Part 4: The Journey to the Cross Luke 22:1-38 Introduction The chief priests and teachers of the law see the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a perfect opportunity to take Jesus. There was only one hindrance to accomplishing their goal—most of the common people would probably revolt and cause riots if the One whom they recently hailed as Messiah were to be arrested publicly. Judas comes to them with a solution to their problem. This is where we pick up the narrative of Jesus' journey to the cross. IX. The Passover Conspiracy, Luke 22:1-6 Luke 22:1-6 (NIV) (1) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, (2) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. (3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (4) And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. (5) They were delighted and agreed to give him money. (6) He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
A. The Conspiracy Was Born in the Hearts of the Chief Priests and Teachers, Luke 22:1-2. The chief priests were the legal custodians of the religious law which included the court of the Sanhedrin and the teachers of the law which may have represented certain key leaders of synagogues in the city and surrounding area. B. Other Conspirators Included Satan and Judas, Luke 22:3,4,6. We wonder how anyone who had witnessed the works of Christ and heard His gracious teaching could ever be so spiritually de-sensitized as to aid in the plot to kill Jesus. From the context it is obvious that Judas was not coerced, but was a willing participant in the plot to arrest and kill Jesus. 1. Judas was a willing tool of Satan. 2. Judas was a willing party to the plot. 3. Judas was actively involved in the carrying out of the plot. C. The Chief Priests and the Officers of the Guard Were Overjoyed by Judas' Complicity, Luke 22:5. X. The Passover Communion, Luke 22:7-23 A. The Details of the Preparation, Luke 22:7-13. Luke 22:7-13 (NIV) (7) Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (8) Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." (9) "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. (10) He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, (11) and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' (12) He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." (13)They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. B. The Details of the Observance, Luke 22:14-23 1. Jesus looked forward to this Passover with special anticipation, Luke 22:14-15. Luke 22:14-15 (NIV) 14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
2. Jesus offered thanks for all that Passover represented, Luke 22:17-18. He would be offering Himself as the true Passover Lamb of which all the others offered over the previous 1500 years were mere symbols. Luke 22:17-18 (NIV) (17) After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. (18) For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
3. Jesus established a new memorial to remind them of the cost of their eternal redemption—the offering of His body represented by the broken bread, Luke 22:19. Luke 22:19 (NIV) (19) And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
4. Jesus established a new covenant by the shedding of His blood which was represented by the cup of wine, Luke 22:20. Luke 22:20 (NIV) (20) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 5. Jesus revealed that there was a traitor among them who was ready to set the plot in motion that would end in His death, Luke 22:21-23. Luke 22:21-23 (NIV) (21) But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. (22) The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." (23) They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
XI. The Passover Conflict, Luke 22:24-30 A. The Conflict Was Not New, Luke 22:24. See Luke 9:46. Luke 22:24 (NIV) (24) Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
There was an earlier dispute in Luke 9:46. Luke 9:46 (NIV) (46) An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
Oddly, this earlier dispute also arose after Jesus had been speaking about being "betrayed into the hands of men." Luke 9:43-45 (NIV) (43) And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did [healing a little boy who was demon-possessed], he said to his disciples, (44) "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." (45) But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. B. The Counsel Was Not New, Luke 22:25-27. See Luke 9:47-48. Luke 22:25-27 (NIV) (25) Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. (26) But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. (27) For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Compare this with Jesus' statements in Luke 9:47-48. Luke 9:47-48 (NIV) (47) Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. (48) Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest." C. The Kingdom Was Conferred, Luke 22:28-30. Luke 22:28-30 (NIV) (28) You are those who have stood by me in my trials. (29) And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, (30) so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The apostles had stood with Jesus in His trials and it had not gone unnoticed. The reward for continuing to stand with and for Him after He was gone is indicated by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:11-12. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 (NIV) (11) Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; (12) if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us. And concerning the saints, John wrote: Revelation 5:10 (NIV) (10) You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." XII. The Peter Profession, Luke 22:31-34 A. The Lord's Revelation of Satan's Request to "Sift" Peter, Luke 22:31-32 Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) (31) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. (32) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
1. Satan tests us to see us fail. Consider . . . a. Job and his trials. b. Lord Jesus and His temptation in the wilderness. c. Peter's coming test according to Luke. d. Judas's fall to Satan, Luke 22:3-6. 2. Therefore, take care for yourself, Eph 4:27. a. He will influence you to misrepresent your spirituality (Ananias and Sapphira), Acts 5:1-10. b. He will test your self-control, 1Cor 7:5. c. He will try to outwit you with his schemes, 2 Cor 2:10-11. d. He will try to deceive you by appearing as an angel of light, 2 Cor 11:14. e. He will attempt to try to stop you from ministering, 1 Thes 2:18. And this is only the beginning of what Satan will do to destroy your effectiveness as a witness of Christ. B. Peter's Reply to the Lord's Disclosure, Luke 22:33-34 Luke 22:33-34 (NIV) (33) But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
(34) Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." XIII. The Parting Instructions, Luke 22:35-38 A. As Student Disciples, Jesus Had Provided Everything in Their Training, Luke 22:35. Luke 22:35 (NIV) (35) Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered. B. As Graduated Disciples, They Must Learn to Equip Themselves, Luke 22:36-38. Luke 22:36-38 (NIV) (36) He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. (37) It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
(38) The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied. 1. They will need to provide for their daily needs in ministry (the bag and purse). 2. They will need to be prepared for mortal danger in ministry (the sword). It is difficult to reconcile Jesus' instruction to sell their cloaks to buy swords with His rebuke of Peter for using one later in the Garden of Gethsemane. Nowhere in any of the gospels does Jesus suggest the need for believers to defend themselves with physical weapons against enemies of the gospel. Among scholars, the explanation that makes the most sense, and that not fully satisfactory, is that Jesus was simply indicating that they were soon to be in mortal danger themselves. At any rate, Jesus' did not allow or sanction the use of swords against those who were putting them on trial for the faith, Mat 26:51-52; Luke 22:49-51; John 18:10-11. To be like Jesus . . . 1. We must understand and accept that evil exists and will work against us. But God can use the evil to work for us. See Rom 8:28. 2. We must prepare those for whom we are responsible to serve Christ on their own initiative from their own conviction. Early in t heir walk with Christ we guide them through life experiences and gradually release them to face the world on their own exercising their own faith but always ready to support them when we can. 3. We must minister not as lords but as servants. 4. We must not avoid facing evil if doing so would keep us from doing what is right. 5. We must look ahead to the reward that outlives the suffering of this world. Romans 8:18-19 (NIV) (18) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. |