himself, to be betrayed, denied, mocked, and condemned. Yet He never used the power He could have: “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53).

Friends, those ancient steps from Gethsemane to Caiaphas trace the path of Philippians 2: “Who, being in the form of God… humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

This Christmas week, walk those steps in your heart. He came down, all the way down, for you. Look at the manger, then at the garden, then at the cross. And worship the One who humbled Himself to lift you up.

See you tomorrow for Luke 23. Grace and peace! 🙏