Luke 22

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Passover approaches, Judas agrees to hand Jesus over

Now the Flatbread Feast called the Passover was approaching. The lead priests and religious writers were trying to find a way to kill Jesus because they were afraid of the people.

Then the Adversary entered into Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve. He left and talked to the lead priests and officers about how to hand him over to them. They gladly agreed to pay him, so he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to hand him over to them without the crowd around.

Jesus foretells Passover venue

The Passover lamb needed to be sacrificed on the first day of the Flatbread Feast, so when it came Jesus sent Peter and John saying,

“Go prepare the Passover for us so that we can eat it.”

They asked where he wanted them to prepare it, so he said,

“When you enter the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house he enters, and tell the homeowner that The Teacher wants to know which guest room he can use to eat the Passover with his students. He will show you a large, fully furnished room upstairs. Prepare it there.”

They left and found everything just like he had described, so that’s where they prepared the Passover.

Remember Jesus when you eat and drink

When the time had come, Jesus sat at the table with his crew and told them,

“I’ve longingly desired to eat this Passover* with you before I suffer*, because I assure you that I won’t eat it again until it’s fulfilled in God’s empire.

[*the Greek word for “Passover” is one letter off from their word for “suffer”]

He took a glass, gave thanks, and said,

“Take this and distribute it amongst yourselves, because I assure you that I won’t drink the vine’s fruit from now on until God’s empire comes.”

He took some bread, gave thanks, passed out some pieces to everyone and said,

“This is my body which is donated for you. Remember me when you do this.”

After they ate, he took took the glass in the same way and said,

“This glass which is poured out for you is the new contract in my blood. But look: the one handing me over has his hand next to mine on the table. That’s right: the Culmination of Humanity moves forward like it was determined. Yikes to that man who hands him over!”

And they started discussing among themselves about which one of them might end up doing this.

Don’t strive for power; strive to serve

This turned into a dispute about which one of them had the reputation for being the most important. Jesus told them,

“When non-Jewish leaders rule over their people, they claim to be ‘advocates’ for the people, but that’s not how it should be with you. You need to become like the youngest—the leader should be like the housemaid. Who is more important: the one who is seated at the table, or the server? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But here I am being more like a server to you.

Jesus’s students will govern Israel

You are the ones who have remained at my side despite being on trial. The same way that my Father has endowed me with an empire, I endow you to eat and drink at my table within my empire. You will sit on thrones governing the 12 tribes of Israel.

Jesus predicts Peter’s denial

Peter, Peter… The Adversary has asked for permission to pitchfork through you like wheat, but I implored that your trust wouldn’t leave and that you would strengthen your brothers once you have returned.”

But Peter told him,

“Ruler, I am prepared to go to prison for you and to death!

Jesus replied,

“Peter, by the time the rooster crows in the morning, you will have denied the fact that you even know me three times.”

Take your wallet and sword, because Jesus is about to be grouped with sinners

Jesus told them,

“When I sent you out without wallets, backpacks, or sandals, there wasn’t anything you needed was there?”

They said, “No, nothing,” and then Jesus continued,

“But now whoever has a wallet and bag should take it with them. And if you don’t have a sword, you should sell your coat and buy one. I assure you that this writing must be fulfilled in me:

‘He was considered with the lawless’

because that reference to me has its fulfillment.”

They said,

“Leader, look: here are two swords.”

He told them that would be enough.

Jesus goes to the mountain and prays

Then Jesus went outside and proceeded toward the Mount of Olives like he usually did, and his students followed him. When he got there he told them,

“Pray that you aren’t tempted.”

He went about a stone’s throw away from them, knelt down, and began praying, saying,

“Dad, if you wish, take this cup away from me. But fulfill your wishes—not mine.”

Then he saw a messenger from heaven strengthening him. In agony, he prayed very vehemently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. After praying, he stood up, went to his students, and found them sleeping from all the sadness. He asked them,

“Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you aren’t tempted.”

Judas hands Jesus over

While he was still speaking, a crowd came led by Judas, one of the twelve. He approached Jesus to greet him with a kiss, but Jesus asked him,

“Judas, are you handing over the Son of Humanity with a kiss?”

When everyone around realized what was about to happen, they asked if they should attack with their swords. One of them swung and made contact with the lead priest’s servant, slicing off his right ear. But Jesus stepped in and said,

“Stop! No more of that.”

Then he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Jesus asked the lead priests, temple officers, and elders who opposed him,

“Did you come here with swords and clubs like you would for a robber? You didn’t seize me while I was with you every day in the temple, but this moment is yours and so is the power of darkness.”

Peter denies Jesus

After arresting him, and taking him away, the brought him to the lead priest’s house, but Peter followed them at a distance. They started a fire in the courtyard, sat down together, and then Peter joined them. A young housemaid saw him in the firelight, studied him, and accused him of being with Jesus. But Peter denied it, saying,

“Lady, I do not know him.”

A little later, someone else saw him and accused him of being one of Jesus’s students again. But peter said,

“Sir, I am not!”

About an hour later, another man insisted that Peter was with Jesus because he was a Galilean. But Peter said,

“Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Immediately, before he had even finished speaking, a rooster crowed. The Master turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered how Jesus had told him,

“You will deny me 3 times before a rooster crows in the morning.”

Then Peter left and wept bitterly.

Jesus’s captors abuse him; Jesus claims to be God’s son

The men who were restraining Jesus started making fun of him and beating him. They blindfolded him and asked him to prophesy which one was hitting him. They said many more irreverent things to him.

When the sun was up, the Council of elders assembled including the lead priests and religious writers, and they led him away to their council chamber, demanding that he tell them if he was the Chosen One. But Jesus said,

“If I tell you, you won’t believe, and if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from this point onward the Culmination of Humanity will be seated at the right hand of God’s power.”

They asked him,

“Does that mean you are God’s son then?”

And Jesus said,

“Yes, I am.”

Then they said,

“What more evidence do we need? We heard it for ourselves from his own mouth.”

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Luke 21