The Lamb Has Provided (Luke 22:1-38, Jeff Kliewer)

Luke 21 and the Danger of Missing the Gospel

Earthquakes in Mexico, hurricanes, plural, in both oceans, and many of them hitting land, and a lot of devastation left in the way. The timing on that has been interesting because last week we read Luke 21.

If you'll review that with me, open again to Luke chapter 21, you can also find that on an app. If you have a phone or an iPad, you can just look up Luke 21 there. We're using the ESV. We noticed in verse 11 there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences, terrors and great signs from heaven.

But notice that Jesus teaches us not to fear those things, not to be afraid, because verse 18 tells us not a hair of your head will perish. Now with the threat of North Korea and the possibility of nuclear bombs being unleashed and total devastation, recognize that the United States of America has a submarine called a Trihut submarine that has four times the destructive power of all the weaponry that was used in World War II.

In one submarine. That sounds like something to be afraid of, and yet the danger that Jesus warns about here is not the devastation of the world, but rather verse 19, by your endurance you will gain your lives.

In the context of Luke 21, 18, and 19, the great danger is not being delivered up by parents and brothers and relatives, and some of you they will put to death. Verse 16, the danger is not even dying, the danger is missing the gospel.

Verse 19, to not have endurance, to not gain your life, because what's in view here is not escaping physical death, what's in view here is escaping the wrath of God. The danger is, yes, you could gain your life in this life, but lose your soul.

This week we'll look at Luke 22, and of course the star of Luke 22, besides Jesus who's always the main character, the star here is Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was with the Twelve. He had heard the Bible growing up, the Old Testament.

In fact, he himself was in the Hebrew Bible. He just didn't know it. Zechariah chapter 11, verses 12 and 13, describe the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and that money being regarded as blood money and thrown at the feet of the leaders in the temple, and then being used to buy a potter's field, which would be called Akodama, the field of blood.

The prophet Zechariah foretold the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot, and Judas was right there with Jesus, he just didn't recognize that he was the one featured in Zechariah 11. And before we jump into Luke 22, I want to set the context here, and maybe even set maybe a heavy atmosphere, because the truth of the matter is that some in this room might be the subject of Luke 22.

Judas Iscariot missed the fact that he was the subject of Zechariah 11. It's very much possible that any of us could miss the fact that we are spoken of in Luke 22. That's a heavy thing to say. The most dangerous thing in the world is not nuclear bombs, it's not hurricanes, it's not earthquakes.

The most dangerous thing in the world is to come in close proximity to the risen Son of God, to be under the preaching of God's Word, maybe even to take bread and wine and enjoy those things, eat them, recognizing they have religious significance, but not truly partake of Christ, and so in the end to be lost.

That's the story of Judas Iscariot. It's a scary one. Let's read it. Luke 22. Follow along, but recognize that as scary as that is, this is good news, because the bread and the wine that's genuinely offered by Jesus is all that we need for life and godliness.

It is the provision that we need for salvation, and we will truly partake of this through faith in the Son of God. Our sins are forgiven, our sins are wiped away, and we, even if we die, will be resurrected to live with Him forever.

So this is good news. The point is, don't miss the good news because of familiarity. Very many people grow up in the church and they hear about it their whole life, but never truly repent of sin and believe in the one who offers His body and blood.

Luke 22, 1 through 38. It's a larger section, but we'll move quickly through it. Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the Twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them, and they were glad and agreed to give him money, and he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crown.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it. They said to him, Where will you have us prepare it?

He said to them, Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, and tell the master of the house, the teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?

And he will show you a large upper room furnished, prepared there. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour came, he reclined at table and the apostles with him, and he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup, after he had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who is going to do this.

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines a table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines a table?

But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assigned to you as my father assigned to me a king, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might set you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Peter said to them, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.

Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know. And he said to them, when I sent you out with no money bag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?

He said, nothing. He said to them, but now let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and Bible. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me.

And he was numbered with the transgressors, for what is written about me has its fulfillment. And they said, look, Lord, here are two swords. And he said to them, it is enough. This scene is, of course, one of the more famous and known scenes of the Bible, where Jesus, seated with his twelve at the table, identifies Judas, but does so, the other Gospels tell us, by dipping a morsel.

And Judas runs off, and the disciples assume he's just going to take care of some business. But in reality, he's identified as the betrayer. And then Jesus, with his disciples, enjoys this last supper, explaining that it really points to him.

The Passover was all about Jesus. So look with me in the first verse, Luke 22, when it says, now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. We need to understand that the Passover is rich with meaning.

We need to understand the Old Testament context to get what this is talking about. Now, the feast of unleavened bread drew near. What is the feast of unleavened bread? It's called the Passover. What is the Passover?

Some of you know the story. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites are held captive in Egypt, alongside the Nile River. They're slaves, forced into labor. And God sends Moses to say, let my people go. Who sent you?

I am who I am sending. I am, says, let my people go. Pharaoh refuses to listen. So God sends one plague after another. The tenth one, the plague against the firstborn, is the root of the Passover. Pharaoh refuses to let the people go until that dreadful night, when God says that an angel of death will pass through Egypt and will strike down every firstborn, whether human or animal.

Death will come on the firstborn in Egypt. But, says God, there is provision. Here's what the provision is. Israelites, each of you, as a family, take a lamb and sacrifice that lamb, and take the blood of the lamb and mark the door posts of your homes with the blood.

Using a hyssop branch, put blood on the doors. And when an angel of death comes that night, he will see the blood and he will pass over your home. You will be spared the wrath of God. You will be spared death.

And so they were, that night also, not to eat bread that had leaven in it, that caused it to rise, but rather that flatbread without leaven, matzo. They were to take that unleavened bread and eat that.

And from that night on, when the Israelites were delivered from the Egyptians, the Israelites were to celebrate a festival every year at the same time, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So, the symbolism here is very important.

Follow this now. There is a captivity of the people of God. They're in a physical place called Egypt, and by God's great provision, they are brought out of that world and spared and saved from the world, from their flesh, from the devil, delivered from the gods of Egypt.

But the symbolism of what takes place there is ultimately only a picture of a far greater deliverance. This is crucial. For 1 ,500 years, they eat this meal where they sacrifice a lamb and they eat unleavened bread.

But the bread and the lamb and the wine that they drink all points to Jesus Christ. He is the Passover lamb who comes. How so? His body is unleavened. Follow me. His body is sinless. He is the sinless Son of God.

Leaven represents sin, and He's untouched by it. It hasn't spread into Him like it's spread into us. He gives His body to be broken on the cross. His blood, His light in the blood, is poured out on the cross.

And just like the Israelites are marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, the blood of Jesus becomes a mark on those who believe in Him, and we are spared the wrath of God. His blood covers us and spares us.

We're passed over. And the lamb. Each year, the lamb had to die. Jesus is the priest who would bring the lamb. But the lamb that Jesus brings is not an animal from among the flock. This priest once and for all comes and brings his own body, his own self.

He himself is the lamb of sacrifice. So all of the Passover, in verse 1 where it says the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, all of this was pointing forward to the provision of Jesus Christ, His body, His blood, the Lamb of God.

Behold, He takes away the sin of the world. This Passover festival is important because it points forward to Jesus. And guys, listen. This is reason to believe in Jesus. Before He ever came into the world and died on a cross and rose from the dead, for 1 ,500 years, there was a festival called the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that was pointing to Him so that when He came, the world would recognize this is not just another religion.

This is not just another theory. This comes from God, who established this 1 ,500 years before through Moses. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, verse 1. But notice, this is the scary part of the story. Though the religious leaders of Israel knew the story better than anybody, and though Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve close to Jesus, verse 2 through 6 says the chief priests and scribes were seeking how to put Him to death.

The Lamb of God, the Messiah, is in their crosshairs. They don't just do it right there because they're afraid of the people. Too many people are supporting Jesus, and so they can't just take Him out.

They're afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was the number of the twelve. We have three mortal enemies that are constantly on the attack. The world, the flesh, and the devil.

All of them are real. Sin begins in our own heart, but the devil is a real being that brings temptations into our lives. And the world around us screams at us with temptations. These enemies are enemies of our soul.

Here, Satan actually enters into Judas Iscariot. Some kind of possession takes place. In verse 4, he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad and agreed to give him money.

He loves the things of the world more than God. He accepts 30 pieces of silver rather than the Messiah, who he had spent time with for three years. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of a crowd.

The world, the flesh, Judas' own flesh, his own desires, and the devil overcome Judas. And he betrays Jesus. Verse 7 now. Then came the day of unleavened bread. And you'll notice that it's time now to go to this feast and have this Passover.

But where do they get the lamb? Where are they going to do this? Jesus provides the meal. Through His providence, through His control of all things, He says, go. And you're going to notice somebody carrying a water jar.

And talk to him and he'll take you to where we're going to have a Passover meal. Listen. The Passover meal is a provision of God. God has provided the lamb. And the key to overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil is to receive the provision of the one and only true God.

It's not something you can do on your own. It's not something that you can do in the flesh. So, in verse 13, we see they found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Verse 14, and now this part is just amazing.

The imagery here that Jesus pulls together. And when the hour came, He reclined at table and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Notice the words, earnestly desired. Here is a spotlight into the soul of Jesus. Into His heart. What's going on on the inside?

We can't really see inside one another. We don't know what's going on in one another's minds. But here the text tells us what's going on in the heart of Jesus there is a longing, an eager desire to be with His disciples.

To have this meal with them. Recognizing that it will be the last one He eats until the other side of death. Really, until the coming of the kingdom at the wedding supper of the Lamb. God earnestly desires to eat a meal with us who believe in Him.

He has an earnest desire that we would be a part of this kingdom. To eat of this Passover. There are people whom God loves. Who call upon His name. Who are willing to suffer and be persecuted for His name's sake.

Luke 21 17. His desire is that we be with Him. That we would know Him and eat this meal with Him. Verse 19. And He took the bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten saying, this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. The Passover meal had three cups. Before they ate, they would drink two of them.

One of them just giving thanks for what God has provided. And then after they eat there was a third cup which was called the cup of blessing or the cup of redemption. And Jesus passed this third cup after the meal and He said, this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

He takes that cup of blessing. First Corinthians 10. Paul talks about this cup and says it's the cup of blessing which we bless. He passes it around and he says, this is the new covenant in my blood. Under the old covenant which was given through Moses.

The people of God related to God according to those 600 or so rules. They followed God and when they would do what the covenant said to do, they would be blessed. And when they disobeyed, they would be cursed.

But now Jesus passes a cup and says, this is a covenant in my blood. The new covenant. When you drink of this cup, your sins are forgiven. You are made new. Something happens on the inside that changes you.

There's power now inside of you to overcome sin. This is a cup of provision in His blood. But now verse 21 to 23. Although they eat and drink of it, Jesus says, behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to question one another. Which of them it could be who was going to do this? It's very possible to come close to Jesus Christ.

To go to church. Maybe you listen to church online. Maybe you've been in church since you were a child. But to actually miss the body and blood of Jesus. Judas Iscariot had been there, and yet here he betrays Jesus.

They began to question one another. Which of them it could be who was going to do this? Do you have a fear that maybe you could be the Judas of Luke 22? Do you have a fear that maybe you've been religious and you've been trying to do good, but you've missed the body and blood of Jesus?

The true meaning of his death? That's a healthy fear to have. But here's the good news. If you will call upon Jesus from your heart, repent of your sins, and trust in his provision alone, he will provide.

He will save you. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. This is a genuine offer to all who would come. The key though is to not be religious and think, if I just do these certain rituals, if I just try harder, if I'm just good enough, then I will be accepted.

No. The issue of Luke 22 is not who is religious, because there's plenty of religious leaders in the story. What happens to them? They're trying to kill him. Judas is religious. That's why he's been following along for all these years.

No, the key is that you trust in the provision of Jesus Christ alone. Repenting of your sin, calling on Jesus for salvation, he's offering that to those who would believe. If you're afraid of being Judas in the story, I'll say to you, that's a good fear to have.

But turn now to the good news and recognize this body, this blood, it's for you if you will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a provision that comes from him that you can't earn on yourself.

Greatness in the Kingdom Means Serving Like Christ

Now a dispute, verse 24. I hope none of y 'all talk like this. A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. This sounds like just watching a sports show or listening to talk radio.

Who is the GOAT, the greatest of all time, on any given sport or any given thing? The disciples were into that too. Who's the greatest disciple? And he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercised lordship over them and those in authority over them are called benefactors, but not so with you.

Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves. For who is greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? It is not the one who reclines at table, but I am among you as the one who serves.

The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for men. The Christian life is not lived by self-will and self-effort. The battle does not go to the strong, the one with the greatest willpower, the one who overcomes the world by power and by being great.

It doesn't go to the one who can resist the temptations of the devil by keeping a stiff chin and by keeping your head held high. No, the battle is won by those who are captured by the Son of God and see his glory and say, Jesus, the Lamb of God, he has provided, he is all I need, he is all I have, and when you get your eyes off of yourself and on to Christ crucified, his body, his blood, now there's a power that comes from God that overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Too often we live our religious lives by self-effort, trying to be great, and yet you keep falling back into the same patterns and being overcome by the world, the flesh, the devil. There's no victory in yourself.

The victory here comes from the Lamb of God. The Lamb has provided. He came to serve and it's his service alone that delivers us. Now we see how this is coming together. 28 and following, you are those who have stayed with me in my trials and I assign to you as my father assigned to me a kingdom.

You see, this is a gift. The gospel is good news. It's a gift that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The Apostles have that special place in the kingdom, but this kingdom is broad.

It comes from Pontiff to ethnic, every ethnic group. It's a multitude that no one can count, provided by Jesus to eat and drink at the table with him in the kingdom. What if you gain but lose your soul?

Is it better to live this life for yourself now and miss out on the kingdom in heaven? Or is it better to die to yourself now, be crucified with Christ, to live entirely for his glory and to eat with him at his table?

See, the struggle that Judas had was a matter of salvation. Judas wanted a certain thing from Jesus. He wanted Jesus to set up a kingdom and rule and reign and Judas could be right at his right hand and be one of the great ones.

And Jesus says, no, I came to die. I came to be a sacrifice for sin, to shed my blood, for my body to be broken, and Judas wanted no part of it. He lost salvation, but many of you here, you are saved.

You have been born again because you trusted in Christ to save you, and yet you're still caught in Peter's cycle, and I often am right there with you. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like meat.

The world, the flesh, the devil, they don't stop coming at us. They're still coming at us, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Now look at the self-will here, and this is the main idea I'm getting at. You don't live the Christian life by your own effort and strength. You need to become gospel-centered, that Jesus is in your mind day and night, that you're preaching to yourself all day long, the Lamb has provided, the Lamb has provided.

I don't need this temptation. I'm not going that way because the Lamb has provided. And when your eyes are on the cross, when you're trusting in His provision, you're victorious and you have power. But look what Peter does here.

He's back to that same old struggle. I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. You see the self-will there. Who's he trusting? Himself. Jesus prophetically says, you're going to deny me three times.

Peter's trust, his mindset, was very carnal, his own flesh. Jesus says, verse 34, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me. How many times have we fallen?

More than three in my case. Again and again, we fall back into trusting in ourselves, doing things our own way, our eyes off of Jesus. We're just like Peter. The Lamb has provided. 35 to 38, I just want to say about these verses, you have to go back to Luke 10 and you have to see the first missionary journey they're sent on, and Jesus says, go without anything and just trust God for everything.

Now, Jesus will correct something here. He'll say, you do use means when you go out. This is a means. This building that we did, this carpet, these walls, they're a means for the gospel. But I'll tell you what, if we ever start trusting in buildings or in people, in flesh, this church will stop growing.

The work of God will come screeching to a halt. The Lamb has provided. We can use means, but always remember to trust in the giver, the source. And these are only means to the end. He's the power. He's the one we trusted.

35, and he said to them, when I sent you out with no money, bag, or knapsack, or sandals, did you lack anything? They said nothing. You guys remember the story, right? They're casting out demons. They're healing people.

They're doing this. They don't even have anything. They go to a town and they just stay with whoever invites them in. We have a young guy about to go as a missionary. Don't do it that way. Make plans.

Call people. Make arrangements like you're doing. 36, he said to them, but now let the one who has a money bag take it. Use means. Likewise, a knapsack. Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Yeah, you can even have self-defense. They got a little carried away with this, though. They want to start trusting in it. Look what he says, for I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, and he was numbered with the transgressors, for what is written about me has its fulfillment.

That's an amazing study. We could do another time. It's a quote from Isaiah 53, which is this rich passage about how Jesus is the Lamb of God who steps in for us, the wayward sinners. Probably the richest biblical prophecy about the coming of Christ in the entire Old Testament.

Sometimes I'll just print up Isaiah 53 on a piece of paper without having the title on top, and I'll show somebody, whether they're from a Jewish background or Muslim or agnostic atheist, and say, who is this talking about?

They read Isaiah 53 and they say, well, it's talking about Jesus. That's probably, you know, some Christian literature. Well, where do you think it comes from? Well, the New Testament, probably, right?

And then I say, would you be surprised if I showed you that this was written 700 years before Christ came? And we begin to talk about the prophecies that will fulfill in Isaiah 53. It's a great method of evangelizing, but here it's quoted, he was numbered with the transgressors, and their reaction, look, they're still in the flesh, they still think with the fleshly mindset.

Look at verse 38, they said, look, Lord, here are two swords. Their hope is still in the sword. Yeah, they're packing, they're packing heat. They've got their swords, and Jesus says, it is enough. Look, you can use means in this life, but recognize that God alone is the provider.

Keep your trust in your hope in Him. You're not going to live this Christian life, and you're not going to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. They're too strong. You can't do that on your own.

The Lamb has provided. The Lamb has provided. So in closing, this is the story of that Last Supper, the story of betrayal, but yet it's a story of provision. It's good news. This morning, do you know the Lamb has provided?

Maybe you've never turned and looked upon Christ and said, I'm tired of trying all the time. My life just falls apart. I can't do anything. Maybe this morning, the message is for you. Get your eyes off of yourself.

Look at Christ on the cross. His body broken. His blood poured out. He is that unleavened bread that you need. This is the meal that saves. When we close in prayer here, just in the August, Mike will come on up.

Just in this moment of quiet, please, thank you, just pray. If you're believing this message that the Passover pointed to Jesus, that Jesus alone takes away sin, you call on Him to save you. Admit to Him that you can't save yourself.

You bring nothing to the table. The table was provided. Ask Him to save you. Call on Him. And Christian, this morning, have you been falling to the world, the flesh, and the devil? The answer is to come right back to the place that saved you, the gospel, to the Lamb of God.

So let's just bow our hearts, bow our heads, just quietly. If you're sitting here this morning and you're afraid you might be Judas, you might be Judas Iscariot. You've been close enough to religion, but you have never trusted Christ as your only provision.

Just in the quietness of your heart, turn away from your sin and just look at Christ. Ask Him to save you. Say, I am a sinner. I bring nothing to the table but filthy rags. No righteousness of my own.

But I believe in Jesus. I believe He died. He was broken on the cross. He bled. He rose from the dead. I want to eat in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Jesus, You alone are my only hope. You alone can save me.

I call on You now. Save me, Lord Jesus. I have nothing. I need You. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. And Christian, right now maybe you need to repent of sin. You've been falling to temptation, to the world, the flesh, the devil.

Preach the gospel to yourself right now. The Lamb has provided. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Jesus Christ is enough. Remind yourself that Christ is enough. Thank Him. Turn back to Him. Trust in Him alone, not in yourself.

Amen.