My Body Given For You, Luke 22:1-62
INTRODUCTION
Jesus has been in Jerusalem making a big scene in the temple ?Edriving out the money changers, teaching as if it were His own house, debating with the scribes and chief priests. The Jewish leaders, already angry with Jesus, are further provoked by His sermon against the temple, just as the priests were provoked by Jeremiah?s preaching. Assisted by Judas, they make firm plans to have Jesus arrested and killed.
THE TEXT
?Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people . . . .?E(Luke 22:1-71).
PASSOVER
Luke begins the story of Jesus?Earrest and trial by referring to the Passover (v. 1), and recording that the chief priests and scribes sought to kill Jesus during this festival season. The priests who were preparing to slaughter the Passover lambs were unwittingly preparing to slaughter the Passover Lamb.
Satan has not been mentioned in Luke?s gospel since the temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13), after which he left ?until an opportune time.?E That time has come, and Satan reenters the story, inspiring Judas to offer his help to Jesus?Eenemies. Given his name (Judas/Judah), this symbolizes the betrayal of the Messiah by the whole Jewish people. Given Judas?s status as a disciple, this symbolizes the failure of even the disciples to remain with Jesus in His passion.
LAST SUPPER
While the chief priests and scribes are preparing to slaughter Jesus, Jesus is preparing to eat His final meal with His disciples. He has been eating and drinking throughout the gospels, and all those meals culminate in this one. Just as the original Passover celebrated an exodus, so this meal celebrates the ?exodus?Ethat Jesus is accomplishing at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Jesus has prophesied destruction against the temple, where the Jews are celebrating their Passover; here, Jesus establishes the feast of a new temple, which celebrates a new and final sacrifice.
Luke?s record of the Last Supper differs from other accounts in the NT. He records that the order was cup-bread-cup. This matches early descriptions of the Jewish Passover, where there were several cups distributed during the meal.
In all the gospels, the Lord?s Supper provides the main interpretation of the crucifixion. Several aspects of the atonement come out in Luke?s account. First, Jesus associates the meal, and hence His death, with the coming of the kingdom (v. 18). Those who sit with Him at the table, and serve as He serves, are granted a kingdom and dominion over Israel (vv. 17-30). Second, He says that His body is ?given for you,?Epointing to the fact that Jesus is going to offer Himself as a substitute and that He is offered Himself to be life and food to His people (v. 19). Finally, He says that His blood will bring in a new covenant. The Supper is a covenant-sealing meal, which includes a ?grant?Eto the covenant partners, the grant of a kingdom.
Of course, Jesus self-giving is the model for the disciples, but the disciples are still blind and dense, preferring debates about who will gain the greatest fame as a disciple. Jesus sets the pattern for proper lordship and leadership in the church, the greatest leader being the most humble servant (vv. 24-26).
BETRAYED
Jesus goes out to the Mount of Olives to pray. He is true man, in anguish at the ?cup?Ethat He has to drink, the cup of God?s wrath that causes the nations to reel and topple (cf. Jeremiah 25). Jesus will drink that cup to its dregs.
Judas leads the multitude to Jesus, and identifies Jesus with a kiss (cf. 2 Samuel 3:27). After Jesus brings an end to the scuffle, He asks the chief priests and officers whether they consider Him a ?brigand?Eor ?robber?E(v. 52). He uses the same word that He has already used to describe the Jews who worship in the temple. Jesus is not the brigand; they are. And after murdering Jesus, they will retreat to the temple again and make it even more a ?den of robbers.?E
Judas is not the only one who betrays Jesus. Jesus has warned Peter that he will betray Him (vv. 31-34). In the high priest?s court, Peter seeks to join the circle of people sitting around the fire (v. 55). He has forsaken the company of Jesus and the disciples, and is seeking to join another ?community.?E The price of admission is denial of Jesus, which Peter is willing to pay (vv. 56-60).
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
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