Ever been in a room with lots of tension in it, but you are pretty much oblivious to it? That’s how it was for the disciples in the upper room.
We pick up the story in Luke 22
1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
Their verdict about Jesus is already decided; the only remaining issue is how to get rid of him
3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
Judas had never truly believed in Jesus, and Jesus was aware of this (see John 6:64, 70)
Judas outward behavior apparently did not give him away
But here (with the consent of Judas's sinful heart) Satan entered into Judas and thereby he exercises much greater influence over his actions.
Sin takes you further than you ever wanted to go.
We could stop there and unpack that for the next hour, but we have to keep moving. You see, we really need to get to ver 38, because that little mystery verse is the key to the whole thing. So let’s go…
4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The opportunity was provided when the crowd was not around. That’s how sin often works… in isolation.
Now the tension grows as Jesus enters this crucial time with his disciples. They have no clue. Jesus needs to give them one.
The time for the disciples to get the point has never been better…
7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
The Passover was a time that the Jewish people took aside to commemorate the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt with God working in a dramatic way in a series of 10 plagues leveled on the Egyptians. Specifically the last plague involved an angel of death that was appointed to travel through Egypt and kill any first born child or animal unless the house had the blood of an unblemished lamb covering their door. When the angel saw the blood of this lamb, he would pass over the house and spare the family.
9"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. 10He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." 13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Peter and John aren’t the only duo working on preparing the Passover. Judas is as well.
As Pharaoh’s heart was hardened for the first Passover, Judas’ heart is overcome for this one. Satan himself enters it.
They all meet in the upper room. Including the possessed Judas.
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
We really could stop here and unpack all this over the next hour, but we need to move ahead and stay focused on the big picture of Luke 22.
The parallels between Passover and Jesus’ work on the cross should be pretty obvious.
There are other not so obvious facts that help us understand why Jesus is about to do what he does with his disciples.
• Five days before the lamb was to be sacrificed, it was chosen. Jesus entered Jerusalem on lamb selection day as the lamb of God.
• Friday was the day of the Passover celebration and the day that the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.
Everything about the Passover was designed to point to what Jesus originally set out to accomplish in Jerusalem. What he was about to accomplish in the next few days.
VIDEO: THE PASSOVER LAMB
COMMUNION
We’ve come this far and we haven’t even told you what the big picture is. Judas, Peter and John are really just extras in this drama. The real confrontation that’s happening in Luke 22 is between Satan and the Savior. You’ll see what we mean shortly.
The other gospels give us more detail about what happens next. Jesus turns to Judas and tells him to go ahead and do what he’s planned.
I think the rest of the disciples are still clueless about what is going on. If they really knew how much spiritual tension was in the room, they would have never done what they proceeded to do next.
24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
According to 25, they were now thinking like the world. In that culture those with the authority were the ones who called themselves “Benefactors.” They would actually hire people to pay homage and render tribute by having these “hired hands” speak nice words about them and call them fancy titles. They were really into the look of authority.
26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The time for sitting at tables and ruling as kings will come, but now’s the time for serving and facing trials. That’s exactly what Jesus was preparing each of his disciples for. Jesus knew he was about to face literal trials before the governing officials of Israel and Rome. I don’t think he was as concerned about that as he was about the spiritual trials his disciples were about to face at the same time.
Especially Peter…
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Jesus’ heart is going out to Peter, yet that’s not going to spare Peter from having to face the trial from Satan and inevitable failure in the face of that trial. Notice Jesus prayed for Peter’s strength, not his deliverance. Why?
The time for sitting at tables and ruling as kings will come, but now’s the time for serving and facing trials.
33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
Peter’s trial was not just the temptation to deny Christ, but the desire to give up because of failure. Peter denied knowing Christ out of fear for his skin. That’s bad, but what would have been worse is if Peter continued to run from God after this out of fear for his soul.
Would Peter have ever come back without Jesus praying for his faith? The time for Peter to be strong was not just important before denying Christ, but after as well.
How are you being sifted?
What makes you think this life was designed for anything else?
Some of God’s creation glorifies him by just existing they are just the background of God’s creative work. Beautiful scenery, incredible creatures, powerful armies, amazing songs from angelic beings. That’s amazing and we often long to be a part of that scene.
26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
We, as the crown of God’s creation glorify him by serving and suffering. That’s our song. That’s our beauty. That’s our strength.
Like Paul said in Romans 12:1, we truly are living sacrifices.
I would imagine a dying sacrifice is a little easier. After all, at some point you die and it’s over. Being a living sacrifice means, like a burning bush in the desert projecting the voice of God, you just keep burning without burning up.
There’s no way for a living sacrificed to relax while they are being sacrificed. Jesus knows the hour of the living sacrifice is close. So, he tries to explain what’s ahead. He does this by contrasting it with the good times.
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.
Jesus is referring to the golden age of his short three year ministry.
Luke 9 describes what happened then.
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
They leave with nothing material, but they are well equipped spiritually.
We find out a few verses later how things went for the 72.
Luke 9:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
They rejoiced over having authority over demons, etc. Jesus laughs and praises God in the midst of experiencing incredible joy through the HS.
Jesus wants them to remember that awesome time in Galilee. Because Jesus’ time in Galilee will stand at a great contrast with this time he is about to spend in Jerusalem.
Look back at Luke 22
36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." 38The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.
THAT’S THE SPOT. Everything is hidden in verse 38.
First, let’s get the obvious out of the way. The disciples are still pretty clueless. They believe that Jesus is talking about suiting up for physical battle in Jerusalem. They are doing inventory and they find a couple of swords. Jesus seems to say, “that’ll do”.
But something’s screwy with what seems obvious here.
Why would Jesus be talking about a sword? Why would he say, “that’ll do” to two swords?
Here’s the point.
Jesus is talking about a spiritual battle and meanwhile, his disciples are suiting up like the A-Team.
We do the same thing. When Jesus talks about suffering and spiritual war, we think about our church buildings and home mortgages.
We pick our political voting record and moral agenda up and say, here are two swords Jesus. Let’s get ‘em. This is sure to keep us from suffering and losing blood. Jesus says… “That’s enough.”
All of this talk about being numbered among transgressors and preparing our swords is prophetic language designed to point to our real fight. Our real fight, my friends, is not with Republicans, Democrats, Palestinians, Israelis, Baptists, ex-husbands, ex-wives, disrespectful teenagers or grumpy old men.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
In this battle you will fight through suffering. You will be a living sacrifice. You will burn and not burn up. The difference between Judas hanging from a tree and Peter preaching at Pentecost is in understanding this one command.
Pick up your cross and follow me.
Felt the cross on your back lately? It could be that you aren’t carrying one.
Repentance for you means turning around and picking it up, no matter what the cost.
Some of you haven’t picked it up at all yet. Now’s the time to…
Those of us who carry it to our grave will rise up and possibly hear these very words from Luke 20:28-30
28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones…
