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Study No.6 : Getting Ready for Passover : Luke 22:1-13

 

A. Find Out:    

1. When was it, and who was doing what? v.1,2

2. What happened to Judas and so what did he do? v.3,4

3. So what was the outcome? v.5,6

4. When was it and what did Jesus instruct the disciples to do? v.7,8

5. What guidance did he give them? v.9-12

6. And what happened? v.13

 

B. Think:

1. How is Satan's work seen here?

2. How is Jesus seen to be conforming to Jewish life?

3. How is he seen to be in complete control?

C. Comment:

     All the teaching has ended. Now come the events that bring about the end. First we find in the background the religious leaders plotting to try to find some way to get rid of this teacher who sits on their doorstep attracting the crowds with his unorthodox teaching.

     Next we see Judas who opens his heart and succumbs to the temptation of Satan to go to the chief priests and agree to tell them where Jesus will be when he can be arrested with no crowd around. What prompted him to do this (beyond Satan) we are not told. The fact is, he provided the key for the authorities to act against Jesus!

     Then there is Jesus himself: he carries on like a good Jewish teacher and prepares, just like all the other Jews, for the feast called Passover, when a lamb was slain and eaten as a reminder of what took place before the Exodus. Presumably Jesus has already made contact with a man who has a room for them to use for the meal, but the details he gives the disciples seems to be more a word of knowledge than a pre-planned strategy. He knows what will happen because he is the Son of God and so he acts accordingly. All through the coming hours it will be the same – he knows what is happening. When the disciples go, they find it is exactly as Jesus had said.

 

D. Application:

1. The responsibility to resist Satan's temptations is ours. Resist!

2. Rest in the knowledge that Jesus knows all, and Jesus is in control of

    every aspect of your life.

Study No.7 : "Communion"  : Luke 22:14-23

A. Find Out:    

1. What did Jesus say about this meal? v.15,16

2. What did he say about the first cup of wine? v.17,18

3. What did he say about the bread? v.19

4. What did he say about the second cup of wine? v.20

5. What did he say about one of them? v.21,22

6. How did the disciples respond? v.23

 

B. Think:

1. What did Jesus convey to the disciples about his future?

2. What point was he making with the bread?

3. What point was he making with the second cup of wine?

C. Comment:

     We examine here what is sometimes called Communion or the Lord's Supper – at least its inauguration. Note first of all that Jesus is conveying to them that this will be the last time he will eat and drink with them before God's kingdom is ushered in. The Cross is the dividing point of history and this meal signifies that.

     First there is the breaking of the bread which signifies, according to Jesus his body. In John's Gospel we find John recording Jesus speaking about being the bread of life (Jn 6:35 ). To eat from the loaf you first have to break it and take some of it. To ‘eat' of Jesus means we have to take the truth of the Gospel and take it into ourselves, so that it becomes an integral part of our lives.

     Next there is the taking of the wine which, Jesus said, represented his blood that would be poured out at the Cross. In the Old Testament sin was dealt with by an animal sacrifice. At Passover it was a spotless lamb that was killed and its blood put on the doorposts (Exo 12) and when the angel of judgement saw the blood it “Passed-Over”. All God requires of us is that we believe that the shed blood of Jesus acted in the same way and takes and covers our sin. When we believe, we are saved by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29 ,36). Receive the bread of life and believe him. Salvation!

 

D. Application:

1. I must receive Jesus into my innermost being.

2. I must believe his death cleanses me and sets me free.

Study No.8 : To be a Servant  : Luke 22:24-30

 

A. Find Out:    

1. What then happened with the disciples? v.24

2. What did Jesus say the Gentiles did? v.25

3. What did he say they should do? v.26

4. What did he ask, and then what did he make them realise? v.27

5. What had they done, and so what was he doing? v.28,29

6. With what result? v.30

 

B. Think:

1. How did the disciples show they were aligned with the world?

2. How did Jesus say they should be?

3. For what would that be a preparation?

C. Comment:

     At some point in the evening a dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them were the greatest – perhaps earlier they were arguing who should sit where. Jesus picks them up on this. John would later add in his Gospel that Jesus actually washed their feet as an example. Luke simply records part of the discussion. Jesus points out to them, that it is the way of the world (the Gentiles) to be concerned about status and position, but that has no place for them.

     Look, he says, who is greater the master or the servant who waits on him at table? Obviously the master at the table. But look, he continues, I'm serving you at the table, I'm coming as a servant, so (implied) that's what you should be like. But then he gives them a reason for this.

     You've stood with me and you've seen that my Father in heaven has given me the power to exercise His rule on earth, and I've given you the same authority but (implied again) it's an authority that is to be exercised as a servant here in preparation for your eternal destiny which will be to rule in heaven. Again and again Scripture teaches that what we are and do here on earth determines what we will do in eternity. There is a place of ruling apparently possible in eternity, but it is for those who have learned to be servant-hearted here.

 

D. Application:

1. Jesus calls us to be servants here, not great rulers.

2. What I do on earth will affect my eternal role.

Study No.9 : Warning & Preparation  : Luke 22:31-38

 

A. Find Out:    

1. What did Jesus say about Peter? v.31,32

2. How did Peter reply and what was Jesus' response? v.33,34

3. What did Jesus then ask them all, and with what response? v.35

4. What did he then instruct them to do? v.36

5. Why? v.37

6. How did the disciples respond? v.38

 

B. Think:

1. What does Jesus reveal about Peter's future?

2. What does he remind them about in respect of past provision?

3. Why does Jesus seem to give his final instructions?

C. Comment:

     These are remarkable verses which show the measure of Jesus knowledge and control over what was happening. First he reveals his knowledge of what was about to happen to Peter: Satan was about to tempt Peter. Peter was about to go through a trial that would challenge his faith and he be tempted to give up – but he won't! It is only when Peter declares his commitment to Jesus that Jesus explains that it will involve Peter denying him three times.

     We then turn to a slightly unclear episode. First Jesus asks them if they had ever lacked anything when he sent them out without provision previously. The answer is no. Very well, he says, remember that (implied), but for the time being you are going to go through a period where that sort of provision will be absent. For the next few days the events will mean that Jesus will not be there providing for them, so they need to make their own provision.

     More than that, he wants them to ensure they have a sword with them – they have two. Why? Because he was always careful to ensure he perfectly fulfilled prophetic scripture about himself. Isa 53:12 spoke about him being with transgressors, so he says, let's have the signs with us of being such. The bigger prophetic fulfilment was surely that Jesus has been written off by the religious establishment, but he wants even the detail to be right. Amazing!

 

D. Application:

1. Jesus knows when we are going to fail him, but is still for us.

2. Jesus fulfilled his Father's plans and purposes perfectly.

Study No.10 : Prayer that wasn't Answered : Luke 22:39-46

A. Find Out:

 

1. Where did Jesus take them? v.39

2. What did he tell them to do? v.40

3. What did he himself do? v.41,42

4. What response did he get and how did he continue? v.43,44

5. How did Jesus find the disciples? v.45

6. What did he tell them to do? v.46

 

B. Think:

1. What does Jesus see is the prayer need of the disciples?

2. What was Jesus intent in prayer?

3. What was he obviously feeling at this moment?

C. Comment:

     Luke has shown us so clearly in the early chapters of his Gospel that Jesus is the Son of God, but now he also shows us that he is also very much a man. Jesus was perfect God in perfect man. Here we see very much the human aspects of Jesus as he leads the disciples out to a quiet place to pray.

     First of all observe Jesus' concern for his disciples. Twice Jesus tells them to pray that they will not fall into temptation. Jesus knows the trial that is coming in the next twenty four hours and he knows the impact it is likely to have on his disciples, and so he knows that they need strength from heaven to carry them through without falling. Instead they fell asleep and hardly prayed, and later they almost all fled. Only John seems to have stayed with Jesus at the Cross.

      Next observe Jesus' own prayer. Essentially it is, “Father, let me avoid this if at all possible!” There is nothing in us that willingly embraces a horrible death and Jesus knew it would be that. Everything in him almost screams out against it, but nevertheless he prays, “yet not my will but your will be done.” In others words he's saying, “Nevertheless Father, let's do what we planned.” In all of this he is in utter anguish for, Son of God he may be, but he still feels as a human being and therefore he shies away at the thought of the awful events that he are coming.

 

D. Application:

1. We NEED to pray in the face of trials. Do we?

2. Jesus understands the awfulness of such trials. He's been there!

Study No.11 : Arrest : Luke 22:47-54

   

A. Find Out:

1. Who approached and what happened? v.47

2. What did Jesus say to Judas? v.48

3. How did the other disciples react? v.49,50

4. But what did Jesus do? v.51

5. Who had come to arrest Jesus? v.52a

6. How did Jesus challenge them? v.52,53

7. Yet what did they do? v.54

 

B. Think:

1. How was the disciples' reaction the world's reaction?

2. How did Jesus differ?

3. What was Jesus saying when he challenged those who had come?

C. Comment:

     We start to move into the dark part of this Gospel now. The religious and secular leaders (v.52) come to arrest Jesus, led by Judas who is showing them the way. Already here is the dark side of humanity: Judas betraying the one he has been with for three years, the one he has seen doing such wonderful things, and the religious establishment who feel so threatened by the truth and openness of this man that they plan his death. What an indictment!

     But then there are the disciples. Jesus has clearly told them what will happen but they can't believe it and so when it does start happening they use force and violence to try to stop it.

     Contrasted with these three groups – the betrayer, the threatened, the fearful unbelievers – is Jesus. First it's as if he almost tries to stop Judas going the whole way – at least don't use a kiss (a sign of love) if you are going to betray me. Then he uses his power to undo the harm done by the disciple's sword. Finally, he continues to speak truth into the situation, as he has done throughout his ministry. Basically what he is doing is facing the religious leaders with their cowardliness, by saying, “I was there all the time in the open. Why didn't you have the courage to arrest me then?

 

D. Application:

1. Humanity is characterised by betrayal, fear and dishonesty. Tragic!

2. Jesus is seen full of goodness. Wonderful. Worship him.

Study No.12 : Denial  : Luke 22:54-65

A. Find Out:

1. What did Peter do when Jesus was taken? v.54,55

2. Who said what to him and with what response? v.56,57

3. What then happened a little later? v.58

4. What happened an hour later? v.59,60

5. How did this all finish? v.61,62

6. What then happened to Jesus? v.63-65

 

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Peter followed?

2. What did this result in?

3. How did that reveal things about Jesus and Peter?

C. Comment:

     Jesus has been arrested. Peter follows at a distance. This is Peter who had previously (v.33) declared he would follow Jesus to death. Jesus had known better and had warned that Peter would deny him three times before daybreak. Peter still believes in his own strength and follows – at a distance, yes, but he still follows. Something in him says he ought to be there with Jesus, but he's afraid and so goes at a distance.

     It's going to be a long night so someone lights a fire in the courtyard and the people huddle around it to keep warm. It is there that three times Peter denies Jesus. Would we have done any different? Perhaps, perhaps not. It's easy to be strong from a distance – that was exactly what Peter had done, but distance became close and he didn't have enough courage to stand. Let's not be harsh in judgement of him – Jesus wasn't (Jn 21:15-).

      The reality is that Jesus knew the extent of Peter's strength and Peter didn't. Peter could have simply gone home, but he went after Jesus – that much was good. But if he thought he could stand, that was foolish because Jesus has already warned him that he will fall – and he didn't believe Jesus. That was the silly part. Yet how often does Jesus say things to us that we don't or can't accept? The truth is that Jesus knows more about us than we do. Let's remember that if we can.

 

D. Application:

1. My strength is inadequate. I need God's help.

2. My knowledge of myself is limited. I need God's view.

RECAP No.2  "Arrest"  Luke 22:1-65

    

SUMMARY :  

In this second group of 7 studies we have seen:

- Judas agreeing to betray Jesus (22:1-6)

- the Passover Supper being prepared (22:7-13)

- Jesus explaining about the bread and wine (22:14-20)

- Jesus warning of a betrayer among them (22:21-23)

- Jesus teaching about servant heartedness (22:24-30)

- Jesus warning Peter of his denials (22:31-34)

- Jesus preparing them to go out (22:35-38)

- Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (22:39-46)

- Jesus being arrested there (22:47-53)

- Peter denying Jesus three times (22:54-62)

- the guards mocking & beating Jesus (22:63-65)

 

COMMENT :

     This chapter has two contrasts: Jesus and his followers. Jesus is calmly in control, aware of all that is happening and going to happen. Judas betrays Jesus, and Peter denies Jesus. Peter & Judas represent the sinful mankind that Jesus has come to save. Their sinfulness helps bring about the sacrifice of God's Lamb. How terrible, how wonderful.

 

LESSONS?

1. Our human tendency is towards failure. That's what we're like.

2. Jesus is utterly in control throughout. That's what he's like.

 

PRAY :

     Thank the Lord for the shear wonder of his love, that knew completely the sort of people he had as followers, yet never berated them, and instead died for them – and for us.

 

PART 3 : "Trials & Crucifixion"

     If a part of chapter 22 tells about individual failures and sin, the next chapter is all about corporate failure and sin. We will see the religious leaders of Judaism at their lowest against Jesus, holding a mock trial, and Jewish authority (Herod) and Gentile authority (Pilate) joining in. None of them can hold their heads up in the face of the scrutiny of history. This was one of the most shameful episodes of history, but we must read it. It happened – for us.