Luke 22:1-2
Why would Judas do such a thing? He had walked with Christ and seen Him do so many amazing things. Why would he betray Him like this? There are many speculations but the bottom line is we just don't know. Some say he was trying to push Jesus to act, to take charge and start a revolution against Rome. This is somewhat consistent with the thought that Judas was a zealot. Some see Judas as the only Judean (Iscariot possibly meaning from Kerioth), always an outsider among these Galileans. Was Judas making his mark, attempting to rise in prominence? Was this Judas' play to prove he was the greatest among the disciples by putting Jesus in a position to rapidly rise in notoriety? Its hard to imagine, but possible I suppose.
The Passover was a celebration of the Lord delivering His people from Egypt. The first Passover was on that last night in Egypt when the firstborn of Egypt would be killed. The Israelites were to choose a male lamb without blemish for their household on the 10th of Nisan. On the 14th, they were to slaughter the lamb and mark their door frames and lintel with blood. They were then to roast the lamb and eat it with a belt on their waist, their sandals on their feet and their staff in hand. It was the appearance of eating right before they walked out the door to leave for a long trip. They were to eat in haste, as if there were no time. Then, when the Lord passed through Egypt to strike down the first born, they would be found behind the blood of the lamb. The Passover was instituted as an annual commemoration of the original event.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a week-long celebration following Passover. The bread was unleavened because Israel left in haste, there was no time for the bread to rise. We see Luke blur the lines between these two feasts as though they were one in the same. This shows how those days were seen at that time.
These holy days were celebrations in which pilgrims would make their way to Jerusalem to celebrate. Many crowded into the city as the population doubled or tripled. These were some of the most important religious days on the calendar. However, Luke tells us that it wasn't the celebration on the minds of the religious leaders, it was murder! They were trying to figure out how they might kill Jesus. It makes you wonder if this was something normally done, a regular occurrence to protect their positions. John particularly records the insecurity of these men:
What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." (John 11:48)
John also recorded the prophecy of Caiaphas, the high priest:
You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." (John 11:49b-50)
Of course the high priest was not talking about Jesus being the atoning sacrifice for all men, but that Jesus would die to save the nation from Rome, to keep them in power, as they saw themselves as the balance against Roman oppression.
It's quite obvious the Jewish leaders feared men more than God. They felt some kind of religious duty and righteous justification in getting rid of Jesus. They were afraid that more and more people would follow Jesus and their authority would erode. Likewise, if they got rid of Jesus, they had to make sure it didn't turn the crowd against them.
Luke 22:3-6
Satan entered Judas. Disciples are committed to following their teacher; Judas was no longer a disciple of Christ, and maybe never was. He was now committed to the plans of Satan, and a disciple of Satan. Judas went away 'his way'. At least he thought it was his way, but his way was Satan's way and the way of the chief priests. The captains were the likely the captains of the treasury, those who would make payments for services rendered. They were glad to hear from Judas, it was like a gift from God as they were trying to make plans to get Jesus. It was the darkest of meetings among the darkest souls of men, as they made an agreement and decided on a price. One of the conditions of the betrayal was it had to be in the absence of the multitude, once again showing their fear of men.
All the way back in chapter four, at the beginning of Jesus ministry, the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Luke records the end of this temptation this way:
13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)
The Devil had a willing participant in Judas, one seeking that opportune time to hand Jesus over to this group of men to finish his bidding and work out destruction and death of Jesus. Satan thought he was working out his plan, but God was working out His. The word for 'opportunity' is used only in verse 6 and in Matthew 26:16 in the parallel account of Judas seeking opportunity.
Luke 22:7-13
It's interesting that Luke wrote that the Passover would be killed on the day of Unleavened Bread. This again shows the blurring of the any distinction between Passover the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The lamb was to be killed at twilight on the 14th of Nissan. Sunset marked the beginning of a new day, being the 15th, or the first day of Unleavened Bread.
Peter and John were sent to set up the Passover arrangements. I can imagine what Peter and John were thinking, where in the world would they find a place in a city swelled beyond capacity. They were to go into this crowded city and a man would meet them who was carrying a jar of water. Normally it was the women who carried these Jars, so this man would be unique in the crowd. They were to follow him and he would show them where they would celebrate.
Preparation for Passover was getting a lamb, having it slaughtered. They needed bitter herbs as well as wine. It is believed there were four cups from which they drank.
Luke 22:14-18
The time came and Jesus sat at the table with the twelve. It was more reclining around the triclinium than sitting. The Lord had longed to eat the Passover with the twelve before He suffered. As they celebrated, did they think of those in bondage in Egypt, seeming at the mercy of a tyrant and oppressor? Can you picture these people huddled in their homes, hidden behind the blood of the lamb while they heard the cries in the night? The darkness of death was all around. The disciples ate of their lamb in the presence of their Passover Lamb, their deliverer and protection of the death angel. They were about to experience the lostness, hopelessness and oppression of the dark when death would rule and have its way. From the dark though, would come a work, the shedding of blood that would be the protection for all men. The penalty of sin is death, but death would pass over us when we are covered by the blood of Jesus.
Jesus made it clear, He was about to suffer. He would not eat of this again until His Kingdom came. At the coming of the Kingdom of God, there was to be a messianic feast spoken of by Isaiah (25:6-8). The same feast is portrayed in Luke 12:36; 14:15-24; and Rev 19:6-9 as the marriage supper of the Lamb. Imagine that day.
Luke mentions two cups at the meal. The other gospels mention only one. Sometime later they used four cups. There is some debate as to whether 4 cups were used in the first century. Jesus took this first cup, gave thanks and gave it to them to drink.
Luke 22:19-20
The Lord institutes what we refer to as the Lord's supper. The bread was unleavened, full of Passover symbolism. Its interesting that in other places in the bible leaven is a type of sin. Jesus referred to the leaven of the Pharisees which was hypocrisy. Leaven works silently, so as not to be noticed. It corrupts and destroys.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6-8)
The unleavened bread was the symbol of provision for Israel as they were delivered from bondage from Egypt and set on the way to the Promised Land. It is Jesus that delivers us from the bondage of sin. Jesus pointed to the bread, and more specifically to the manna, and gave new meaning to the symbol.
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:32-35)
Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread and made it a symbol of His body. They were to eat and remember what He was about to do. It was the remembrance of His body 'given for you'. This phrase points to the nature of His substitutionary atonement, a new Exodus.
He also took the cup after supper. The cup had meaning within the Passover celebration, but Jesus changes that understanding. This cup is now symbolic of the New Covenant, one established by His blood. The cup was symbolic of his blood that is 'shed for you.' This also points to His substitutionary atonement for us, an Exodus from the bondage of sin and victory over death.
Taking this bread and cup is His provision of life for us. It is precious and from it comes new life in Him. This is the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-33.
Luke 22:21-23
All four gospels record this moment. Jesus announced one of the twelve would betray Him. The other gospels record all the disciples asking if it was them, as if they weren't sure if they'd done it or not. John wrote that Jesus dipped bread and gave it to Judas, indicating to John that he was the betrayer. Jesus didn't announce this to stop the betrayal or change any outcome, but only to let the disciples know it had begun. They needed to understand, what was about to happen was 'as it was determined'. However, this did not remove the responsibility from Judas. Which of them would do this thing?
We would all like to think we would never do such a thing as Judas. Yet, we betray him with every sin. Our hearts are truly dark apart from the work of God.
See also Zechariah 11:12-14.
Luke 22:24-30
One moment they were imagining who could be so low as to betray the Teacher; who would do such a thing. The consideration of who was the worst among them quickly turned to who was the greatest. Jesus in hours away from laying down His life for all of mankind and they are trying to figure out who's first. And the really sad thing is, no one pointed to Jesus and said it was Him; no one said, "Jesus is the greatest!"
Jesus had to be shaking his head in wonder, had they not learned anything yet? The kings of gentiles' lord it over their subjects and they are called the benefactors of the people. They exercise authority and call the people to serve them. But the disciples of Jesus would be different. The greatest is as the younger, yielding to everyone as the elder or more important. The one who governs is to be the one who serves the most. Who is more important the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? If the one who serves wasn't there, it would affect everyone. If the one sitting weren't there, none were affected. Who is more essential, a governor or garbage man? Who cares if the governor takes a month off? Who cares if the garbage man is off for a month? We all would.
Jesus announced that He was among them as One who serves. Yet, they still didn't understand. The disciples argued about great position and status in this world, it was emulating the servant heart of Christ that would set a person apart. Jesus then reminded them again of a coming Kingdom. The language Jesus uses has a legal sound to it. He bestowed on them the kingdom that the Father had bestowed on Him. They would enjoy that coming messianic feast with Him in the Kingdom. They would eat and drink at His table, sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel. This is far beyond anything they could have imagined.
Luke 22:31-32
It's quite possible Peter was boasting loudest of being the greatest when Jesus told him what was about to happen. We know this was a significant even to all the disciples when we see all four gospel accounts have the account. The repetition of Simon's name is a call to attention and adds intensity. Jesus was aware that Satan had made a request. It's worth noting that Satan could do nothing by himself, he could only precede with his plans with permission (see also Job 1:8-12). The word for 'sifting' was only used here in the Greek. It is the idea of passing through a sieve to separate the course parts from the fine. It was a Hebrew idiom meaning Satan wanted to 'pick Peter apart'. Satan wants to destroy his faith. Peter was given an assignment to strengthen his brothers when he returned. The statement implied Peter was going somewhere but that he would, in fact, return.
Luke 22:33-34
Was Peter concerned? Did this talk about Satan wanting a crack at him concern him at all? Certainly, no man is a match for Satan. Peter was among those boasting how great they were. Now, with the attention of all, and before the Master, he could state his boast and loyalty. Peter was ready to follow Jesus to imprisonment and death. And I believe Peter, that's what he thought of himself. It's easy to say outside of persecution, however, when we are threatened, we act differently. We say, and do, and react without thought. Peter was about to find something out about himself. These next few hours of his life were the ingredients to break a man, so that God could remake him. Profound change was coming and it would come through difficulty.
Matthew and Mark record the Lord's prediction that all the disciples would fall away:
All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (Matthew 26:31)
The thoughts of who was greatest must have suddenly been far from their minds. After speaking of all of them, he turned to Peter and predicted his denials. Peter could not imagine such a scenario in which he would do this thing. It wasn't just one denial, but three, all before the crow of the rooster. I wonder if Peter was embarrassed at such a prediction in the presence of the others.
Luke 22:35-38
Jesus continued to prepare the disciples for His arrest. This passage is unique to Luke. Jesus asked this question as a means of reminding them of how they were cared for when on mission for the Lord. They were sent to share the good news of the Kingdom of God. They went without money, knapsack or sandals. Yet, they didn't find themselves in need. The 'but now' statement marks the transition to a new time. Now, they were to take money, knapsack and buy a sword. They were entering a difficult time. The sword wasn't to fight offensively, but to defend themselves from robbers.
Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:12 as part of what must be accomplished in Him. 'The things concerning Me has an end" sounds so final and complete. Jesus is likely referring to his arrest and the path leading to the cross. But 'the end' was the fulfillment of scripture and was the completion of the work for which He came.
The disciples mistake the words of Jesus as a call to arm themselves for conflict. How could two swords be enough? They certainly wouldn't take any earthly throne. The swords would however be enough to establish the charge of insurrection and solidify His arrest. We know Peter had the one sword. Where was the other? We don't know. However, as competitive as Peter and John were, I can imagine John having the other.
Luke 22:39-40
Jesus came out from the upper room. The work there was done, that room would be forever remembered. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and ultimately be arrested. It was His custom to go there. It was an olive grove, across the Kidron, it was peaceful and beautiful. The actual location has been lost over time. From the mount of Olives, one could look across the city and temple from the mount. What a sight it must have been to see a mob carrying torches snake its way toward them.
Arriving at the particular place, Jesus told the disciples to pray that they not enter into temptation. I wonder if the thought of Satan sifting them passed through their thoughts. We pray 'lead us not into temptation 'as part of what we call the Lord's prayer. Kidron means dark and murky. This place was called Gethsemane, as named by the other apostles. A gethsemane was an oil press; a place of crushing the olives to retrieve the oil. This night was dark and murky for spiritual reasons. This night, Gethsemane would crush men, and particularly the Son of God.
Luke 22:41-44
What Jesus was entering into had to be entered into alone. He went away from them, knelt and prayed. He was praying the Father's will and praying for obedience. The flesh of man works hard to preserve itself. Was there another way? If there was Jesus didn't have to die. If one could be 'good enough' on their own, Jesus didn't have to die. If we could do enough good things to erase our bad, then Jesus didn't have to die. However, we know that we are sin-fallen through and through. There was no other way. The cup of God's wrath was about to be poured out on Him.
Jesus prayed that the Father's will be done. We know Jesus is the second person of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Jesus is God as the Father is God, as the Holy Spirit is God. While they are One God, they are three different and distinct persons. We see Jesus has a will and the Father has a will. Jesus prays, submitting to the Father's will. Jesus' will, first and foremost, was to do the will of the Father.
And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Cor. 15:45)
It was in a garden the first Adam rebelled against God, sinning and plunging all of mankind into a separation from God. It was, likewise, in a garden that the second Adam, submitted to the will of the father on behalf of all mankind and made a way for all to be restored to Him.
Verse 43 speaks of an angel coming to minister to the Lord and strengthen Him. He prayed more earnestly and His sweat came like drops of blood. These two verses were missing form the earliest manuscripts. It is thought they were added to support the oral tradition of the early church.
We know angels came and ministered to Jesus after the He was tempted in the wilderness. This is a similar situation, the flesh is week, but His Spirit is all powerful. The burden of all the sin of mankind was before Him; it was an awful load, ugly and still growing. Medical experts say there is a medical condition in which the extreme stress of a situation could cause the rupture of small blood vessels and cause tiny drops of blood as if it were sweat. His sweat was like great drops of blood; just how much like blood, we don't know. We do know it was precious and it was for us. Jesus was in agony and this caused Him to pray even more.
Dr. George Morrison said, "Every life has its Gethsemane, and every Gethsemane has its angel."
Luke 22:45-46
Lifting Himself from the burden and agony that was coming upon must have been awful. To add to this burden, He found His disciples were asleep. They had succumbed to the weakness of their flesh. Only Luke adds they were sleeping from sorrow. There would be time for sleeping soon. It was time to pray, to be on guard from temptation.
Luke 22:47-53
The sight of Judas coming with a multitude of soldiers was probably a sight the disciples never forgot. The text points out that Judas was one of the twelve. This accentuates the treachery and betrayal that was happening. He came to his master, much like he'd always done, and was going to kiss him with a normal greeting. However, it wasn't a normal greeting. It was the sign.' Jesus made it as clear as possible for Judas with His question. The 'Son of Man' was a messianic title. Judas was about to betray him with an act of friendship and love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Prov 27:6)
It must have been a tense moment as this multitude approached in the dark of night. They approached Jesus like a mob with swords and clubs. They brought plenty of help, treating Him and this band of disciples as if they were insurrectionists. As far as we know, there were only two swords among the twelve. It appears one discipled asked Jesus if they should draw the sword while Peter was already swinging. We don't know what he was swinging at, but he cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. The other gospel accounts fill in a few details. Jesus said He could pray and the Father would send 12 legions of angels. Think about that! Here Peter thought he and another were going to take on a multitude of trained soldiers. Those who live by the sword would die by it. Jesus said. All this had to happen.
Peter struck this man in the head with a sword. He was a hairsbreadth of killing this man. It may be the sword got the attention of Malchus, of seeing his blood, of pain. But His heart must have been touched when Jesus healed him. Malchus may have only seen Jesus at a distance or heard rumors of Him. He was a soldier following orders, but he experienced a moment he would never forget. The Son of God made him whole again. He'd never had an enemy show love. He didn't know what grace was until that moment. Jesus loved those who counted Him as an enemy.
Jesus did chide the leaders of this mob for their timing, tweaking their conscience and hinting at their hypocrisy. They chose to arrest Him in a secluded place, in the dark of night, instead of the temple where he taught every day. This late hour was their hour. In my younger years, I remember my mom telling me to be home at a reasonable hour because nothing good happens after midnight. This is the same idea. It's the idea that the powers of darkness own the night and work their evil in the hearts of men to steal, kill and destroy. They were seeking to kill, to do the work of the devil. It was their hour.
Luke 22:54-62
Jesus was brough first to the house of Annas, the High Priest. Annas is called the high priest, but in another gospel (Matt 26:57), Caiaphas is called the high priest and presides over this. Caiaphas is the son-in-law of Annas who made him high priest for politics, power and political favor. Annas may have been viewed as the legitimate High priest in the eyes of the Sanhedrin.
Peter followed at a distance, already putting space between himself and Jesus. We can criticize Peter, but the others ran away, one ran away naked (Mark 14:51). Since Mark was the only one who wrote about this, it may have been information only he had since it was him. We can't be sure, but it makes sense. They settled in the courtyard, apparently to await the high priest and maybe others and likely to await daylight. boasted of the being the greatest of followers. But now, he denied even knowing Him. Strike one, without a thought.
A short time later, another identified him as a disciple. Again, Peter denied it. Strike two. The only consideration was self-preservation. Peter was making sure he wasn't arrested. He couldn't help Jesus if he was arrested also. Peter was probably trying to figure out how to look a little less Galilean when a man 'confidently affirmed' who he was. Then, strike three. It happened so quick. The denial was still on his lips when the Lord turned and looked right at Him as the rooster crowed. That crushed Peter.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
This denial of Jesus is one of the main things we remember about Peter. However, as the denial was foretold, so was the restoration and a call to restore others. History says that later in life when Peter preached, there was nearly always someone in the background crowing like a rooster. The world would not let him forget the worst day of his life. While we analyze the denial of Peter, let's not forget where the other disciples were. They had run away. Where do you suppose you would be? We are living in days where we may get the opportunity to confess or deny Christ before a hostile crowd. What will you do?
Luke 22:63-65
Jesus had predicted the mocking and beating. They say it wasn't unusual for soldiers to treat a criminal this way prior to execution. However, Jewish law protected the accused from this kind of action. It shows the darkness of night. These soldiers were likely temple guard, yet acting like brute beast. They were holding the criminal; yet they were criminal in their actions toward an innocent man. When the accused has no friends, no representation of any kind, it seems those sent to do the dirty work of the wicked accusers had taken on their attitude of wickedness.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (John 1:10-11)
The soldiers liked to play their game of whodunnit. They blindfolded Him and struck Him and mockingly told Him to prophesy and tell who hit Him. Luke adds there were many other blasphemous things they said and did. I wonder who these men were and what made them so full of hate. I wonder if they had a wife and family. I wonder if they heard of the resurrection or if they saw Jesus. I wonder if they were forgiven these sins before they died. We all have things in our life we wish we could take back or undo, but nothing to this degree.
Luke 22:66-71
An official trial could not happen until the sun came up. They may do some of their dirty work in the dark of night but the Sanhedrin still did business in the light of day, proving there were still God-fearing Jews on the council. Jesus knew they would not believe Him. He had already revealed their hard hearts and dark intentions. The ring leaders had plotted this murder. Any appearance of a fair trial is strictly for show.
Jesus had six trials. He first went before Annas, the former high priests who sent Him to Caiaphas. Then He went before the Sanhedrin where He was found guilty. However, they had limited authority and could not kill a man. So, they sent Jesus to Pilate. He deferred to Herod, who sent Him back to Pilate. All the leaders reveal a fear of Jesus they would never admit to. Each hating Him, not understanding why, but not wanting to deal with Him.
Jesus said the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of God. This is the seat of authority and supreme honor. They asked and Jesus answered. They got Him to admit it. They were proud, it wasn't hard at all, there was no need for further discussion. He was guilty of blasphemy. He needed to die. They never even considered Jesus' words. He said, "You rightly say that I am." The original would be closer to, "You declare I AM!" In their fulfillment of prophecy and their actions to mock, beat and condemn Him, they are inadvertently testifying to His identity. The 'I AM" points back to the burning bush when the Lord spoke to Moses and said to tell the people I AM that I AM. He was the eternal, self-existent One, like no other, reliant on no one. It was nearly done. The cross drew ever near.
©2020 Doug Ford
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