At the beginning of January, several of us traveled to Louisville, KY for CrossCon - a missions oriented conference for your adults. Incidentally, we are planning on going again this next year (St. Louis, MO). Young adults, I’d love for you to join me. At the conference John Piper gave a talk entitled “Hoping in the Meticulous Providence of God” in which he said something about the Providence or Sovereignty of God that hit home to me in a startling and even shocking way.
“You are immortal until God ordains your end.”
That was not his main point, but it was something that struck me. Of course, Piper laid out a biblical and clear argument discussing why we should hope in the Providence or Sovereignty of God.
He defined providence as “purposeful sovereignty.” This doctrine essentially states that if God is all-knowing, then He knows what will happen and even ordains what will happen so that His will is accomplished.
So what! What does this have to do with our passage for today?
As I was studying, I was struck by one seemingly passing comment that Jesus makes.
Luke 22:22 ESV
For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
We’ll see the context for this in just a moment, but if you look at that statement you can see the Providence of God.
Who determined what will happen to the Son of Man? God.
And yet Jesus was going to be betrayed by one of His disciples. Who determined that? God.
At the same time, the betrayer bears responsibility for his own actions.
There are parts of the doctrine of the Providence or Sovereignty of God that can leave us feeling a bit uneasy. Does this mean that God ordains evil so that good can come? I think the answer the Scripture reveals is - yes.
We can see it in Joseph’s being sold into slavery and then being wrongfully accused so that God can orchestrate salvation for Jacobs family and much of the region in the face of famine (Gen. 37-47). We see a bit of that in the Exodus as God through Moses and Aaron contended with Pharoah through the plagues so that God might be glorified and His people might be freed (Exodus 4-14). We especially see it in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as God allowed Himself to be betrayed, beaten, and killed in order to demonstrate His love for you and me and His justice.
Open your Bibles to Luke 22. It’s on p. 839 in the pew Bibles.
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been learning a bit about Jesus’ teaching to His disciples about the destruction of the temple and his second coming. This is the week leading up to His crucifixion - Passion week. This was also the week of one of Israel’s foundational festivals - Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Luke 22:1–23 ESV
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 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.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
The tension is rising. The arc of the story is reaching it’s climax. We see all the makings of a good plot - power struggle, betrayal, tenderness, fellowship. And yet behind all of that, we see Providence - the unseen hand of God orchestrating His will, for His glory and ultimately for the good of humanity.
We first get to see, God’s…
Providence in Plotting (1-6)
It’s no secret that the religious leaders were threatened by Jesus. He was popular among the people. His teaching threatened their positions of power and authority. He was shaking up the status quo.
They feared the influence of the mob, so they began to scheme.
At the same time, Luke notes that “Satan entered into Judas.” Now, what this looked like we don’t know. I don’t think it was so much that he was demon possessed, but that he, for whatever reason, was urged and inspired to plot and scheme. Some commentators suggest that Judas was never a true believer. Others suspect that he wanted Jesus to have a more political role in His ministry. But, whatever the case, Judas’ role was ordained by God.
After the supper that we’ll consider in a few moments, Jesus will make his way out of this room with his disciples and will pray what many have called “The High Priestly Prayer.” In it He says…
John 17:12 ESV
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
What Scripture had to be fulfilled?
There are a few:
Psalm 41:9 ESV
Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Psalm 69:25 ESV
May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
Psalm 109:8 ESV
May his days be few;
may another take his office!
These final two are referenced in Peter’s sermon in Acts 1.
Now Jesus prayed this before he was actually betrayed.
In another instance of the Providence of God in the book of Acts. As the believers were responding to persecution, they prayed...
Acts 4:27–28 ESV
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
And yet, while all of this was fore-ordained by God, Judas, the religious leaders and the governing authorities were responsible for their actions. In fact, the religious leaders found joy or delight in the arrangement that was brokered between them and Judas (v. 5). Their conference together resulted in Judas’ “consent” followed by his active participation by seeking out an opportunity to betray Jesus (v.6).
(point of application)
Not only do we see the Providence of God in the plotting, but we see it in the preparation of the meal…
Providence in Preparation (7-13)
Frankly, this element of Providence is less controversial.
On one hand, there is the annual observance of Passover - which happens on the 14th of Nisan - the first month in the Jewish calendar. It marks the beginning of what is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread - where the Israelites were to remove all of the leaven from their homes and eat only unleavened bread (Ex. 12) with their meals for a week. This leaven seemed to signify removing the old ways and even the sin from our lives.
The first celebration of Passover took place in Exodus 12-13 as the Israelites were to sacrifice and roast a lamb. They were to mark the door posts and lentils of their homes with the blood of the lamb. That first meal was eaten in haste as they were going to leave Egypt the next day. As the annual observances progressed, the meal became longer and more drawn out with an abundance of symbolism. So, there is for the Israelites this annual feast and multi-day celebration of God’s provision in the Exodus.
On the other hand, there is the specific Providence of the preparation of this specific meal. Jesus sends Peter and John with some instructions regarding making preparations. There are many details that are left out for us, but what is there is interesting. Jesus knew that there would be a man carrying a water jar. In their day, this was something that women often did. Occasionally a servant would carry the jar. So, by virtue of the fact that a man is carrying this jar should alert Peter and John to something different. Then, they are to follow this water-carrying man to a house where they were to ask the master about a room. They found all of this exactly as Jesus had said!
So, of course, as the day progresses, the time comes for the meal - likely somewhere between 3-5 pm. So Jesus and the disciples sit down to the meal, which brings us to our final observance of providence in this passage - that of fulfillment.
Providence in Fulfillment (14-23)
I think it’s helpful for us to slow down a bit and reflect on these verses more closely.
Jesus begins by noting…
Luke 22:15 ESV
…“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”
Jesus seemed to know that something was in the works, that this would be his final Passover meal before his suffering. The OT paints several pictures of what the suffering might have entailed, but did Jesus know how he would suffer? Or did He simply know that he would suffer?
He continues…
Luke 22:16 ESV
For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
So, it seems like He is going to eat this meal, but won’t eat a Passover meal ( or maybe any meal) until it’s fulfilled in the Kingdom. But what does that mean?
The Hebrew word that is translated passover does mean that - “to pass over.” It can also be translated “to spare.” Where the lamb in Ex. 12 and the marking of the blood in on the frames of the door signified those who were identified as God’s people, they were spared from the wrath of God that was poured out on the people of Egypt. In a similar sense, Jesus is the One who takes the wrath of God for those who would believe in Him - who would trust in His atoning sacrifice, and have their lives essentially marked by His blood! So it seems like, the fulfillment of the Kingdom is Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
1 Peter 2:24 ESV
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
After His resurrection, He will continue to eat and drink as He ministers to His disciples, but He will ascend to Heaven before another Passover will take place.
This annual Passover celebration marked a way for the Israelites to look back to God’s provision. This final Passover for Jesus looks back in provision, but also marks the beginning of something new - something that we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion.
Luke 22:17–18 ESV
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
The Old Testament contains simple instructions on the annual Passover meal. We read one set of those instructions earlier. In Exodus 12:8 - we learn that they were to eat all of the meat, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs with it. As the annual celebrations progressed, various traditions were added, as were a variety of items to the menu. According to one Seder website the modern menu includes:
“four cups of wine,
veggies dipped in saltwater,
flat, dry cracker-like bread called matzah,
bitter herbs, often horseradish (without additives) and romaine lettuce, dipped into charoset (a paste of nuts, apples, pears and wine),
a festive meal that may contain time-honored favorites, like chicken soup and gefilte fish.” (chabad.org).
Modern Passover seders have some 15 steps to the meal.
As Jesus and his disciples ate this meal, they likely had many of these elements - replacing the soup or fish with the lamb.
According to the Mishnah - the Jewish instructions on the law, a Passover meal included at least four cups of wine. Several commentators suggest that first distribution of wine was the first cup after which a blessing would be pronounced.
It’s likely then that they continued the meal - which included times of teaching, questioning, and more.
Then Luke notes:
Luke 22:19 ESV
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.”
While there was the flat bread in the meal - this is something new. You see, in a traditional Passover meal, there were three pieces of matzah - one on top, one in the middle, broken, and one on the bottom. At this point in a meal, a blessing is offered - "Blessed be You, Lord our God, King of the World, Who brings bread out of the earth" (chabad.org). There are some traditions that follow where everyone is given an opportunity to eat.
But notice some of the symbolism that exist in this celebration for Christians:
three pieces of bread - the middle one broken - we have a trinity - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - the Son was broken for God’s people. “This is my body broken for you.”
The bread is pierced with holes - Jesus Christ will be pierced for us.
One piece is hidden for the children to find. Jesus Christ was buried.
The gospel writers don’t cover all of those details- they simply point to the cup(s) and the bread - as Jesus reorients the Passover and initiates a new tradition for His people.
So at this point, they are continuing to eat, talk, ask, answer.
Luke continues:
Luke 22:20 ESV
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
This is likely the third cup of the Passover seder - after which a blessing or praying of Hallel (praise to God) would be shared.
Here Jesus says - this is the new covenant in my blood.
Centuries before this, Jeremiah prophesied about a new covenant:
Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
By using this language, Jesus is alerting His followers to a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy. Which then brings us back to God’s Providence. He inspired Jeremiah to speak this prophecy in anticipation of the way that He would fulfill it in Jesus.
There are a few final verses that we need to briefly consider:
Luke 22:21–23 ESV
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Jesus knew that He would be betrayed - scripture foretold it as we saw. He knew that He must suffer - Scripture foretold it. He knew that the betrayer would be responsible for his own actions. Luke notes in the book of Acts:
Acts 1:15–19 ESV
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
Judas, racked with guilt would take his life for his betrayal.
Closing thoughts
So what do we do with all of this?
There may be many different points of application that have come to your mind. I hope that you can pursue those by the guidance of the Spirit. Here are a few things for us to remember:
God is Sovereign so we should worship and trust in Him, we don’t have to like it or understand it, but we should worship and trust Him. - In His providence, he reigns and rules over all things. He knows the end from the beginning and is working out His plan throughout history. He has given us some insights into His word about how things will happen, but He has also left some things unknown. We may not always like the challenges that God allows in our lives - wars abroad, conflicts in our cities, arguments with each other, sickness, death - but we can trust that nothing happens outside of God’s hand. On a simplistic level, our children don’t understand the pain that we inflict on them when we bring them to a doctor for shots, and yet we do it anyways - for their good. And yet, even in our pain, God does invite us to cry out, to lament - and the Psalms can be a great guidance for us in that.
We should delight in God and the things that bring Him glory - not the things that make our lives better or bring us power. Where the religious leaders and the security schemed with Judas - they delighted to hear that their desires were coming to fruition - and yet as we see through Jesus’ sacrifice - their plans could not thwart the plans of God. In our lives, let’s find delight in God and His glory.
If you’ve not yet trusted in Jesus - understand what He has done for you, as we see it in the Lord’s supper. His broken body and shed blood became the eternal sacrifice allowing the mercy of God to spare you from the wrath of God. God is love - which is why he made a way for you to be reconciled to Him. God is just - which is why transgressions require punishment. Jesus is the love and justice of God given for you and me.
Beloved, brothers and sisters in Christ - as we come to the table, I think we need to do so from four perspectives:
Looking back in gratitude for what Christ as done for us.
Looking inward - as we daily yield our lives to Christ - allowing Him to transform us - confessing sin, and turning from our own selfish desire.
Looking around - at the family into which Christ as saved us. We are not alone.
Looking ahead - to the day when Christ will return and we will feast with Him what Revelation calls “the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Let’s Pray
Jesus - we are thankful that you are all knowing. We may not understand or even like the ways that you are working in the world, but we do know that you are working for your glory and for our ultimate good. Thank you for serving us by doing what we were unable to do in your sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for giving us hope. Help us where we doubt and fall short. Help us to trust you fully. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Lord’s Supper
As we come to the table, things are a little different today, and yet very much the same as always. As the plates are passed, you’ll find a larger piece of matzah - representing the broken body of Jesus. If you are a follower of Christ, take one and hold onto it. You’ll also find a cup of juice. Again, if you have trusted Jesus as your savior, take one and hold onto it.
For those who are not yet believers, you may ask why are you excluded from this. I’m glad you asked. Scripture gives us a couple of insights into this.
The Passover meal was an initiation meal - marking the covenant people of Israel. Foreigners were not allowed to partake unless they had entered into the covenant - marked by circumcision in their day. In a similar way, this Supper is a meal that marks those who are part of the covenant that Jesus initiates by His blood.
The exclusion is there for your protection. The church at Corinth had been misusing the Lord’s Supper. So the Apostle Paul writes: 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” As I’ve said before, if you’re not yet a follower of Christ, I want you to eat of this, but at the right time - after you’ve trusted in Christ as your savior. In reflecting on this verse, for those who are Christians, this is a time for us to examine our own lives. To repent where we are taking our salvation for granted or for areas where we are rebelling against Jesus.
Pass the plates
Eating the bread:
1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “…the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””
Drinking the cup:
1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””
Here is the looking forward element:
1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Benediction
Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Questions for reflection and discussion
1. What event were the people anticipating and why was in important? (22:1)
2. What was the plan of the chief priests and teachers of the law? (22:2)
3. What motivated Judas to approach the religious leaders who wanted to get rid of Jesus? (22:3)
4. How did the leaders respond to Judas’s willingness to betray Jesus? (22:4)
5. Why was it important for Judas to hand Jesus over “when no crowd was present”? (22:6)
6. What does this passage teach us about human weakness?
7. What instructions did Jesus give to Peter and John? (22:8–13)
8. Why did Jesus eagerly desire to eat the Passover with His disciples? (22:15–16)
9. What did Jesus instruct His disciples to do in remembrance of Him? (22:17–20)
10. Why is Communion important for Christians to observe?
11. How do you see the Providence or Sovereignty of God in these verses (esp. v. 22)? What is significant about the doctrine of God’s Providence? What is difficult about it?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Feinberg, C. L. “Scribes.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Taylor, J. B. “Cornerstone.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wiseman, D. J. “Scribe.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, and J. I. Packefjdjslfjr. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/116793/jewish/Passover-Seder-Step-by-Step.htm
