Luke
22-23 NIV
Wow! I’m Speechless!
Wow! This is so much
to take in. The more I read this passage over and over again, the deeper
meaning I gathered. The suffering in the midst of a deep love that I will never
understand. It’s hard to know how to begin, but I’ll give this my best effort
for now. My notes are way too extensive for me to understand, but here goes…
As I read through the
text, I will comment along the way. Sit back as your read or listen to this all-important
account of the Passion Story. I will comment and then read the text. I hope
this helps you follow along. There is no way to cover all of this. It would
take more than a lifetime to do it justice. But, really that’s the great part
of God’s Word!
Luke
22-23 NIV
Feast of Unleavened Bread
o
Began at sundown on Nisan 14 – which would be the beginning
of Nisan 15
o
Lasted for 7 days
o
Passover was only the 1st of the 7 days
o
The other days celebrated the Feast of Unleavened days also
22 Now the Festival 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.
This
is the first mention of Satan since the wilderness testing of Jesus.
Attention
is on Satan – leaving Jesus in the desert
Luke
4:13 NIV
13 When the devil had
finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
o Now is the opportune
time – with more trials very soon to come
o
Satan works through Judas, the Chief Priests and the
Captains
3 Then Satan entered
Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
Officers
or Captains, were the leaders of the Temple police
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.
Judas
offered a quiet arrest of Jesus – locating Jesus could be difficult since about
100,000 people would be present in Jerusalem, or close by, for the Passover celebration
6 He consented, and watched
for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
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?’
Preparations
include a slain lamb, herbs, wine and unleavened bread
12 He will show you a large room
upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 They left and found things just as
Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
There’s
a “Can of Worms” you can check out on your own, about this Passover Meal
o Some say this was Jesus’
Passover Meal – This is what Matthew, Mark and Luke indicate
o All 4 Gospels agree that
the crucifixion was on Friday
o Matthew, Mark and Luke
state that it was the Passover
o John makes it the day
before the Passover
o So, if Jesus died on the
cross hours before Nisan 15 – THEN – the Last Supper was NOT the Passover Meal
--- SO --- You have at it
o I’m going with Matthew,
Mark and Luke – it was the Passover Meal
14-20
We
assume all Jesus says is easy to understand BUT look – Jesus was constantly
being misunderstood – even the disciples were confused half of the time – YET –
there is a simplicity of Jesus that I know I will take a life-time to even begin
to understand just a teeny tiny bit – SO – The Lord’s Supper is simple YET
deep! How great is that?!
This
IS my body – my blood
Jesus
gives Himself – He gives pardon and forgiveness beyond what we could ask – He gives
power beyond what we could use – He gives peace beyond understanding – Jesus GIVES
Life
The
Last Supper may have been Jesus’ last parable- Acted out – Bread and Wine were
now eternally different kinds of symbols – Bread and Wine – Body and Blood were
now Jesus’ presence with us as His Body and Blood giving life
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his
apostles reclined at the table.
Passover
Meal – Normal Course
Preparations
included – 4 cups of wine – dish of herbs – sauce - lamb
1. Blessing and Prayer –
followed by the 1st cup of wine
2. Story of the Passover
during the Exodus is recited
3. Psalm 113 is sung
4. 2nd cup of
wine
5. Grace and the main meal
of:
a.
Roasted lamb
b.
Unleavened bread
c.
Bitter herbs eaten
d.
Prayer
e.
3rd cup of win
6. Psalms 114-118 sung
7. 4th cup of
wine
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
“anymore”
or “again” – Jesus IS the Paschal Lamb
Paul
calls Christ “our Passover lamb”
1
Corinthians 5:7 NIV
7 Get rid of the old
yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ,
our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it
again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus
took a cup of wine – probably the first or second in the series
The
first cup – the Kiddush or sanctification – bread broken and blessed and the
wine is passed around
17-18 the
practice at a Jewish meal was the head of the house had a chalice of wine and
would give a blessing and pass the chalice around
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks
and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
18-20
Some scholars
suggest that Jesus did not share in the meal or possibly the 4th cup
of wine
18 For I tell you I will not drink again
from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus
gives thanks for the bread and handed it out
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.”
Jesus –
3rd cup = His blood
Exodus
24:8 NIV
8 Moses then took the
blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the
covenant that the Lord has
made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Something New is now
happening…
Jeremiah
31:31-34 NIV
31 “The days are coming,”
declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new
covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of
Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their
ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of
Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a
husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of
Israel
after that time,”
declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their
hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my
people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another,
‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them
to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their
sins no more.”
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.
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!”
Who
could this be? Me? Paul reminds me…
1
Corinthians 10:12 NIV
12 So, if you think you are
standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
I have lived enough and
am guilty in the past and present – Is it me?
23 They began to question
among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24-30
God’s
main concern is NOT my body – NOT my privilege – NOT my riches – NOT my stuff –
NOT my disease or illness
RATHER
That I
serve, that I’m humble – its’ all a reversal of what we thing – This IS Love
24 A dispute also arose among them as to
which of them was considered to be greatest.
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.
Status
does not matter in the Kingdom of God
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.
28 You are those who have stood by me in
my trials.
29-30
Here
judging is the idea of leading – not deciding faith
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.
Notice,
Jesus refers to Peter as Simon – there is compassion and love and sorrow here –
Peter will be tested
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to
sift all of 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.”
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.”
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without
purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.
Jesus
uses “sword” symbolically – the disciples take Him literally
Most scholars
seem to think that Jesus meant the “sword” as an allegory or symbol
36-38
Jesus
was leaving His mission with the disciples who lived with Him and listened to Him
– this story must be told!
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.”
Jesus’
sword is love
The disciples
took the sword literally – Jesus? – He had heard enough of this attitude
38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here
are two swords.”
“That’s enough!” he replied.
o Gethsemane – a garden
near the foot of the western slope of the Mount of Olives
o
Human race started in a garden
o
Jesus suffered agony in a garden
o
Jesus crucified in a garden
o
Jesus’ burial in a garden
o
Paradise will be a garden
o Jesus dies for the sins
of the world – died to save mankind from being lost
o Jesus came from eternity
knowing that the cross was His end to take away the sin of the world
39 Jesus went out as usual to the
Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40 On reaching the place, he
said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
The trouble
is that Man often let’s trouble separate us from God – NOT here – Jesus sets
Himself at One with the Father’s will
41 He withdrew about a stone’s
throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Were
the words of Jesus’ prayer overheard? Reported assumptions? No difference –
these words hold the Spirit of Jesus life on earth from start to finish to
fulfill the will of the Father
The
only account for this is Jesus or maybe a tired disciple or two – some think
the account of Jesus’ prayer is legend – Me? I think the writer here is
inspired by the Holy Spirit while giving this account
Jesus
is the obedient Son – placed Himself to be used by the Father for the Father’s
will to be done
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this
cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
43 An angel from heaven
appeared to him and strengthened him.
44 And being in anguish, he
prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the
ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and went back
to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you
will not fall into temptation.”
47-48
The
crowd was probably the temple police acting on instructions from the Sanhedrin
47 While he was still speaking a crowd
came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them.
He approached Jesus to kiss him,
Judas
is now conflicted --- Betrayal means there once was love
48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying
the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Jesus
addresses Judas before Judas kisses Him and…
o Stops any resistance
o Heals the harm done
(ear)
o Sets the actions of
those who have come for Him
o
Chief Priests and Elders – behind the scenes with and to their evil home in eternity – the action is driven by Satan through people
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was
going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
50 And one of them struck the
servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the
man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests,
the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for
him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords
and clubs?
53b
Darkness
– evil men love it – Satan too
53 Every day I was with you in the temple
courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when
darkness reigns.”
54 Then seizing him, they led him away
and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a
distance.
55 And when some there had
kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter
sat down with them.
56 A servant girl saw him
seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man
was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know
him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him
and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted,
“Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what
you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
One glance
– in our sin/denial of Peter is all it takes to break your heart
61 The Lord turned and
looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to
him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three
times.”
62 And he went outside and
wept bitterly.
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began
mocking and beating him.
Who hit
you? – Once again – like betrayal – Is it I? – Here it’s no one- All are
presumed by themselves to be innocent or at least won’t take responsibility
64 They blindfolded him and
demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
65 And they said many other
insulting things to him.
66 At daybreak the council of the
elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met
together, and Jesus was led before them.
67 “If you are the Messiah,”
they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe
me,
68 and if I asked you, you would not
answer.
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will
be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son
of God?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any
more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
They
as corporate = guilt of the leaders of Israel
23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse
him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes
payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the
king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief
priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the
people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come
all the way here.”
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the
man was a Galilean.
7 When he learned that Jesus
was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in
Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly
pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what
he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.
9 He plied him with many
questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10 The chief priests and the
teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers
ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him
back to Pilate.
Jesus –
brought two old enemies together
12 That day Herod and Pilate
became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief
priests, the rulers and the people,
14 and said to them, “You
brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have
examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against
him.
15 Neither has Herod, for he
sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
16 Therefore, I will punish
him and then release him.”
This
one is funny – where is verse 17? KJV has it and a few others
(For
of necessity he must be release one unto them at the feast.)
Well---
don’t forget that Chapters and Verses were added later for our benefit – SO – Don’t
get yourself all wound around the axle
[17]
A
convicted mas is freed AND an innocent man is tortured and killed
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away
with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
19 (Barabbas had been thrown
into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate
appealed to them again.
21 But they kept shouting,
“Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them:
“Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the
death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently
demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
24 So Pilate decided to grant
their demand.
25 He released the man who had
been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for,
and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Simon
of Cyrene – He took on Jesus’ burden and pain and suffering for Jesus hurt. Simon
took on the weight of the cross. Simon was called and plucked out to serve.
What an honor!
26 As the soldiers led him away, they
seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put
the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27-30
God
travels the road to the cross – not driven to the cross – but by His will and
His hands to deal with MY sin
27-38-Cross
of Christ
·
Judged the world
·
Uncovered the world
o People stood by
indifferent
o Religious leaders
scoffed
o Brutes mocked
o Convicted prayed
o Money hungry gambled
o Believing Centurion glorified
God
o Disciples stood far off
o Woman were loyal and
some stood still at a distance
27 A large number of people followed him,
including women who mourned and wailed for him.
28 Jesus turned and said to
them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for
yourselves and for your children.
29 For the time will come when you will
say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the
breasts that never nursed!’
30 Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover
us!”’
31 For if people do these
things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32-43
A robber understood
Jesus better than Jesus’ most intimate friends – Jesus loved sinners – as Jesus
entered Paradise – He came with this robber in His arms – The first fruit of
His mission to save ALL mankind
3 crosses – God’s way
with Man
o 1 cross with a taunt
like the world’s mockery
o 1 cross sees a ray of
Light through the clouds of darkness of sin and death
o 1 cross in the middle
divides the two as far as heaven is from hell with the Love and Word of God
32 Two other men, both criminals, were
also led out with him to be executed.
The
cross IS God’s victory over our sin – it belongs to Jesus alone – BUT – NO – also
mankind’s cross too – we are saved through Jesus’ cross from our sin
Women
and men standing far away would come to tell all the world that we all are
eternally better because of this death on a cross – hours on the cross – NOT an end – BUT- rather just the beginning – Jesus stretched out on that cross lay
Himself on our souls and hearts
33 When they came to the place
called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his
right, the other on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes
by casting lots.
Majesty
does not consist of power – here power is put aside – this is the power to be
majestic
Weakness
in Jesus’ is forever Power
Life
is NOT about what we think is self-achieved strength
35 The people stood watching, and the
rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save
himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked
him. They offered him wine vinegar
37 and said, “If you are the
king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him,
which read: this is the king of the
jews.
39-43
Life
in the Light of death – displays the face of Jesus to all the world
In an
instant – NOW – not some future time – BUT – today in the face of Jesus’ death –
Jesus saves a sinner into Paradise
39 One of the criminals who hung there
hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him.
“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for
we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when
you come into your kingdom.”
Paradise
o Home of the righteous
o Resting place of the
saved before the final judgment
o Open to everyone who
trusts in Jesus
o Originally a park or
garden
o Came to be the temporary
home of the saved after death
Today
o
Today of the Kingdom
o
New era inaugurated by the resurrection
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you
will be with me in paradise.”
Curtain
torn in 2 =
o Access to God is now
open
o God left the Temple
o Jesus was now entering
the presence of God
44-45a
Some
think this may have been an eclipse – BUT – an eclipse was astronomically impossible
at the time of the Passover full moon – you can dig into this on your own
44-49
Time –
invaded by eternity – fulfills mankind’s approach to God – AND – a Church is
born – not on death – BUT – on the life or resurrection
44 It was now about noon, and darkness
came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
45 for the sun stopped shining. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two.
The
long rule of sin and death is over – the power hold is broken
Father
into your hands…!
Nothing
wrong – NO – All eternally right
Jesus
didn’t fall into death – NO – He jumped and climbed into it with a King’s scepter
in His hands – This IS the Word made flesh – deliberate – unforced – on purpose
Flesh in
Bethlehem – Flesh on Calvary – God with us at the resurrection – God in heaven
again – God through us at Pentecost
Romans
8:38-39 NIV
38 For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
46 Jesus called out with a loud
voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said
this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had
happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
48 When all the people who had gathered
to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and
went away.
49 But all those who knew him, including
the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a
distance, watching these things.
A
buried Jesus is misunderstood
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a
member of the Council, a good and upright man,
51 who had not consented to their
decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself
was waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’
body.
Night
approaches on the most disgusting, foulest crime in the history of mankind
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in
linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had
yet been laid.
54 It was Preparation Day, and the
Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from
Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
56 Then they went home and prepared
spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the
commandment.
TO BE CONTINUED!
