Luke 22, Part One

Judas agrees to betray Jesus--Technically, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was (in the Jewish calendar) Nisan 14 (the first month, our April), and Passover was from the 15th-21st. But the dates were so close that the events were called after the Feast. There would have been at least 100,000 people in Jerusalem at the time, so finding Jesus would have been tough for His enemies. "Satan entered Judas" (v. 3), and he agreed to deliver Jesus privately, and at a time when the masses would not be aware of it, or, as Luke says, "in the absence of the multitude" (v. 6).

Preparing for the Passover meal (vs. 7-13)--This semi-strange event--Jesus sending the Peter and John who found the man who opened his home to them--appears to have been a pre-arranged matter. Jesus had probably talked to the fellow beforehand. Men carrying a jar (v. 10) was an unusual thing, so he would be easy to spot.

The Last Supper (vs. 14-23)--This is such an important event that all four gospel writers record it. My thoughts in Matthew 26 cover the basic events, but I won't reproduce them here because I want to talk about the procedure of the Passover supper itself. It started with a prayer, and then the first of four cups of wine (perhaps unfermented) was drunk, plus a dish of herbs with a bitter sauce was eaten. The story of the institution of the Passover was then recited and Psalm 113 sung. The second cup of wine followed, and the main course was eaten: roast lamb with unleavened bread and herbs. Then there was a third prayer, the third cup was drunk, Psalms 114-118 were sung, and then the final cup of wine. We obviously get this information from secular Jewish sources. Luke adds an interesting statement by Jesus regarding the wine: "Take this and divide it among yourselves" (v. 17). This perhaps indicates that each apostle had his own individual cup, rather than all of them drinking from the same vessel. Obviously, the juice came from one container, but it is possible--probably likely--that each participant drank from his own cup.

Who is the greatest? (vs. 24-30)--The disciples then get into a petty discussion over "which of them should be considered the greatest" (v. 24). With Jesus on the verge of the cross, they could think of nothing but their own glory. And, even omitting Christ's immediate future, what were they doing arguing about this self-centered topic at the most important spiritual event in Judaism? Such indicates a gross immaturity and obtuseness on their part. Jesus tells them the world argues about such things, but "not so among you" (v. 26). His disciples will find true greatness in serving others (v. 26). For again, the world thinks of the servant as inferior to the master (v. 27), but Jesus gave the example of service as being the course they should follow (v. 27). Yet, He does make a promise to the apostles that their devotion to mankind will indeed be rewarded (vs. 29-30). No doubt He means eternally.