How does Luke 23:24 connect to Isaiah 53:3's prophecy about Jesus' rejection? Scripture at a Glance Luke 23:24: “So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.” Isaiah 53:3: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Setting the Scene in Luke 23 • Jerusalem, early Friday morning of Passover week • Religious leaders stir up the crowd to shout, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21) • Pilate, though convinced of Jesus’ innocence (v. 22), capitulates to public pressure • Verse 24 records the decisive moment: Rome’s governor signs off on the people’s will, sending Jesus to the cross Isaiah 53:3—Rejection Foretold • Written roughly seven centuries earlier by Isaiah • Speaks of Messiah as “despised,” “rejected,” “not esteemed” • Emphasizes corporate rejection: “by men,” not merely by isolated individuals • Highlights Messiah’s voluntary identification with sorrow and grief Connecting the Dots: Prophecy Meets History • Crowd’s demand and Pilate’s sentence (Luke 23:24) embody the “despised and rejected” language of Isaiah 53:3 • The plural vocabulary—“their demand,” “by men”—aligns perfectly: collective Israel and Gentiles together reject the One sent to save them • Pilate’s capitulation shows rejection at every level: – Religious elite (Luke 23:10) – Common crowd (v. 18) – Political authority (v. 24) • Isaiah said Messiah would be treated “like one from whom men hide their faces”; Luke records the people choosing Barabbas instead, effectively turning away from Jesus (v. 18-19) Key Observations • Literal fulfillment: specific prophetic words (“despised,” “rejected”) match concrete historical actions (shouting, sentencing) • Sovereign purpose: even human injustice serves God’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23) • Universal guilt: Jews and Gentiles unite in rejection, fulfilling Psalm 2:1-2 and Psalm 118:22 (“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”) • Voluntary submission: Jesus does not resist; He embraces the Father’s will, paralleling Isaiah 53:7 (“He opened not His mouth”) Additional Scripture Links • John 1:11 — “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” • Acts 3:13-15 — Peter later affirms the rulers “disowned the Holy and Righteous One.” • 1 Peter 2:4 — Believers come to the Living Stone “rejected by men but chosen by God.” • Hebrews 12:2 — Jesus, “for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Why This Matters Today • The harmony between Isaiah 53 and Luke 23 underscores Scripture’s reliability • Jesus’ willingness to be rejected secures redemption for all who receive Him (Romans 5:8) • Believers facing rejection for their faith can draw strength from the Savior who walked the path first (Hebrews 13:12-13) |
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