The Lord’s Supper Instituted Series

LUKE 22:14-23

THE LORD’S SUPPER INSTITUTED [JESUS’ LAST NIGHT SERIES]

[Matthew 26:26–29; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26]

In this sermon series we are going to look at Jesus’ last night basically from the book of Luke. His last night is filled with meaning and the fulfillment of Scripture.

Jesus’ last day before His death started on Thursday evening, which in Jewish thinking was really the start of the next day. If you remember the creation account “There was evening and there was morning, one day” (Gen 1:5,8,12,19,23,31).

It was Nisan 14, the Jewish Day of Preparation for Passover. The Last Supper was during its nighttime hours, preceding the daytime hours (Mt 26:17; Jesus’ Last Day Series). It was “before the Feast of the Passover” (John 13:1). After instituting the supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mat 26:36, Jn 18:1). Jesus is then betrayed by Judas (Mt 26:48-49). He is arrested and taken to the High Priest Caiaphas (Mt 26:57) & there Peter denied Jesus three times (Mt 26:69-75).

Jesus begins His last night with His final preparation of the disciples for life in the coming kingdom. Jesus taught His men during His Last Supper that His death would mean the beginning of the New Covenant. The symbolism about the bread and the fruit of the vine was given to show that Jesus’ body and blood were necessary to institute the New Covenant.

[Luke’s account of Jesus’ last preparation for His death includes two parts: Jesus’ closing ministry to His close disciples at the Passover meal (vv. 7–38), and Jesus’ final hours praying alone in the garden (vv. 39–46).]

I. THE LORD’S TABLE TEACHING, 14-20.

II. THE LORD’S BETRAYAL, 21-24.

Having secured all the necessary arrangements for the Passover, Jesus bids this Passover welcome in verse 14. “And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.

Jesus and His chosen disciples, now called apostles (6:13; 9:10; 17:5; 24:10), were reclined at the table. Jesus enjoyed the fellowship of those men who had believed His message of the kingdom. They were the ones who had followed Him, knowing that He was truly the Messiah. They were the ones who had left everything in order to follow Him. They had been called to a radical form of discipleship. [John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 259.] He had molded them together into His new family.

Jesus’ solemn declaration in verse 15 reveals how much He was looking forward to this final Passover meal. ‘And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’

Jesus began the meal by saying that He would shortly “suffer” and desired to eat this last meal undisturbed with His chosen Apostles. [His opening statement is strongly worded. “I have eagerly desired” represents a strong double construction with a Semitic cast, epithymia epethymesa (lit., “with desire I have desired”). Walter L. Liefeld, “Luke,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 1026.] He looked forward to it so eagerly, not because He was looking forward to His death (v. 42) but because He will establish the new covenant through His suffering & death.

[The normal procedure at the Passover meal was to have an opening prayer which was followed by the first of four cups of wine and a dish of herbs and sauce. Then the story of the institution of the Passover was recited, Ps. 113 was sung and the second cup of wine was drunk. After a prayer the main course of roast lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs was eaten, and after a further prayer the third cup of wine was drunk. Pss. 114–118 were then sung, and the fourth cup of wine was drunk. I. Howard Marshall, “Luke,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1015.]

Jesus announces in verse 16 that this was the last Passover He would eat with them until all that it means would find fulfillment in the kingdom of God. “For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus’ second statement begins with an emphatic future negative: “I will not eat” (ou me phago). [A similar construction occurs in v. 18.] His statements convey the depth of Jesus’ feelings at this time and the immense significance of what is taking place.

This meal would be the last supper, for the next occasion for him would be the fulfilment of the meal in the kingdom of God. The reference is probably to the Messianic banquet. Many events in the Old Testament, including the Passover, pointed toward the ministry of Jesus and the kingdom He was to inaugurate. When His kingdom would arrive, the Passover would be fulfilled for God would have brought His people safely into their rest.