Book of Luke - Ch. 22, Vs. 14-53 (11/29/2020)

I will sometimes stop, start, and in the middle, it will cut me off. I'm going to echo what

Brother David Huber said. This is a strange year, but we've got lots to be thankful for.

And I'm going to end with a quick prayer. Most gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the things that you have given us that we can be thankful for.

Thank you for giving us the technology that we can reach out and touch one another, even though we are separated by miles.

Thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit to help us understand your Holy Word that you have also given us.

And thank you first and foremost for giving us your Son, who came into this world and bore the sins of us all and died on the cross to redeem us.

Bless us and keep us and go through with the service today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Okay. The first thing I would like to do this morning is a brief timeline of what we've done so far in Luke 22.

And the reason for that is there was some questions that came up at the end of the service last time as to when

Judas left the table and went out to betray

Jesus. And Luke chapter 22, I think, gives us the answer to that question.

But I want to go back to the very beginning, verses 1 and 2. We're told in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 22 of Luke.

I'm going to read what it says, and then I'm going to tell you what we know. It says, now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the

Passover, and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him.

Well, it's not just nigh. It's two days away. This happened on the 12th of Nisan, the first year in the

Jewish religious calendar, a month that is 30 days long.

So this is almost the halfway mark of the first month of the year,

Nisan. We know that it's two days before the Passover from a parallel passage in Mark 14, verse 1.

I'm going to read that one. After two days was the feast of Passover, and of unleavened bread, and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might take him by craft and put him to death.

So it's the same passage, just a little bit different words, but it tells us a little bit more. It tells us that this was two days before the 14th day, which would make it the 12th day.

Then we get to verse 3. This probably happened on the 12th day as well.

Then Satan entered unto Judas. We get down to verse 4, and we see

Judas meeting with the religious leaders to betray Jesus. That also probably happened on the 12th of Nisan, but if not, at least on the 13th, it had to be done before the 14th.

It had to be finished and done before six o 'clock, two days later.

Well, this is what it said, and he, that is Judas, went his way and communed with the chief priest and captains how he might betray him unto them.

Now we get to verses 5 and 6. Judas and the leaders, the religious leaders, agree on the amount, the 30 pieces of silver that Judas is going to receive for betraying

Jesus. And by the way, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave.

Verse 5 says this, and they were glad and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised and saw opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Remember, the religious leaders wanted to lay hands on Jesus, but they were afraid to because of the huge crowds.

Now, all of this happened two days or sometime within two days before Passover, on either the 12th or the 13th.

Now, two days later, we come to verse 7, and it says, Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the

Passover must be killed. But before that happened, we had to have verses 8 and 13 occur.

Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare for the Passover meal. Jesus had to do this before sunset, because when sunset began,

Passover began. At about 6 o 'clock p .m.,

in the afternoon or early evening of the day that we're talking about here, the 14th of Nisan begins.

And verse 14 says this, And when the hour was come, that hour was sundown on the 14th of Nisan, marking the official beginning of Passover.

The Passover lamb is always killed on the 14th of Nisan. Now, the 14th began at sunset and ended the next sunset, and that's kind of awkward for us.

We count a day from midnight to midnight. What the Jews counted as one day, we count as parts of two days.

If you overlaid our calendar with the Jewish calendar, it would show the events of this passage as beginning on our calendar at about 6 p .m.

on the 14th of Nisan and ending at 6 p .m.

on the 15th of Nisan, whereas the Jewish calendar would show everything happening on the 14th.

And by the way, from here on, everything that happens in chapter 22 and in fact in chapter 23 of Luke, all of it occurs on that single day, the 14th of Nisan.

From the evening to the evening.

Now, verses 15 and 16, at the very beginning of the

Passover, Jesus announces that this Passover will be the last one that we have.

He says, I will not anymore eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

So in verses 17 through 20, Jesus eats the Last Supper and then tells the disciples to begin a new tradition in remembrance of his death.

I'm going to read verses 19 and 20, or part of verses 19 and 20.

He says, do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, also the cup after supper saying this cup is the

New Testament in my blood which is shed for you. Now, that's a strong implication that the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine that initiated this new tradition took place at the time that the fourth cup, the cup that Jesus would normally have offered but did not do so, would have been taken place.

So the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine will be done by the church for remembrance of Christ's atoning work and they'll continue doing that until he returns to share the fourth cup on the

Passover, the one that he set aside and said he would not drink yet. He did the third cup, the third of the cup of blessing, but he didn't do the fourth cup.

The fourth cup is the cup of reconciliation and he won't do that until he comes back to initiate the millennial kingdom and share the fourth cup at that time.

Now, we finally get to verse 21. Judas is still at the table.

Verse 21 says, but behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

Now, only John 13 records Judas's departure, but John says nothing about the bread and the cup and since Luke often does not relate things in chronological order, it's difficult to tell whether Judas had left before or after the institution of the

Lord's Supper, but Luke's words here seem to imply that Judas actually shared in that event and if so, his presence at that table makes his hypocrisy and crime all the more despicable.

That was John MacArthur. Verse 22 says this, it's just a continuation, and truly the

Son of Man goeth as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed.

And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.

Now, shortly after this, Judas leaves the table to complete his betrayal.

Shortly after they began to inquire among themselves as to which one it should be that would betray

Jesus. Now, we have a more detailed account in John 13.

I'm going to start reading John 13. I'll give you a second to get there. I'm going to start at verse 1, but I'm not going to read everything in that chapter.

I'm going to read a while and then I'm going to skip some. John chapter 13 verse 1.

Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the

Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And the supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.

So, this is at the supper. This is after the supper has been eaten. Judas Iscariot is still there, but the devil enters into Judas's heart again to betray

Jesus. Now, Jesus, knowing that the

Father had given all things into his hand and that he was come from God and went to God, he riseth from the table and lay aside his garments and took a towel and taught the people a lesson on humility and on the servitude of the leader.

And we'll get to that shortly. He riseth from the table and lay aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself.

And after that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet.

Now, I'm going to skip the next part. The next part is dealing with Peter. He finally came to Peter.

Peter said, no, you can't wash my feet. And Jesus said, if I don't wash your feet, I'll have nothing to do with you.

And Peter said, well, that's good. If washing my feet is good, washing all of them would be even better. So, wash me all.

And Jesus said this. Back to Peter. He that washeth needeth not save to wash his feet, but he is clean every whit.

And ye are clean. And then he adds this phrase.

So, we know that Judas is still amongst them. Judas went through the foot -washing ceremony.

He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.

And ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him.

Now, I'm going to go down to verse 17. And actually, verse 18.

And he says, I speak not of you all. When he says, happy are ye if you do the things

I've told you to do. He says, I speak not of you all.

I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled.

What scripture? The scripture that says, he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

So, he's telling them that he's not speaking to all of them.

All of them are not going to be happy. I know whom I've chosen. I chose 11 of you to be happy.

And I chose one of you that the scripture may be fulfilled. He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Now, I tell you before it come, that when it has come to pass, you may believe that I am.

And then when I, then I skipped down to verse 21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit and testified and said, verily, verily,

I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. Okay? So, right now,

Judas is still in the crowd. And he then lying on Jesus's breast saith unto him,

Lord, who is it? And Jesus answered, it is he to whom

I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. Now, understand this. They're asking who it is, who it is that is going to betray

Jesus. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

And after the sop, Satan entered him. Then said Jesus unto him, that thou doest do quickly.

And then he having received the sop, went out immediately and it was night.

So, where are we now? Passover has officially begun. The last supper has been eaten.

The feet of all the disciples, and that includes Judas, have been washed.

All the disciples except one have been declared clean. Judas, the one disciple not declared clean, is on his way to summon the religious leaders to the garden at Gethsemane, where he will complete his betrayal.

The trials of Jesus are soon to begin. And they will begin not only during the

Passover celebration, but on the very day that the prophets had revealed that the

Passover lamb, the lamb that taketh away sin, would be revealed, the 14th of Nisan.

But Jesus still had a little work to do with respect to the remaining 11 disciples.

And we're going to go back to Luke now, Luke 23. I'm sorry,

Luke 22, verse 24. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And to me, that was amazing. They had just been told that Jesus was about to die.

They'd been told that one of the 12 would betray him. And that one has left already.

Jesus has set the example of a serving master in washing of the feet.

And still, the disciples are quibbling about rank. So Jesus has to reteach the lesson that he taught them when he washed their feet.

And he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them.

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over the Gentiles. And they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

Now, that's an ironic title, considering that almost all of these Gentile kings were ruthless tyrants.

But then he goes on to say to them, but ye shall not be so.

But he is greatest among you. Let him be as the younger.

And he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Or whether he's greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth.

Is it not he that sitteth at meat? And then he says, but I am among you as he that serveth.

So he's telling them, I taught you this lesson in the washing of the feet. You clearly didn't understand it.

Jesus had modeled for them in the washing of the feet, the kind of leaders they should be.

Not leaders having dominion over their flock, but leaders serving the flock as a serving leader.

That's the role that disciples should play. They shouldn't be quibbling about who was the greatest.

They should be following Jesus, Jesus's model.

Verse 28, ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my father hath appointed unto me.

Now John MacArthur says this about that. Those two phrases. Christ confirms the disciples expectation of an earthly kingdom yet to come.

It would not come in the timing or in the manner that they had hoped for.

But he affirmed the promise that such a kingdom would indeed be established and that they would have a prominent role in it.

And verse 30 says that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

Now if we had people in here, I would ask one of them a question. After I made this statement, the apostles will have an important role in the millennial kingdom and that is to judge the 12 tribes.

But consider this. How many tribes? 12 tribes. How many apostles?

11 apostles. Well how does that work out? Does someone get two? No. The apostle that was that left,

Judas, was replaced. Now the early church tried to replace him by casting lots and they chose an apostle but he was not the apostle that God chose.

The apostle God chose, the last apostle chosen, was Paul. And I think it's interesting but I don't know what significance there is.

I'm sure there is some because nothing is in the Bible that does not have significance that Paul, the last apostle chosen, was from the tribe of Benjamin, the last son of Jacob.

Okay that's just something for you to ponder about. Now Jesus goes on and addresses

Simon. But I'm going to tell you before I read this that we don't have a way in English to determine the word you, whether you is singular or plural.

The Spanish do. I think the French do. I'm not sure about that. And the

Greek had a way. The you that's going to be used here will not be singular.

It would be plural. Even though he addresses Simon. And the

Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat.

Now though he addressed that specifically to Peter, this morning he embraced the other disciples as well.

The pronoun you is plural in the Greek text. Satan desired to have them all to sift as wheat.

But then Jesus said this, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy brothers.

That says when thou art converted. It doesn't say if you are converted.

Converted means to be turned around. Peter was already a saved man. He's not going to lose that salvation.

There is nothing that is strong enough to take Peter out of the hands of God. But Peter can head off in the wrong direction and he is soon going to head off in the wrong direction.

Nevertheless, he did not jeopardize his salvation. He only jeopardized his discipleship.

And so Peter wanting to affirm that he would follow Jesus says this in response to Jesus.

And he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death.

Now, Peter was the brave man. And at times he was a reckless one.

He thought he was ready to follow Jesus. He thought he was ready to follow Jesus wherever Jesus went, even if it meant his own death.

But that was not to be. And Jesus told him that. And Jesus said, I tell thee,

Peter, the cock shall not crow this day. Before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Three times before dawn, Peter will deny Jesus.

And then he goes on to say to all of them, and he said it to them, when

I sent you without purse and script and shoes, lacked you anything? And they said nothing.

And he said unto them, but now he that hath a purse, let him take it.

Likewise, his script. And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garments and buy one.

When Christ sent them out before, he had arranged for all other needs to be met. Jesus is telling them that he will no longer be with them physically.

And from now on, they're going to need to use normal means to provide for their own support and protection.

The money bag, the knapsack, and the sword were figurative expressions for such meanings.

The sword being emblematic of protection, not aggression. But they mistook it and took his words literally.

But Jesus said this, for I say unto you, that this that is written must be accomplished in me.

Now, there's one thing that's left to do, and it's going to have to be done, and the disciples are not going to be able to interfere with it.

And that is this. And he was reckoned among the transgressors, for things concerning me have an end.

I'm going to read all that together. For I say unto you, that this is that, for this that is written must yet be accomplished in me.

And he was reckoned among the transgressors, for the things concerning me have an end.

He was quoting out of Isaiah 53, verse 12, when Isaiah wrote, therefore

I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death.

And he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

That had to be done. But the disciples, thinking he was talking about swords, said this, and they said,

Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, it is enough.

Now he's not saying, that's enough swords. He's saying, that's enough talk.

Let's get on with it. All of these things we got to come to pass. We have everything we need.

We're going to go. And verse 39 says, and he came out and went as he was wont to the

Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. Now he left most of his disciples at the entrance to Gethsemane.

And he took Peter and James and John inside with him to pray. Now we get this account from Mark.

But remember, although Mark wrote the book, his source was Peter.

And there's going to be some things happen that Peter's going to miss. And you'll see why in just a few minutes.

Mark 14, verse 32, if you want to go there. And they came to a place which was named

Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, sit here while I shall pray.

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John. And he began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy.

And he saith unto them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.

Tear ye here. And he went forward a little and fell on the ground and prayed.

If it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee.

Take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what

I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh and findeth them sleeping.

And he saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch one hour?

I don't know whether that implies that he prayed an hour before he came back and talked to them. He may have.

But he says, watch ye and pray, lest ye enter unto temptation. Truly the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak.

And again he went away and prayed. And he spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

Neither wist they what to answer. And he cometh the third time, and he saith unto them, sleep on now and take your rest.

It is enough. The hours come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed unto the hands of the sinners.

Rise up, let us go. Lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. And back to Luke, verse 40.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation.

The place where he was praying. Now you might notice that in spite of the fact that he knew his ordeal, what he was about to face, he did not ask prayers for himself.

He asked that they might pray for themselves, that they might not enter temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and knelt down and prayed.

Still within earshot, probably Soviet disciples could hear his prayer. And this is

Luke's rendition of the same passage that we just read, saying,

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.

Now there's a verse coming up next that only appears in Luke's account. Now, I want you to remember a couple of things.

Mark's account was Mark's source was

Peter. Peter was sleeping when

Jesus was praying. So was John. Matthew was at the entrance of the garden with the remaining eight disciples.

Judas is on his way back to the garden with a band of officers to seize

Jesus. So where did Luke get his information? Luke's human source was

Paul. Paul got his information directly from God in his three years in the wilderness.

He tells us that in Galatians chapter one, verses 16 and 17, which

I'm not going to read. And here's what Paul reports, what

Luke reports, that neither Matthew, Mark, or John mentioned.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. So Jesus asked for the cup to be removed, but not my will, your will.

And God's answer was to send an angel from heaven to strengthen him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly.

And his sweat was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he arose up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

And said unto them, why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And now we get to the arrest of Jesus. I'm going to read all four accounts of Jesus's arrest.

Matthew, Mark, John, and then Luke in that order. And there'll be some things

I want to say along the way, but not many. Mostly I'm just going to be reading. And when I get to the end of Luke and his account, we will stop and be ready for the action.

Matthew 26, verse 47 is where we begin. And lo, while he yet spake, and while he yet spake, lo,

Judas, one of the 12 came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves.

Now, this was not the great multitude in the city of Jerusalem that viewed

Jesus as a possible Messiah. And if not, as a great teacher. No, this was not just a great multitude.

This was a carefully selected great multitude that had only one purpose, to arrest

Jesus. And they were sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Verse 48, now he that betrayeth him gave them a sign, saying,

Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he. Hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus and said,

Hail, Master, and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him,

Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, the multitude, and lay hands on Jesus and took him.

And behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, remember they had two swords, and struck a servant of the high priest and smote off his ear.

And Jesus said unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place.

For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than 12 legions of angels?

Now 12 legions at the time would have been 72 ,000 angels.

And we know what one angel did to the entire Assyrian army one night when they went to bed and woke up dead.

I thought that was funny. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled?

So he's not going to send the 12 legions of angels. Had he sent the 12 legions of angels, the scriptures wouldn't have been fulfilled.

He wouldn't have been the Messiah. We wouldn't have had a Savior. And there would have been none saved.

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?

And in the same hour, Jesus said to the multitudes, these are the ones sent out from the chief priest and the elders.

In that same hour, Jesus said to the multitudes, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me?

I sat daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye lay no hold on me.

So why now? But all of this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

And at that point, all of the disciples forsook him and fled.

So now we're going to go to Mark's account. Mark's account's got one funny story at the end. I will actually read it.

I don't know whether it's any significance or not, but it is funny. Mark 14 verse 43.

This is the account of Mark as rendered to him by Peter and the

Holy Spirit. And immediately while he was yet while he yet spake came

Judas. Same time, same Judas, same great multitude, one of the twelve.

And with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and scribes and elders.

And he that betrayed him had given them a token saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he.

Take him and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him and saith,

Master, Master, and kissed him. And they lay their hands on him and took him.

And one of them that stood by drew a sword and smote a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

And Jesus answered and said to them, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and with staves to take me?

And I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and you took me not. But the scriptures must be fulfilled.

And they all forsook him and fled. That's all the disciples. And there was following him a certain young man.

Many believe that this young man was actually Mark himself. They think that he followed the multitude that Judas led to take

Jesus in the garden. In any case, there followed him a certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body and the young man lay hold on him and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

So that's John's close encounter. I was reading my next account, that of John.

John's account begins in verse 18, chapter 18, verse 1. I'm sorry, chapter 18, verse 1.

John, chapter 18, verse 1. And Jesus, when

Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook of Sedrum where he was, where was a garden into which he entered and his disciples and Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place.

So Judas knew where Jesus would be if Jesus had left the room where they had to supper, which he had.

So he took him to the place that was a secluded place, just the kind of place that Judas was looking for.

For Jesus oft times resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then having received a band of men and officers from the chief priest and the

Pharisees come a thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto him,

Whom seek ye? And they answered, Jesus of Nazareth. And Jesus said unto them,

I am. Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with him.

And as soon as he had said unto them, I am, they went backward and fell to the ground.

And then he asked them again, Whom seek ye? And they said,

Jesus of Nazareth. And Jesus answered, I have told you that I am.

If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way, that this saying might be fulfilled of which he spake, of them which thou gavest me,

I have lost none. Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.

That servant's name was Malchus. And then said

Jesus to Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which my father has given me, shall

I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and the officers of the

Jews took Jesus and bound him. And now finally we get to Luke's account.

It's going to sound very much the same because it is an account of the same item. Picking back up at 22, verse 47 of Luke.

Chapter 22, verse 47. And while he yet spake, behold, a multitude.

And he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew nigh unto

Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betray us, the son of man, with a kiss.

And when they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him,

Lord, shall we smite them with a sword? Now they only had two swords.

And there was a multitude against them. But one of them, we know now that that was

Peter, smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said,

Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priest and the captains of the temple and the elders, which were among the multitude,

Be ye come out against me as a thief with swords and staves. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me.

But this is your hour, and this is the power of darkness. And that is the end of the section that I'm going to deal with today.

They're going to arrest Jesus. They're going to take him to be tried. And all of this will be done during the day.

Close with prayer. Most gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for this day.

And thank you for giving us your holy word. Thank you for giving us your son. Thank you for allowing your son to partake in this death, even though this is a hideous death, one that is awesome, awful, even to think about.

But what would be more awful to us if he had not suffered that death, because then there would be no pathway to redemption.

Bless us and keep us. Go with us through the rest of the service. In Jesus' name we pray.