Closer - "Close Enough to be Hurt" - Luke 23 - Tim Nay

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

Close Enough to be HurtLuke 23
Tim Nay

Part of Closer - A Study in Luke

June 9, 2024

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” —Luke 23:1-5

Jesus’ Persecution:
Jesus was falsely accused.
Jesus was accused by religious leaders of:
• Misleading our nation (v. 2) • Forbidding us to give taxes to Caesar (v. 2) • Claiming to be a king [The Anointed One] (v. 2) • Stirring up the people (v. 5)

—Luke 23:6-16

Jesus was scourged, mocked, and ridiculed.

—Matthew 27:26-31

Jesus was crucified.

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. —Luke 23:32-33

Jesus’ Response:
Jesus used much wisdom.

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. —Matthew 27:11-126 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. —Matthew 7:619 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; —James 1:19

Jesus never denied truth.

Jesus continued to show love and compassion to his accusers.

27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ —Luke 23:27-2934 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[a] And they cast lots to divide his garments. —Luke 23:3439 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[a] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:39-43

Takeaways
How will I respond to God’s offer to forgive me through Jesus’ sacrifice?
How will I respond to those who persecute me?

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. —Luke 9:23