Luke 23 – 24

Verse 23:8 has Jesus before Herod:

Herod was fascinated to meet Jesus for he had heard about Him for a long time. He was hoping he might be treated to a miracle or two.

If you had someone before you who had reported to do miracles, would you not want to see one? The interesting thing was the way Jesus did his miracles; it was not to satisfy a hard heart, but rather to change hearts. Look at all that were done, they were not done to impress people but rather to change their hearts. Often God is mocked by unbelievers who want a believer to walk across their swimming pool, yet nothing happens. Why? I am sure if God revealed himself, the short term impact would be great but unless the miracles were directed at the heart they would be forgotten quickly.

Think about it, God parted the Red Sea and the hearts of Israel were quickly turned away for a Golden Calf. Yet Jesus walked on water and 2000 years later He is changing hearts with that story. Am I a miracle of God or medicine? All I can say is I was dead and now I am alive!!!  I thank God for that as much as I can!!

Verse 23:45 has symbolic significance:

and at some point during this darkness, the curtain in the temple was torn in two.

The significance of this is very critical when looking at our relationship with God. You see before that point man had to interface with priests who would go behind the curtain and interface with God. Now God is open to all, He is not behind a curtain. Today we do not need to go someplace special to communicate with God. With the tearing of the curtain, God symbolically showed He is open to all.

Now as we read the Bible we notice Moses, Noah, or even post temple prophets like Jonah and Elijah never went to the temple to communicate with God. I often wonder if God had man erect the temple as a reminder of His glory and man twisted it to be the only way to interface with God. Jesus tearing down the temple was not suddenly giving us access to God, but rather showing everyone they have access.

Now one suggestion is the temple curtain was primarily for confession of sins, and the sacrifices involved. When Jesus died on the cross this ended the need since His sacrifice covered all. No longer do we have to pack up our unblemished lamb, travel to Jerusalem and have the ritual to cleanse us of our sins. Now we just need to confess the sins and repent before Jesus.

Verse 24:38 Jesus tries to calm his disciples:

Why are you upset? Why are your hearts churning with questions? 

Think about it they were thinking they were seeing a ghost and not Jesus in flesh. It is easy to see how someone you saw die is suddenly standing before you can cause some questions. Jesus is trying to bring them peace and show them He is the Messiah. The whole triumphal march into Jerusalem a week earlier was the disciple’s procession into battle to over throw Rome. They did not thing the Messiah was going to lead them to HIS death on a cross. They did not see the larger picture that the life here on earth would have evil dictators and His salvation was not a short term freedom but an eternal salvation and union with God.