THE GREAT LIBERATION
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You for dying for us.
Read LUKE 22:1–23
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
22 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.
The Last Supper
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.
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.[a] 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.
Footnotes:
a Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts do not have given for you … poured out for you.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival … with … sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7,8)
Think Further
As Luke’s passion account begins, the key players are introduced – Jesus, his disciples, the chief priests, and the betrayer; the focus is not on the personnel (Jesus apart) , however, but on the purpose. It is Passover. By celebrating and reinterpreting it, Jesus shows his disciples how to understand his forthcoming betrayal and death. Three times has he predicted it (Luke 9:22,44; 18:32,33). He set his face to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) as a fulfillment of the prophets (Luke 18:31) to the very place where prophets are killed (Luke 13:33,34). However, he has not said what all this means. Only one clue has been given. At the transfiguration he is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah about his “departure” (literally, “exodus”- Luke 9:31). Now, at Passover, his “eager desire” (see 15) is to teach them what his death will achieve, so that they will always remember.
Passover, celebrating the great liberation of God’s people in the past, is reshaped as a celebration of the refounding of God’s people and as an anticipation of his future reign. This “last” supper anticipates “eating again” (see 16) in the kingdom of God. Jesus interprets his imminent death and anticipates his resurrection and the kingdom he will establish. His reign is opposed, as “Satan enters into Judas” (3), continuing the conflict begun with Jesus’ temptations (Luke 4:1–13).
This is the day when “the Passover lamb must be sacrificed” (7). It is not said if there was a lamb for this Passover meal, but it is not relevant. Jesus himself was to be the sacrifice. Rather, the bread and two of the traditional Passover cups are reinterpreted, pointing to the kingdom and the covenant Jesus will establish and the price he will pay on the cross. The cross is for our forgiveness (Luke 24:47), but more significantly, it is the great deliverance from sin, death, and Satan and the refounding of God’s people.
Apply
When we receive communion, what are we remembering? What are we anticipating? How big is our vision of the cross?
Closing prayer
Lord, Your people view Your crucifixion as the greatest act of love since the creation of the world.
Book and Author Intros
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