One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Luke 22

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Matt. 26:1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:1, 2, 10, 11

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. ² And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

³ Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. ⁴ So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. ⁵ And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. ⁶ So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. 

(Luke 22:1–6, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• In this chapter, the Passover nears and the religious leaders seek how they might kill Jesus
• This is a bloodthirsty and opportunistic time as the established leaders seek to shore up their control and power in the Jewish establishment.
• Judas was convinced by the devil to confer with the leaders and provide access to Jesus at a time when He might be vulnerable. They offered him payment and the plan was in place.

The Upper Room is Prepared

Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16

⁷ Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. ⁸ And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

⁹ So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

¹⁰ And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. ¹¹ Then you shall say to 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 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

¹³ So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 

(Luke 22:7–13, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus gave instructions as to the place and circumstances in which He would observe Passover.
• They followed His instructions and the room was prepared.

The Passover is Celebrated

Matt. 26:20,29; Mark 14:17, 25

¹⁴ When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; ¹⁸ for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 

(Luke 22:14–18, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• When they were assembled, Jesus told them this would be His last Passover with them before His death.
• He then offered the cup of Passover and said this would be His last until the kingdom of God would come.
• Jesus was preparing them for the next several days of torturous grief.

The Lord’s Supper is Instituted

Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24

¹⁹ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

(Luke 22:19–20, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then went a step further and called the bread He shared with them His body, and the wine He shared with them His blood.
• These would serve as a remembrance of His death when they took communion, or the Lord’s Supper.

Christ Predicts His Betrayer

Matt. 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; John 13:21-26

²¹ But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. ²² And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

²³ Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. 

(Luke 22:21–23, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Christ predicted that one of the disciples would betray Him. He said that man would suffer.
• The disciples tried to determine who it was, but Jesus did not reveal the identity of His betrayer yet.

The Disciples Argue Over Who is the Greatest

²⁴ Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. ²⁵ And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ ²⁶ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

²⁸ “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. ²⁹ And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” 

(Luke 22:24–30, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• This led to a discussion of which disciple was greater.
• Jesus told them that there should be no great or small, but simply servants of God.
• The rewards for service would be administered at a later time in heaven.

Christ Predicts Peter’s Denial

Matt. 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; John 13:36-38

³¹ And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” 

(Luke 22:31–34, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then blatantly told Peter that Satan had requested Him, but that He had prayer for him, and that after His failure, Peter would return to Him.
• Peter denied the saying, pledging that he would go with Him anywhere, even to death.
• Jesus then shared the prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster would crow.

Christ Predicts Coming Conflict

³⁵ And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

So they said, “Nothing.”

³⁶ Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. ³⁷ For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

³⁸ So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

And He said to them, “It is enough.” 

(Luke 22:35–38, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus changed gears and asked if they were provided for when Jesus sent them forth without provisions, and they all affirmed this fact.
• Jesus then reserved field and told them to take money and swords, for a conflict was coming.

Christ Prays in Gethsemane

Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; John 18:1

³⁹ Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. ⁴⁰ When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

⁴¹ And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” ⁴³ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

⁴⁵ When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. ⁴⁶ Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” 

(Luke 22:39–46, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, and asked His disciples to pray and keep watch.
• Jesus went further and prayed in anguish, was strengthened by an angel, and sweat great drops of blood (described in medical terms as hematohidrosis).
• He then returned and found the disciples asleep, and scolded them for their carelessness. “Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Judas Betrays Christ

Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50; John 18:2-11

⁴⁷ And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “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 answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” 

(Luke 22:47–53, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• While Jesus was speaking to His disciples, Judas arrived with a multitude to arrest Jesus. He betrayed Him with the sign of a kiss.
• One of the disciples, named as Peter elsewhere, cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus told them to allow the arrest, and healed the man’s ear.
• Jesus then asked why they approached Him as a criminal for arrest, when they could have detained Him any time in the temple, but they did not respond.

Peter Denies Christ

Matt. 26:57, 58, 69-75; Mark 14:53, 54, 66-72; John 18:15-18, 25-27

⁵⁴ Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

⁵⁸ And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”

But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

⁵⁹ Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶² So Peter went out and wept bitterly. 

(Luke 22:54–62, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The crowd led Jesus to the high priest’s house, while Peter followed at a distance.
• Several people accused Him of being Jesus’ follower, but He denied it three times.
• Then, Peter heard the rooster crow. At that moment, Jesus turned and looked at Peter, and he was devastated and left weeping.

Christ is Beaten

Matt. 26:67, 68; Mark 14:65

⁶³ Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. ⁶⁴ And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” ⁶⁵ And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. 

(Luke 22:63–65, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The people holding Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. They teased Him, asking Him to identify who struck Him on the face while He was blindfolded.
• They blasphemed His name, unaware to Whom they spoke.

The Sanhedrin Tries Christ

⁶⁶ As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷ “If You are the Christ, tell us.”

But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. ⁶⁸ And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. ⁶⁹ Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

⁷⁰ Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?”

So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.”

⁷¹ And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” 

(Luke 22:66–71, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus was then subjected to a mock trial, a kangaroo court if you will, where they tried to find Him guilty of blasphemy. They asked if He was the Christ, and He refused to answer, but told them that they would see Him sitting at the right hand of power.
• He then revealed Himself and said He was the Son of God when they asked that question specifically.
• They then deemed Him worthy of punishment for the sin of blasphemy.
• Jesus prepared His disciples, prepared Himself, and then walked headlong into the fray without hesitation. He was determined to pay the ultimate price for our sins. Jesus loved the world to the very end of His journey.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.