The Conspiracy Against Jesus Series

LUKE 22: 1-13 [JESUS’ LAST WEEK SERIES]

THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST JESUS

[John 6:67-71]

Luke’s passion narrative begins ominously with a description of Judas’s plot which was designed and orchestrated by Satan himself (1 Cor 2:8). The Jewish leaders had decided to do away with Jesus (see 23:2 for their pretexts). Their main problem was to do so without creating an uprising by His supporters. Jesus had many supporters among the common people and it was feared that many of them would be ready to fight on His behalf.

The Conspiracy of the Jewish Authorities to put Jesus to death comes together when they make a compact with Judas. What Judas did was to provide an opportunity for Jesus to be arrested quietly. Since there could be around 100,000 people in and around Jerusalem at the Passover season, the chances of tracking down an individual who wished to remain hidden were slight without inside information. Though knowing all that is occurring, Jesus uses His last Thursday to assure that He would celebrate the Passover and institute the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist with His disciples (CIT).

I. THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS, 1–2.

II. THE BETRAYAL OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, 3-6.

III. THE PASSOVER WITH THE DISCIPLES, 7-12.

The last week of Jesus’ earthly life draws to a close with the celebration of the Passover which Luke informs us in verse 1 of chapter 22 is now at hand. “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.’

The Feasts of Unleavened Bread (Ex 12:1-20; Deut 16:1-8) and the Passover were originally separate festivals. The Jewish dates for Passover were Nisan 14–15 (early spring). The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed it immediately and also came to be included under the Passover. The “Feast of Unleavened Bread” lasted seven days (Ex 12:15–20).

Here, the term “Passover” stands for the entire observance. [The Passover was celebrated on the 14th and 15th of the month Nisan (roughly March–April). During the afternoon of the 14th, the Passover lambs were slaughtered at the temple. Since the new Jewish day began at sunset, the evening of that same day (by our reckoning) was the beginning of the 15th, and the actual meal was held then. The days of Unleavened Bread lasted from the 15th to the 21st of the month. In 22:7 the 14th is described as the day of Unleavened Bread possibly because the feasts were closely linked, or possibly for non-jewish readers who used a calendar with the day starting at midnight. [Marshall, I. H. (1994). Luke. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1014). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.]

Passover was the annual celebration of the time of the Exodus when lambs had been slain in Egypt and God spared the Israelites but punished the Egyptians (Ex. 12:1–28). During this time pilgrims from all over the region flocked to Jerusalem for a celebration like the combined celebration of Independence Day and Thanksgiving in the United States. [All Jewish men were required to be in Jerusalem for the Passover (Deut 16:16).]

Verse 2 reminds us of the conspiracy to kill the one who is the fulfillment of all the exodus foreshadowed or represented. ‘And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.’

Earlier the Pharisees were prominent in opposing Jesus (5:17). Now the “chief priests and teachers of the law” were taking the initiative against Him. In that society the priests were not only religious leaders, but they also wielded great political power. The scribes (teachers of the law) were involved doubtless because their legal expertise would be useful in building a case against Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all take pains to show that “the people” (ton laon) were a deterrent to the schemes of the leaders.

The religious leaders were afraid of the people (Luke 19:47–48; 20:19), especially those who thought Him the Messiah, but were still trying to get rid of Jesus. They were waiting for an opportunity to do so without causing a riot or insurrection that a public arrest might cause.

II. THE BETRAYAL OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, 3-6.

How did he who knew Christ so well, come to betray Him? We are told in verse 3 that Satan entered into Judas. ‘Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.’

The initiative for the betrayal rested on Judas. For he allowed Satan to enter him (John 13:27) and sought to betray Jesus to His enemies. Satan’s taking part in Jesus’ death was actually Satan’s own defeat, for through dying Jesus conquered Satan, sin, and death (Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14).

How did Judas become an instrument of Satan to accomplish the arrest and death of Jesus? The awful stages that brought Judas to Satan were: (1) Covetousness. The Lord let it reveal itself and gather strength by entrusting him with the money bag (Jn 12:6), as treasurer for Jesus and the Twelve. (2) In the performing that sacred trust he became “a thief,” appropriating its contents from time to time to his own use. Satan, seeing this door into his heart standing wide open, determined to enter by it, but cautiously (2 Co 2:11). First merely “putting it into his heart to betray Him” (Jn 13:2), suggesting the thought to him that by this means he might enrich himself. (3) This thought was probably converted into a settled purpose by what took place in Simon’s house at Bethany. (See Mt 26:6, and Jn 12:4–8.) (4) the determination to carry out his betrayal was mercifully held back for some time until it went into immediate effect sitting at the Lord’s paschal supper, “Satan entered into him” (see Jn 13:27), and conscience, effectually stifled, only rose again to be his tormentor. Such is the work of the deceiver. What lessons in his fall are there for every one (Eph 4:27; Jam 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8, 9)! [Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 122). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.]