GOSPEL OF LUKE: Chapter 22

Luke 22:1-6  Judas Is Recruited to Betray Jesus
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near.  The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.  That's when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot.  he was one of the Twelve.  Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them.  They couldn't believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well.  He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd. 
    Today we would call Judas a mole - someone in the inner circle working against the group.  What drove Judas to this point?  Did he feel unappreciated?  Was he tired of living on a disciples' budget?  We don't know the answers.  
    Is there a bit of Judas in each of us?  We are all hyman - it's HARD to live as Christ demanded day in and day out.  our betrayals may not be the high price Christ paid, but the impact can be just as painful.  A sharp, hurtful word, failure to get involved, averting eye contact with a homeless soul - these are all betrayals of Christ.  Failures to act and serve as Christ called.  May God help us recognize our Judas moments and then reject the silver coins.  

Luke 22: 7-23  The Last Supper
Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.'  He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.' (MSG:19-20)
Commentary from The Voice:
     "The meal that Jesus and His disciples shared is still celebrated today among followers of Jesus.  We surround it with varied rituals and music, but the original meal took place in the midst of great drama and tension.  The disciples were arguing, and Jesus was teaching them yet another lesson about life in the kingdom of God.  Jesus even spoke of His own suffering and their betrayal and denial.  Yet through it all, Jesus' focus remained on the central theme of His life and mission: the coming of the kingdom of God."


Luke 22: 39-45  Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed.  'Father,' he said, 'if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me,  Not my will, however, but your will be done.'  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (GNT:41-44)

     Once again, Jesus turns to prayer - in the midst of a very trying and stressful night.  His prayer reflects honest, gut emotions: God, I don't want to do this!  But the prayer also invokes the prayer that 'never fails' (to quote Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford books!) - Thy will be done.    Angels come to strengthen Jesus for the difficult hours ahead.  God will stand by us also in our hours of need and give us the strength to endure the trials before us. 
I appreciated The Voice commentary on this section also:  "We often speak of having faith in Jesus, but we seldom speak of the faith of Jesus, a faith He demonstrated consistently throughout His life and especially at its end.  In a moment of agony, Jesus still trusted God, still yielded His will to God, and still approached God as "Father," placing Himself in the position of child, in trust - profound, tested, and sincere." 

Luke 22:47-53  Jesus Is Arrested
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead.  He came right up to Jesus to kiss him.  Jesus said, 'Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?'  When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they asked, 'Shall we use our swords, Lord? And one of them struck the High Priest's slave and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus said, 'Enough of this!' He touched the man's ear and healed him.  
     Clear to the end, Jesus' message is one of peace, healing, and love.  The last miracle recorded in Luke is the healing of the slave's ear - a slave representing his enemy.  There is strength in facing persecution with active love, defending the word and character of God.  Jesus is preaching a message of forgiveness and hope even as he is arrested.

      Luke 22:54-62  Peter Denies Jesus
Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about.'  At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed.  Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter.  Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'  He went out and cried and cried and cried.  (MSG: 60-62)
     How often am I Peter?  How often do I fail to proclaim my allegiance to Christ...usually when in the company of non-believers or those who think differently.  We all do it at one time or another.  Peter is so very human.  We are human.  And the beautiful thing?  God loves us all - even in our failures.