The Suffering King: Cross-Bearing and the Call to Repentance
The suffering King advances to the cross and calls for repentance.
Luke 23:26–32 (BSB)
26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
27 A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.
28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’
30 At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
31 For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.
What is the big idea of Luke 23:26–32?
The suffering King advances to the cross and calls for repentance.
How does Luke 23:26–32 point to Christ?
As Jesus walks to the cross and is numbered with criminals, He fulfills prophecy and bears the curse of sin; through His death and resurrection believers are delivered from judgment and reconciled to God.
Authorial Intent
To portray Christ’s suffering on the way to crucifixion and His prophetic warning of coming judgment.
Chapter: Luke 23
The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope
The innocent King is condemned in place of the guilty, crucified among transgressors, grants forgiveness and paradise, dies trusting the Father, and is buried in hope before resurrection.