JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE
Born to Die Part 1 of 3
LUKE 22:13-23
#borntodie
CHRISTMAS SERIES INTRODUCTION
As Christians, there are some distinct truths that we believe in and because of those beliefs there are philosophies or ways of thinking about life and living we DO NOT believe in. Let me give you several examples.
* Christians do not believe in karma: We do not believe that there is an impersonal force creating balance between good and evil in this life and with our previous lives.
* Christians do not believe in destiny: We do not believe that life is a series of disconnected or even connected coincidences that create a person’s direction in life or their fortune.
* Christians do not believe in fate: We do not believe in a predetermined set of actions or course that creates an unchangeable future that happens no matter what.
Well, Christians do not believe in karma or destiny or fate, what do we believe in when it comes to life and living? We believe in the will of the Eternal Holy God Almighty the Undisputed Righteous Maker of Heaven and Earth Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christians believe in God’s eternal will. It is God’s eternal will that sets forth what will happen on the eternal stage and within our lives for certain because His will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Some things are immovable points of existence because it is the will of God. Christians also believe in God’s permissive will. It is God’s permissive will that allows free-will and choice and chance to exist, but never outside of His sight or prevue to intervene because nothing is ever out of God’s control. Some things are up to us and happen out of our control because God allows it in His permissive will.
Today we are beginning our march towards Christmas 2023, but we are going to continue to work our way through the Gospel of Luke chapter by chapter (as we have been doing for 21 weeks!). We have three chapters left in Luke and we have three weeks until Christmas. That is not happenstance, but by design. For the next three weeks, we will dig into Jesus and the undisputed fact that it was God’s will that Jesus was born to die. Jesus was born to die.
TRANSITION
Luke 22 begins with verses 1-2 which state: “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Him to death, for they feared the people” (ESV). Terrible things are being planned for Jesus. Let’s read from Luke 22 this morning and begin our focus at verse 13.
READ LUKE 22:13-23 (ESV)
And they went and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 And when the hour came, He reclined at table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” 19 And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
ILLUSTRATION… COMMUNITY DISTINCTIVES (p)
Every group we are a part of has rules, traditions, meanings behind phrases, and reasons for doing what they do when they gather together. These traditions or words make the group unique and give them an identity. Let me share with you some examples:
* Where I went to college, there was a paved circle that went around the main building of campus. It was a tradition that if a guy and girl walked around that circle three times that they would get married. Kind of a silly thing, but it was part of the tradition of the school.
* My sister went to Texas A&M and there the phrase “Gig ‘Em Aggies” is followed by a thumbs up. I have no idea what an Aggie, “gig ‘em” or even a thumbs up has to do with each other, but I am betting that if I went to Texas A&M all of those things would make sense to me.
* When you go into any store on any US Military base, especially overseas, it is customary to show your military ID at the door to get in and is always required when checking out. It is just what you do and an expected rule that is known. No ID, no purchase.
* Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Masonic Lodge, the Bloods and Crypts, and other organizations all have traditional ways of using hands to greet one another, salute, communicate, and say pledges. A person would not know the hand signs and has to be taught them once a part of the group.
* Holidays often have these types of traditions… wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day or eating turkey on Thanksgiving, but someone from another country may not have those traditions. Certainly, Christmas traditions vary from country to country and some of them would be unknown to us if we were in their country at Christmas time.
What does all of this mean? My point is that there are groups and holidays and sports teams that have traditions and rituals that make you part of the group. Once you know the tradition, you are more a part of what is going on. Most of the time traditions and rituals have significance and a meaning behind them that are treasured by the people who are in the group.
They mean something specific to the group members.
They identify the values of the group.
They tie the current members to people who have been there before.
We just read a passage where Jesus Christ does something that absolutely defines who we are as Christians and points to the reason why He was born and why He would suffer. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22 to point to the reason for His birth and to makes us a unique and particular community of believers.
PREPARATION AND EAGERNESS (verses 13-15)
We see two truths presented in Luke 22 as the passage describes the Last Supper:
First, we find that Jesus had prepared for this time with His disciples. Jesus had given two disciples instructions on where to go and how to find the place for their meal. Verse 13 tells us that the disciples found everything exactly as He described. There was an upper room. There was enough room for all of them. There was a table big enough for all of them. Food and drink were available. We don’t know how Jesus prepared it, but it was all prepared for them. We don’t know if Jesus talked with people beforehand or if this was a miracle Jesus divinely performed, but when it came time for Jesus and His disciples to eat the Passover meal, it was all prepared.
Second, we find that Jesus was eager to eat this meal with His disciples. We know this because Jesus says those exact words! Jesus wanted to eat this meal with His disciples. He looked forward to it. He felt anticipation over it. I can imagine that He got more and more sentimental as the Cross loomed closer and closer. The men around the table with Him were His friends and real world changers.
The reason Jesus prepared this time and was eager to share it with His disciples was because it was very important not only for them, but for all believers after them. This meal that He was going to share with them was not just another meal, but one that would have a great amount of significance. The meal was already significant in that it was the Passover Meal. The Passover Meal celebrated and remembered when God “passed over” the Israelites in Egypt and their first born did not die (Exodus 12) and immediately after were released from slavery. This meal would take on new significance as Jesus Christ tied it directly to the new covenant which would be signed for with His blood.
THANKFULNESS (verses 16-18)
We also discover in the midst of this meal that Jesus was extremely thankful. Jesus during the meal offers thanks. What in the world does Jesus have to be thankful for? We know that He knows what is about to happen in a few hours. He knows He will be betrayed. He knows He will be arrested. He knows He will be beaten, whipped, punched, spit on, stripped naked, nailed, and eventually suffocate to death. Oh yeah… lots to be thankful for!
But wait, Jesus is thankful!
What is He thankful for? Jesus actually mentions it twice in verses 16-18 and tells us exactly what He is thankful for in the midst of His foreknowledge about what is to come. In both verse 16 and in verse 18, Jesus mentions the “Kingdom of God.” Jesus is thankful that the Kingdom of God is at hand and has arrived and will absolutely change life for His Creation. You see the permanent presence of the Kingdom of God was ushered in when Jesus was born:
The Kingdom of God means salvation from sins.
The Kingdom of God means forgiveness.
The Kingdom of God means freedom from guilt.
The Kingdom of God means an intimate relationship with God the Father is possible.
The Kingdom of God means the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Kingdom of God means assurance of Heaven with God forever.
TRANSITION
After Jesus and His disciples had been eating for a while, Jesus shifts the focus of the disciples to something new He wanted to do with them. Something He wanted to do for them. Something they would do on their own in the future. While at this meal, Jesus instituted Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the Love Feast, or whatever you might want to call it. The Lord’s Supper consists of two elements which have very important meanings.
PARTAKING OF THE BREAD (verse 19)
Verse 19 shares with us that while Jesus was sitting with His disciples, He took bread and had them eat. Now this was not just Jesus feeding them, but He said some very specific words relating to Him and relating to everything He was about to experience on the cross.
Jesus says “this is my body, which is given for you.” Jesus wanted us to remember two things when it comes to the bread: The bread first symbolizes the body of Jesus. Jesus physically was beaten for us. Jesus physically was nailed to a cross for us. Jesus endured much physical injury and pain for us. The physical suffering that Jesus endured for you and for me was no small thing, but quite significant. Therefore, we remember the bodily suffering and death of Jesus.
The bread secondly symbolizes Jesus’ willingness to do this for us. Jesus endured a false trial for us. Jesus was beaten for us. Jesus stayed on the cross for us. All of what Jesus endured was for our benefit and had nothing to do with His needs. The purpose of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection were all for us that we might have the opportunity to have an active authentic relationship with God.
READ HEBREWS 10:5-7 (ESV)
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said, “Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but a body have You prepared for Me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God, as it is written of Me in the scroll of the book.’”
PARTAKING OF THE CUP (verse 20)
Verse 20 shares with us that while Jesus was sitting with His disciples, He took a cup filled with wine (fruit of the vine) and had the disciples drink. Now this was not just Jesus giving them something to drink and helping with thirst, but rather He had some very specific words relating to Him and everything He was about to experience on the cross.
Jesus says, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Jesus wanted us to remember two things when it comes to the cup: The cup, or rather the juice or wine in the cup, symbolizes the blood of Jesus. You and I must understand that death is the result of our sin. Blood has to pay for wrongdoing. Blood has to pay for errors. It is our blood that is required because we are the ones who have done wrong and erred. You owe God because of your sin. That is true and will always be true. What is also true is that Jesus paid a substitutionary price for our sins. If you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, He pays the price for your sin with His blood.
The cup, or rather the juice or wine in the cup, symbolizes the new covenant for which Jesus was the sacrifice. The word covenant means “agreement.” The Old Agreement was outlined in the Old Testament and stipulated that the blood of bulls and goats rolled back the sin of people until the next sacrifice which left the people temporarily holy. The New Agreement stipulates that the blood of Jesus pays for the sin of the people as a sacrifice once and for all which leaves the people permanently holy. The New Covenant or the new agreement is directly tied to the blood of Jesus.
READ HEBREWS 10:15-20 (ESV)
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then He adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh…”
TRANSITION
And now we come to the end portion of this particular selected passage, which I would like to read again to refresh us.
BORN TO DIE (verses 21-23)
RE-READ LUKE 22:21-23 (ESV)
21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Please take careful note of verse 22. Jesus of Nazareth says very specifically: “for the Son of Man goes as it has been determined.” If you did not know, “Son of Man” is Jesus’ favorite nickname for Himself based on Daniel 7:13-14. Jesus is talking about Himself that whatever is about to happen to Him has been “determined.” The Greek word there means it has been “appointed” or “ordained.”
Who determined Jesus would die?
Who set in motion this way as the way of salvation?
Who appointed that an innocent Man should pay for the sins of all the guilty?
Remember, Christians do not believe in karma or destiny or fate. Jesus’ death was not some cosmic balancing of the scales between good and evil. Jesus’ death was also not a series of coincidences that led Him to the cross. And believe it or not, Jesus’ death was also not 100% predetermined for Jesus Himself had freewill as all of us do.
We believe in the will of the Eternal Holy God Almighty the Undisputed Righteous Maker of Heaven and Earth Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christians believe in God’s eternal will and it was God’s eternal will that His Son come and die. It was also in God’s permissive will that Jesus choose to willingly die for us. It was God’s will that His Son be born to die.
As we think about the Lord’s Supper, we must realize that the birth and life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what makes Christianity different from all other religions or philosophies or perceived paths to God. Jesus was and is God’s One and Only Son Who was born so that He would willingly die on the cross for us. His birth began the process of a Perfect Human Being offering Himself for the imperfect. His death is the key to everything that Jesus did with the disciples at that Last Supper. This Truth of Who Jesus is and what He did for us binds us together as a unique community that is tied together by our faith in Jesus Christ. We are not bound by a secret handshake, but by Jesus.
We believe that God incarnated Himself as a human being. His Name was and is Jesus.
We believe that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life.
We believe that Jesus willingly died on a cross for us taking on all our sin.
We believe that Jesus died to pay for our sins.
We believe that Jesus rose again proving His divinity and His victory over sin and death.
Jesus knew this would always be His path and He chose it.
READ MATTHEW 26:1-2 (ESV)
“When Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
READ LUKE 18:31-34 (ESV)
“And taking the twelve, He said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
CHRISTMAS SERIES CONCLUSION
As we look forward to Christmas, we will keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas. Yes, Christmas is all about focusing on the birth of Jesus and the miracles and fulfilled prophecy that His birth brings. It is all about that! But Christmas is also about understanding that Jesus was born to die. We are so thankful that Jesus chose to obey God’s will and to take on our sin for us.
Thank You, Jesus for being born of Mary!
Thank You, Jesus for living a sinless life!
Thank You, Jesus for dying on the cross for us!
Thank You, Jesus for rising on the third day!
Thank You, Jesus for ascending into Heaven!
PRAYER
INVITATION
In the song we are about to sing we find the words: “Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above! Glory to God, glory in the highest: O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.” This morning I ask if you are a citizen of Heaven? A citizen of Heaven is someone who has confessed that they are a sinner and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and has been immersed into Christ entering into His Kingdom. Are you a citizen of Heaven? If you would like to be a citizen of Heaven, please come forward or if you would like to know more… please come… I’d love to sit and chat with you!
