2BeLikeChrist Bible Commentary - Luke Chapter 22
Commentary - Luke Chapter 22
Luke 22:1
Luk 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.
What was the Passover?
The Passover was a Jewish memorial instituted when the Jews were in slavery in Egypt (See the book of Exodus).
God sent 10 plagues on Egypt and before the 10th plague, the people were told to kill a lamb and paint its blood on their doorposts to protect them.
If God found the blood on their doorposts, the firstborn of their households would be spared from the punishment on Egypt.
This is why it was called the “pass-over,” if the blood was on their door, God passed over their house.
Every year the Jews remembered the event by killing a lamb and eating it with unleavened bread.
What was the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Following the Passover evening, 7 days were dedicated to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This was to remind the Jews of their departure from Egypt and how God delivered them from Pharaoh.
Deu 16:3 - You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
Lev 23:5-6 - In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
It appears, during the 1st Century, the term “Passover” was used to refer to the entire celebration (The Passover feast and the Feast of Unleavened Bread).
Luke 22:2
Luk 22:2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
What were the Jewish religious leaders up to?
Were they meditating on how God had saved them from Egyptian slavery?
Nope!
They were plotting murder.
Little did they know, Jesus was the Lamb of God who would allow Himself to be killed so all men could be saved from punishment (yeah, God’s plan was pretty amazing)!
The Jews didn’t need saving from Egypt anymore.
The Jews and Gentiles needed saving from their slavery to sin.
APPLICATION:
The story recorded in the Bible becomes more and more incredible the better you know the scriptures, both Old and New Testament.
It is amazing to see how God wove His plan through the generations.
Luke 22:3-6
Luk 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
Luk 22:4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.
Luk 22:5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
Luk 22:6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Here begins the famous story of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot.
Have you ever met anyone named Judas?
Probably not!
This story explains why.
Satan “entered into Judas.”
Satan succeeded in corrupting Judas’ heart.
John mentions this in his gospel.
Joh 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him…
This wasn’t the first time Satan had been allowed into Judas’ heart.
John 12 tells us he had a problem with stealing.
Joh 12:6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Did Satan make Judas sin?
Was this a case of “the devil made me do it!”
No, that isn’t the way to interpret this verse and the Bible never leads us to believe Satan has the power to force us to do things against our will.
So, what does it mean that “Satan entered into Judas” or “the devil… put it into the heart of Judas”?
Consider the very first sin, all the way back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).
Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden when the serpent (Satan) came to Eve and planted an idea (a temptation) in her mind.
Eve had the choice to accept or reject the idea Satan had put into her head.
The same was true for Judas:
Satan put an idea in the mind of Judas.
He knew Judas had a weakness for money, so he presented him with an opportunity to make some (verse 5).
It was up to Judas what to do with the idea.
Would he cast it out of his heart and mind?
Or would he allow it to take root?
Unfortunately, Judas permitted Satan’s corruption to enter his heart and find a home there.
Judas agreed with the chief priests and officers to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).
They wanted an inside man to betray Jesus to them when the crowds weren’t around (verse 6).
They couldn’t risk a riot.
The Romans permitted the Jewish leaders to hold on to a portion of their power, but even that power would be taken away from them if they stirred up trouble.
APPLICATION:
It is possible to be surrounded by the best examples in the world and for them not to rub off on you.
Satan is cunning and wants us to fall in love with the idols around us (in this case money) rather than fall in love with the One True God (Jesus).
APPLICATION:
It is possible to spend years listening to the words of Jesus and for them to never change our hearts.
Judas listened to Jesus speak for three years, but the truths he heard did not penetrate his greed hardened heart.
As Christians, we can be “good students” of God’s word, but are we allowing it to change us from the inside out?
Simply hearing and “studying” are not enough.
Like the seed that fell on the path (Luke 8:5), the seed can bounce right off of us and get snatched up by the birds.
Luke 22:7-13
Luk 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
Luk 22:8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”
Luk 22:9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?”
Luk 22:10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters
Luk 22:11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
Luk 22:12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.”
Luk 22:13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
The day of the Passover arrived, and preparations had to be made for the feast.
Jesus sent Peter and John into the city to locate a man who had a suitable room (remember they couldn’t eat it at their houses because they lived in Galilee).
During Passover, the city of Jerusalem would have swelled with large numbers of visiting celebrants.
Hospitality was very important in Jewish culture and it was common for Jerusalem’s residents to host guests during the feast.
Peter and John were told to go into the city and find a man carrying a water pot.
When they found him, they were to follow Him and ask the master of the house for a place to eat the feast.
Jesus told them they would be directed to a furnished “upper room” where they were to prepare the elements of the Passover.
Luke 22:14
Luk 22:14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.
I would encourage you to also read John’s account of the Passover in John 13-16.
When the Passover was prepared and evening came, Jesus reclined around a table with the 12 Apostles.
In those days, dining rooms were not outfitted with western style tables and chairs.
Jesus and the Apostles would have reclined on the floor while eating around a low table.
Luke 22:15-18
Luk 22:15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
Luk 22:16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Luk 22:17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.
Luk 22:18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus had been looking forward to the day He could eat this particular Passover with His Apostles.
I thought of a few reasons why that may have been the case:
This Passover marked the beginning of the climactic work of Jesus.
It was at this Passover that Jesus would finally reveal the deeper meaning within the elements.
The Jews though the feast was just about their deliverance from Egypt.
But it was much more than that!
This was going to be the last time the Apostles observed this feast in the traditional way.
Jesus’ death was only a few hours away, and it would fulfill what the Jewish Passover foreshadowed.
The Jewish Passover gave the Jews the picture of a sacrificial lamb through which the Jews found salvation from the 10th plague in Egypt.
God designed that feast to be a shadow of a greater salvation to come.
Jesus earnestly desired to eat this Passover with His Apostles so He could finally reveal how that greater salvation was going to play out.
Jesus was going to play the role of the sacrificial lamb and give His blood, not just for the salvation of the Jews, but for the sins of the whole world.
Fulfill - bring to completion or reality; achieve or realize…
Jesus wouldn’t eat the Passover again until what the Passover typified was reality.
Luke 22:19-20
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luk 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Have you ever wondered why Christians eat little pieces of bread and drink grape juice when worshipping?
Perhaps you’ve heard this ritual referred to as “Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper.”
From an outsider’s perspective, I can understand how strange it must seem.
Stranger still, is the description of the bread and grape juice as symbols of Jesus’ body and blood.
Are Christians pretending to be cannibals?
The practice of the “Lord’s Supper” in churches has its origins in this text.
Understanding this text and the Old Testament background behind it will help us understand what Jesus was doing.
Jesus took the Passover symbolism all the Jews were familiar with and gave it a new meaning.
He took the images associated with their salvation in Egypt and pointed to the greater salvation.
They had all gathered around a lamb who had given its blood to remind them of their salvation.
While they were eating the lamb, Jesus took bread, gave it to the Apostles, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.”
They put down the lamb’s body.
They ate the bread that was meant to symbolize Jesus’ body.
Ultimately, the lamb killed in Egypt to save the people from God’s wrath was a shadow of a greater Lamb.
If you’ve ever heard Jesus called the “Lamb of God” this is why!
Jesus allowed Himself to be killed to offer salvation from God’s wrath on sin.
Jesus then took a cup of grape juice or wine (depending on translation) and gave it to the Apostles.
He told them to drink from it because it represented His blood.
This was the second Passover picture.
The blood of the lamb in Egypt covered the Jew’s doorposts and kept them safe.
Jesus’ blood is what covers Jesus’ disciples and keeps them safe by forgiving their sins.
Jesus chose the wine to be the symbol/memorial of His blood.
They had gathered to eat the Passover, and everything had been prepared.
But their lamb was going to be substituted out mid-meal and replaced.
Jesus was going to put Himself in the place of the lamb and He instituted this new memorial so all of His followers would remember what He was about to do for them.
Jesus’ blood would bring about a new covenant/testament between God and men (verse 20).
When Jesus’ blood was spilled, the Old Testament was removed and replaced by the New Covenant/Testament.
This New Covenant changed the relationship between God and men.
It invited men to be a part of the Kingdom of God and to be His children.
The New Covenant offers salvation to men through the sin cleansing power of Jesus’ blood.
So, that is why Christians eat little pieces of bread and drink little cups of juice.
They are not the physical body and blood of Jesus.
They are a symbol to help us in the memorial of our Lamb and our deliverance from sin.
Did the Apostle’s understand exactly what Jesus was doing?
Probably not!
But after seeing Jesus sacrifice Himself on the cross, the pieces would have started falling into place.
Jesus certainly never felt the need to spell out every detail of everything He tried to communicate.
I wonder if that is because when you put all the pieces in place on your own, and finally see the big picture for yourself, it is always more impactful than someone just telling you all the details up front.
Luke 22:21-23
Luk 22:21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
Luk 22:22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
Luk 22:23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Even though Jesus loved His Apostles enough to die for them, one of them was still planning to betray Him.
Jesus didn’t reveal the identity of the betrayer, even though He knew.
Obviously, we know it was Judas.
But the other Apostles didn’t know who Jesus was talking about.
APPLICATION:
We are not always as observant and perceptive as we wish we were.
It’s hard to believe the Apostles didn’t suspect Judas, but there is no indication they did.
There are people, even in our churches, that have wicked motives and are exceptionally skilled at disguising them.
Luke 22:24
Luk 22:24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
This seemed to be a pretty popular topic of conversation among the Apostles.
Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Luk 9:46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
They were ambitious and hoped for high positions in the Lord’s Kingdom.
But this desire sprung from a misunderstanding of the true nature of God’s Kingdom.
In John’s account of the Passover meal (John 13) he began by telling us how Jesus took the position of a servant and washed the Apostle’s feet before they ate.
Jesus was their Lord, but rather than lord over them, He humbled Himself to serve them.
In verses 25-30, He reemphasized this principle in response to their jockeying for greatness.
Luke 22:25
Luk 22:25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
The kings of the Gentiles (like Caesar) acted like most kings throughout history.
They were considered greater than the peasantry below them.
They were the lords and their servants served them, attending to their every need.
They were called “benefactors.”
Benefactor - a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause (Oxford).
In ancient days, a king was referred to as a benefactor when he distributed conquered lands to those who served under him.
Some kings probably relished being called “benefactor” by those beneath them.
Luke 22:26-27
Luk 22:26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
Luk 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Earthly leaders may have lorded over those below them, but the Apostles were not to expect to fill similar roles as leaders in the Kingdom of God.
Leadership in the Kingdom of God is service to others.
Greatness in God’s Kingdom manifests itself in humility.
In most companies and organizations, positions of leadership are generally awarded to those of greater age.
Younger, less experienced associates have to do the “grunt” work and pay their dues before “moving up.”
But the ladder of success in the Kingdom of God is very different than that of human organizations.
Those who God will honor are those who never see themselves above the “grunt” work of serving their Lord.
God wants people who are seeking to advance the gospel, not those seeking to advance themselves.
As Jesus was teaching this principle verbally, He was displaying it through His actions.
Evidently, the Apostles were all reclining around the table and Jesus was serving them.
Traditionally, the “greatest” and most honored person in the room sat at the table while others served him.
But Jesus wasn’t demanding the Apostle’s service.
The Greater was serving the lesser.
The King of Heaven was washing feet, setting silverware, and making sure His disciples were comfortable.
APPLICATION:
This scene probably stuck with the Apostles the rest of their lives.
Even though we weren’t in the upper room eating Passover with them, we should meditate on this scene, so it doesn’t escape our recollection when we feel too entitled to do the work of a servant.
Isn’t it incredible that God, the Creator of galaxies, wanted us to see Him in this light?
A Servant to His creation.
Luke 22:28-30
Luk 22:28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,
Luk 22:29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
Luk 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus made a similar statement in Matthew 19.
Mat 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The life of service described by Jesus was not easy, but it also wasn’t forever.
One day, when the Apostle’s service was over, they would be greatly honored by God.
Heaven is the reward for those who serve the King.
APPLICATION:
The general application is true for us.
We are called to be servants for a short period of time (our earthly lives).
It is not an easy life.
But we are assured of future glory and rest from our labors.
It is essential that we allow God to honor us when He sees fit and not try to take honor for ourselves too soon.
Too many people can’t wait for heaven and attempt to receive honor from men on earth.
They want to be served and praised here and now.
They reject the example of Jesus because of their impatience.
While it is true that all disciples will be honored by Jesus in heaven, the language of this text leads me to believe Jesus was talking about a special reward for the Apostles.
He said the Apostles would sit on 12 thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
How would they judge the 12 tribes?
It may be that their lives will be held up as examples to their fellow Jews of how they should have responded to Jesus.
The Jews who rejected Jesus will have no excuse on Judgement Day when they see how their countrymen accepted Christ as Messiah and followed Him.
It may also be that these thrones are a special reward given to the 12 Apostles for their unique work in the foundation of the Church.
Beyond what is stated here, Matthew and Luke don’t give us any additional details.
Luke 22:31-34
Luk 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
Luk 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luk 22:33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
Luk 22:34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
The Apostle Peter’s betrayal of Jesus is one of the most well-known Bible stories.
In the upcoming verses, during some tense moments following Jesus’ arrest, Peter was going to deny ever knowing Jesus.
In verses 31-34, we see Jesus telling Peter about his betrayal before it happened.
Jesus told Peter the Devil desired to have him.
He desired to use Peter the same way he was going to Judas, he wanted to destroy him.
He desired it, but Jesus interceded on Peter’s behalf.
The Bible, specifically books like Job, inform us that Satan is permitted to exist by God, but is on a leash of sorts.
His influence and power are limited and extend only so far as God allows.
Evidently, Jesus’ prayer for Peter had shortened Satan’s leash.
Satan wanted to sift Peter like wheat.
What does that mean?
When you harvest wheat, you have to separate the good part from the part you can’t eat (chaff).
Today, we have machines that automate the removal of the chaff, but in ancient times it had to be done by hand.
Imagine a sifting device, maybe similar to the strainer in your kitchen, that allowed the heavier grains of wheat to fall though while catching the lighter chaff.
When all of the good stuff was sifted out, the chaff was thrown into a fire and burned.
Now imagine a sifting device used to separate those with genuine faith from the those without faith.
Satan wanted to put Peter into his sifter and shake it around in hopes his faith wouldn’t pass the test.
In a way, all temptation is like being put into Satan’s sifter.
“We can imagine a picture like this: Satan has a big sieve with jagged-edged wires forming a mesh with holes shaped like faithless men and women. What he aims to do is throw people into this sieve and shake them around over these jagged edges until they are so torn and weak and desperate that they let go of their faith and fall through the sieve as faithless people, right into Satan's company. Faith cannot fall through the mesh. It's the wrong shape. And so as long as the disciples hold to their faith, trusting the power and goodness of God for their hope, then they will not fall through the mesh into Satan's hands” (Piper).
Peter would not be destroyed with the faithless, but he would faulter.
Jesus instructed him to strengthen his brothers when he recovered from his coming failure.
APPLICATION:
Those who have failed in the past are often uniquely qualified to help others avoid failing in the future.
APPLICATION:
Jesus didn’t “demote” Peter even though he was about to commit one of the most well-known sins in human history.
We should be careful about “demoting” fellow disciples when they sin publicly.
By this time, Peter should have known better than to question Jesus’ accuracy when predicting the future.
But Peter protested.
He told Jesus he was ready to be thrown into prison and even killed for being a disciple.
Peter felt strong in that moment, but his strength would soon evaporate as the circumstances around him shifted in an unexpected direction.
Peter illustrated 1 Corinthians 10:12 perfectly.
1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
Luke 22:35-38
Luk 22:35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
Luk 22:36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Luk 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”
Luk 22:38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
In verse 35, Jesus was referring to the events recorded in Luke 9:1-6 and Matthew 10, when He sent His Apostles to preach about the Kingdom of Heaven in surrounding towns and villages.
On that trip, they had been assured of friends and safety.
They were welcomed into people’s homes and cared for.
They were told not to take an abundance of provisions.
Their journey wasn’t fraught with much trouble.
In verse 36, Jesus told the Apostles they should expect a very different future.
They were about to face the wolves alone for the first time (Mat 10:16).
The hostility they had been guarded from, in their first preaching mission, would be upon them in a matter of hours.
Judas the betrayer was on his way, at that very moment, to gather a band of armed men to arrest Jesus.
Jesus told the Apostles to gather their moneybags, knapsacks, and swords for the journey ahead.
I don’t think these words were meant to be understood literally.
I believe Jesus was teaching them the principle of preparedness for what lay ahead.
He wanted them to understand the road ahead of them would be much rougher than before.
In verse 37, Jesus quoted a prophecy about Himself from Isaiah 53:12.
Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Humiliation lay ahead for Jesus.
He was going to be crucified like a common criminal with other common criminals (He was crucified between 2 thieves).
Jesus saw His death as a divinely designed event.
Judas’ betrayal wasn’t a surprise.
Peter’s betrayal wasn’t a surprise.
Jesus wasn’t surprised when He was arrested.
Jesus wasn’t surprised when He was killed.
His death was essential to the saving work of God and it had been foretold by God’s prophets for centuries.
Upon hearing of the difficulty ahead, the Apostles pointed out their swords to Jesus.
When I hear the word “sword,” I usually think of the long, two-handed, double-edged swords of the Medieval knights (or The Lord of the Rings).
But these swords were probably more like long daggers or the Roman gladius used for personal protection on the road.
(Roman gladius)
There is a “holy relic” in the Poznań Archdiocesan Museum in Poland that some claim is Peter’s original sword. The same one used to cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant (Luke 22:50).
(A copy of Peter’s sword in the Poznan Archdiocesan Museum).
The authenticity of the artifact has been questioned by many.
After the Apostles made Jesus aware of the two swords they had on hand, Jesus responded, “It is enough.”
There are various ways of interpreting those words.
One thing we know is that Jesus never intended His Apostles to use swords to advance His purposes (see Luke 22:50 and John 18:36).
So, what did Jesus mean by “It is enough”?
To me, it seems like it was a dismissive comment.
The Apostles were missing the larger point Jesus was making.
But in that moment, Jesus had neither the time nor the desire to correct them.
In time they would understand.
Luke 22:39-41
Luk 22:39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
Luk 22:40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Luk 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,
Leaving the upper room, Jesus brought the Apostles to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26 tells us He went to Gethsemane, a garden on the mount.
The exact location of Gethsemane is known with some certainty (but still debated).
If you go to Jerusalem today, you can visit the garden of ancient olive trees.
Jesus took the 11 Apostles with Him (no Judas), but chose Peter, James, and John to accompany Him further into the garden (Matthew 26:37).
He told them to watch and pray to avoid temptation. The night ahead of them was going to be full of temptation and fear.
Jesus left the 3 Apostles and continued on into the garden to pray.
He was very distressed and troubled about what He was soon to endure.
His beatings and crucifixion were only a sleepless night away.
Luke 22:42
Luk 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Jesus prayed to God the Father.
He asked God for another way but submitted Himself to God’s will.
Although Jesus, in His divine nature, had foretold His death and knew it to be the eternal plan of God, here we see His human nature dreading the physical pain.
It's very important to notice that Jesus experienced human emotion and dread.
Can you image if God decided to judge humans but never experienced how hard it was to be human?
The gods of most religions are far removed from the human experience, but not Jesus.
APPLICATION:
God encourages us to make our requests known to Him.
But those requests should always be made with humility and submission to God’s will.
If God chooses not to give us what we request, it is because, in His infinite wisdom, His mind is directing us down another (better) path.
Luke 22:43-44
Luk 22:43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Heaven heard Jesus’ prayer and an angel was sent to minister to Him.
The angel strengthened Him. Exactly how that was accomplished we aren’t told.
This was similar to what happened in Matthew 4, following Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
As any man would, Jesus agonized over the task before Him.
He knew it needed to be done, but that didn’t make the doing any more appealing.
The intensity of His agony resulted in “sweat… like great drops of blood.”
As far back as I can remember, Christians have debated whether Jesus’ sweat was just like blood or whether it was actual blood.
There is a verified medical condition that results in a person “sweating blood.”
It is called Hematidrosis.
It is a very rare condition.
It is thought to affect people experiencing “extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse” (WebMD).
Blood vessels under the skin burst and the blood is expelled through the sweat glands.
I don’t think any of us will ever be able to fully relate to the extreme distress Jesus was experiencing.
There are people who have died physically brutal deaths comparable to crucifixion.
But no one has done that while bearing and paying the price for all the sins of humanity.
I suspect there was a spiritual weight to the process that we will never understand.
Luke 22:45-46
Luk 22:45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
Luk 22:46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Jesus walked the stone throws distance back to Peter, James, and John and found them sleeping.
They were supposed to be praying.
Instead they were sleeping “for sorrow.”
We aren’t told what they were sorrowful about.
The text of the gospels don’t lead us to believe the Apostles thought they were in any immediate danger.
I suspect they were weighed down by Jesus’ sorrow.
They were likely able to observe Jesus in His agony a short distance away in the garden.
They didn’t understand His agony, but they no doubt cared about Him.
Watching someone you love suffer and being unable to help them can give a person a great deal of sorrow.
Their low spirits may have been the result of what Jesus had told them during the Passover meal.
John knew Judas was the betrayer and by this time he had probably told his three companions.
Additionally, Jesus had foretold Peter would be the next to deny Him.
With all of these factors swimming in their minds, sleep may have been the best way to escape their worry and sadness.
Certainly, there was a lot weighing on the 3 Apostles, but sleep was not the solution.
It was a time for prayer, not sleep.
Jesus wanted them to pray so they would not fall into temptation.
Would Peter have denied Christ if he had stayed up and prayed?
It is hard to say!
But apparently some of the temptations the Apostle’s faced could have been avoided.
Would we accomplish great things through the power of God or avoid detrimental pitfalls in our lives if we prioritized prayer over sleep?
Jesus’ words lead us to believe we would.
Even though the plans of Judas, the chief priests, and the elders were already in motion, Jesus suggested the Apostles’ prayers could change certain variables in the way those events played out.
I’ve heard people suggest prayer is worthless once the wheels of circumstance are in motion.
This verse would suggest otherwise.
I think there is also a lesson here about God’s foreknowledge.
Jesus knew and could announce the ultimate end of any given situation.
He knows the choices everyone will make in any and every given situation from now till eternity.
But He still leaves those choice up to us and there is no indication the choice is an illusion.
Jesus told the Apostles to stay awake and pray.
Jesus told them their prayers could affect spiritual affairs.
When Jesus found them sleeping, He didn’t say, “I know I told you to stay awake, but you didn’t really have any choice in the matter, you were sovereignly made to fall asleep.”
God puts very real choices in front of us and expects us to make the right decision.
That being said, God knows all the choices human beings will choose to make and He weaves His will through those choices (the orchestration of the crucifixion is case-and-point).
APPLICATION:
How often do we prioritize prayer over sleep?
In Jesus’ ministry, we see Him prioritizing prayer over sleep on several occasions.
Luke 22:47-48
Luk 22:47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,
Luk 22:48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
If you remember, the Jewish authorities were afraid to do anything to Jesus in the midst of the large Passover crowds.
Judas led a crowd full of his angry, shamed, and cowardly allies, the chief priests and elders.
Matthew tells us they brought swords and clubs.
APPLICATION:
We should not underestimate the power of addiction, lust, and greed.
Judas had watched Jesus humiliate the chief priests and elders time and time again, but when they waived a little bag of money in front of his face, all of a sudden he was ready to turn his back on Jesus.
If we allow anger, greed, and lust to control us, they will have us acting in irrational ways.
Why did the chief priests and elders need Judas to betray Jesus?
It wasn’t as if they needed Judas to point Jesus out, they were well acquainted with His appearance.
I can think of at least three reasons:
(1) They may have needed Judas to show them where Jesus was that night (Luke 22:6).
The chief priests and officers didn’t know where Jesus was going to eat Passover (He didn’t have a residence in Jerusalem).
They may have had difficulty finding Jesus fast enough to avoid a riot if they hadn’t had an inside man.
Act 1:16 - “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
(2) They wanted to use Judas as an insult to Jesus.
The Jews may have offered to pay Judas, not because he was essential to their plan, but because betrayal stings.
It is a slap in the face to be betrayed by a friend, and the Jews wanted to use Judas to disrespect Jesus as much as possible.
(3) They may have found Judas a convenient scapegoat.
If asked, they could have denied they were the ones who initiated the arrest.
You can imagine them saying, “Oh no it wasn’t us; He was turned over by one of His own followers for claims against Judaism and the state!”
In a scene familiar to Christians and non-Christians alike, Judas kissed Jesus.
This may sound really odd to modern audiences, specifically those of us in the States, but kissing someone on the cheek as a greeting was common in the ancient world, and is still practiced in many places in modern times.
Luke 22:49-51
Luk 22:49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
Luk 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
Luk 22:51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
When the Apostles realized the crowd had come to take Jesus away, some of them asked Jesus if He wanted them to fight.
Peter didn’t wait for Jesus to respond. In a moment, he had drawn his sword and lopped off the ear of the servant of the High Priest.
John’s gospel tells us the man’s name was Malchus and it was his right ear that was severed (John 18:10).
But in a move that probably surprised Peter and Jesus’ would be captors, Jesus told Peter to put his sword away.
He proceeded to heal Malchus’ ear.
He then made it abundantly clear that the last thing He needed was Peter’s little sword.
If He wanted, He could have replaced His 12 followers with 12 legions of angels and exterminated His enemies.
Mat 26:52-53 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Peter and the other Apostles seemed to think this was their chance to fight for the Kingdom of Heaven.
We have to admire them for their courage.
But they were mistaken.
Jesus’ Kingdom wasn’t going to be established through military might.
SIDE NOTE: John’s gospel is the only gospel to reveal it was Peter who cut off the High Priest’s ear.
Some think the other gospel writers, who wrote before Peter’s death, excluded his name to protect him.
John’s gospel was probably written after Peter’s death, so it was no longer necessary to keep him anonymous.
In most epic adventure films this is where Jesus (the hero) would whip out His superpowers and takes these fools to school.
That is the hero the world expects.
Those are the heroes we idolize.
But Jesus’ wasn’t that hero.
Jesus is our hero because He didn’t call the 12 legions.
He didn’t call the punishing power of God’s wrath down from Heaven.
He didn’t execute judgement on those who disrespected and undervalued Him.
Jesus is our hero because we are the mob.
And He sacrificed Himself to the mob so they would have a chance to repent one day and be forgiven.
APPLICATION:
We don’t see Jesus running away or lying about who He was.
He patiently waited and prepared Himself through prayer to accomplish God’s work.
He could have run, spared Himself the discomfort and agony of the cross, but if He had, the world would never have hope of salvation.
Do you remember Jonah in the Old Testament?
He tried to run away from what God wanted him to do.
He didn’t want to go preach to the Assyrians in Nineveh.
He didn’t want the Assyrians to be saved (they were evil).
So, he attempted to run away from the mission God gave Him.
Jesus wanted all sinners to be saved.
So His love kept Him from running away from the mission God gave Him.
Are we Jonah or are we Jesus?
Do we not really care if the world is saved?
Or do we really want to see everyone saved?
We can save ourselves some discomfort, maybe even some agony, if we don’t really care about people.
But if we really want to see the lost saved, we will have to face the discomfort of accomplishing the mission of God.
Christian avoidance of discomfort is detrimental to the Church’s growth and the spread of the Gospel.
For many Christians, their faith ends where their comfort zone ends.
They are willing to serve God up to the point they start to feel uncomfortable.
What if that was Jesus’ mentality?
We wouldn’t have a Savior!
Luke 22:52-53
Luk 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
Luk 22:53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Although Jesus permitted it, He rebuked those who came to arrest Him.
He had been out in public in Jerusalem for days without any protection.
Why hadn’t they arrested Him then?
Why wait till the middle of the night?
Of course, Jesus knew the answer.
They were weaklings who feared the people and wanted to hide their actions in the dark.
He was calling out their cowardice to their face.
How ridiculous it was for these men, who pretended to be so strong, to bring an army under the cover of night to arrest an unarmed man.
Jesus told them, “…this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Nighttime is when the wicked work.
The chief priests and officers had come in the dark to do the dark work of Satan.
Luke 22:54-55
Luk 22:54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance.
Luk 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Jesus was led to the High Priest whose name was Caiaphas.
The High Priest was the leader of the priestly class under the Old Testament Law.
Aaron, Moses’ brother, was the first High Priest of the Jews.
John’s gospel informs us Jesus also met with Annas.
Who were Annas and Caiaphas?
Joseph Caiaphas was appointed high priest by the Roman governor Valarius Gratus (governor before Pontus Pilate).
Before Caiaphas, Annas (Luke 3:1-2) was appointed High Priest of Judaea in 6 A.D., but was removed by the Romans in 15 A.D.
Although Annas had been removed, it is thought he still pulled many of the strings in the background (which explains why Jesus was taken to him).
Caiaphas was Annas’ son-in-law.
5 of Annas’ sons would later succeed Him as high priests.
Caiaphas was removed by the Romans in 37 A.D.
SIDE NOTE: The Law of God required the high priests to be descendants of the tribe of Levi.
In the 1st Century, this requirement was not longer being respected.
The Romans turned the position of High Priest into a position of political appointment for allies and those willing to pay the largest bribes.
It was time for a new High Priest.
The book of Hebrews tells us how Jesus became the new and better High Priest.
Jesus was taken to the High Priest for questioning while Peter tailed the crowd, remaining in the courtyard.
You can imagine how confused he must have been.
He had been preparing to fight for the Kingdom of God for years, but when the hour of his expectation came, Jesus told him his efforts were not needed.
Nonetheless, we ought to admire Peter’s courage for following Jesus into the courtyard.
Unfortunately, Peter’s courage was about to fall apart.
SIDE NOTE:
According to accuweather.com, average low temperatures at night in Jerusalem, in April, are around 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
Definitely cold enough to want to start a fire (Mark 14:67).
Luke 22:56-60
Luk 22:56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Luk 22:57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
Luk 22:58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
Luk 22:59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
Luk 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Peter’s denial of Christ is one of the saddest stories in the Bible, but it is a story that eventually has a happy ending.
Peter’s 1st Denial:
While in the courtyard warming himself around the fire (Mark 14:67), a servant girl recognized Peter in the glow of the firelight.
She asked him if he was a disciple of Jesus’.
Knowing he would probably get in trouble if he admitted to it, Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Peter’s 2nd Denial:
A little later, another person asked if Peter was a disciple.
He denied again, “Man, I am not.”
Peter’s 3rd Denial:
Finally, about an hour later, a third person recognized Peter as a Galilean and insisted he must have been a disciple.
A third time, Peter denied any affiliation or knowledge of Jesus.
As the words were coming out of his mouth, the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted.
Luke 22:61-62
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Luk 22:62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Peter was within eyesight of Jesus when the final words of denial exited his mouth.
Providentially, their eyes met.
It’s hard to imagine the flood of emotions that must have washed through Peter in that instance.
He went from being seized with fear, to being disappointment that Jesus had been right in the upper room, to guilt for denying his friend, to sadness that he had abandoned his friend in His hour of need.
Can you imagine having a faithful friend and betraying them in the final moments of their life?
What made it worse was that he knew Jesus knew.
I would like to know what Jesus’ eyes communicated to Peter.
Sadness?
Compassion?
Care?
Love?
Disappointment?
In that moment, Peter probably couldn’t even recognize himself.
He had boldly professed his loyalty to Jesus during the Passover meal.
He had drawn his sword against the enemy in the garden.
Now he was cowering in a courtyard pretending to have never met Jesus.
Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:63-65
Luk 22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.
Luk 22:64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”
Luk 22:65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
Jesus’ trial quickly dissolved into abuse.
The Jewish elite didn’t have any intention of giving Him a fair trial.
They didn’t care to establish fact from fiction, they only wanted Jesus dead.
They were willing to tell whatever lies, and break whatever laws, they needed to in order to make that happen.
They blindfolded Jesus, hit Him, and taunted Him by asking Him to guess which one of them had done it.
One day, on Judgement Day, Jesus will look a man in the eye and say, “It was you!”
But the beautiful thing about Jesus was He practiced what He preached.
Mat 5:39 - But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Jesus turned the other cheek to give that man a chance to be saved.
Jesus is pretty great, right?
APPLICATION:
Take a moment to admire Jesus’ self-discipline in this situation.
When we are mistreated, it’s easy to justify vengeance.
It’s especially hard not to seek revenge when we know we are capable of getting it.
Jesus had the ability to whisper a word and take the life from the men who were abusing Him, but He didn’t.
If anyone ever had the right, it was Jesus.
We need to keep this example in mind when the desire for vengeance swells up inside us.
Luke 22:66-71
Luk 22:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,
Luk 22:67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,
Luk 22:68 and if I ask you, you will not answer.
Luk 22:69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Luk 22:70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Luk 22:71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Notice verse 66, where it says, “When day came…”
Jesus spent the whole night in the custody of His abusers.
Jesus was taken to the “council.”
Their council was known as the Sanhedrin.
The Sanhedrin was granted limited judicial power by the Romans.
Jesus was put through another fake examination and trial at this council meeting.
The other gospels tell us there were a series of lying witnesses, hired by the Jews, who came to the trial and testified of Jesus’ “crimes.”
Jesus didn’t respond to their accusations, because He knew the council wasn’t interested in the truth.
Caiaphas wasn’t content with Jesus’ silence and demanded He answer his questions.
“If you are the Christ, tell us” (Luke 22:67).
“I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God” (Matthew 26:63).
Adjure - urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something.
If any blasphemy was to be found in that courtroom, it was to be found in the godless high priest evoking the name of God to undermine God.
Jesus called out Caiaphas’ hypocrisy.
He wasn’t worthy of receiving an answer to his questions.
No matter how Jesus answered, Caiaphas wouldn’t believe.
Truth didn’t matter to him.
Nonetheless, Jesus answered his question.
He said, “But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Jesus had referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” often during His ministry.
He told Caiaphas He would be seated with God on His throne.
An answer like that didn’t leave much room for misunderstanding.
Jesus wasn’t just a man, He was the Christ, and He was divine.
Matthew tells us Caiaphas tore his robes when he heard Jesus’ answer.
Caiaphas put on a big show of religious offense, and tore his garments as if he was distraught over the disrespect God had received from Jesus’ words.
In reality, Jesus answered exactly as he had hoped.
Caiaphas wanted to use Jesus’ claim to accuse Him of blasphemy and put Him to death.
Jesus knew He was playing into Caiaphas’ plan with His answer.
But Caiaphas didn’t know his plan was playing into God’s plan for redeeming mankind.
Jesus claimed to be the Christ, and that was enough for them to accuse Him of blasphemy.
Notice, there wasn’t any evaluation of Jesus’ claim.
They didn’t take the time to evaluate if His life fit the qualifications of the Messiah.
They were outraged by His claim because it didn’t fit their view.
They were offended because they didn’t like it.
If they had taken the time to genuinely evaluate Jesus’ claim to be the Christ, they would have discovered He fit every qualification.
APPLICATION:
Outrage and offense are not good measures of truth.
Just because something offends you, or doesn’t fit your worldview, doesn’t make that thing right/wrong.
Just because something outrages you doesn’t make that thing right/wrong.
We need to do an honest evaluation of the things that outrage and offend us, to discover if there is any truth in them.
