Jesus Praying

LUKE — LESSON 22

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Luke chapter 22, Matthew 10, and John 12.

Jesus has been in Jerusalem teaching and sharing with His followers on Tuesday of His last week on earth. The events of the first part of chapter 22 occurred on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[Luke 22:1-6] (1) 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. (3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (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. (6) He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Judas Iscariot was from Keroith and the son of Simon. He is listed as one of the twelve apostles in Matthew 10:2-4. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Phillip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. When the apostles became organized and began receiving donations to support their ministry, Judas was made the treasurer so he kept up with the money. His attitude was told clearly by John in John 12:4-6. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. The chief priests had been looking for a way to find Jesus and arrest Him ever since the raising of Lazarus at Bethany a few weeks before this time. It says that Satan entered Judas tempting him to betray Jesus. God created man with a spirit. God is a spiritual being and so is Satan. So Satan is able to enter the spirit of man to tempt him.

[Luke 22:7-13] (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?’ (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.

Jesus was making arrangements for a place where He could celebrate the Jewish Feast of Passover in the same manner that He sent His disciples to get the donkey that He rode in His entry into Jerusalem. Jesus called this the day of Unleavened Bread. This is one of the Laws given to Moses on Mt. Siani that the Israelites were required to do. The feast was a remembrance of the Exodus when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, out of slavery to become His nation that would represent Him and teach His laws to the other nations. Jewish tradition holds that the house they went to belonged to the family of John Mark, but that is tradition and not told in scripture. The Passover was held on the 14th day of Nisan which was the first month of the Jewish year. The lamb that was sacrificed represented the lamb sacrificed in Egypt; its blood put over the outside door of their home. When the death angel came through killing every first born man or animal, those who were inside a home with blood over the doorpost were spared. The sacrificed lamb was cooked and eaten by the family. They ate unleavened bread because at the first Passover, they had to be ready to leave Egypt as soon as Pharaoh let them go and did not have time to let the bread rise before it was cooked. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was the seven days following and they represented the Exodus and thanking God for their grain harvest.

[Luke 22:14-23] (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 from 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.

There are several things to discuss is this passage:

(1) Jesus told His apostles that He was glad that they were able to keep the Passover one more time before he suffered. Jesus was referring to His crucifixion but I do not believe that the apostles understood this.

(2) He told them that He would not celebrate the Passover again until it was fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the eternal kingdom.

(3) Jesus explained to His apostles that the wine they drank represented His blood that would be shed and the bread His body, His life that would be given on the cross. He represented the sacrificial lamb of the Passover, the lamb that would die for the sins of all mankind. He was establishing a new covenant.

(4) Jesus told the Apostles that when they ate the Passover meal in the future that they should do it in remembrance of Him not the Passover lamb. Jesus was establishing what we call the “Lord’s Supper” which is one of the ordinances of the New Covenant church.

(5) Jesus told all the apostles that one of them at the table would betray Him and woe to the one who did!

[Luke 22:24-30] (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.

Jesus’ disciples and the apostles believed that He had come to reign over the Kingdom of Israel, that He would raise an army and overthrow the Romans and that Israel would be a powerful nation again as it was in the time of King David. They believed that this kingdom would operate like earthly kingdoms did in that day. It would have a man who was leader of the military, a man who was treasurer, one in charge of the palace, etc. They were ambitious and desired high positions in this new kingdom. The mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked that her two sons would sit on His right hand and on His left. In other words, she wanted them to be placed in the number 2 and 3 positions of importance in His kingdom. This story is told in Matthew 20:20-28. Jesus tried to explain to them that His kingdom was not like earthly kingdoms. Instead of being in high position and having power over other men, those who were great in His kingdom would serve others. But He went on to tell them that in His heavenly kingdom they would have their own thrones and would sit in judgment of the twelve tribes of Israel; Revelation 4:4-5.

[Luke 22:31-34] (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.”

Who did Satan ask to give permission to test the apostles? The answer must be God. Does Satan always have to ask God before he can test believers? Jesus told Simon Peter that He prayed for him that Peter could resist Satan and that Peter would be able to give spiritual strength to the other apostles. Peter replied that he was prepared to go to prison or to die with Jesus, meaning that he would never betray Him. Then Jesus told Peter that he would deny that he knew Jesus three times before daylight the next morning.

[Luke 22:35-38] (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’s enough!” he replied.

I don’t believe that Jesus was telling His disciples that they needed to raise an army complete with weapons. I think that He was warning them that hard times were going to come their way. They would have to be strong and trust in Him to protect them. They took Jesus literally and showed Him their swords. Later, Jesus rebuked Peter for cutting off one of the priest’s guard’s ears.

[Luke 22:39-46] (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.”

As He had done all week, Jesus and his disciples went out to a private garden on the Mt. of Olives for the evening. But this evening was different because it was His last one with His followers before He would be crucified. Asking His disciples to pray, Jesus went off to Himself to pray to His father, God. This passage is one that shows Jesus as a human who needed strength to endure what lay ahead for Him. He knew what was coming. Crucifixion was a horrible way to die and Jesus took on the sins of all men at the cross. We cannot even imagine what that would be like. But He was willing to suffer whatever was required to accomplish the will of God. His concern and His needs were so intense that his sweat was like blood from inside His body! We think that our suffering is hard at times, but nothing we endure can even come close to what Jesus did for us on the cross. Imagine how Jesus felt when He found His disciples sleeping when He had asked them to pray.

[Luke 22:47-53] (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, (48) but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (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? (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.”

It was traditional at that time in that area of the world for a man to kiss another on the cheek or on his beard as a greeting showing honor. I believe that they still do this in some areas of the Middle East today. Judas came with the priests and their temple guards out to the garden where Judas knew that Jesus would be. Jesus and His disciples knew that the Jewish religious leaders were looking for Him. Peter took his sword and cut off one of the ears of a servant of the high priest named Malchus. Jesus rebuked Peter. A fight was not the way. Jesus would not have had to go with them, but he went voluntarily. They would not have been able to take Him if He had not been willing to go. Jesus put the man’s ear back on his head. You would think that that action alone would have stopped them. Then Jesus told them that He had been teaching in the temple every day and they could have taken Him then. But no, they wanted to wait until nighttime in a remote place where there were no crowds to witness. The priests did not want a rebellion among the people that would get the Romans upset. They had to work in secret, in the dark. The way Satan likes to work.

[Luke 22:54-62] (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. (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.

Jesus was taken first to the house of Annas. Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas and the High Priest at that time, but Annas was the man in control. This is told in John 18. The family of the High Priest was extremely wealthy because they owned the trading booths at the temple where people purchased their animal sacrifices and changed their money to temple money. Jesus was brought to this house in the middle of the night so that the chief priests could plot and plan a trial that would condemn Jesus before the Jews and would force the Romans to sentence Him to death. Death was the only sentence that they would accept.

Peter had followed the soldiers to see where they would take Jesus. In the inner courtyard of the High Priest’s house complex people were gathered around a fire. Peter interred and sat among the people there. A young servant girl recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers. But Peter denied being Jesus’ disciple. Then after a while someone else recognized Peter and he denied knowing Jesus again. About an hour later someone else identified Peter as being a Galilean and one of Jesus’ group. Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Jesus looked at Peter and he heard the rooster crow as the sun was coming up. Peter, remembering Jesus’ words, went outside and wept. In Peter’s defense, he was afraid for his own life. Not only were the priests after all of Jesus’s immediate followers but it was a common practice for the Romans kill the followers of anyone who was tried and convicted of treason.

[Luke 22:63-71] (63) The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. (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.”

The guards who were watching Jesus began to taunt Him, make fun of Him. They put a blindfold over His eyes, then one of them hit Jesus. Then they challenged Him to use His powers to identify His assailant. Jesus was moved from the home of Annas to the Council Chambers of the Sanhedrin. This was Friday Morning, the day before the Sabbath. They would now hold the legal trial against Jesus that they had prepared for the night before. When the trial began they asked Jesus if He was the Messiah. He replied, “You say that I am.” They took this reply to mean that He said that He was the Messiah. He was saying the He was the Son of God. Anyone claiming to be God or the Son of God was guilty of Blasphemy and could be stoned to death. Blasphemy is defined in Lev. 24:15-16. There are two forms: attributing some evil to God or denying Him some good that should be attributed to Him; or giving the attributes of God to a person. This is the type of blasphemy for which Jesus was charged. By claiming to be the Messiah He was saying that He was the Son of God. But they were under Roman rule and they could not bring a death sentence. So they needed a charge to use against Him in Roman court. Could Jesus have walked away? Of course He could have. They would not have been able to hold Him. But this was His mission to die on the cross for the souls of men. That was the purpose for Him to be born a human child, to live a sinless life and die on the cross. If it was the plan and will of God then Jesus would obey.

Next time in Luke chapter 23, Jesus will be taken to Pilate, to Herod and back to Pilate before He is crucified.

Lessons for us from Luke chapter 22:

1. If we keep our spirits filled and occupied with God and His ministries, then Satan will not be able to tempt us to sin.

2. The “Lord’s Supper” is one of the ordinances of the New Testament church. When we partake of this supper, we remember that Christ gave His life and suffered so that we would not have to suffer for our sins.

3. Living the Christian life is no promise for worldly riches and comforts. Our rewards will come in the next life that will last through eternity.

4. Our prayer time should be in a quiet place where we can clear our minds of all worldly things and focus on praising God and seeking His will.

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