Luke 23:44-49

content/bible_journal/luke_23:44-49.md

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+title = "Luke 23:44–49"
+date = "2023-02-20"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk23.44-49)
+
+The death of Jesus is accompanied by several supernatural signs, and Luke
+doesn't tell us all of them that happened. The first is darkness from noon to
+about 3 P.M. (Before you think "Eclipse!" like I did, know that Passover
+happens during the full moon, and solar eclipses during the new moon.) The
+second is the tearing of th e curtain in the temple. This curtain separated the
+Holy Place in the temple from the Holy of Holies and would have been anywhere
+from 10 to 30 feet tall. It was also thick enough that no one could see through
+it. And yet, when Jesus died, it was torn completely in two from top to bottom.
+Luke doesn't tell us about the earthquake or the saints rising from the dead on
+Sunday, but they also heralded the death (and soon-to-be resurrection) of
+Jesus.
+
+The fact that Jesus is able to call out with a loud voice right before He dies
+is also something outside the natural order of things. Crucifixion is a death
+by asphyxiation wherein the victim becomes too exhausted to take a breath. With
+the arms stretched out, the diaphram can't pull in enough air unless the legs
+are standing on the nail driven through the feet. But this a very painful
+position, so one is constantly struggling between needing to breathe and
+relieving what pain you can. The other two criminals had their legs broken so
+their deaths would be hurried along before the Sabbath started. They wouldn't
+have been able to support their chests in order to breathe after that. But
+after three hours of torture, after being too weak to carry His cross up the
+hill, Jesus is able to speak loudly, and then chooses to stop breathing
+entirely.
+
+The centurion in charge of these executions was very experienced with executing
+criminals this way, and he noticed that Jesus's death was not how it went,
+ever. He recognized God's hand in the supernatural events going on around him.
+The people who had come to see the specatacle of a public execution were also
+disturbed and grieved by what they saw. Interesting, then, that we don't get
+any reactions from Jesus's followers when they see their Teacher perish. They
+merely bear witness.
+
+* * *
+
+Even in death, You are glorified. And Your victory over the grave proves Your
+majesty.