THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

The act reflects the hardness of heart of the Gentiles. Peter made this clear in hispreaching:195“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God toyou by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him,as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s setpurpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Himto death by nailing Him to the cross” (Ac 2:22-23). \This was literally done by Herod and his Roman soldiers (23:11; Mk 15:17). Both therobe (Lk 23:11; Mk 15:17) and crown (Mk 15:17) were parts of the mock royal attire placed onJesus.Notice the abuse of the Savior:“They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him” (v. 32).Jesus will be mocked (22:63-71; 23:11,36) and subjected to the ridicule of proud scoffers.This was done by Pilate, the Roman governor. The punishment of the cross was Romannot Jewish; but the chief priests condemned Him to it, and the Romans executed the sentence.How ignorant they were! In reality, by this very process, they were jointly offering upthat sacrifice which was to make an atonement for the Gentiles and for the Jews; an atonementfor the sin of the whole world.Here is the greatest instance of the fact that even the wrath of man shall fulfill God’splan and purpose.LUKE PREDICTS JESUS’ RESURRECTION (18:33)“On the third day He will rise again'” (v. 33).In historic Christianity the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the pivot onwhich every other teaching rests. Do away with the bodily resurrection of Jesus and you dodestroy the very foundation and fabric of the Christian religion (1 Co 15:12-19). Jesus ofNazareth, however, was raised bodily, victorious over death, sin and Satan. He was raised in thesame material body in which He had died, but now His body was resurrected and glorified.