Weekend Message/Devotion
April 14, 2019
Luke 22:14-23:56
HIS Last days!
This week’s gospel reading covers many events and observations. Let’s just walk through them and really absorb the events in the last days of The Messiah leading up to His resurrection.
We begin this reading with Jesus and His disciples gathered to celebrate the Feast of Pesach (Passover). However, this celebration becomes more of a prelude for the coming events of the arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial of our Lord.
We celebrate this event (communion, we call it here) monthly and on special occasions. Many churches celebrate “communion” weekly.
This celebration is referred to by several titles: The Lord’s Supper, The Last Supper, Holy Communion. Communion. Eucharist or Holy Eucharist and others. No matter the tile, all represent the FIRST of what we have come to know and celebrate as “communion”. The actual manner of celebration also varies from denomination to denomination, with all sharing the fruit of the vine (fermented or unfermented) and bread.
This gathering of Christ and His disciples occurs just days after Jesus attended a festive time with friends in Bethany (last week’s message).
Just a thought: When I read somewhere about “The Last Supper”, I always think NO, this was the “FIRST” supper, as far as the meaning that we celebrate today.
As you know, we always read Luke 22:14-22 at the beginning of our communion services. It helps bring the true meaning into perspective. As we read verses 20-22:
“Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” Luke 22_20-22
We find a significant reminder that we may also be a “betrayer of” Jesus, if we partake of the elements of communion without first confessing before Him our sins and devotion. Think about it. This is a serious time of remembrance and demands our serious response. We never want to proceed out of any sense of ritual or tradition but out of love and honor to the ONE who shed His blood and suffered a broken body for the express purpose of our having the means of redemption and restoration before God Almighty by the remission of our sins.
We view the partaking of the communion elements without first confessing sins as a grave betrayal to Jesus and His Sacrifice.
As we read on, we encounter the disciples exercising that common human trait of pride and ambition; each seeking to be recognized as the greatest among the disciples. Can you remember a time, listening to anyone brag about how smart they are, how great they are, what great accomplishments they have done? We may all be guilty of this from time to time BUT in retrospect the audience may be politely listening but likely rolling their eyes. No one likes a braggart.
Jesus immediately addresses this discussion by saying, in effect: The greatest among you is the one who is the servant. Jesus gave of Himself in service to all, all of His life and He is certainly the greatest who ever walked on this earth. In our time (At least those of us that have been around a while) Mother Theresa comes to mind. This woman; small in stature; humble in nature, devoted her entire life to the Kingdom of God in His service and in serving the poorest of the poor in India. I am fortunate enough to have actually met her and felt her love for God and His creation back in the late 1940's, during one of her visits the United States. I think of the great women through the years who tend nurseries and child care during church services. It is a self-less service to God and to fellow congregants. These ladies are among the greatest. Volunteers who visit their churches during the week to clean and vacuum the sanctuary, bathrooms and common areas are among God’s greatest. Those who serve others in any capacity, expecting no recognition or financial gain are among God’s greatest.
It is so sad that so many celebrities are viewed in greater esteem by so many. Referrals that come to mind are: That boxer said to be “The Greatest” – The singers - King of Rock and Roll – Queen of Soul – and on and on. In too many instances they have greater influence on the vulnerable in our society.
Knowing what lies ahead, Jesus makes His way to the garden with the disciples. As they neared the place where Jesus sought solitude, He instructed the followers to pray that they not enter into temptation. The temptation to self -aggrandizement freshly comes to mind but the constant barrage of temptations befalls us all and more so when we are facing opportunities of great service to God and fellow man.
Jesus went on ahead to pray. Verse 42: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not My will, but yours, be done.” Our reading says that an angel came down from heaven, strengthening Him. Who, but an angel from heaven (Emissary from God) could possibly strengthen “God” the Son? And Jesus prayed on, harder and harder. So much so that he began to sweat profusely like great drops of blood falling to the ground. (Verse 44).
My bible doesn’t say that He sweated blood but rather that His sweat fell to the ground LIKE drops of blood. It tells me that He put His all into that prayer. How often, if ever, do we pray with our ALL? Sometimes we just kind of throw a prayer heavenward and think that’s good enough. Don’t we? Come on, don’t we?
After this prayer time with God, Jesus went back to join His disciples, only to find them asleep. The reading says sleeping from sorrow! This is a real point of interest. We can be overcome with grief and sorrow to the point that we are sapped of strength and stamina. Have you ever been that grief stricken? I venture to guess that you have. Even so, Jesus says: “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” There comes a time in our darkest hours that prayer becomes our most pressing and paramount need. Yes, even more so that rest! Isn’t that what Jesus is saying here?
Suddenly, this conversation was interrupted by a group of men. Among them was Judas Iscariot, who went right up to Jesus and kissed Him. Jesus spoke up and said, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (verse 48)
The disciples rose up to defend their friend and Lord. “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (verse 50) John 18:10 tells us that it was Simon Peter (Whom I seem to view as the most impetuous one) cut off the right ear of the servant Malchus. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this”. And He touched his ear and healed him.
Here is a place to truly wonder. If you were among a mob bent on taking a reputed criminal into custody, who just performed a very miraculous act of healing before your very eyes, what would you do? Really, what would you do? I would either turn and run or I would fall on my knees in awe and fear. But no, this was the Will of God!
This entourage arrived at the home of the high priest where they gathered around a fire.
Let’s go back to a parallel account of the events at the Mount of Olives, in the Book of Matthew Chapter 26:
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be [f]made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are [g]made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And so, said all the disciples.
OUCH! Most of us would like to be able to say in all sincerity that we are willing to die for Christ. BUT, if that day ever comes, could we do it? There are multiple accounts of Christians refusing to denounce Christ in Africa, China And parts of the Middle East and are murdered for that sole reason. Even so, we can say what we will but again, if that time ever came, what would we do. Please don’t view denying Christ under threat of death as the only way to deny Jesus.
None of us are more devoted to Jesus than was Simon Peter. Yet when that time came, he simply couldn’t muster enough to publicly admit that he was one of Jesus’ closest followers.
Now read Luke’s account: Luke 22: 54-62
Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly
“Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
57 But he denied [a]Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”
But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”
Immediately, while he was still speaking, [b]the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster[c]crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.”
As we move on. Our reading takes us to the Kangaroo Court of the Sanhedrin Priests. As soon as Jesus assents that He IS the Son of God. The Sanhedrin turn Him over to Pontius Pilate with all kind of accusations of treason and perversion.
Pilot finds no fault in Christ but at the insistence of the Sanhedrin and their followers send Jesus to face Herod. Herod was not amused and not only mocked the Lord but treated Him with contempt. Then sent Him back to Pilate.
Ultimately Pilate acquiesced to the demands of the growing crowds and sentenced Him to death on the cross.
Jesus is led to the cross for the crucifixion. We are introduced to yet another Simon, Simon the Cyrenian, who the soldiers made to carry the cross upon which Jesus was to be crucified.
Jesus was mocked as He hung on that cross. We are subjected to the mockery of Jesus every time we hear the Lord’s name in vain, every time we hear a crude joke about Jesus and or Christianity. It is a mockery of Jesus to violate the sacred vows that we’ve made at the altar of God. i.e. wedding vows, vows of support and encouragement to new members brought into the congregation and like vows to newly baptized. If we cannot uphold our common vows, how can we possibly uphold our vows of dedication?
Jesus died on that cross, that day for YOU and for ME. It is not simply a historical event it is an event that changed the world from that day unto eternity. It is an event that allows us to commune with God, one on one. It is an event that provides us with the means to confess our sins have them forgiven and remembered no more.
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
This reading concludes “And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” verse 56
This commandment Exodus 31:16 is among the least obeyed of all of God’s commandments.
“Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.”
That word perpetual means everlasting.
We’ve talked about that many times before and surely it is a sermon topic that we will revisit again.
In the meantime: Let us Pray
I humbly and sincerely ask for your prayers!
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Note: It is the practice of this church to preach straight from the bible. We follow the lectionary assigned readings from which the sermon/messages are derived.
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