It was the Passover, and the chief priests and scribes sought how to kill Jesus. Satan had entered Judas, and he approached the religious rulers with a plot to betray Him (away from the multitudes), which they agreed to pay him for.
At the Passover meal, Jesus met with His twelve disciples in the upper room and said He longed to eat with them before He suffered, and that He will "no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Then He gave thanks and broke bread, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." He also took the cup, gave thanks, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which i sshed for you."
Then Jesus announced that His betrayer was with them at the table, and they all questioned which one it was. Next, they argued over who will be greatest in heaven, to which Jesus explained that the Gentiles act this way, but not so for His disciples. "Let...he who governs as he who serves." Jesus also told them that He is bestowing a kingdom upon them, and they will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus told Peter that He prayed for him because Satan was pursuing him, but Peter said he was ready to die for his Lord; Jesus told him that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny he knows Jesus three times.
Jesus also told them to prepare for a long journey and what they need, including a sword for protection.
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.
Next, they went to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sat a ways from His disciples to pray, asking His Father to remove the cup from Him; "nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done." He was administered to angels to strengthen Him. He was in agony and sweat drops of blood. Then He saw His disciples sleeping, and He told them to pray lest they enter into temptation.
Judas then showed up with a multitude and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. One of the disciples struck a servant of the high priest with a sword and cut off his ear. But Jesus healed his ear. Jesus pointed out that the multitude came with clubs and spears when He taught in the temple daily and they did not try to seize Him then; but they preferred the cover of darkness.
They arrested Jesus and took Him to the high priest and Peter followed them. It was then that he was identified as a follower of Jesus by three people and denied the accusations, realizing that he did exactly as the Lord said. Then Peter wept bitterly in sorrow.
Meanwhile, Jesus was mocked and beat. They blindfolded Him and struck Him and blasphemed Him. They asked Him if He was the Christ, but He knew they would not believe what He said. They asked again, and He said, "You rightly say that I am." And that was enough for them.
COMMENTARY
Note that Jesus used two of the most delicate elements as symbols of His body and blood. Bread and wine will spoil in a few days. When we eat of these, we remember what He did on the cross.
Some believe that Judas left before the institution of the Lord's Supper, and McGee believes this to be correct. Luke does not give a chronological order of events. During the supper, when Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, they all knew they were capable of doing so, and questioned who. We are all capable of doing so; if it were not for the Lord to keep us.
And not only were they inclined to betrayal, but they also wanted to know who would be greater in heaven. Jesus set them straight with His example of being a servant. He even took our place on the cross. He served mankind, and He set the table of salvation and invited us. For His apostles, they will sit on thrones and judge the tribes of Israel.
All believers will have a responsibility in heaven, but it will be according to our works on earth. We are all given talents, abilities, and gifts at the time of salvation, and what we do with these gifts will determine how we are rewarded in heaven. It is not a judgement, nor is it a determinant of salvation. It is a reward for faithfulness with the gifts God bestowed in our care.
When Jesus prayed that God would remove the cup from Him, it was not that He was afraid to die, but it was the repulsion of the cup He was about to drink, the repulsion of our sin. If we only knew how much so, we would understand the weight of this punishment.
Jesus died for our eternal liberty. He loved a lost world so much that He went to hell itself to offer mankind salvation. And the world rejects Him. Why?
After His illegal arrest in the cover of night without a true charge, the religious rulers put Him in the authority of the soldiers who cruelly mistreated Him. In the end, the Sanhedrin wanted Him condemned for admitting to be the Christ. Although, once in Roman hands, the charge was to be changed. How convenient.
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| Jesus About to be Struck in Front of Former High Priest Annas - Madrazo, 1803 |