What is the meaning of Luke 23:27? A great number of people • Luke records, “A great number of people followed Him” (Luke 23:27). The phrase points to a literal crowd that gathered on the road from the Praetorium to Golgotha, underscoring how public Jesus’ walk to the cross was (cf. Matthew 27:24; John 19:20). • Earlier, Jesus had foretold that His suffering would be witnessed openly (Luke 18:31-33). This crowd fulfills that word, making His sacrifice impossible to ignore. • The multitude also reflects Israel’s collective responsibility and opportunity: the same people who had cried “Hosanna” (Luke 19:37-38) now witness the cost of redemption (Isaiah 53:3-4). Followed Him • The verb “followed” carries weight throughout Luke’s Gospel (Luke 9:23; 18:28). Here it is literal—walking behind Jesus toward Calvary—but it still hints at discipleship. • Some in the crowd were curious onlookers, others hostile, yet all were moving in Jesus’ wake, illustrating that every person must decide what to do with Him (Luke 23:35-37). • Jesus’ earlier call, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must…take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23), now plays out in stark relief: He carries the cross first. Including women • Luke highlights that women were “among them,” consistent with his habit of noting their faithful presence (Luke 8:1-3; 23:49, 55; 24:10). • These women had supported Jesus’ ministry materially and spiritually; their loyalty at the darkest hour speaks to genuine discipleship (Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41). • Culturally, women were often marginalized, yet the Gospel showcases them as first to lament, last to leave, and first to witness the resurrection (Luke 24:1-2). God honors their devotion. Who kept mourning and wailing for Him • Public lament was customary in Israel (Jeremiah 9:17-18), but here the grief is spontaneous and personal. They “kept” mourning—continuous, heartfelt sorrow. • Their wails echo prophetic pictures of national mourning over the Righteous One (Zechariah 12:10). Even before the cross is raised, hearts are pierced. • Jesus responds to these women moments later, redirecting their tears toward coming judgment on Jerusalem (Luke 23:28-31). Their sorrow, though sincere, only scratches the surface of what sin costs. • In Acts 2:37, some who once wept may be “cut to the heart” and believe, showing that godly sorrow can lead to repentance and salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). summary Luke 23:27 paints a vivid, literal scene: a sizable crowd trails the condemned Christ; among them stand devoted women, openly lamenting. Their presence fulfills prophecy, highlights Jesus’ public humiliation, and previews the discipleship He calls every believer to embrace. The verse reminds us that the cross was witnessed, mourned, and ultimately proclaimed, inviting each person to move from mere onlooker to faithful follower. |
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