The Good News of Good Friday (Luke 23:26-49)

[Stephan Choe]

March 29, 2026

Key Verse 34a: “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”

Next Friday is Good Friday. On this day, we remember that Jesus was crucified and died. In Germany, this day is, in a sense, the holiest day of the year. Of course, it is a public holiday. There are no Bundesliga soccer matches or entertainment programs on public television. Traditionally, people eat fish instead of meat.

Today, we want to learn about the events of the day Jesus died. To do this, we want to learn about Jesus and also about the people who witnessed his death. Through this, we want to understand the significance of Jesus' death for us.

1. Simon's Pitch (26)

At that time, if someone was condemned to death, they had to carry their own cross to the place of execution. Jesus carried his own cross, but because he was so weakened by the soldiers' mistreatment, he collapsed on the way. Therefore, the soldiers forced a bystander to carry Jesus' cross. The man chosen was named Simon from Cyrene. He had just come from the fields to watch the procession of those condemned to death. He was unlucky. He must have been bitter about the soldiers. He must also have been angry with Jesus. While carrying the cross, he began to reflect on who Jesus was and why he had to be crucified. When he arrived at the crucifixion site, he observed Jesus praying on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!" and saying to the criminal, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise!" Jesus' behavior impressed him greatly. Three days later, he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. Then he believed in Jesus as the Christ and in his resurrection. He became a Christian and also led his wife and children, Alexander and Rufus, to faith (Matthew 15:21; Romans 16:13). Simon of Cyrene became a blessing to many. Thus, his misfortune of carrying Jesus' cross became a great blessing from God for him and many people.

We all experience misfortune from time to time. We shouldn't just be depressed or bitter but rather consider whether God wants to turn the bad event into a blessing for us and others. God can turn a bad event into a blessing for us and others.

My injury to my right hip seemed like bad luck. But God turned it into a great blessing for me and many others by leading me to faith in Jesus Christ and giving me eternal life and by leading many others to faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Weeping Women (27-31)

Jesus was about 33 years old at that time (cf. Luke 3:23). As he was led to the place of crucifixion, a large crowd followed him. Among this crowd were many women. The women wailed loudly and wept for him because Jesus, who had done so much good for people, was to be crucified.

But Jesus said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children” (28).

He explained the reason to them: “For behold, the time is coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (29-31).

With this statement, Jesus made it clear that our physical death is not the final end of our lives. For after our physical death comes God’s judgment. Therefore, Jesus believes that unborn people are far happier than those condemned to hell. Jesus wants to save us from hell through his death. That is why he died on the cross. We should heed this Good News.

3. Jesus' Prayer at the Crucifixion (32-34)

We know from experience that it is not easy to forgive others who have hurt us. Our anger often festers deep in our hearts and causes us great harm.

But Jesus was not angry with the people who crucified or mistreated him. Instead, he prayed for them: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!”

He prayed for all who wronged or mocked him: the high priests, the members of the Sanhedrin, the crowds, Pilate, and the soldiers. He forgave them and asked God for their forgiveness.

That Jesus forgave all who crucified or mocked him shows us that he will surely forgive our sins as well if we confess our guilt and believe in him. No matter how grave our sin may be, God forgives our guilt completely because Jesus sacrificed his life for our sin. We should confess our guilt and gratefully accept forgiveness. Then God forgives us and grants us heavenly peace and joy. Then we no longer need to torment ourselves with guilt.

4. Mocking People (35-39)

While Jesus hung on the cross, three different groups mocked him.

The Jewish leaders were the first group. Because of their lust for power, they had forced Pilate to condemn Jesus to death. They now mocked Jesus, saying, “You have saved many people; now you must save yourself, if you are the Savior, the chosen one of God.”

God’s righteous judgment awaits them in heaven. They are truly lost.

The soldiers were the second group. They had no interest in whether Jesus was the Christ or not. They also had no interest in whether Jesus was guilty or not. For them, a victor was always righteous, and a loser was foolish. They placed an inscription on the top of Jesus’ cross: “This is the King of the Jews.” They then said to Jesus, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” They were people who thoughtlessly followed the current of the godless world. They followed the current of godless people to hell.

An unbelieving criminal on the cross was the third. He believed that human life ended definitively with physical death. Therefore, it didn't matter to him whether one died as a criminal or as a righteous person. He wanted to mock Jesus and said, “Aren't you called the Savior, the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (39).

Is his opinion correct that a person's physical death is their final end? No, it is not. After physical death, there is God's judgment. Before a peaceful death, every person must choose between heaven and hell. The criminal chose hell and threw away the golden opportunity for his salvation. He was truly foolish and wretched.

5. The Believing Convict (40-43)

While the unbelieving convict squandered the golden opportunity for his salvation, the other convict seized the golden opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. First, this convict rebuked his unbelieving colleague: “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same judgment? And we are indeed justly receiving what we have earned through our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he confessed his faith in Jesus and said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!”

He confessed his faith and thus chose the Kingdom of Heaven. That was a wise choice. Because this convict was also hanging on the cross and dying, he no longer had the opportunity to atone for his sin through any good deed. But he believed in the merciful Jesus, confessed his faith, and asked him for his salvation. If he had not believed in the resurrection, he would don't have needed to ask for his salvation. But he believed in the resurrection and the Kingdom of Heaven. He desperately wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He didn't want to miss his last chance for salvation. He immediately repented of his sin, confessed his faith in Jesus, and asked him to welcome him into his Kingdom.

What did Jesus answer him? He said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise!”

Jesus rejoiced in his faith and granted him forgiveness and the Kingdom of Heaven. He came to save all repentant, believing people and to give them his Kingdom. Not only this criminal, but everyone is warmly invited to the Kingdom of Heaven.

This devout criminal encourages us to receive forgiveness and the Kingdom of Heaven through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. There is no guilt that Jesus cannot forgive. There is no bad person whom Jesus does not want to forgive and welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven. He wants everyone to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through repentance and faith in him. We should summon courage, through repentance and faith in Jesus, receive forgiveness, and there

6. Jesus' Farewell and the Tearing of the Temple Curtain (44-48)

At that time, the Temple still stood in Jerusalem. The temple was a rectangular room divided into two spaces by a curtain. The space behind the curtain was called the "Holy of Holies." In this space stood the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat. Inside the Ark were the tablets of the Law, containing the Ten Commandments. The mercy seat on the Ark symbolized the presence of God. Only one high priest was permitted to enter this space once a year and intercede for the people.

At noon on the day of the crucifixion, darkness fell over the entire land and remained until 3 p.m. Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, right from top to bottom.

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" and breathed his last.

At that moment of Jesus' death, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, right from top to bottom. This showed that Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice once and for all. Thus, the Old Testament sacrificial system was fully fulfilled in Jesus, and the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is wide open. We now need only repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to encounter God and receive forgiveness and the Kingdom of Heaven. Everyone is welcome to encounter God in Jesus and have fellowship with God. Christ's death has opened this way wide.

7. The Centurion's Conclusion (47)

A centurion, who led the execution squad, was responsible for carrying out the execution of those condemned. He must have been present at Jesus' trial. Therefore, he knew that Jesus was innocent. While his soldiers led the condemned to Golgotha ​​and crucified them, he observed Jesus. He heard what Jesus said to the weeping women. He also heard Jesus praying for the forgiveness of all. After Jesus' death, he drew the conclusion from his observation: "Surely this man was a righteous man!" (47). Matthew and Mark tell us that he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39).

He confessed that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Good News for Everyone

This Bible passage hardly describes Jesus’ physical suffering. Rather, it tells us that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ. This Bible passage wants to convey to us that God forgives the sins of all who believe in him as the Son of God and the Christ and grants them eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the Good News for all people.

We want to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Christ and gratefully accept the forgiveness of sins and the Kingdom of Heaven.

We should share this message with others so that they, too, may experience forgiveness and the Kingdom of Heaven. In this way, we can rejoice with them and give glory to God.