Luke 23.
The trial and crucifixion of Christ.
What can be said about this chapter? On what do I want to focus today?
It’s a familiar story with many interesting details and important truths. It’s the dark moment and climax of Luke’s gospel account. To say that the weight of this chapter is significant is to state things mildly. Eternity and the plan of God, the battle for His kingdom, hangs in the balance as Jesus hangs on that cross.
And, yet, amongst the brutal details and in this hour “when darkness reigns” (see Luke 22:53) and is attempting to overcome the light of the Word (see John 1:5), we can still see the goodness of God. And that is what I want to focus on in this journal entry.
A couple of days ago, I was listening to a teaching on Galatians, and the speaker said…
Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. (How many of us have heard that handy acronym before? I know I have. Many, many times. I’ve even used it myself.)
Then, he said…
God deals with you lavishly because of the expense that Jesus paid on the cross for you.
That’s what this chapter in Luke is about, right? It’s showing us just how expensive it was for God to ransom us.
Yes, it is. And what the speaker said wasn’t wrong. When we believe in the name of Jesus, we do benefit from the payment for sins made by Christ. But, as I wrote in my notes, this statement seems to limit God’s goodness and grace. The extent of His goodness and grace is most vividly seen in the cross, especially when you consider the fact that He paid the ransom both for those who would believe in Him and those who would reject Him. This gift of God is one that is extended to all – not just a few, as some would have you think. However, it’s only ours if we claim it.
So how is that limiting? It seems rather all encompassing, doesn’t it?
Yeah, on first glance, it does, but let’s go back to what the speaker said.
God deals with you lavishly because of the expense that Jesus paid on the cross for you.
When I heard that statement, it sounded to me like he was saying that God’s goodness starts at the cross. I’m not saying that’s what he meant. I’m simply saying how the words struck me.
But here’s the thing: God’s goodness and grace didn’t start at the cross. It began in the garden and will culminate in the “New Garden” (aka His coming kingdom). And to suggest that His goodness only began at the cross is limiting that goodness.
Now, let me be clear here. The only way we are going to be part of that coming kingdom and dwell in the new heaven and earth is by accepting the gift of eternal life made possible by Jesus (Romans 6:23). I’m not denying that, nor do I mean to minimize how great and wonderful the work of Christ on the cross is. I just want us to expand our vision to take in the utter magnificence and grandeur of God’s goodness.
I’m going to try to do that by sharing a connection between the Garden of Eden and the curtain in the temple that came to mind as I was studying Luke 23.
For years and years, I have read the story of Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden and angels being put in place to guard the entrance as God punishing them. In my mind it was a “Since you couldn’t obey, you can’t come in, and I’m going to make sure you don’t try to sneak back in by putting these angels with swords of fire here to keep you out!” scenario. It was like they had lost a privilege – permanently.
And they had lost a privilege. But…
Recently (aka last year, in 2023), when I was studying Genesis my eyes were opened to see those angels as instruments of God’s goodness and mercy. They weren’t guarding the entrance to keep Adam and Eve from all the good things in Eden. They were protecting them.
I’m not sure if I can explain this adequately or not, but let me try.
From the moment they were created, Adam and Eve knew what good was because all that God had made was good. However, they did not know evil until they felt shame. And that knowledge came to them after they had disobeyed and eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and knowing evil would not be just confined to Adam and Eve, it would extend to all of creation.
There was another tree of significance in the garden called the tree of life. If Adam and Eve had eaten of that tree, they would have lived forever. (see Genesis 3:22) And they would have lived in their broken state where evil had taken a foothold and set up its reign - and this wouldn't be limited to just them. All creation would languish in brokenness forever with them.
So, God sacrificed animals to make clothes for them to cover their shame, sent them out from the garden, and placed angels as guards to keep them from being forever lost. And He did this right after promising that one day, His Son would break the curse and restore what had been lost.
Luke 23 is where the curse is broken. Darkness had fallen. The earth had shaken. Jesus had cried out that it was finished and died. And the curtain that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple was torn from top to bottom.
That curtain had for centuries acted much like the angels who guarded the way to the tree of life. It had been a protective barrier. To enter the holy of holies where the presence of God resided without proper preparation was certain death.
Once a year, and only once a year, a lamb had to die for the priest’s sins and for those of the people before the high priest could enter the presence of God to perform the rituals that were required by law. The high priest would wear special garments when he entered and there was a chord that was tied to him, just in case he hadn’t prepared properly and died as a result.
But when Christ died, the law was fulfilled. That protective barrier was not needed any longer. There were no more sacrifices to be made because the perfect Lamb of God had died once for all. No longer would people have to come to God through a curtain in a temple on a special day of the year. Now, they could come to God at any time through the blood of Christ.
Believing on the name of Christ did not just bring a future eternal life, it also brought direct access to God. Humans can once again walk with Him in the cool of the day – or any time of the day for that matter.
It hasn’t happened just yet in Luke’s sharing of the events that happened before, during, and after Christ’s life on earth, but soon (in Luke’s second book), the Spirit of God will fill all who believe in Jesus. God’s presence will, from that point forward, be carried with each and every disciple of Christ.
Restoration of creation has begun!
Oh, what a good God we serve. His goodness is without beginning or end for it is His glory and therefore, like Him is eternal. And it’s extended to all. One only needs to grasp it and claim it to partake in the fullness of God’s goodness and grace.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears, say “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17 NIV)
The invitation to the wedding feast has been extended. The preparations for that feast are being completed. The kingdom of God is here and coming. Have you accepted your invitation? Have you entered the kingdom? Have you believed in Him? If not, then, I would urge you to do so today.