Scripture: Luke 22
The Passover with the Disciples
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 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 11 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?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 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.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Who Is the Greatest?
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 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.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies Jesus
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Holy Thursday devotional thoughts
If Wednesday seemed calm, Thursday would take a nosedive towards the end. There is a lot to unpack about Thursday, so let’s begin.
It is time for Passover. Jesus gives instructions for Peter and John to go make preparations for the Passover meal. Passover remembers the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt in an act of God’s redemption in the Old Testament. Jesus was preparing himself to be the new redemption for God’s people. He gave specific instructions to Peter and John on how to find the room for their Passover meal. They were to find a man carrying a pitcher. A man with a pitcher would stand out because typically women carried pitchers while men carried liquids in animal skin containers. This would help them determine who Jesus wanted them to ask for a room without drawing much attention and maintaining secrecy. Jesus may have been quiet about his arrangements so Judas wouldn’t be able to betray him before he could have these final moments with his disciples.
Jesus was passionate about eating the Passover meal with the disciples. It was time for him to fulfill the entire reason he came to man. He would become the new covenant with man based on the sacrifice he would make for all mankind. As they were having the traditional Passover meal, Jesus began reinterpreting the Passover and instituting a new covenant. The Passover showed a people who were freed from the bondage of Egypt – remembering where God brought them out from. The new Passover will show a people who are united in Christ – remembering and trusting His sacrifice. Jesus would tell them, this is my body given for you, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. This is how the disciples and future believers would remember what Jesus did for us. As we eat the bread we remember that Jesus’ body was beaten beyond recognition for our sins. As we drink the cup we will remember that his blood flowed on Calvary for our sins. We do these things in remembrance of him.
After the meal, Jesus would show by example how he wanted believers to love and serve one another. He would also tell them one of them would betray him. They began questioning and trying to figure out which one of them it would be, but no one could figure it out. Jesus let Peter know that he would deny him three times before the next morning. Jesus tried to tell them what was to come of him and that they needed to be prepared. The time was coming when they would have to continue without him. While before wherever they went people would provide for them, after Jesus’ upcoming death they would face an unknown hostile world.
Jesus and the disciples would then leave the upper room and go to the Garden of Gethsemane like it was believed he had every other night that week. Even though he knew that this would make him an easier target, he knew he needed to spend time talking with the Father before facing Calvary. Jesus told the disciples that they should pray that they may not enter temptation. It was customary for a man to stand and pray, but here we have an intimate look at Jesus at his most vulnerable time, he knelt before God. Even though Jesus knew what the will of the Father was, he was in agony over what was to come. Even so, Jesus would willing resolve to lay down his life for all mankind. Jesus prayed earnestly and sought the Father’s strength. The weight of what was to come was so heavy on him that his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
Three times Jesus took a break in praying to wake the disciples and warn them to rise and pray to keep from being tempted. They didn’t know the tests and trials that would come to the followers of Jesus after his death and resurrection.
Then enters Judas. Judas greeted Jesus warmly with a kiss. This kiss identified Jesus to the authorities who came with Judas to arrest him. Peter retaliates by cutting a guard’s ear off and is then reprimanded by Jesus telling him to “Permit even this”. Let it be Peter, this is the will of the Father. Jesus touched the man’s ear, healed it, then the authorities took Jesus to the home of Caiaphas so they could make their case against Jesus. Peter would follow along and try to blend in with the crowd. Three times before morning he would deny that he knew Jesus.
With the events that took place on Thursday of Holy Week fresh on our minds, let us reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Jesus set an example of selfless servant leadership. He was willing to go to death to obey the will of the Father. What is your level of obedience? Take time today to kneel before God and see His will.
Songs of worship and reflection
It Is So | Official Lyric Video | At Midnight | Elevation Worship
ABOVE ALL by Michael W Smith Lyrics
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