Thursday, March 17

Luke 22:14-46 —Plotting, Communion & a Prediction

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

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.”

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.”

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!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

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. 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 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.

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.

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.

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.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 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.” 

Points of Interest:

• (v.16) “I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God”—this is a goodbye meal. Like the nobleman from the story in chapter 19, Jesus is going away for a while to take possession of His kingdom. They will someday all celebrate this feast together again. It will be a double celebration: the celebration of the Passover, and the celebration of their new kingdom.
• (v.20) “This cup is the new covenant in my blood”—For the centerpiece of this Passover meal, Jesus replaces the usual lamb with the bread and wine, the symbols of his own body and blood. He is establishing a new tradition, with a new sacrificial lamb: Himself. The Passover lamb was a symbol of God’s protection of His people from death, His rescue of them from captivity, and His guidance of them to a new land. The bread and wine commemorate a new but similar relationship between Jesus and his followers: salvation from death, rescue from sin, and the coming of a new kingdom.
• (v.22) “as it has been decreed”—numerous Psalms speak of the Messiah being betrayed by a friend. Psalm 41:9 is a good example:

Even my close friend,

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread

has lifted up his heel against me.

• (v.32) “when you have turned back”—there will be a time when Peter’s faith will fail under Satan’s temptations and accusations. But that won’t be the end. He can repent: that is, recalibrate himself toward Jesus again. When he does, he’ll find that he not only has enough strength to follow Jesus himself but to lead others toward Him as well.

Taking it home:

• For you: In their last supper together, Jesus taught his disciples how to practice communion, how to do something symbolic (eating the bread and drinking the wine) so that they would think often of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Ask Jesus to help you to stop and remember His actions on the cross. Take a moment today before you eat and drink to say thank you to Jesus and ask Him again to wash you clean on the inside.
• For your Six: Pray that Jesus would protect your Six from the devil’s plans for their destruction. Ask God to unmask the work of Satan’s lies, accusations, and temptations in their lives.
• For our church/ILTJ: Communion has a special significance for the church because it is a visible reminder of what it’s all about: Jesus and his sacrifice for us. Pray for our Easter services. Pray that they would be full of joy and remembrance for those of us in relationship with Jesus; and that those who have not yet met Him would sense His love for them in special way.

Family/Household Option:

• To Talk About: Passover was a big deal for Israel. It was a way for people to remember God protecting and saving them from Pharaoh and Egypt. See the full story in Exodus. Jesus shared a final Passover meal with His disciples only this time He said He would be the lamb sacrificed once and for all for the sins of the people. He talked about the bread representing His body and the wine representing His blood.
• To Do: Take some bread or crackers and juice and take communion together as a family tonight thanking God for the incredible sacrifice He made on our behalf.