Luke chapter 23

Theme: the correspondence and the significance of  particular dates

This subject is cross through chapter 22 to 23. Jesus was sold, died and resurrected on particlar dates. It helps me to connect the events in Old Testimony with Jesus's work here as God's whole plan. Let's take a look at the correspondances between the original meanings of these dates and what happened here, and reflect their spiritual teachings.

1. the Passover

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching. (Lk22.1)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (Lk22.7)

Originally, at the night of Passover, those firstborns who have blood of lamb on their doorframe could be passed over from doom. Here, Jesus himself is just the Passover lamb which was sacrificed to redeem us, the firstborns of God. Just as what Isaiah recorded:

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, [...] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is53.4-6)

Jesus was sold at the Passover night, as a prepared lamb, to fulfill God's plan of salvation.

However, what's irony is that:

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (Lk22.3)

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. (Lk22.4)

At this saving night, Judas didn't hind under the lamb's blood, but exposed to the street. He was not passed over by doom, but was conquered by evil. In the end, he spiritually died eternally. So that we sould be watchful that if we are always hindden within Jesus's holyness.

2. Preparation Day and Sabbath

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (Lk23.54)

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Lk23.56)

Originally, the preparation day is for preparing the Sabbath, and the Sabbath is for remembering God's completement of his work. Here, the Preperation Day is used to prepare spices and perfumes for Jesus's death, which is exactly the accomplishment of God's greatest work in the world. That's why Jesus said: It is finished.(Jn19.30) and then died. So that the Sabbath is not only for remembering the accomplishment of God's creation, but further for remembering the accomplishment of God's work of salvation.