Learning From Luke

(Luke 24:6). The tomb was empty—but could there be another explanation? In this special episode, we examine common attempts to explain away the resurrection of Jesus and why each one fails to account for all the evidence. The cumulative evidence points to one compelling conclusion!

(Luke 24:1-8). On the first day of the week, when the women came to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus, they instead find the tomb empty. The empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus that followed answer the angels’ question with one undeniable truth: Jesus was no longer among the dead—He is risen!

(Luke 23:50-56). Josep of Arimathea boldly steps forward to bury the body of Jesus while faithful women carefully watch where He is laid. They observed the tomb—and soon they would return to find it empty.

(Luke 23:44-49). As Jesus breathes His last, darkness covers the land, the temple veil is torn, and a Roman centurion declares His innocence. In His final words, Jesus demonstrates complete trust in the Father when He cried, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

(Luke 23:38-43). As Jesus hangs between two criminals, one continues to mock Him while the other recognizes his own guilt, confesses Christ’s innocence, and turns to Him in faith. In his final moments, this repentant thief receives one of the most comforting promises ever spoken: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

(Luke 23:27:38). This is the climactic statement Luke gives after Jesus reaches Calvary. This pivotal moment in history underscores that things are not always as they appear to be.

(Luke 23:26). When Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry the cross of Jesus, it evidently transformed his life. The soldiers compelled him to pick up the cross, but love compelled him to never put it down. The cross of Christ still has the power to transform someone from a reluctant participant into an active advocate. 

(Luke 23:13-25). The cross of Christ reveals humanity at its worst, but God at His best. This episode explores the details surrounding the sixth and final phase of Jesus’ trial. When the voice of the people prevail, Pilate releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be crucified: the guilty goes free and the innocent pays the price. When we reject God’s will to follow our own, we stand, in a sense, with that condemning crowd—choosing our sin over our Savior and adding our voices to that terrible cry: “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”

(Luke 23:8-12). When Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, the Lord stands silent before the wicked ruler who had sought to see Jesus for merely selfish reasons. Herod is not unlike many today who send Jesus away after they lose interest and Jesus fails to provide what they want. Herod’s encounter reminds us that Jesus is not a curiosity to entertain us but a King to whom we must listen, believe, and submit.

(Luke 23:1-7). As Jesus stands before Pilate to be judged, the Roman governor declares Jesus to be innocent three different times.  When the evidence is examined and the accusations are weighed, the verdict remains unchanged, and it still echoes through the pages of Scripture today: “I find no fault in this Man.” Yet, Pilate compromises his convictions and Jesus pays the price.