Luke 22

1 – 2

It was almost time for the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover Feast. The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of the people.

Watch out for people who are trying to do something evil but still try to make themselves look good.

3 – 6

One of Jesus’ 12 apostles was named Judas Iscariot. Satan entered Judas, and he went to the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the Temple.

He talked to them about a way to give Jesus to them. They were pleased and promised to give Judas money. Judas agreed. Then he waited for the best time to turn Jesus over to them without the crowd knowing it.

It could be that Judas thought Jesus was not doing what the Messiah was supposed to do so he decided to turn against Jesus at this time. John tells us that it was the devil who put these ideas into the heart of Judas. We see how the devil can use evil thoughts to make us go further into sin.

7 –13

The Day of Unleavened Bread came. This was the day the Passover lambs had to be sacrificed. Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.” They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

Jesus said to them, “Listen! After you go into the city, you will see a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house that he enters. Tell the person who owns that house, ‘The Teacher asks that you please show us the room where he and his followers may eat the Passover meal.’

Then he will show you a large room upstairs. This room is ready for you. Prepare the Passover meal there.”
So Peter and John left. Everything happened as Jesus had said. So they prepared the Passover meal.

Some teachers say that this was the house of another Mary who was the mother of Mark. This family had given their house to God and asked Him to use it for His glory.

14 – 18

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table. He said to them, “I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God.”

Then Jesus took a cup. He gave thanks to God for it and said, “Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom comes.”

Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9

19 – 20

Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for it, broke it, and gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said, “This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup shows the new agreement that God makes with his people. This new agreement begins with my blood which is poured out for you.”

The promises in the Old Testament were built on the idea that if the Jews would do what God asked them to do and see be set-apart to walk with the Lord then He would walk with them. The Jews did not follow this way of life and even changed God’s Laws to their own ideas.

Jesus was now making a new agreement that if men would agree that His body was given to pay for their sins on the cross, then He would forgive them and they would be with Him in heaven.

21 – 23

Jesus said, “One of you will turn against me. His hand is by my hand on the table. The Son of Man will do what God has planned. But how terrible it will be for that man who gives the Son of Man to be killed.” Then the apostles asked each other, “Which one of us would do that to Jesus?”

Zechariah said that this would happen (Zechariah 11:13). Peter also asked if he would turn against the Lord. Peter could have thought that he would never do what Judas did. The devil has big plans for you to do something you never thought you would do! Stay close to the Lord in His Word and He will protect you from these plans!

24 – 27

Then the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over others are called ‘very important.’ But you must not be like that.

The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader should be like the servant. Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving him? You think the one at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you!

Can you be tempted to think that now you are a very important person in God’s ministry? Do you see how you make your brothers feel when you want to be lifted up higher than everyone else?

28 – 30

You men have stayed with me through many struggles. My Father has given me the power to rule. I also give you authority to rule with me. You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Revelation 21:14

31 – 32

Satan has asked to test all of you as a farmer tests his wheat. Simon, Simon, I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me.”

We need to know that the devil also wants to sift us as wheat to see what he can find in our weak spots.

33 – 34

But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you. I will even die with you!” But Jesus said, “Peter, before the rooster crows tonight, you will say you don ot know me. You will say this three times!”

Peter was not thinking of what he was saying. He was saying that he loved Jesus more than all the other followers. Jesus asked him if he still loved Him more than the others in John 21:15.
It is not good for you to think that you love Jesus more than your brothers. You are setting a trap for yourself if you think this way.

35 – 36

Then Jesus said to the apostles, “When I sent you out without money, a bag, or sandals, did you need anything?” They said, “No.”

He said to them, “But now if you have money or a bag, carry that with you. If you do not have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.

God will provide what we need for ministry. Use what you have and leave the rest to Him.

37. The Scripture says, ‘He was treated like a criminal. This scripture must have its full meaning. It was written about me, and it is happening now.”

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal. Isaiah 53:9

38. The followers said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords!” He said to them, “That is enough.”

Some people use this verse to say that we all need to get some guns to protect ourselves. It sounds like Jesus is saying not to go too far in that direction. If God is not with us then there are not enough guns to help us anyway.

39 – 40

Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (Jesus went there often.) He said to his followers, “Pray for strength against temptation.”

Jesus took on Himself the body of a man so that He could show us how life can be lived. He shows us here that the reason He could stand the torture of the cross the next day was because of the war in the spiritual world the night before.

The war is won by prayer. When you have prayed then God makes a way for you to stand on the next day!

41 – 44

Then Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, “Father, if it is what you want, then let me not have this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to help him. Jesus was full of pain; he prayed even more. Sweat dripped from his face as if he were bleeding.

The original language says that Jesus kept on standing and kneeling.

45 – 46

When he finished praying, he went to his followers. They were asleep. (Their sadness had made them very tired.) Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.”

Jesus was watching over them because they were not watching with Him.

47 – 48

While Jesus was speaking, a crowd came up. One of the 12 apostles was leading them. He was Judas. He came close to Jesus so that he could kiss him.
But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you using the kiss to give the Son of Man to his enemies?”

The original language shows that Judas kissed Jesus with a strong kiss. This was making fun of Jesus and showing the Jewish leaders that Judas was not following Jesus anymore. There is no place in the Bible where Judas called Jesus his Lord.

49 – 51

The followers of Jesus were standing there too. They saw what was happening. They said to Jesus, “Lord, should we use our swords?” And one of them did use his sword. He cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus said, “Stop!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

Peter was a strong man and he was used to using his strength. He was very brave to fight like this when there were many soldiers against him. When Peter saw that Jesus was not going to fight back he was not brave anymore.

52 – 53

Those who came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the soldiers who guarded the Temple, and the Jewish elders. Jesus said to them, “Why did you come out here with swords and sticks? Do you think I am a criminal? I was with you every day in the Temple. Why did you not try to arrest me there? But this is your time—the time when darkness rules.”

Jesus did not try to hide but was a willing sacrifice.

54. They arrested Jesus and took him away. They brought him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed them, but he did not go near Jesus.

Annas was the high priest, but he retired. Caiaphas paid the Romans money to become High Priest. Together these men controlled the money tables in the temple. This is why they hated Jesus. When Jesus came to the house of Annas, it was 2 o’clock in the morning. John 11:49

The other disciples had run away except for John and Peter. Peter was not a total coward.

55 – 58

The soldiers started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together. Peter sat with them. A servant girl saw Peter sitting there near the light. She looked closely at Peter’s face and said, “This man was also with him!”

But Peter said this was not true. He said, “Girl, I do not know him.” A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

Maybe it has not happened yet, but a day may come when you do something that you thought you would never do. You will have to make a decision to start over.

Tell the Lord, “I cannot believe I did that. Please forgive me and rebuild a right spirit inside of me. I refuse to let the devil hold this over my head. My sins are covered by the blood of Jesus. Here is where I stand there is nothing else I can do.” Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 24:16

59 – 62

About an hour later, another man insisted, “It is true! This man was with him. He is from Galilee!” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” Right then, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried with much pain in his heart.

We can be sure that the Lord felt bad for Peter. He did not look at him and say, “I told you so!” Let us be like Jesus, and not make people feel worse after they have stumbled.
Stories have been handed down that after this men made fun of Peter by making rooster noises when they saw him.

63 – 65

Some men were guarding Jesus. They made fun of him like this: They covered his eyes so that he could not see them. Then they hit him and said, “Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you!” The men said many cruel things to Jesus.

They beat Him so bad that He no longer looked like a man.

His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from His appearance, one would not know He was a man. Isaiah 52:14

66 – 69

When day came, the elders of the people, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law came together. They led Jesus away to their highest court. They said, “If you are the Christ, then tell us that you are!”

Jesus said to them, “If I tell you I am the Christ, you will not believe me. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But beginning now, the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the powerful God.”

Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him, even those who pierced Him. Revelation 1:7

70. They all said, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “Yes, you are right when you say that I am.”

False teachers say that Jesus never said He was the Son of God. They need to read their Bibles more often.

71. They said, “Why do we need witnesses now? We ourselves heard him say this!”

It is against the Jewish law to ask a prisoner to speak against himself. It is also against their law to have a trial at night, and there have to be witnesses and the court had to wait three days before it decided the trial.

The Jews did not want Gamaliel and Nicodemus to find out about this night trial which was against the law, so they wanted this to be over with quickly.

As you read these words, ask yourself what you would do if you were on trial and you were being asked the same questions?