Memorize: Mockery of the trial
Key Verses: 3, 16, 24, 32-33, 60,
Satan enters Judas, a place prepared by deception and rebellion. Satan can’t just jump into an unprepared heart. Christians don’t need to worry about demon possession. We have the Strong Man, Jesus, residing in us.
Jesus is reading Himself for His last meal with His disciples before He is gives Himself over to death. He knows full well what is ahead and He tries to prepare His disciples for the coming days. This traditional meal had a ritual that was practiced which had meaning to those who ate it. Jesus adds new meaning to the old. He becomes the object of the object lesson. Instead of looking back to the Passover which took place over a thousand years earlier, Jesus switches the focus to what will happen to Him in the coming hours and days. The disciples don’t understand it until after the Resurrection.
Notice that Luke talks about two cups and the bread. We don’t do two cups as part of communion today. The first cup was just part of the larger ritual meal, with multiple elements. If you want to understand more about these elements I encourage you to partake in a Seder Meal next year around Easter. You can read a bit more at http://www.crivoice.org/seder.html if you are interested. Jesus takes some of these elements and infuses them with greater meaning, their intended meaning. All of the Old Testament rituals, including the Passover meal, pointed to Jesus. Now that Jesus has fulfilled there is no NEED for us to celebrate the Seder, but it can bring some insight into the meal Jesus celebrated.
Luke’s emphasis in recounting the Last Supper is on Judas’ betrayal, not on the specifics of the meal, so he does not finish the words of consecration following the cup, “Do this in remembrance of me,” or some of the other details that are included in the other Gospels. What I want to note is that Judas is not the only one at the meal who loses focus on what is important. The others start arguing about who is the greatest. Peter (Simon) must have been one of those getting off track and Jesus looks into the coming hours and sees his betrayal and offers him reconciliation. He reminds all of them of His provision for them before as they went out in His Name.
They begin to fall apart even before Jesus is betrayed by Judas. They can’t stay awake to pray. The disciples deny by falling asleep. Judas denies by betrayal. The religious leaders deny by arresting Him. Peter denies three times. The soldiers deny by mocking and beating Him. The elders deny by condemning an innocent Man.
The Arnold Journey 