Luke 22:7-38 - The Last Supper

All the preparations were in hand for the Passover meal. The details are very precise, with a man with a water jar meeting them. It is so vital that we understand that the cross was not an accident, it was not dependent upon men taking certain actions. It was something that God had planned would happen, and the details of which He planned precisely. As mentioned in the previous post, this does not mean the men were automatons, they still took their own decisions, but everything was going to plan. The cross was not subject to chance.

The Passover meal was something that the people were to take every year in memory of the nations release from Egypt. The Lord's Supper would replace this Passover.

The Passover was to be taken in remembrance of that night in Egypt. The Lord's Supper is taken in remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection. A new covenant was being made, and covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus. Note how strange this must have all seemed to the disciples. Jesus talking about His suffering, being told they were drinking (figuratively) His blood. Under the Law taking of meat with the blood in it was forbidden.

Then Jesus gives a lesson, and the lesson is to serve one another. In the kingdom of God the greatest is the one who serves. Jesus is the supreme servant. We must not adopt worldly ways in the church, for they have no part in God's kingdom. Notice also that Jesus says He confers on them a kingdom, and that the apostles will sit in thrones in judgement. 1 Corinthians 6:2 would seem to imply that this has a wider application.

Then Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Jesus. He also tells them that they will need to make provision for themselves.

Luke 22:1-7 Betrayal

It is very fitting that all this happened at the time of the Passover. The original Passover had seen the Israelites set free from Egypt. This Passover would see people set free from sin and death. The first Passover was just a shadow of what was to come. Just as the Israelites were protected by the blood of the lamb, so we are protected from judgement by the blood of Jesus.

Luke explains why the religious leaders wanted Judas. They were afraid of the people, and so wanted some sort of cover for what they were doing. If one of Jesus' disciples betrayed Him then they could say that one of His own handed Him over. 

Note that it also says that Satan entered Judas. When we look at events we want there to be one answer: God did it, Satan did it, or a person did it. This leads us to all sorts of problems, misunderstanding predestination being one of them. The truth is that two or even all three can be involved. The whole matter of the cross was predestined by God, planned long ago. So God's plan was unfolding, and Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. It is also true that Satan was involved and thought he was getting his way, and Judas was also responsible. God is the primary cause, Satan and Judas are secondary causes. 

So Judas decided to betray Jesus and went to the chief priests, naturally they were delighted. 

Luke 21:5-37 - End times

This section is the end times passage. The disciples were marvelling at the temple, but Jesus tells them that it will come to nothing. This happened in AD70 when it was destroyed. This applies to all human structures, whether physical or organisational. 

The disciples immediately wanted to know when this would happen. Similarly, there is an unhealthy interest in when the return of Christ will happen. To their question Jesus gives a warning against deception. If we look for the wrong things we are likely to find the wrong things. We are not to be deceived by people claiming to be the Messiah, or to know when these things will happen. Nor are we to be deceived by dramatic events. There will be wars and natural disasters. Our response is not to be afraid.

Then he warns them of persecution. Again we are not to fear. When called to give an account the Holy Spirit will give us the words. 

There will be betrayal, even within families. Our response is to stand firm.

Then in v20 Jesus gives specific warnings for what would happen in AD66-70. This is when the siege would begin. He warns them to flee when they see the Roman armies gathering. Many did heed this warning and so were saved.

Now, despite what some would say, these verses are not talking just about what happened in AD66-70. Verse 24 could be seen as describing the difficult history that Jerusalem has had since that time, and v25 onwards seem to be clearly speaking about the very end times when Jesus returns. 

Verse 32 is something of an enigma, but "this generation" may just be talking about this present age.

So what are we to do in the light of all this? We are not to be weighed down with anxiety, drunkenness can be a response to letting this happen, an act of despair. Instead we are to focus on serving the Lord each day.

I have said more about these matters in the equivalent passages in Matthew and Mark:

Matthew 24:1-14

Matthew 24:15-35

Matthew 24:36-51

Mark 13:1,2

Mark 13:3-13

Mark 13:14-19

Mark 13:20-31

Mark 13:32-37

Luke 20:41-21:4 - Understanding

Now Jesus gives the religious leaders a lesson in Biblical exegesis. He quotes from Psalm 110, a well known messianic Psalm, pointing to the words "The Lord said to my Lord". Jesus is showing that the promised Messiah is one who is much greater than David. They were expecting someone like David, and were offended by Jesus being so much greater. Everything in the Old Testament is a shadow of what was to come, the reality, the fulfilment, is much greater.

Then Jesus turned to the crowds. Maybe they were enjoying seeing the religious leaders brought down a peg or two. Maybe they resented the proud way in which the religious leaders went around the place, with an air of superiority. Jesus warns the people about the true nature of the religious leaders, and their eventual judgement. Sadly the people would a few days later side with these corrupt leaders in calling for Barabas to be released rather than Jesus.
The example of the poor widow further exemplifies what is truly important. In struct financial terms the widows offering was irrelevant but in fact she had given more than everyone else, for she had given out of her poverty. Her heart was truly devoted to God.

Sermon - Following Christ, learning from Abraham - Part 2

The second part of the sermon on Abraham can be found here: Follow me - Part 2

Luke 20:9-40 - Questions

Having been questioned by the religious leaders, Jesus turns the tables on them with the parable of the tenants. The religious leaders needed to realise there true position, as indeed do all of us. We are stewards and are answerable to God whether we like it or not. This is not a matter of choice but a matter of fact. 

The vineyard owner sent many messengers, just as God has sent many prophets, and now His own Son.

So the tenants killed the son. Note that Jesus knew what the religious leaders were planning to do. Note also the implicit claim that Jesus is the Son of God.

The tenants might think they had got away with it, but they were fools. The owner would come and kill them. Likewise God will judge all people on earth.

Instead of repenting, the religious leaders simply carried on plotting to kill Jesus.

Next they tried to trap Jesus by raising the matter of paying taxes to Caesar. They thought they could trap Him because if he said they should pay taxes this would make Him unpopular with the people who resented the Roman occupation, if He said they should not then He would come into conflict with Roman authorities. They also used flattery to try and lull Jesus into giving a careless answer.

This of course did not work for Jesus knew exactly what they were up to. As often before, He turned the tables on them. The religious leaders were in the game for their own ends, so Jesus' reply about giving to God exposed their duplicity.

Next the Saducees had a go with what they thought was a clever question about marriage. They forgot that they were speaking to the author of the book! Notice Jesus' answer. They were looking at the Scriptures from a purely human perspective, if we do this we will likewise fall into error. Note also that marriage as we know it now will not continue after the resurrection. Things will be radically different.

Luke 19:45-20:8 - Temple times

Jesus then clears the temple. We need to recognise that Jesus is a judge as well as a saviour. The temple was meant to be a place of prayer, a place where people committed themselves and their nation to the service of God and to seeing God's will fulfilled. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 Instead of being house of prayer it had become a den of thieves. Now originally the sellers were selling birds and animals for sacrifice, so it may have seemed quite sensible, but it had degenerated into a money making exercise.
Jesus taught in the temple and His teaching captivated the people. So the priests were afraid to pursue their plan to kill Jesus. This, in part, explains why they were so glad to find Judas as one who was willing to betray Jesus.
Not being able to directly get Jesus as this point the priests and teachers of the law sought to undermine Him. First they questioned His authority. Jesus replied, as He often did, with  another question, asking them about John the Baptist. This put them in a quandary for John had also been a popular figure. Whichever way they answered they would incriminate themselves.
So they refused to answer, and Jesus likewise refused to answer them.