In today’s lesson there are two main things I’d like us to notice:
A lot of exciting events of Jesus ministry happened around the dinner table, and,
Evil is conniving, but God’s will wins.
First, from the salvation of the sinful woman in Luke 7 to Zaccheus’ house in chapter 19, Jesus was known as one that ate and drank with sinners. But those he joined at the table were never the same as before they came. Jesus often turned the tables on sin at the dinner table. But there were times at the table with evil showed it’s ugly head, but God’s will had a way of turning the tables on the conniving evil and working it all out for good.
As we study this passage in Luke 22:1-29 this week, like last week, we need to compare it to what we find recorded in Matthew and Mark. They all tell the same story, and here in the last part of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion, each one of these gospel writers gives an account. There are a few differences among Matthew, Mark, and Luke that make for a fuller view of what happened. Then, of course, there’s John’s gospel that gives four chapters on Jesus last discourse with the disciples where Matthew, Mark and Luke all cover it in less than one.
There are a couple of things in Luke that are in a different order, and Luke also leaves out the story of Jesus being anointed by Mary. By the way, all the other gospels tell that story. And putting their accounts all together gives us an insight about what may have triggered Judas’s betrayal. It was another meal at another table with other company besides just Jesus and the disciples. While Jesus was at this table, having this meal, Mary came to Jesus and poured this very expensive perfume, pure nard, on him. John tells us that it was specifically Judas that started all the complaining about it, calling it a waste. John then tells us that Judas was a thief and that he kept the money bag and used to help himself to what was in it. His love of money was part of his motivation for betraying Jesus. You can see this in John 12:1-8. Matthew and Mark record this story too, and they tell us how Judas’s complaints spread, so that some of the other disciples were indignant about Mary’s gift to Jesus too, and began saying to one another, “Why this waste, this was bottle of perfume was worth a year’s wages?” Some began scolding her for it, saying it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But, remember, it all started with Judas. Well, Jesus rebuked them for bothering her and then he honored her for this act of love. Judas must have been furious. Evil is conniving. It was immediately after this that Matthew and Mark tell us about Judas going out to betray Jesus to the chief priests. Luke says the Satan entered him and he went to discuss with the chief priests how he might betray Jesus. Matthew tells us that Judas said, “What will you give me to deliver him up to you?” They paid Judas thirty silver coins, or one twelfth of the value of the Nard that Mary had poured in Jesus. It was the “Judas” portion.
I tell you, evil is conniving… but God’s will wins.
If you and I were among the chief priests when Judas came to us, we would see this as a great opportunity! These religious rulers were finally mad enough with Jesus to kill him, but they were afraid of the reaction of the crowds. You can almost see them ringing their hands and scowling with furry at what to do with Jesus. Jesus has said some harsh things about them, true things, but very harsh just the same. How dare he say such things! When we get our hands on him we’ll… we’ll…
Knock, knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Judas!
What do you want?
Judas comes in. “What are you willing to give me to deliver Jesus up to you?”
The Bible says in Mark and Luke, they were glad when they heard this! This word for “glad” means rejoicing, and it is the same word Judas used when he greeted Jesus in the garden when he came to betray him. It is a word with two uses: one is a rejoicing because of a great opportunity or event, the other is a greeting of a friend. Both are expressions of great happiness. These chief priests are overjoyed that they’ve got an insider working for them! Judas has just given them encouragement in their evil intentions and motivation toward their devious goals.
Judas collects his blood money and now begins looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them. Can you believe it? Evil is so conniving.
It didn’t take long. The opportunity to perform his duty took less time than expected. Luke 22 unfolds the story before us.
Wouldn’t you know that once again everything sort of came to a head at the table. This table was spread with a feast that was part of the Passover meal. Mark and Luke indicate that the Passover lamb was sacrificed on the day Jesus had this meal. It was a deeply symbolic event. Exodus 11-13 tells all about it. The blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel, the special meal of unleavened bread, lamb and bitter herbs, the food of haste, the death of the first-born, the deliverance of God’s people from slavery… this was a time for all of Israel to remember and reflect.
Jesus sent Peter and John to get it all ready for them to eat. It looks like Jesus had set it all up so that no one would know where they were. This keeps Judas from knowing too. He will have to wait till later that evening when he is sure of where they will be before he can deliver Jesus into their hands.
Look at Luke 22:14-15. It was time. The meal was prepared, all the disciples were there, and Jesus knows this is the last meal they will have before he is crucified. He knows Judas’s plans. He knows Peter’s weakness and upcoming denials. He knows they will all scatter when the hour strikes. All that will come, but not yet. This is time around the table. The last supper. Jesus also knows where he has come from and where he is going. He knows his betrayal, arrest, abandonment, mocking, beating, humiliation, scourging, mock trials, and crucifixion are coming. He knows. Jesus knows that evil is conniving, but he also knows that God’s will wins.
I hope you can hear Jesus’ heart in these words.
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…”
It is time at the table with the master, in some ways the last time. For us, in some ways, it is the first time. Jesus knows that the next time he will eat this meal it will be in celebration. Right now it is a time of trial and affliction. Jesus does something so that they, and we, will never forget.
So on the night he was betrayed, Jesus shared the Passover with his disciples. And during that meal, he took some bread, blessed it, broke it and said to them, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Listen.
There is something very high and holy in these words of Jesus at the table. They echo through the years as week after week we gather each Sunday at the table and remember. If you are like me, this time of worship is uniquely special. What is it about the Lord’s Supper that demands our reverence and respect and quietness? I hear of others that want to change things to make this more special. But how?
There is a movement among some circles to return the Lord’s Supper to a meal setting where the church actually eats a meal and during that time they stop and take the bread and cup as an attempt to make it more meaningful and special. Some say that this is more like the early church.
Listen. While there is nothing wrong with having a meal and taking the Lord’s Supper at a meal, don’t be fooled. That is not what makes this special and meaningful. It is not the amount of bread or the volume of the cup that makes the Lord’s table what it is.
Hello? What makes the Lord’s Supper special is the Lord and his presence! You can rearrange the furniture all you want, but if the Lord is not in the house, what good is it?
And if Jesus is here as we break that piece of bread and drink that bit of juice, what he’s looking for is not whether you were happy with the amount or the flavor. Jesus wants to know if you remember Him. Jesus wants to see if you are aware of his presence and submissive to his will. Jesus is looking for us to practice the love he showed us in giving his body and blood for us. This is what makes the table special!
But evil is so conniving. It is present too. Among those who are eating and drinking with Jesus there is Judas. Besides Judas there are the disciples who begin arguing with each other about who is greatest.
Not much has changed at the table. Evil is still conniving, but God’s will still wins.
