Can God Be Killed

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 16 to study Luke 23:26-56 (or as far as we get through).  The parallels to this passage are Matthew 27:24-61, Mark 15:15-16:1, and John 19:16-42.  It might be helpful to use all four to help create the scene with all the elements.

Be sure to make notes about all the various details that jump out at you; questions, observations, and just plain odd things.  After you have your own notes, I encourage you to review a few commentaries on Luke.  As always, Blue Letter Bible has some, but anything else you can find in print will also be helpful.

After you've done your own study, go back through with the questions below:

• In Matthew, Mark, and John (19:1), the writers state that Jesus is scourged.  Luke leaves out this detail.  Why do you think Luke would leave that part out?
• Scourging is not described in any of the other three Gospels.  We tend to make much of it, but none of the Gospels give it more than a sentence, and Luke leaves it out entirely.  Why do you think we emphasize something they minimized?
• Matthew, Mark, and Luke mention Simon of Cyrene who carries the cross for Jesus.  In Mark, he is referred to as "the father of Alexander and Rufus".  Many think this signifies some familiarity with his family in the early church.  Why do you think this detail significant enough for these three to mention?
• The Catholic Church has Fourteen Stations of the Cross on this road to Golgotha.  Some are in Scripture and some are "legendary".  What do you think is the point of going over those "stations" for this church tradition?
• If you've never seen this attraction, you will enjoy this.  This link goes to the official website where you can read about this Texas roadside attraction in Groom, Texas, on I-40.  Why do you think someone would spend so much money on such an attraction?
• Luke leaves out what we think of as a lot of detail, but he includes Jesus and the "weeping women" in verses 27 through 31.  To what do you think Jesus is referring here? 
• If it's possible that Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem now for a third time, what do you think this might have to do with Luke's purpose in writing his account of Jesus?
• Jesus is depicted as being crucified between two others.  In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they are criminals.  In John, they are just two others.  What do you think is the importance of Jesus being between two other people, criminals or not? (Maybe Mark 15:28?)
• During the time Jesus is on the cross, it's agreed that the soldiers divided up His clothes by casting lots (see John's account though for more detail), and Jesus was mocked by pretty much everyone close at hand around the cross.  Why do you think this was such an important detail?
• In Matthew and Mark, both the others crucified with Jesus are joining in the mocking.  Luke has a different detail, where one does, but the other professes faith in Jesus.  Why do you think this didn't make it into the other three Gospels? (How does Luke know this?)
• There is darkness over the land for three hours in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  And in all three, He dies after.  Imagine the scene:  A major solar eclipse, and as Jesus dies, the sun emerges from the other side of the moon; it's light out again.  What do you think is the significance to that?
• In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, a centurion professes a modicum of faith in Jesus when he sees how Jesus dies.  How do you think this detail made it into the three Gospel traditions?
• Only in Luke do we have the quote, "Into Your hands I commit My Spirit" as Jesus dies (Psalm 31:5). In Matthew and Mark, it's a quote from Psalm 22:1.  What do you think is the essential difference between those two quotes?
• In all four Gospels, we have followers of Jesus witnessing the crucifixion.  In Matthew and Mark, we have women specifically, and several named.  In Luke we have some including women, but no one is named.  In John we have a similar list, but also a whole discourse where Jesus commends His mother into the care of "the disciple whom Jesus loved".  What does this tell you about the source for the Gospel details about the crucifixion?  
• Only in John is Jesus' side pierced with a spear.  John as specific testimony that he witnessed this, and also what Scripture it fulfills.  Why do you think this never made it into the other Gospels?
• Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate to ask for the body in all four Gospels.  Why do you think this detail is so important to the Gospel writers?
• In John, Nicodemus joins Joseph in caring for Jesus' body.  What might this detail tell you about John and Nicodemus?
• John has a detail that the tomb was in a garden close to where Jesus was crucified.  The others include no such location clue.  But all agree it was a stone tomb, three agree that no one had ever used it.  What do you think it means that "no one had yet been laid in it"?  Who reuses a tomb?  (for a clue, go to the Blue Letter Bible, or Google, and look up an "ossuary box")
• There are witnesses (or a witness) to where Jesus is laid.  Consider the detail of Matthew 25:61. This obviously sets up the next chapter in every Gospel.  But what do you think is going through their minds?

This will probably take us several weeks, but at least we'll be ready for Easter!

Passing 'Round The Messiah

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 9 to study Luke 23:1-12.  It was going to be longer, but I think there's enough here to take up our time.

Read through the passage and the parallels in Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:1-5, and John 18:28-38.  Not all the Gospels share the same set of characters, sequence, or wording.  There's enough detail between them to get some sense of the event, including the chaotic feel of it.  Make notes and jot down questions as you go through.

After you have your notes and questions, go back through with some sort of commentary.  The more detail the commentary has the more they will deal with the discrepancies between the Gospels.  They're not critical to know and address, but can be helpful in getting a sense of what happened.

After you have your notes and questions, revised them with some commentary, go back through with the questions below:

• The Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate.  Later on there is a stoning of Stephen, so they can execute someone in an unofficial sense and get away with it.  Why do you think they want the Romans to execute Jesus officially and publicly?  (for more food for thought here, consider John 18:32)
• In verse 2, the religious leaders accuse Jesus with different accusations than they arrived at in their council chambers.  Why do you think that might be?  Even so, are they "lying" to Pilate?
• Once Pilate says he finds no guilt in Jesus, the religious leaders then widen the accusations.  When Pilate hears Jesus was from Galilee he perceives a way out for himself.  Why do you think Herod happened to be in Jerusalem just then?
• Luke records (actually repeats from earlier in Luke 9) that Herod actually wanted to see Jesus.  But why do you think he was interested in Him?
• Herod gets nothing from Jesus.  At least Jesus spoke with Pilate, but to Herod He says nothing.  Why do you think that would be?
• Herod and his detachment of soldiers mock Jesus but also give Him an expensive robe.  Why do you think Herod would give Jesus such a thing?
• The Jewish leaders are accusing Jesus strongly as Jesus gives no answer to Herod.  What sort of effect do you imagine this is having on Herod?
• Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate.  Luke then makes the odd statement that Herod and Pilate became friends from that day on, and that before they had been enemies.  Why do you think this is in any way important to the account in Luke?  He leaves out so much other stuff, but this he includes.  Why do you think that might be?

 That will probably keep us busy for a few hours.  Remember to think through what all this says about Jesus and your relationship with Him.  What do you learn about that relationship from Jesus' treatment and response?