Crucifixion, Death, and Burial of Jesus

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels: 

(Luke 23:32) And there were also two others, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death.

In the first part of chapter 23, Jesus had been sentenced to death by crucifixion and was being led to the place where it was to be performed.  Simon of Cyrene followed behind Him bearing His cross.  There were two other men who were indeed criminals that were being led to their crucifixion, as well.  Imagine our sweet Lord being treated as a common criminal!  But it fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah 53:12 which said in part that "He was numbered with the transgressors."

(33) And when they had come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  

They came to the place where the crucifixion was to be done; it was called Calvary.  The original word translated as Calvary was "kranion."  It is very similar to our word cranium, and it indeed meant skull.  It was called that because of the many skulls of the executed which lay there.  Jesus was raised up on the cross in the middle of the two criminals.

(34) Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Amazingly, Jesus showed compassion for the unsaved souls who were torturing and mocking Him and He prayed to His Father that He forgive them because they did not realize they were crucifying the Messiah, their only source of salvation.  The soldiers divided up Jesus's garments and cast lots for them, also fulfilling prophecy in Psalms 22:18, "They part My garments among them and cast lots on My vesture."

(35) And the people stood watching. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is Christ, the chosen of God."

The people just watched.  Rulers among them contemptibly mocked Jesus saying that if He was truly the Christ, He could save Himself, as He saved others.  They had no idea that He could have chosen to do that, but that all the world would die in their sins if He did.  He chose not to save Himself so that He could save others!  They called Jesus the "chosen of God."  He was not really chosen by God, but He was God, but of course, they did not understand that.

(36) And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, (37) And saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

The soldiers also mocked Him with the same taunts, that if He really was the King of the Jews, He should save Himself.  Vinegar, or sour wine, was a common drink of the Roman soldiers, so the offering of that in itself was not necessarily part of the mockery.  It may have been meant to arouse Him or numb the pain so that they could watch Him save Himself if He could.

(38) And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

An inscription was written over Jesus on the cross.  The account in John stated it was Pilate who wrote the inscription displaying the accusation against Jesus.  Here it states he wrote it in three different languages that all people might see why Jesus was being put to death.  Unbeknownst to him, Pilate was being used by God to profess the truth about Jesus to all.

(39) And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed on Him, saying, "If You are Christ, save Yourself and us!"

One of the criminals who were being crucified along with Jesus, also took part in the taunting, and said if He was really Christ, He should save Himself and also them.

(40) But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation?"

The other criminal rebuked him who was taunting Jesus.  He asked him if he even feared God, seeing that he was acting as barbaric as the Roman soldiers.  And he was in the same condemnation as Jesus and could be treated just as contemptibly, so how could he egg this on?

(41) "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing amiss."

The second criminal went on to add that each of them was receiving what was due them for their actions, but that Jesus had done nothing to deserve that punishment.  I'm sure he was being drawn by the Holy Spirit to see Jesus for who He was, but actually with only the crime of "King of the Jews," what had He done to deserve crucifixion?

(42) And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

What an amazing conversion!  This criminal came to see Jesus for who He really was and asked that He remember him when He came into His kingdom.

(43) And Jesus said to him, "Verily, I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise."

Jesus told the criminal that he would indeed be with Jesus in paradise.  Paradise may mean heaven, or some think it is a peaceful place where souls wait to be resurrected at the judgment, that all souls must be judged before they ascend into heaven.  Whatever the case, this criminal was indeed saved and would be with Jesus in eternal life.

(44) And it was about the sixth hour and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

The Jews started counting the hours of their day at about sunrise at 6:00 in the morning, so their sixth hour would have been noon.  There was a darkness over all the earth from noon until 3:00 in the afternoon.  This fulfilled a prophecy in Amos 8:9, "...I will cause the sun to go down at noon and I will darken the earth in the clear day."

(45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

The sun was darkened.  Many have called it a solar eclipse, but that would have been impossible at the time of the Passover and the full moon.  The sun was supernaturally darkened because the Light of the world was being extinguished.  At the same time the veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in two.  That represented the veil separating God from the people.  Because of what Jesus was doing bearing all our sins on the cross, all people now had access to God.  You would think these awesome miraculous happenings would have brought the whole lot of people who were observing to their knees begging for forgiveness.

(46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit," and having said that, He gave up the ghost.

Jesus then cried out in a loud voice to the Father that He was presenting His spirit to Him, and then He breathed His last breath and died.

(47) Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

The Roman centurion guard at Jesus's cross observed all that had happened with the darkening of the sun, the earthquake and rocks being torn apart as told in the account in Matthew, and even the manner in which Jesus died, apparently by His own will.  This Roman, a Gentile, saw the truth about Jesus and he glorified God.

(48) And all the people who came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, struck their breasts and returned.

All the people who had witnessed what had happened beat their breasts in deep emotion.  Usually the people of that time struck their breasts in mourning or sorrow, but whether it was sorrow and regret for what they had done to Jesus, or sorrow and fear for themselves, it's hard to know for certain.  However, it did affect them deeply and then they returned home.

(49) And all His acquaintances and the women who followed Him from Galilee stood afar off, beholding these things.

Those people who knew Jesus personally and were familiar with Him and also the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood a distance away watching all that had taken place.   

(50) And behold, a man named Joseph, a counsellor, a good and just man, (51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them), of Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself also waited for the kingdom of God.

There was there a man named Joseph, of Arimathea, a good and just man who looked forward to the kingdom of God.  Being a counsellor, he may have been on the council of the Sanhedrin, but he did not go along with the council's decision to put Jesus to death.

(52) He went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus.

This good man, Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pontius Pilate and asked for Jesus's body.

(53) And he took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone where no man had been laid before.

Joseph took the body of Jesus down from the cross and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a new sepulchre that had been hewn out of stone.  I can't help but notice the way Luke wrote about Jesus's body.  He called it "it," not "Him."  Jesus's spirit was no longer with His body and Luke seems to recognize that His body was not Him.  However, Joseph showed great love and respect for Jesus's body, taking care of its burial.

(54) And that day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew near.

That day was the preparation for the Sabbath which was drawing quite near by this time.  Jesus had died about 3:00 in the afternoon and the Sabbath would have begun at 6:00 in the evening, so Joseph would have worked quickly to get permission and then to bury Jesus's body.

(55) And the women also who came with Him from Galilee followed after and beheld the sepulchre and how His body was laid.

The same women who had been watching from afar all that took place at Jesus's crucifixion followed after Joseph to see where Jesus's body was laid.  The other Gospel accounts tell us they were Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, the wife of Cleophas and the sister of Mary, Jesus's mother; and Salome, the mother of James and John, Zebedee's sons.

(56) And they returned and prepared spices and ointments, and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

The women returned to their homes and prepared spices and ointments for Jesus's body, but then rested before bringing them back to His body because the Sabbath had begun, and it was the law that they should rest and do no work which included anointing the dead.  They did not realize at this time that Jesus had fulfilled that ceremonial law thus abolishing the need for it, as He would be our Sabbath rest.  That is not to say one shouldn't observe the Sabbath for it was commanded for our own good and well-being.  However, there was no more need for all the legalistic rules of it.  As Jesus had demonstrated, He was Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), and said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," and it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12).

Jesus is Condemned to Death by the People

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 23:1) And the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.

At the end of the last chapter, the Sanhedrin had met it seems rather secretly at the high priest's house and had found Jesus guilty of blasphemy that was punishable by death.  Their Sanhedrin was an ecclesiastical court and they had no authority to put Him to death, so they took Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

(2) And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found Him perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

The members of the Sanhedrin who had taken Jesus to Pilate put forth their accusations against Him.  First they said He was perverting the nation, which was a very broad accusation, and if meant perverting the religion of the Jews, I'm sure Pilate couldn't have cared less.  So then they lied and said that Jesus had forbidden people to pay tribute to Caesar which was of course not at all what He taught (Matthew 22:21).  The reason they gave for His forbidding tribute to Caesar was that He said He was Himself King.  They figured that the last part would certainly rile the Roman governor.

(3) And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered Him and said, "You say."

Pilate then asked Jesus point blank if He was the King of the Jews, to which Jesus answered, "You say."  Once again, I find translations and commentaries adding to what Jesus said, declaring that He had said something to the effect of, "You speak rightly," or "It is as you say."  In the original text, Jesus said only, "You say."  Pontius Pilate would declare it himself when he would later put a sign over Jesus saying, "King of the Jews."  I truly believe Jesus and the Holy God's point was to have His accusers themselves state that they were indeed killing the Son of God and the King of the Jews.  

(4) Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this man."

Apparently, people had gathered around the governor's palace by that time, and Pilate said to them and to the members of the Sanhedrin that he found no fault in Jesus.  He had done nothing against Caesar or the government, and he didn't consider claiming He was King of the Jews to be an offense worthy of punishment.

(5) And they were more fierce, saying, "He stirred up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry beginning from Galilee to this place."

However, the members of the Sanhedrin did not want to accept that answer and began arguing more fiercely.  The best they could come up with was that He stirred up the people with His teaching throughout all Judea.

(6) When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean.

When Pilate heard them speak of Galilee, he then asked if Jesus was a Galilean.  Even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, He was brought up in Nazareth in Galilee, so everyone thought of Him as a Galilean.

(7) As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at the time.

Obviously getting an answer in the affirmative, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod as He would be considered within Herod's jurisdiction.  Herod was also in Jerusalem at the time.

(8) And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad for he was long desirous to see Him because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.

Herod was very glad to see Jesus as he had long heard many things about Him and had desired to see Him.  When Herod first heard about Jesus, he thought He must be John the Baptist coming back to haunt him because he had had John beheaded.  Herod hoped to see Jesus and to witness a miracle performed by Him to satisfy his curiosity.

(9) Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.

Herod questioned Jesus but we aren't told exactly what he asked.  We can gather from Jesus's non-response that Herod's questions were not from a genuine interest in the truth about Jesus, but rather merely out of curiosity.  He probably thought that now that he had Jesus before him in bonds that he could demand a miracle, but just as Jesus was unwilling to play prophecy games when the soldiers were hitting Him in the head and asking who it was who hit Him, He would not say anything to Herod or perform a cheap trick for him.

(10) And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes of the Sanhedrin intensely made their accusations against Jesus.

(11) And Herod with his men of war treated Him contemptibly like He was nothing and mocked Him and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him again to Pilate.

Herod and his men, we see from this Herod's true thoughts about Jesus.  He thought of Him as nothing of any importance, only to be mocked by him and his men.  They put Him in a robe, mocking Him as King, and sent Him back to Pilate.  The word translated as "gorgeous" actually means more precisely "bright, shining, gleaming white."  The Romans had mocked Him as King in a purple robe.  Jewish kings wore brilliant white robes, so now they put a white robe on Jesus in pure mockery, not realizing the symbolism of the pure and innocent Christ King.

(12) And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity with each other.

Apparently, Pilate and Herod had been at odds with one another, but through their likely communications about Jesus, they had common ground that brought them together.  Neither saw Jesus as any threat.

(13) And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14) Said to them, "You have brought this man to me as one who perverted the people, and behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse Him."

Having Jesus back before him, Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and all the people who were there to tell them that he had found no fault in Jesus.  Although they had said that He had perverted the people, Pilate had examined Him before them and didn't find Him guilty of any of the things of which they had accused Him.

(15) "No, not even Herod, for I sent you back to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him."

Pilate told the chief priests and rulers that even Herod had found no fault in Jesus, certainly nothing worthy of death.

(16) "I will therefore chastise Him and release Him."

Therefore, Pilate said he would release Jesus after he chastised Him.  Isn't it interesting that he would chastise someone in whom he had found no fault?  Chastise Him for what?

(17) (For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)

This was a parenthetical statement that may have been added by someone who transcribed scripture as it is said that it was excluded from some old manuscripts.  It had become a custom to release one prisoner at Passover, and the people expected it, so Pilate felt obliged to do it.

(18) And they cried out all at once, saying, "Away with Him and release to us Barabbas!"

It seems beyond belief that all the people could clamor for Jesus to be punished when they had so recently exalted Him in His entrance into the city.  The account in Matthew stated that the chief priests and elders had stirred up the people against Him.  People have never changed; to this day they can be so easily manipulated by people in power.  The people asked for a prisoner named Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus.

(19) (Who for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Luke made a parenthetical statement explaining who Barabbas was.  He had been found guilty of sedition and murder and had been thrown into prison.

(20) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.

However, Pilate preferred to release Jesus and spoke again to the people.

(21) But they cried, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

Again, because he found no fault in Jesus and preferring to release Him rather than Barabbas, Pilate appealed to the people for Jesus's release.  It is so unbelievable and heartbreaking that people could be so cruel to not only imprison someone with whom no fault had been found, but also to see Him crucified!  That would be sad if it were any innocent person, but it being the most innocent and pure and also so loving a person to ever live on earth makes it unbearable.  I think it illustrates just how deplorable we people are, but because He loved us filthy unlovable lot so much, He willingly gave His life to save us.  No greater love has there ever been!  This crucifixion of Jesus was a true historical event; how could anyone deny Jesus and His loving gift to them?

(22) And he said to them a third time, "Why? What evil has He done? I have found no cause for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

A third time Pilate pleaded for Jesus, saying he had found no fault in Him that warranted death.  He even asked the people to tell Him what evil He had done.  He declared again that he would chastise Jesus and then let Him go free.

(23) And they were insistent with loud voices requiring that He be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

However, the people and the chief priests were insistent and shouted loudly that Jesus should be crucified.  And it seems they prevailed:

(24) And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Pilate gave the death sentence to Jesus as the people required.  I find Pilate to be a most weak man.  Perhaps it was necessary for him to release the prisoner of the people's choosing at Passover, but I don't believe there was anything in the law that said the people had the right to choose who should be crucified.  Pilate could have released Barabbas and imprisoned Jesus for a while without sentencing Him to death, but he was a weak ruler who feared the wrath of the people.

(25) And he released to them him who for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Pilate released Barabbas, a murderer, but delivered up an innocent man to be crucified according to the will of the people.  I'm sure that the will of the people was not the normal law of the Roman government, but so weak a ruler that Pilate was, he gave in to the people.  The account in Matthew stated that Pilate washed his hands before the crowd and said he was innocent of Jesus's blood and that the people bore the responsibility, but I'm sorry, I can't see it that way.  Pilate could have easily in his position as governor saved an innocent life, but chose not to for fear of the people.  However, we know that it had to be done for the salvation of the world, and only God truly knew the heart of Pilate and He is the righteous judge.

(26) And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it behind Jesus.

As they led Jesus out of Pilate's court, they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming into the city from the country and laid Jesus's cross upon him to carry behind Jesus.  In reading commentaries on this verse, I am very offended by Albert Barnes's commentary.  He said it was because Jesus was feeble that they compelled Simon to help Him.  The Catholic church of my youth always taught me that Jesus fell down and that is when they compelled Simon to carry His cross.  Neither is found in scripture!  I'm sure that Albert Barnes probably just meant that Jesus was weak from all the beating He had received before this point, but still scripture said nothing about that being the reason they forced Simon to carry His cross.  And who knows why the Catholic church said that Jesus fell down when scripture does not say that He did, but I find they way too often diminish the deity of Jesus in some way or another.  Even in my own study, I added to scripture myself when I studied the account in Matthew.  I believed that Jesus carried His cross for a while, as stated in John, but then His tortured and beaten body could do it no more.  Scripture didn't say that!  I believe the purpose in Simon carrying the cross was a more spiritual one and symbolic of following Jesus.  First, Cyrene was a country in Africa; Simon was a foreigner, a Gentile.  But here he took up the cross and followed Jesus, a beautiful picture of discipleship and the fact that it is given to all people to be a disciple of Jesus.

(27) And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women who also mourned and lamented Him.

A crowd of people followed Jesus and among them were women who cried for Jesus.  Some of these were surely His friends and followers, but I imagine that some women of the general public mourned for Him because they had compassion for Him because of the unjust cruelty they had witnessed.  It proves that not everyone was hellbent on seeing Jesus crucified. 

(28) But Jesus turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

However, Jesus turned to them and told them not to weep for Him, but that they should weep for themselves and for their children.  He willingly went to give His life to save all people.  He called them daughters of Jerusalem, and of course, He referred to what was to happen to Jerusalem because of the people's rejection of Him and His blood on their heads and that is why they should weep for themselves and their children.

(29) "For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, 'Blessed the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.'"

I know Jesus's human body was tortured and weak at this point, but there is nothing feeble about Him.  He was in complete control and willingly went to His death, and He had the complete presence of mind to tell these women about their fate to come.  There was coming a time when it would be more blessed to be barren and to have never born children that would have to endure what was in store for them.

(30) "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'"

Jesus told the women that the days that were coming would be so terrible that people would wish for mountains to fall upon them and kill them rather than be subject to the terrors and complete destruction facing them.

(31) "For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

Jesus's words were metaphoric.  If such a green fruitful life such as His, completely innocent, can be killed in such a brutal abhorrent way, what could dry unfruitful sinful people expect?  If the Romans punished Jesus in such a manner as this, what would they do to the entire Jewish nation?  The Romans would be used by God to punish Israel.  Sure, they were guilty of evil, too, and persecuted the Jews, but it was not the Roman rulers who condemned Jesus to crucifixion and death.  It was the Jewish people, God's chosen people, who condemned Him.  They were the dry useless chaff that would be burned and destroyed.  I know that God is just and that He can punish anyone or show mercy to anyone as He pleases, but I always think that God doesn't have to personally punish, although He has every right to, but I know all He has to do is turn His back and the wicked world will do it for Him.  

Again, I have to ask Mr. Barnes if this sounds like a feeble man.  I know he meant no disrespect and Jesus's human body had indeed been horribly tortured and weakened, and it pains me to think of the pain He endured, but I know He was a triumphant King who willingly did all this to defeat Satan and death and to bring all of us to Him in eternal life.  He was always in control and teaching to His last moments on earth.

As this is a rather long chapter, I will end this post with this and continue chapter 23 in the next post.

Jesus is Betrayed by Judas and Denied by Peter

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 22:39) And He came out and went, as He was accustomed, to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples also followed Him.

At the end of the last post, Jesus and His disciples had finished their Passover meal, and He now left the house and went to the Mount of Olives where He was accustomed to going.  His disciples followed Him.

(40) And when He was at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you enter not into temptation."

When they came to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told His disciples to pray that they not give into temptation.  Knowing that they indeed would be tempted to flee and fall away, He told them to pray in order that they have the strength to resist that temptation.

(41) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down and prayed.

Jesus withdrew Himself a short distance away and kneeled down and prayed.

(42) Saying, "Father, if You be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done."

Jesus prayed to Father God in heaven that if it was within His will to remove what He was about to have to go through from Him, He asked of His human desire for it.  However, His divine self answered that He would do what the Father had willed must be done.  Jesus, being fully human, was tempted by feelings of self-preservation, but as God, knew what had to be done and willingly accepted it.

(43) And there appeared an angel to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

In answer to Jesus's prayer, an angel appeared to Him and strengthened His human nature to alleviate His anxiety and to resist temptation. 

(44) And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Then, being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly and He began to sweat blood.  This agony was far more terrifying than the agony one might feel about an approaching torture and death.  Jesus had relinquished His human will to accept that, but what caused the most anguish was the pure perfect God in human form was about to take upon Himself the filthy sin of the entire world, and the Holy Father and Jesus's own divine self would be withdrawn from Him at that point.

(45) And when He rose up from prayer and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Jesus rose up from praying and went back to His disciples and found them sleeping.  The verse states that they slept from sorrow.  Their hearts were surely heavy with sorrow at what Jesus had foretold them was soon to happen, and the heaviness induced sleep.

(46) And said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Jesus asked His disciples why they were sleeping, that they should be praying to strengthen themselves against the temptation that was surely coming, that temptation to deny Christ and flee in fear.

(47) And while He yet spoke, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

While Jesus was waking His disciples, a multitude of people came toward Him, with Judas Iscariot, one of His own chosen twelve apostles, running ahead to meet Him first and kiss Him.

(48) But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?"

Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was setting Him up for, asked Judas if he was betraying Him with a kiss, letting Judas know that He knew just what he was doing.

(49) When those who were around Him saw what would follow, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"

When Jesus's disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked Him if they should strike with the sword, still thinking that was what Jesus had prepared them to be able to do when He had told them to sell whatever they had to get all they needed, including knives.

(50) And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

The account in John tells us it was Simon Peter who did not wait for an answer but struck with the sword and cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest.  One could imagine that Peter was aiming to cut off the servant's head, but God's hand was in this, and the killing of the men who came to seize Jesus was not part of the plan.

(51) And Jesus answered and said, "Suffer this far." And touching his ear, He healed him.

However, Jesus answered and told him to allow this much, let them proceed and do not resist.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, suggested that Jesus might have been asking that they allow Him physically to go as far as to the servant, as they may have already seized Him at this point, "Allow Me to go as far as the servant."  He then touched the servant's ear and healed it.

(52) Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and clubs?"

Jesus then asked His captors, the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, if they had found the need to come out after Him with swords and clubs as if He were a thief.

(53) "When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against Me, but this is your hour and the power of darkness."

Jesus went on to tell His captors that He had often been with them in the temple and they never tried to seize Him, nor had they ever found Him to be one who would resist their efforts to seize Him as a thief would.  He admitted and allowed that it was now their time to act by the power of darkness, Satan.  Satan is only allowed to do what God permits him to do, and as part of the Father's will, Jesus allowed him and them to proceed.

(54) Then they took Him and led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Jesus's captors took Him to the high priest's house where the Sanhedrin had assembled.  The accounts in Matthew and Mark told us the high priest was Caiaphas and that he had assembled with all the chief priests and scribes.  However, this was not their normal place of assembly.  It seems they were acting in secrecy.  Matthew and Mark also told us that all Jesus's disciples fled the scene when He was taken, but Peter followed Him from a distance.  This showed some level of love and concern for his Lord, but he also wanted to stay out of danger for himself.

(55) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

The account in John said that it was the servants and the officers of the high priest who made a fire in the hall because it was a cold night.  They then sat and warmed themselves by the fire and Peter sat among them as one of them.

(56) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked at him and said, "This man was also with Him."

One of the servant girls saw Peter and studied him intently and declared that he had been with Jesus.

(57) And he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."

However, Peter spoke directly to the servant girl and declared he did not know Jesus, denying Him as Jesus had said he would.

(58) And after a little while another saw him, and said, "You are also of them." And Peter said, "Man, I am not."

A little while later another person, a man, saw Peter and declared that he was one of Jesus's band.  The account in Mark said that it was another maid who saw him, but she spoke to the others around her.  It appears here that one of them she told confronted Peter.  Peter again denied knowing Christ, saying he was not one of them.

(59) And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly, he also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."

With all the Gospel accounts taken together, it seems that about an hour later a man whose kin was the one whose ear Peter had cut off, confidently told Peter he had seen him in the garden, and others agreed it must be true for his speech gave him away as a Galilean.

(60) And Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

Peter told the man he didn't know what he was talking about.  The account in Matthew says Peter even cursed and swore.  As the last words were coming out of his mouth, the rooster crowed.

(61) And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times."

Jesus, who was apparently within sight of Peter, turned and looked at him at that moment.  Peter then recalled what Jesus had said to him about him denying Him three times before the rooster crowed.

(62) And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Peter left and wept bitterly, realizing he who said he would follow Jesus anywhere, even to death, had indeed denied he even knew Him three times just as the Lord had said he would.  

(63) And the men who held Jesus mocked Him and struck Him.

The men who held Jesus in the high priest's house mocked Him and struck, or smote Him, as transcribed in the KJV.  The more complete meaning of the word "dero" that was translated as "smote," meant to strip the skin.  Therefore, this was more than just smacking Jesus; the men were either digging into His skin with their nails or beating Him and ripping His skin.

(64) And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy, who is it who struck You?"

They then blindfolded Jesus and began to strike Him on the face and then mockingly asked Him to prophesy and tell them who it was who had struck Him.

(65) And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

They spoke many wicked and blasphemous things against Jesus.

(66) And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together and led Him into their council, saying, (67) "Are You the Christ? Tell us." And He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe."

All these things had taken place in the middle of the night, and as soon as it was day, the elders, chief priests, and scribes assembled together, bringing Jesus into the council.  They demanded He admit whether or not He was the Christ, the Messiah, whom His followers believed Him to be.  Jesus answered that if He answered them the truth, they would not believe Him.  Of course, Jesus knew the truth about their motives.  They only asked, determined not to believe Him, but to use His answer against Him.

(68) "And if I also ask you, you will not answer Me nor let Me go."

Jesus's point was that even if He began a discourse with them to get to the truth, they wouldn't answer honestly and would never let Him go, so there was no real point in answering them.

(69) "Hereafter the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God."

However, as they didn't believe and admit the proof of His being the Christ, Jesus did tell them that in the time to follow He would sit at the right hand of God.

(70) Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" And He said to them, "You say that I am."

Jesus's accusers then asked if He was the Son of God.  He answered that they said that He was.  Most all the commentators I study took this to mean, "You rightly say," confirming to them that He was the Son of God.  I don't see it that way at all.  Jesus had said that He would soon sit at the right hand of God.  They were the ones who jumped to the conclusion that He must then be the Son of God.  They condemned themselves showing that they knew the truth.  I believe Jesus was saying just as it is written, "You (yourselves) say that I am."

(71) And they said, "What need do we have for any further witness? For we ourselves have heard from His own mouth."

The men of the council then declared that they had no need for any other witnesses for they had heard straight from Jesus's mouth that He called Himself the Son of God, which they would proclaim as blasphemy and punishable by death.  However, I still believe that Jesus did not precisely say that with His own mouth, but as was His custom, He ensnared His accusers with their own words.  It's not that Jesus was purposely preparing a trap so that He could punish them eternally.  He was providing a way for them to see the folly of their own words.  I know without a doubt, had they fallen down before Him at that point and confessed that they then realized Him to be the Christ, they would have been forgiven and saved, but Jesus knew all along what they would do.

The Lord's Supper

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 22:1) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.

In the preceding chapters, Jesus had made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and was teaching daily at the temple.  The time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover was drawing near.  The Passover meal was held first, on the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan, which corresponds to a date in March or April on our current calendar.  It was a memorial in remembrance of the time that God passed over the homes of the Jews who had put the blood of the Passover lamb on their door frames, when the Lord passed through Egypt killing all of Egypt's firstborn.  Then followed on the 15th day of Nisan a weeklong period called the Feast of Unleavened Bread which commemorated the Jews hurriedly exiting Egypt the day after the original Passover with no time to leaven any loaves.  

(2) And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him for they feared the people.

It was at this time that the chief priests and scribes were contemplating how they should kill Jesus.  It took planning on their part because they feared the uprise of the people should they do it.  Isn't it interesting that these men thought it was by their will that Jesus should be taken at the Passover, when it was really the intention of God that Jesus be the ultimate Passover Lamb of which the first lamb in Egypt was only a symbol?

(3) Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

It was at that same time that Satan entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles.  It is not that Judas was predestined to be the one who delivered up Jesus to be killed.  Satan tempts us all.  We have scriptural proof that he had tempted Peter in Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33, when Jesus rebuked Satan himself for what Peter had said.  It's what we do when we are tempted that counts, and it is here at this point that Judas accepted Satan into his heart.

(4) And he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

Judas went and communicated with the chief priests and captains of the temple about how he might be able to deliver Jesus to them.

(5) And they were glad and covenanted to give him money.

Of course, the chief priests and temple captains were delighted that Judas would help them do what they were afraid to do on their own and they promised to give him money for it.

(6) And he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Judas also agreed to do his part in delivering Jesus to them, and he looked for an opportunity when he might do it away from a multitude of people.

(7) Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread when the Passover must be killed.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread did not begin until the day after the Passover, but as the Jews tended to begin eating unleavened bread at the Passover, they often referred to the Passover as also the Day of Unleavened Bread.  So that day had come and they needed to kill their Passover lamb.

(8) And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat."

Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal for Him and all the disciples.  

(9) And they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"

Peter and John asked Jesus where it was that He wanted them to prepare the Passover.

(10) And He said to them, "Behold, when you enter into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in."

Jesus told them they were to go into the city where they would meet a man bearing a pitcher of water.  They were to follow him into the house that he went to.

(11) "And you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Master says to you, "Where is the guest chamber where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples?"'"

Jesus instructed Peter and John to tell the master of the house that their Master asked for the guest chamber in order to eat the Passover meal with His disciples.  It sounds as if Jesus may have prearranged this beforehand, but it's certainly not necessarily so, for by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the man could have consented regardless of whether or not he had known Jesus or His plans.

(12) "And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready."

Jesus told them that the man would then show them a furnished upper room that they could use, and He instructed them to prepare the meal there."

(13) And they went and found as He had said to them, and they made ready the Passover.

Peter and John went as Jesus instructed them and they found everything just as He had said they would, and they did indeed prepare the Passover meal.

(14) And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.

When the hour had come to eat the Passover meal, that is evening, as was the law, He and His twelve apostles sat down to the meal.

(15) And He said to them, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."

Jesus said to His twelve apostles that He had desired with a deep longing to eat that Passover with them before He suffered.  The double use of the word desire indicated a fervent deep longing desire.  There were many reasons why the Lord may have longed for that time with His disciples.  He knew what was to happen after this meal and He fervently sought to do the Father's will.  He knew it would be the last meal He would have with His chosen twelve, and I'm sure He wanted to prepare them for what was about to happen and what would be their future.  In addition, He wanted to institute the Lord's Supper, this expression of His great love and sacrifice for His people, which would be commemorated always.

(16) "For I say to you, I will not any more eat of it until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Indeed, Jesus told them this would be the last Passover supper He would eat until all was fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  Jesus was to be the ultimate Passover sacrificial Lamb, of which the Passover custom was only a symbol.  There would be no more need for the Passover sacrifice and meal, but Jesus would soon be instituting a new commemoration.

(17) And He took the cup and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide among yourselves. (18) For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come."

Jesus took a large cup of wine and gave thanks and told the disciples to divide it among themselves, that He would not be drinking any more from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God came, which would come after He had died and was resurrected.  This cup was not the sacramental cup that was used after the meal, but this was a cup that was drunk before and during the meal.

(19) And He took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

Some time after, perhaps at the end of the meal, Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to His disciples, telling them that that bread was symbolic of His body that was given for them, or soon would be, and He told them to do that in remembrance of Him.  I found it interesting that some of the earlier commentators whom I study found it important to state at this point, that the bread was only symbolic, and was not to be understood as Jesus's actual body, which of course, was a slam against the Catholic belief that it was actually His body.  As John Wesley put it, "...as if this bread was his real body, any more than the paschal lamb was really the passover."  I think that is pretty evident by the way Jesus presented the bread as His body which was given for them, even though He was still there and His body had not yet been given for them.  Then He said to do it in remembrance of Him, and there was no mention that He would actually be there with them each time they performed it.  I guess that is why Catholics call it Holy Communion as they believe they are communing with the Holy Jesus.  However, most call it the Lord's Supper, and it is done in remembrance of Jesus and His sacrifice as He instructed at His last supper.

(20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in My blood which is shed for you."

Likewise after supper Jesus took the cup of wine that was reserved for after the meal.  Since He likewise took the cup after dinner, it does imply that He also took the bread in verse 19 at the same time just before the cup.  Jesus said the cup represented a new covenant in His blood that would be shed for them.  Once again the earlier commentators I study showed how this proved that the Catholic notion that at their Holy Communion they literally drank the blood of Jesus was not true.  The cup was the new testament, not His actual blood.  It represented the fact that His ultimate blood sacrifice as the perfect lamb sacrifice for sins was the new covenant fulfilling the old one, where they constantly had to keep sacrificing animals to atone for sin.  In Jesus there was no more need for the old sacrifices, for His perfect blood covered all sin.  Jesus wasn't doing away with blood sacrifice for sin; He fulfilled it perfectly so it was no longer necessary to repeat it.

(21) "But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me on the table."

Jesus then made a shocking statement that the one who would betray Him was there at that Passover meal.

(22) "And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"

Jesus then said that even knowing what was to happen, He willingly went forth to do what had been before determined, but He declared woe to the one who would betray Him, knowing of course, just who it was.

(23) And they began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.

The disciples knew that Jesus spoke with authority and truth, so they accepted the fact that one of them would betray Him, and they discussed among themselves who it could be.

(24) And there was also a strife among them which of them should be counted the greatest.

I suppose in their discussion about who would be the least to do such a horrible thing to betray Jesus, the disciples began discussing who was the greatest and would therefore never betray Jesus.

(25) And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they who exercise authority on them are called benefactors."

Jesus explained that it was the kings of the Gentile nations who exercised lordship over the people and they were called the people's benefactors, even though many of them were far from it.

(26) "But you not so, but he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who is chief as he who does serve."

However, Jesus told His disciples that they were not to be as the Gentiles.  He who would be considered greatest and chief among them would be the one who was meek and humble like a younger child would be in the presence of men and would be one who served others.  In service to others, they would be benefactors to the people, not by ruling over them.

(27) "For which is greater, He who sits at the meal or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the meal? But I am among you as He who serves."

Jesus then asked the question which man would be considered greater, the one who sat at a meal or the one who served him.  Conventional thought was the one who sat at the meal, of course.  However, Jesus said that He was among those who served.  He did not lord His position over them and demand they serve Him; quite the contrary, they sat as equals with Him, and He surely served them with knowledge and salvation and served countless others by His miracles.

(28) "You are those who have continued with Me in My temptations."

Jesus seemed to commend His disciples for continuing with Him through all His trials, which is more the sense of the word, although Jesus was tempted, as well, but He never gave in to temptation.

(29) "And I appoint to you a kingdom as My Father has appointed to Me, (30) That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Jesus was telling His disciples that they indeed would have a kingdom, but it was a spiritual one, not an earthly kingdom.  They would spiritually eat and drink with Jesus Christ in His kingdom and they would even sit on spiritual thrones, judging the twelve tribes of the Jews doctrinally and ministerially. 

(31) And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you that he may sift you as wheat."

Jesus then called out Peter, telling him that Satan had desired to have all of them, as the word translated as "you" was plural as said by the early commentators I study.  They would be sifted as wheat, put through the wringer of trials and temptations, and they would fail miserably the first temptation when they all scattered when Jesus was seized.  Here Jesus called Peter by his former name, perhaps because he would be as his former self.

(32) "But I have prayed for you that your faith not fail, and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren."

As Jesus had called out Simon Peter specifically, He continued with His message to Peter.  He told him He had prayed for him that his faith would not fail, and when he was converted or reverted, he should strengthen his brothers.  When Simon reverted, indicating he would indeed fall away for a while.

(33) And he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

Peter answered the Lord by saying he was ready to go with Him wherever it took him, even to prison and death.

(34) And He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before you will three times deny that you know Me."

However, Jesus told Peter that he would in fact deny that he even knew Jesus three times that night before the rooster crowed.  I see now why commentators saw what Jesus said in verse 26 so differently than I did.  I felt they read too much into it, but I see it now.  Jesus said they were not to act as the Gentile kings did and exercise lordship over the people.  Commentators concluded that Jesus was talking about Peter and John when He spoke of the greatest as being like the younger.  John was the youngest of the disciples and said to be modest and humble.  Jesus may have been telling Peter to be more like John.  He did indeed call out Peter by name.  The fact that Peter told Jesus he would go with Him even to death certainly suggests he was not one of the ones who asked if he was the one to betray Jesus, but rather more likely one of the ones who thought he was greatest among the disciples.  Jesus now told him that he would indeed deny Him and fall away, thus being not so great for a time.

(35) And He said to them, "When I sent you without purse and pouch and shoes, did you lack anything?" And they said, "Nothing."

Jesus then reminded His disciples about when He sent them out on their own without money, shoes, or any bags, and asked if they ever lacked anything during that time, and they answered that they lacked nothing.

(36) Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his pouch, and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."

Jesus told them that it would now be different for them.  He told them to take what they needed with them when they preached throughout the world.  He implied great danger for them as He suggested they procure swords any way they could.  This part about swords is rather difficult to understand as Jesus seemed against using them as will soon be confirmed by His actions when He was seized.  However, the disciples were not going to have Jesus physically with them, and I believe He was preparing them for dangerous times ahead and possibly a need to defend themselves.

(37) "For I say to you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me, 'And He was reckoned among the transgressors,' for the things concerning Me have an end."

The reason things would from then on be different was because Jesus would no longer be with them as He was about to fulfill prophecy that had been written about Him, and He quoted Isaiah 53:12, "...and He was numbered with the transgressors."  He added that all prophecies about Him would certainly come to pass and have an end.

(38) And they said, "Lord, behold, here two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Once again there is difficulty in understanding the context of the swords.  If Jesus had truly meant that they should sell anything in order to buy a sword, then certainly two swords were not enough for twelve (actually eleven) men.  The order of the words in the original text of verse 36 are odd, more to the order of, "And he who has none, let him sell his garment and buy, a sword."  Jesus was telling them to go out and buy anything they lacked for their travels.  The original word translated as "sword" is "machaira" similar to our word "machete."  The meaning of the original word actually meant any type of blade.  Therefore, Jesus may have been mentioning something else they would need for their journeys, a knife, for certainly there would be plenty need for a knife among their necessities.  However, they, Peter probably being chief among them, pointed out they were already equipped with two swords.  To that Jesus replied, "It is enough."  Two full-sized weapon swords would certainly be enough, and maybe even too much, as Jesus may have been saying, "That's enough said!"  Perhaps what Jesus was actually talking about when he added "sword," was the sword of the Spirit.  They would certainly need to be well furnished with their spiritual weapons in order to fight what would be ahead for them:

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:11-17).

As this chapter is very long, I will stop this post here with the end of the Lord's supper, and will continue chapter 22 in the next post.

Jesus Foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 21:1) And He looked up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

In the last chapter, Jesus had been teaching in the temple, where priests, scribes, elders, and Sadducees had all come to Him trying to catch Him saying something they could use against Him.  He had used everything they threw at Him as a lesson back to them.  He now witnessed the rich men throwing their monetary gifts into the treasury.

(2) And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in there two mites.

Jesus then witnessed a poor widow casting into the treasury two mites.  The mite was the smallest unit of coin used by the Jews.

(3) And He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than them all."

After seeing the widow put in her two mites, Jesus said that she had given more to the treasury than all the others who gave their gifts that day.

(4) "For all these have out of their abundance cast into the offerings for God, but she of her poverty has cast in all the living that she had."

Jesus's reason for saying that was that while the other people, especially the rich men He had witnessed, have given to the temple treasury out of their abundance, the poor widow had given all that she had.  Here is the perfect example of Jesus judging the heart.  I can't help but compare my dutifully giving my 10% tithe to this woman lovingly sacrificing all that she had, and I certainly come up wanting.

(5) And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, He said, (6) "These things which you behold, the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

In the accounts in Matthew and Mark, it was said that it was Jesus's disciples who had commented on the beautiful stones with which the temple was built.  Jesus said that there was a time coming when there would not be even one of those beautiful stones which they admired left upon another as they would all be torn down.

(7) And they asked Him, saying, "Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign when these things shall come to pass?"

The disciples asked Jesus when that time was coming that all the stones of the temple would be torn down.  They asked what sign there would be that it was about to happen.

(8) And He said, "Take heed that you be not deceived, for many shall come in My name, saying, 'I Am,' and 'The time draws near.' Do not go therefore after them."

Jesus answered that they should take care not to be deceived.  There would be many who came in His name, each saying he was the Messiah and that their time drew near.  Jesus warned them that they should not follow them.  In the similar account in Matthew, Jesus had said the deceivers would say, "I am Christ."  But here and even in the account in Mark, which I think I missed at the time, Jesus said their words would be "I Am."  "Christ" was added by the translators for better understanding.  The KJV tells us it was added and not part of the original text by using italics.  Of course, it was Christ the Messiah and God Himself they meant by saying only "I Am."  God had told Moses when he had asked for God's name that it was "Hayah," or "I Am" (Exodus 3:14).  When Jesus called Himself "I Am" in John 18:6, the soldiers who had come to seize Him fell backward to the ground.  Luke and Mark recognized that Christ was Himself the great I AM and that was all that was necessary to be said by the deceivers for people to know who they meant.

(9) "But when you shall hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must first come to pass, but the end is not by and by."

Jesus told them when they heard of wars and commotions or uprisings, they were not to be afraid because those things would happen first, but the end would not come immediately after.

(10) Then He said to them, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."

Then there would actually be wars when nation rose up against nation which might mean one part of the Jewish nation rising up against another, and kingdom against kingdom might be when the Jewish nation rose up against the Romans, possibly encouraged by false Christs, as they still expected an earthly King Messiah.  This is where it starts to sound like end time prophecy.  The disciples had asked specifically about when the destruction of the temple would occur, so I am sure Jesus was answering that question.  However, as so often is the case with prophecies in the Bible, they apply to what was going on at the time as well as being prophetic about some far future event.

(11) "And great earthquakes will be in diverse places, and famines and pestilences, and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."

Jesus said there would be great earthquakes in various places, as well as famines and pestilences.  There would be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  While this sounds like end time prophecy, and might well be also, it definitely pertained to the destruction of Jerusalem.  The historian Josephus wrote in his book The Wars of the Jews about some of the signs witnessed, and some by he himself.  He wrote, "There was a comet in the form of a fiery sword, which for a year together did hang over the city...the inner gate of the temple on the east side, being of massy brass, which required at least twenty men to shut it, was seen at midnight to open of its own accord...seen in the air chariots and armies in battle array, passing along in the clouds and investing the city..."  Also witnessed was a bright light in the temple at night, a heifer to be sacrificed giving birth to a lamb in the temple, quaking and a great multitude of voices saying, "Let us remove hence," and a prophet named Yeshua Ben Ananus crying out continuously day and night for four years before the siege, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the sanctuary, a voice against the bridegroom and the bride, a voice against all the people," never ceasing, though beaten till his bones showed, never uttering a word for himself or against his torturers.  Wow!  It's hard to believe that the Jewish people didn't recognize these things as signs from God.  Josephus wrote, “Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them.”  For those of us seeking a sign of the end times, though we may observe wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences, we may expect powerful undeniable signs before the very end.  I hope and pray people will recognize them as from God!

(12) "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake."

Jesus told His disciples that before those things happened, they would be seized and persecuted and put in prison, and even put to death in the case of Stephen, all because they were followers and teachers of Jesus Christ.

(13) "And it shall turn to you for a testimony."

The disciples' persecution would turn out to be a testimony for Jesus Christ when they were willing to endure all for Him.

(14) "Settle therefore in your hearts not to meditate before what you will answer, (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to say against or resist."

Jesus told them to settle it within themselves not to worry and think about what they would say to their persecutors when that time came.  He would give them at that time the wisdom and the words that none of their adversaries would be able to refute.

(16) "And you shall be betrayed by parents and brethren and kinfolks and friends, and some of you they shall cause to be put to death."

Jesus warned His disciples that they would be betrayed by some of their closest family and friends and some of them would be even put to death. 

(17) "And you shall be hated by all for My name's sake."

Jesus told them they would be hated by virtually all men because of His name they preached.  Isn't that the way it is these days?  Most people believe in God, some sort of God, and they may even call Him God, but it may be a god of their own making, not the only true God, the God of the Bible.  So many people may talk about God and can get along, but mention Jesus to one who is not a Christian?  That name is hated and rejected and considered prejudiced and non-inclusive among non-believers, when such the opposite is true.  Jesus gives to everyone who will accept His gift of salvation!

(18) "But there shall not a hair of your head perish."

Jesus told them that not a hair on their heads would perish.  How could that be, when they would be persecuted and some even killed?  Obviously, it could only mean in their restored bodies in the resurrection.  Nothing could separate them from their salvation.  Even if they were killed, it only meant less time in their persecution in a temporal world and more in their ultimate eternal and happy home.

(19) "In your patience possess your souls."

Jesus encouraged them to be patient through their troubles and persecutions and not to let those things distress them or rob them of their peace and joy; just know that in persevering with patience, they were possessing their eternal living souls.

(20) "And when you shall see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near."

The final sign would be when they saw the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem, then they would know that its desolation was near and inevitable.

(21) "Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains and let them who are in the midst of it depart out, and let not those who are in the countries enter in."

When they saw that final sign, they were to immediately drop everything and flee to the mountains as that was their only possible escape from their total destruction.  Those who were in the midst of Judea, in Jerusalem, were to quickly depart, and those in other countries should not enter in; however, they would because of the Passover and would be destroyed.

(22) "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled."

From the point when Rome surrounded Jerusalem, that would begin the days of vengeance, God's vengeance on the Jewish nation for their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah, fulfilling the prophecies of it (Deuteronomy 28:20, Daniel 9:26-27).

(23) "But woe to them who are with child and to them who are nursing in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people."

Jesus expressed grief especially to women who were pregnant and those who were nursing.  Perhaps it was because it would be much harder for them to escape the great distress and wrath of God on His people, or maybe because they would have borne and nursed babies only to be seized and perhaps murdered by the Romans.

(24) "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."

Jesus prophesied that the Jews would be killed and others led away captive to various nations and Jerusalem would be completely trampled down and destroyed by the Gentiles.  It would stay that way for them until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled, that is, as long as God had planned for the Gentiles to carry out His vengeance.  There were 1,100,000 Jews killed during the siege and 97,000 carried away captive.  Additionally, the Jews did not have their own country until two thousand years later when they were given their own state in 1948.  "Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" may also mean until all Gentiles were given the opportunity to be saved by Jesus, when the Gospel had reached the entire world.  After all, that is why they were driven out in the first place; they had rejected and crucified their Messiah and God had said He would then offer it to the Gentiles far and wide.  It had been God's plan all along that the whole world would be blessed by Abraham's offspring, namely Jesus Christ (Genesis 22:18).  In a parable in Matthew 22 Jesus told about a wedding banquet that had been prepared by a king for his son but none of the invited guests cared to go.  Some of them even killed the servants who had gone out to invite them.  The king was very angry and sent forth his armies to kill those murderers and destroy their city.  Then he sent his servants out in the highways and byways to invite everyone to the feast.  In Luke 14 Jesus told a similar parable.  These stories were symbolic of God preparing salvation for His chosen people and they rejected His invitation, even killing some of His servants, so He then offered it to everyone far and wide.

(25) "And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

This is where Jesus's prophecy definitely seems to turn to the end time of the world and His second coming.  Biblical scholars differ greatly on this.  Many say it pertains to the signs from heaven and earthquakes and such that precede the destruction of Jerusalem (v. 11).  That is certainly possible, but Jesus had already spoken about that and went on to say that the Jews would be killed or carried away captive.  Perhaps the signs in the sun and moon and stars continued and such a terrible siege would certainly distress the nations around Jerusalem.  I see the destruction of Jerusalem as a picture of what will happen to the world in the end.  Indeed, all these things related to the destruction of Jerusalem, but as was so often the case with prophecies in the Old Testament, although they seemed to pertain to what was going on at the time, they were prophetic of even greater things to come.  Just as God judged Jerusalem for rejecting and killing Christ, so will He judge the world that has rejected Christianity and attempted to destroy Christ all over again.

There certainly is an unease all over the world at the time of this writing.  Wars, riots, invasions, poverty, sexual depravity, hatred of Jews and Christians, these things abound, but I believe there is still time to change our ways and seek God and accept Jesus.  There are signs that people are turning back.  I have come to believe that God, in His patient love and mercy, gives us signs and even troubles to steer us back to Him.  The end won't come immediately if He is trying to steer us back to Him.  But we had better take heed, as there will come a time when it is too late.  When we start seeing those signs like fiery swords and armies in the heavens, it will be too late; those will be pictures of what is certainly coming.  Men's hearts will certainly be failing them then for fear of the things they see coming from a powerful shaken heaven.

As I reread what I wrote here, I have to stop and say that there is no guarantee that we will see a fiery sword in the sky or armies in the clouds before the end of the world.  But I do believe that God sends lesser signs to make us turn back to Him, and that is a loving and merciful thing!  And we'd better take heed as there will definitely come a time when it is too late:

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." - Isaiah 55:6

(27) "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

While many commentators suggest that this meant Christ coming in judgment against Jerusalem, and that it has already happened, I firmly believe it is meant to be prophetic of the end when Christ comes in final judgment of the world.  Wow!  I just had a vision of Christ in a cloud somewhat like the chariots and armies in the clouds that Jerusalem saw before her destruction.  When we see that, the end has come!

(28) "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near."

Whether it related to the signs of the coming destruction of Jerusalem or to those signs of the end of the world, in both cases, the disciples and Christians could look up to heaven with joy, knowing that their redemption drew near and they would soon be with their Lord.  While the unsaved world will be in terror, true Christian followers of Christ need not fear, but rejoice that they will soon be in their eternal home with Christ.

(29) And He spoke to them a parable, "Behold the fig tree and all the trees."

Jesus then began a parable, telling them to consider the fig tree and actually all trees.

(30) "When they now shoot forth, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near at hand."

Unlike His parables that were stories, this was more of a simple analogy.  Jesus told them that when they saw the trees begin to shoot forth buds and new limbs, they saw those signs and knew that summer was coming.

(31) "So you likewise when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand."

Just as they judged the signs of the seasons, Jesus told them to be aware and judge the signs of the coming kingdom of God.

(32) "Verily, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."

Jesus told them that the present generation would not completely pass away until all He had told them was fulfilled.  That, of course, had to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem, which would occur during the lifetime of some who were alive at the time Jesus spoke.  

(33) "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."

What Jesus had prophesied to them was most assuredly fact; the sentence was irreversible at that point.  Heaven and earth were more likely to pass away before Jesus's words to them would.  It was going to happen!  I don't believe that is to say that it was always predestined that Jerusalem had to be destroyed.  Had the people not rejected Him at the last, but had come to belief and salvation in Him, Jerusalem would have been spared, but Jesus knew their hearts and what they would do, so assuredly knew what was to befall Jerusalem.

(34) "And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day comes upon you unaware."

Jesus warned His disciples not to let their hearts be burdened with any excessiveness and cares of life so that they missed the signs of the day of judgment that would come upon Jerusalem, and the same will come upon the world in the last days, so must we all heed His warning.

(35) "For as a snare shall it come on all them who dwell on the face of the whole earth."

Jerusalem's judgment would come upon them quickly when they were unaware as a net might come over a butterfly.  Jesus said it would come to all who dwelled on the face of the whole earth.  While the meaning could have very well been "the whole land," I can't help but think that it was also meant to be a prophecy for the whole world in the end.

(36) "Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man."

Jesus warned them to watch for the signs He had forewarned them of and to pray always that they might be counted worthy to escape all the things that would indeed come to pass.  Historians at the time actually did report that remarkably not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem.  They had heeded their Messiah's warning and had fled to a town called Pella before the siege.  Those counted worthy to escape would spiritually stand with Christ and not fall in the siege.  I think the same could be said about Christians in the end times who stand with Christ, not that they won't suffer persecution, but they will stand with Christ in eternity, and not fall into the pit of hell.

(37) And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, and at night He went out and abode in the mountain that is called the Mount of Olives.

During His time in Jerusalem since riding in on the donkey colt until the Passover, Jesus taught every day in the temple, and at night He went out to the Mount of Olives, likely to pray and recharge and perhaps to spend time with His apostles as His time with them was drawing to an end.

(38) And all the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple in order to hear Him.

All the people came out early in the mornings in order to hear Jesus teach in the temple.  This is a beautiful example of how we ought to begin our days, in communion with God, in prayer and study of His word, to prepare us for a day in the wicked world.