* The Events of The Passion Week. Not all activities are listed.
Friday (Six days before Passover meal.)
-Jesus arrives in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem (John 11:54-12:1).
-Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet at a banquet (John 12:2-11).
Saturday (Sabbath. Started at dusk on Friday.)
-Though it is not recorded, Jesus left Bethany and returned to Ephraim near the Jordan River. (John 11:54-57)
Sunday (Now called Palm Sunday. 1st day of the Passion Week.)
-Jesus heals blind men while approaching Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:34-43).
-Jesus eats at Zacchaeus house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).
-Jesus continues onto Jerusalem (Mark 10:52; Luke 19:28).
-Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19).
-Jesus's weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
-Jesus looked at the Temple at dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Mark 11:11).
Monday (10th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14).
-Jesus cleanses the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17).
-Jesus healed and taught until dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Matthew 21:14-17; Mark 11:18-19).
Tuesday (11th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus explains the withered fig tree to his disciples (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26).
-Jesus's authority questioned (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).
-Jesus teaches in the temple (Matthew 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4; John 12:20-50).
-Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King (Matthew 23:1-39).
-Jesus anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11).
Wednesday (12th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-No details about what Jesus did except Luke 21:37-38 which says he taught every day in the Temple.
-The Jews plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Thursday (13th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-The Passover meal begins at dusk, the start of the 14th of the month Abib (see below notes).
-Jesus and the disciples eat Passover meal, now known as the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18).
-Jesus comforts the disciples and prays in the upper room. Then they leave Jerusalem (John 14:1-16:33).
-Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Friday (14th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. Now known as Good Friday.)
-According Hebrew time Jesus is arrested and tried during the night to daylight. (Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
-The Jewish leaders turn Jesus over to Pilate at dawn. Pilate questions Jesus then sends him to Herod, who sends Jesus back to Pilate (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:15).
-Jesus's crucifixion starts at 3:00pm. He dies just before sunset. (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
-Jesus is quickly buried at dusk just before Hebrew day end. (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath. 15th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins).
-Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven.
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) See Resurrection chart below.
-Jesus's morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-Jesus appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
-Jesus appeared to ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath)
-Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later
-Jesus talks and eats with seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection.
-Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
* Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and goes thru the night till the next day's sunset.
* Passover always starts at twilight on the 14th day of the month (Leviticus 23:5), not the same day of the week every year. Therefore, Passover starting on Thursday is rare. Passover usually starts on another day of the week. Passover starting on a Thursday the year Jesus was crucified. This timing made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the feasts associated with the Passover.
1st) Jesus was crucified on Friday (still Passover) and died before sunset that same day.
2nd) Jesus was in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday) rest. The Sabbath that Jesus was buried was also the beginning of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20, 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is always on the first Sabbath after Passover.
3rd) Jesus rose on Sunday, the third day since his death. That Sunday was also the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave (Leviticus 23:9-15; Exodus 23:16, 19, 34:22). The first fruit (barley harvest) of the land was waved before the Lord. Jesus' resurrected as the first fruit (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, 23).
All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus and this could have only happened that particular year, the year Passover started Thursday night.
* The Hebrew calendar considered an event lasting for an entire day even though it was only a few hours or even minutes long. Therefore, Jesus died and was buried at the end of the Hebrew day (twilight) on Friday and he is considered to have been buried that day too. The same can be stated for Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. Even though he was in the grave for a few moments after dawn before he rose, he is considered to be in grave Sunday and rise from it on Sunday.
I. Judas Agree to Betray Jesus (22:1-6)
>1. As the Passover time approached, what were the religious leaders thinking about?
* Luke 22:1-2 "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 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."
* "the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover" -See the notes above and below.
* "called" -Luke probably included this for the Gentiles who did not know much about Jewish customer and practices.
* "the Passover" -The original Greek noun is "Pascha" and the original Hebrew noun in the Old Testament is "Pesah" from the verb "Pacach" that means "to fail to do", "to hop", "to skip over", and "to pass over" used only technical for the Lord given festival. Places in the Old Testament where the word "Passover" appears (Exodus 12:11, 21, 27, 43, 48, 34:25; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:2, 4, 6, 10, 12-14, 28:16, 33:3; Deuteronomy 16:1-2, 5-6).
* "was approaching" -The Passover meal started at sunset (twilight) that very night. The Feast of Unleavened Bread would start at sunset (twilight) the next night. See notes below.
* "the chief priests and the teachers of the law" -Note that chief priests is plural. The Law given through Moses only allowed for one.
The teachers of the law probably started while Judah was captive in Babylon. During captivity they began meeting in small groups for prayer and Scripture reading, the birth of the synagogue. This expanded upon return to Israel. The teacher was the most educated person in a Jewish city. Most likely most of the teachers of the law (if not all) were descendants of Levi since from before Babylon captivity they were assigned duties that required study. Thus, the teachers were part of the priestly line. This structure continued in the early church, also taking from Greek and Roman forms of education.
* "were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus" -They did not have a way until Judas came to them to tell them that he could show them where Jesus was when there was not crowds to see.
* "they were afraid of the people." -They knew that if they publicly arrested Jesus there would be a riot that would bring Roman against them and the city.
>At this time, what was happening in the mind of Judas, one of the Twelve?
* Luke 22:3-4 "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus."
* "Then Satan entered Judas" -Evil spirits including Satan, their leader can enter people. None of the apostles had the Holy Spirit in them for Jesus would not send it until after his ascension during the Jewish festival Pentecost (Acts 2:1; Leviticus 23:15-19; Numbers 28:27-29) which the Jews called The Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:26) and The Day of the First Fruits (Numbers 28:26).
* "Judas" -The Greek form of the Hebrew name "Judah".
* "Iscariot" -Some believe this is Judas's surname meaning "man of Kerioth". Other speculate that Iscariot derived from Latin meaning "assassin" or "bandit". If the later then Judas and his father (John 6:71, 13:2) may have been members of the patriotic party, the Zealots (Matthew 10:4).
* "one of the Twelve" -Later after Judas killed himself and after Jesus' ascension, but before Pentecost the remaining eleven would fill Judas' place with another.
* "Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard" -It was Judas's decision. He was not persuaded by the others.
* "discussed with them how he might betray Jesus." -Together they came up with a good way to allow the officers of the temple guard to obtain Jesus without the crowds knowing it.
>What did he do?
* Luke 22:5-6 "They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present."
* "agreed to give him money" -Judas asked for money. He had been known to steal from the collective purse (John 13:29). He loved money more than Jesus and even those he had been traveling with.
* "watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present" -Though Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives, Judas could not be sure if they would go their after the Passover.
* John 13:2 "The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus."
* John 13:27 "As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,
* John 13:30 3"As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night."
>Why do you think he let Satan enter his heart?
* Judas is like the grain that fell on hard soil, took no root, and the birds of the air ate it up.
* Judas loved money more than God (John 6:70-71, 12:6, 13:2, 27-29).
* Adversary.
Satan is at work all the time. He has many who are delighted to help his cause. The chief priests and scribes wanted Jesus dead, for they feared the people (2). The religious establishment was the obvious adversary on the outside.
After over three years of intense ministry, Jesus had become a household conversation. The lips of the people on the street often spoke of him. Jesus's popularity and words of repentance gave his adversary a choice. Repentance was not a choice they wanted to make, for they were content with being the rich, big hot shots. Jesus's popularity threatened to take that away. They were willing to murder Jesus to keep it (2).
Judas was more like the chief priests and scribes than Jesus. Jesus was not enough for him. Perhaps he wanted to be like the religious establishment. Most likely, he had had enough of Jesus's current ministry. Perhaps he tried to force Jesus's hand. Perhaps he just wanted the thirty pieces of silver (5). Perhaps all of these are correct. His motive is not to be our focus. Crime is, for the most part, the result of a hundred motives rushing with bewildering fury through the mind of the criminal. Definitely, Judas was like Satan and so became one with Satan (3). Judas was the secret adversary within (4).
The Apostle John wrote, "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:8-10)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:1-6.
II. The New Covenant of Blood (22:7-23)
* "The Last Supper" in the 'Holkham Bible Picture Book' c. 1327-1335 on parchment included captions in French. (The British Library)
>2. What did Jesus tell Peter and John to do?
* Luke 22:7-13 "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."
* Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, and John 13:1-17:26 record that last Passover Jesus would share with the disciples until he returns again. That is why Christians call it "The Last Supper". John records five (5) chapters of teaching, prayer, and exchanges between him and his disciples. However, he does not record what the Synoptic gospels (meaning Matthew, Mark, and Luke correspond closely) record. The Synoptic gospels record Jesus changing the meaning of the Passover when they shared the bread and the cup.
* 1 Corinthians 11:20-26 also records the Lord's Supper and gives one important detail. The Lord's Supper does not have to only be celebrated on Passover. "When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
* Matthew 26:17-19 and Mark 14:12-16 also record Jesus sending two disciples to prepare the Passover meal. Matthew's account is shorter. Only Luke records that the two were Peter and John. Only Luke and Mark record Jesus' very specific instructions on how to find the place that they were to prepare.
* "Then came the day of Unleavened Bread" -The Jews include the Feast of Unleavened Bread with Passover. However, they are separate Holy Feasts according the the Law of the Covenant given through Moses (Leviticus 23:5-6).
* the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed... us to eat the Passover" -The Passover was a very important remembrance day for the Israelites. The Passover marked the time when God lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God had sent several plagues to Egypt and Pharaoh, to convince him to let Israel go free. Still Pharaoh would not let the Israelites out of Egypt. The last plague was the plague of death. The Israelites did not die if they put the blood of an unblemished lamb over their doorposts. Passover comes from the fact that the angel of death passed over their houses. (Exodus 12) With the plague of death on Egypt the Israelites were released. God established twilight of the fourteenth day of their first month (Abib) a yearly commemoration. (Leviticus 23)
* The Passover originally was commanded while Israel was slaves in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-16). Exodus 12:6 says concerning the lamb that they were to designate on the 10th day of the month Abib, "Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight." This twilight was at the beginning of the day, after the 13th ended.
Exodus 12:17-20 speaks of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread commanding that it was to start "on the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day (of Abib). When the Israelites reached Mount Sinai the Lord changed the way the Passover was to be celebrated when they reached the promised land.
Leviticus 23:4-8 also confirms they are separate days with Passover starting at the beginning of the day and The Feast of Unleavened Bread starting at the end of the same day. "'These are the LORD's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The LORD's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the LORD's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present an offering made to the LORD by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.'"
Deuteronomy 16:1-8, 16-17 is a repeat of what is already defined in Exodus and Leviticus. One addition is, "You must not sacrifice the Passover in any town the LORD your God give you except in the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name. There you must sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on the anniversary of your departure..." This is an addition from when they were in Egypt and at Mount Sinai. The place became first Shiloh, where the tent of meeting was placed by Joshua (Joshua 18:1, 8, 10, 19:51, 21:2, 22:12; Judges 18:31, 21:19; 1 Samuel 1:3, 9, 24, 3:21, 4:3-4, 14:3; Psalm 78:60; Jeremiah 7:12-14) until David moved it to Jerusalem and his son Solomon built the Temple (1 Kings 8:4; 1 Chronicles 6:32, 15:25-29). Jesus would make another change during The Last Supper.
As time when on the Israelites often called Passover, "The Feast of Unleavened Bread" when in fact they are separate holy days.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:7.
* Ezekiel's last chapters (33-38) are about the restoration after the return from Babylon captivity. Chapters 40-48 are about restored worship. 45:13-24 shows a shift or extension of Passover to be practiced in the second temple, the one after the return.
* "a man carrying a jar of water... say to the owner of the house" -A man carrying a jar of water was unusual. Women usually did this. Many believe this young man was Mark, the writer of the gospel. Jesus had already prepared for this day. Mark gives a hint that the was there when he was a very young man (Mark 14:51-52). So perhaps it was at Mark's parent's house. This would have also been the place where the disciples meet after Jesus was crucified and after his assertion.
>Why might this have been hard to do?
* They did not know where to go. They had not known the place before this.
* They did not know the name of the man carrying a jar of water.
>What did they learn from obeying his instructions?
* Trust Jesus.
* Jesus knows things that is impossible for humans to know, even when he was in the flesh.
* Trust Jesus.
* Lest you Yeast.
The Passover feast is a special annual meal consisting of lamb, herbs, and unleavened bread (bread made without yeast) eaten at twilight, the start of the 14th day of Abib (aka Nisan, March or April, Exodus 12:1-28, 43-50, 13:10). No other religious celebration was like it at the time it was commanded to obey by the Lord. It is somber and reflective, joined with gratitude and awe.
The Israelites are to remember how the Lord brought them out of slavery when they eat the Passover. Yeast represents sin; thus, the Passover feast and the feast of Unleavened Bread point to Jesus, who died to remove sins and rescued us from slavery to the sinful nature and the influence of the devil, the adversary.
Jesus, being born a Jew, also celebrated the Passover. He gave instructions to Peter and John that took faith to obey. First of all, they were to look for a man, someone they did not know, carrying a jar of water in busy Jerusalem, which was something women typically did in the early morning. Secondly, they were to give him an unusual directive. Third, the directive was inviting them and several more into his house to eat the Passover, normally a family occasion. The detailed and strange instructions were obeyed (13). All happened as Jesus said.
The original Passover meal and the instructions to Peter and John were not typical. The Lord Jesus can give us instructions that seem strange and impossible to obey. Yet, obedience is always a blessing in the end.
The Lord God, through an outreach pastor, told me to turn my paper Bible study materials and knowledge that was in my head into a web page almost 30 years ago. The World Wide Web was first made public in 1993, 32 years ago, and AOL Hometown, my first platform, started in 1998. Though requiring self-sacrifice with no income or support from it, the mission has been a spiritual blessing. Oh, the refreshment of obeying strange and impossible commands.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:7-13.
>3. Why do you think Jesus was so eager to eat this Passover with his disciples?
* Luke 22:14-16 "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."
* "When the hour came" -For the Passover.
* "Reclined at the table" -Jews often sat on pillows on the floor and leaned one back against another for support.
* "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." -Several meanings have been understood. Adam Clarke quoted Pasquier Quesnel, a French Jansenist theologian (1634-1719). "Our Lord's meaning seems to be, that, having purposed to redeem a lost world by his blood, he ardently longed for the time in which he was to offer himself up. Such love did the holy Jesus bear to the human race. This eucharistic passover was celebrated once, by way of anticipation, before the bloody sacrifice of the victim of salvation, and before the deliverance it was appointed to commemorate; as the figurative passover had been likewise once celebrated before the going out of Egypt, and the deliverance of God's chosen people." Quesnel. (Adam Clarke's Commentary)
* "I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." -Revelation 19:9 "Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Revelation 19:17 "And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,"
>What is the historical background of the Passover? (Exodus 12:7-12, 29-32)
* Exodus 12:7-12 "Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire--head, legs and inner parts. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord."
* Exodus 12:29-32 "At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."
>In what ways does the Israelites' slavery in Egypt parallel man's slavery to sin?
* John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
* Romans 7:14-25 "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
>How does Jesus himself fulfill the meaning of the Passover? (John 1:29; Revelation 19:9)
* Luke 22:17-18 "After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
* John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
* Rev 19:9 "Then the angel said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, "These are the true words of God."
* John the Baptist said it the best. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29, 36)
>4. What did Jesus teach about the meaning of the bread he broke and gave them?
* Luke 22:19 "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."
* John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'"
* John 6:56-57 "'Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.'"
* "This is my body given for you" -Jesus used symbolism to help us understand he is in us through the Holy Spirit.
* The woodcut is by The Elder Urs Graf (Swiss, 1485-1529). The title is "Judas Bargaining with the Chief Preists". This is plate number eight of twenty-six plates (all but one by Graf) from "Passio domini nostri Jesu Christi". The original was black and white. It is now in public domain.
Judas is on the left with his name on the leg. The man in the center is holding the thirty coins. Judas is bargaining with the chief priests.
>5. After the supper, what did Jesus teach about the meaning of the cup?
* Luke 22:20 "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."
* "after the supper" -Some say, "A cup of wine was not part of the Passover". The law of Moses did not excluded wine. It just does not mention it (Exodus 12:8-9, 17-20). They note that wine is fermented with yeast. So, they say this cup must not have been an alcoholic drink for yeast, even the smallest drop was forbidden. However, the exception to their statements is that the Feast of Unleavened Bread actually started at the end (twilight) of the 14th day of Abib, and the Passover was at the beginning (twilight) of the 14th day of Abib (Leviticus 23:4-8). Also, there is that fact that 1 Corinthians 11:17-21 is Apostles rebuke to the congregation that some were getting drunk at "The Lord's Supper".
* "the cup" -A cup of wine.
* "the new covenant" -Supersedes the old covenant given though Moses, just as the Lord's covenant to Abraham was superseded by the covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai. Note: through is death Jesus fulfilled and thus ended the animal sacrificed of the Old Covenant.
* Jesus' New Passover.
Twilight (sunset) starts the 14th day of the Hebrew month Abib, the first month on the Hebrew calendar, the full moon (Exodus 12:1). This is when the Lord God commanded all Israel and those who believe in and worship the Lord to keep the Passover meal (Exodus 12:6-8, 14; Leviticus 23:4-5; Deuteronomy 16:1-2). At twilight (sunset) the next day begans the seven day "Feast of Unleavened Bread" (Exodus 12:17-20; Leviticus 23:6-8; Deuteronomy 16:3-4, 8.). By Jesus's time, the two meant the same thing (1).
The Passover, celebrated while Israel was slaves in Egypt, was only held that way once. After that, while at Mount Sinai, the Lord God made arrangements for it to be celebrated differently once they arrived at the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 16:5-8). Jesus would make other significant changes that would further elaborate and update the meaning of the Passover. Some modern congregations have ignored Jesus's changes, stating that they are celebrating the true Passover and that all other congregations are wrong and thus going to hell.
While reclined at the table, Jesus told them that he had eagerly desired to eat this Passover with them before he suffered (14-15). Jesus had planned this night to be a special beginning since before the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. To this day, Jesus's disciples celebrate it this way as Jesus said "...whenever we drink it..." (1 Corinthians 11:21), meaning every time we celebrate it, not just on Passover.
After the Passover supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and passed it to his disciples (Matthew 26:27-29, Mark 14:23-25, 1 Corinthians 11:25). He designated the cup the "new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins". And added, "Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
The Old Covenant given through Moses to Israel from that point was lesser, and the New Covenant Jesus gave to his church (congregation) was greater. Also, because of what was happening in the church at Corinth, Apostle Paul appropriately removed the meal before celebrating the cup and bread. The first disciples, most being Jews at this time, accepted and obeyed Jesus's new covenant from that Supper, including the first century church, to this very day.
The unleavened bread that Jesus broke and gave to his disciples he designated as representing his body given for us (19; Matthew 26:26: Mark 14:22; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24). Jesus, as with the cup said of the broken and shared bread, "Do this in remembrance of me." Apostle Paul comments, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:14-23.
>What does it mean that Jesus makes a blood covenant with us? (Romans 3:10; 5:8-9; 1 John 1:7)
* Rom 3:10 "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one'"
* Rom 8-9 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"
* 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
* Jesus' blood is not from man. It is from God. In the book, The Chemistry of the Blood M. R. DeHann, M.D. explains the origin of blood: "The blood which flows in an unborn babe's arteries and veins is not derived from the mother but is produced within the body of the fetus" It is only after the sperm has entered the ovum and a fetus begins to develop that blood appears. As a very simple illustration of this, think of the egg of a hen. An non-fertilized egg is simply an ovum on a much larger scale than the human ovum. You may incubate this non-fertilized hen's egg, but it will never develop. It will dry up completely but no chick will result. But let that egg be fertilized by the introduction of the male sperm and incubation will bring to light the presence of life in an embryo. After a few hours it visibly develops. In a little while red streaks occur, denoting the presence of blood According to scientists from the time of conception to the time of birth not ONE SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD ever passes from mother to child The mother contributes no blood at all."
* Blood Covenant.
Jesus shared the unleavened bread with his disciples during the Passover supper, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me" (19). He thus changed the meaning of the Passover (John 6:35, 41, 47-51). After the Passover supper, Jesus added something new to the Passover, for he was making a New Covenant with his people (20; Matthew 26:27-29; Mark 14:23-24). He took a cup of wine, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Jesus changed the Passover Supper. So we now refer to it as the Lord's Supper.
Jesus's blood is unique. Jesus' blood is not from man. It is from God. In the book, The Chemistry of the Blood M. R. DeHann, M.D. explains the origin of blood: "The blood which flows in an unborn babe's arteries and veins is not derived from the mother but is produced within the body of the fetus" It is only after the sperm has entered the ovum and a fetus begins to develop that blood appears. As a very simple illustration of this, think of the egg of a hen. A non-fertilized egg is simply an ovum on a much larger scale than the human ovum. You may incubate this non-fertilized hen's egg, but it will never develop. It will dry up completely, but no chick will result. But let that egg be fertilized by the introduction of the male sperm, and incubation will bring to light the presence of life in an embryo. After a few hours, it visibly develops. In a little while, red streaks occur, denoting the presence of blood. According to scientists, from the time of conception to the time of birth, not ONE SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD ever passes from mother to child. The mother contributes no blood at all."
Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian congregation concerning Jesus's pure divine blood, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he avished on us with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:7-8)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:20
>Can you confidently say that you have made a personal blood covenant with Jesus?
* Yes, thanks be to God.
>6. What did Jesus say about Judas?
* Luke 22:22-23 "'The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.' They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this."
* "go as it has been decreed" -As written in the Old Testament.
* "woe to that man who betrays him."
* "which of them it might be who would do this" -None of the disciples, except Judas believed they would betray Jesus.
* Jesus's warning was to help Judas the the other disciples. Judas could have remented knowing that Jesus knew what he was doing, a gift of a prophet.
>Though he ate the last supper with Jesus and tasted the great love of the Messiah, why could he not bear Jesus' love?
* Judas held in his heart love of money and the things that it could buy. He left a door for Satan to take control of his will.
>What can we learn here about the tragedy of an uncommitted or wrongly committed life?
* Jesus said, "You cannot love both God and money." Sooner or later we serve one or the other. Either Jesus will guide our will or money will guide our will. The latter will allow Satan a foothold that will eventually lead us to doom.
III. The Truly Great Man in the Kingdom of God (22:24-38)
>7. What did the disciples argue among themselves at this time?
* Luke 22:24 "Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest."
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>Why?
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>What does this show about their spiritual condition?
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>How should the disciples' way of serving be different from that of worldly people?
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>What was the example of Jesus himself?
* Luke 22:25-27 "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."
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* Servant Kings.
The disciples were with Jesus in the upper room of a house, eating the Passover meal which Jesus had just modified, calling the cup "the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (20) He thus fulfilled the prophecy declared by Jeremiah. "The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah..." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
However, the disciples did not make the connection at this time. Instead, they were too interested in taking the highest seat of power in what they believed would be Jesus's earthly kingdom. They quarreled about who was the greatest (24). Perhaps Peter said, "I am the rock Jesus is going to build his temple on" (Matthew 16:18). Of course, Nathan would respond, "I am the purest of all my siblings. Nathan, after all, was a prophet to the king" (1 Kings 1:22-23). They did not know what they were talking about.
Jesus interrupted their dispute by teaching them the principle of his new covenant kingdom. His kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world (25-26), where the rulers are served by others. Most in today's congresses of the world benefit from ruling at others' expense. The rulers and judges of Jesus' kingdom are like the servants of the world's kingdoms (26).
Jesus served the disciples and others (27). He served them at his new blood covenant Passover by washing their feet (John 13:1-17). Jesus expects his disciples to follow his servant example. Serving Jesus is serving others. Apostle Peter later wrote, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:24-30.
>8. What is the glorious promise Jesus gave his disciples?
* Luke 22:28-30 "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."
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>What is the prerequisite of ruling with Jesus in the kingdom?
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>9. What was Jesus' prayer topic for Simon Peter?
* Luke 22:31-32 "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."
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* The Great Sifter.
Peter, like the rest of the disciples, wanted to be the greatest amongst his peers so he could be served by them. Jesus wanted them to be great, as long as they were great in the way God sees greatness. God sees greatness in a person if they serve others (26-17). Jesus instructed and provided an example of this kind of greatness by washing Peter and the other disciples' feet (John 13:6-10).
Jesus addressed Peter by stating Peter's name twice, expressing love, while manifesting a warning voice. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." (31) The Greek word for "you" is plural. Therefore, though Jesus lovingly addressed Peter, he was warning all of the disciples. Satan wants to sift all of Jesus' followers. Such a desire can be seen in Satan's exchange with the Lord over Job (Job 1-2).
Wheat is winnowed (sifted) to separate the genuine wheat kernels from other items that have gotten mixed in with it: chaff (old, dead, dry scales), bugs, straw, and other unwanted items. When the wheat is ground into flour, it is sifted once again to remove the waste from the flour. Peter and the others are about to have a contest with the adversary. Jesus prayed that Simon's faith may not fail.
Later, Peter wrote to all believers, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.' (1 Peter 5:8-9) I shouldn't let a desire to be greater than others blind me from a crouching lion in the grass.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:31-32.
>Why was Simon especially vulnerable to Satan's attack?
* Luke 22:33-34 "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."
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* Stymied Will.
Having the will, no matter how intense, to do something and then not completing it, though it was possible to, counts for nothing. Many alcoholics will find themselves having the best and strongest intention to stand confessing before God, stop drinking, and make amends. Yet, a few days later, they are buried at the bottom of a bottle. Their strong intent, though sincere, died at continuing application. Though in the heart they were willing to remain sober, they did not. They have to start all over again.
Simon (Jesus called him Simon, not Peter the rock) declared his will to go to prison and to die for and with Jesus (33). His noble declaration was sincere, but would prove unfinished. Matthew and Mark record that the other disciples were no different than Simon (Matthew 26:35; Mark 14:31).
Jesus had been trying to prepare the disciples for months for what would happen this very night. He told them again and again and again that he would be arrested, tried, and crucified. He was clear and specific. But they were too interested in jockeying for a high place amongst their peers to listen.
How to convert the will to do the right thing into an act that fulfills it? Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2:12-15) Learn from Peter's mistake. Listen to what Jesus says.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 22:33-34.
>10. What new instructions did Jesus give the apostles?
* Luke 22:35-39 "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."
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>Why?
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>What do they mean practically to his disciples?
* That is Enough.
The disciples did not comprehend what Jesus was saying. The problem was not because Jesus was using allegory or parables. The problem was that the disciples were not listening to what he said, they held onto the wrong idea of God's kingdom, and when they did understand him, they were too proud to accept it (31-35).
Even though within hours Jesus was going to be arrested and tortured, he tried once again to help his followers accept the dire situation that was going to transpire. Jesus reminded them of the time he sent them out. They lacked nothing because they were participating in Jesus' ministry and obeying Him. He prayed for them and protected them, even when he was not physically present. They were in no real danger or trouble. So, they needed nothing (35).
However, the times would drastically change that night (37). When Jesus was to be arrested, they would have to make important decisions quickly. They would be in real physical danger (36). So, unlike before, Jesus told the disciples to be prepared.
Often, we do not know what we are getting into until events unfold. We need to be prepared by staying in communion with Jesus and paying attention to what God is doing around us. Meditation and prayer help us prepare. Best be prepared beforehand to ease the unseen coming blows.
I am transferring FreeBibleStudyHelp.com and all its blogs and podcasts to a new domain hosting company to save money. I cannot sustain the price of the easy-to-maintain one I have been paying around 20 years. They have raised their prices beyond my means, and their customer support, which used to be helpful and ethical, has become nasty.
So, I am switching to one half the price. However, I have to set up the server myself with no customer support. I have to learn and do a lot while maintaining a paying job. I knew I would need to learn new things, but I did not realize how much work was needed. I am reading a lot online. Best to be prepared for each step so the site doesn't crash, causing the 30-year ministry to end, or at least to not be offline for a while. The change is harder than I expected. I am not ready. Worse yet, when it is set up, I will have to spend more time maintaining it, which will take away from working on the materials.
