Lesson 67L Judas Betrays Jesus at Passover Luke 22:1- 15

The Plot to Kill Jesus Thickens 22:1- 6

English Standard Version Chapter 22

22 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.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

I believe the tension was so thick at this juncture, that you could “cut it with a knife.” Unleavened bread was made at Passover and other feasts to typify bread that was made in haste. There was great haste in celebrating the passover as they only had an evening of prep work to eat the Passover Lamb and prepare for the death angel to pass through Egypt. While Unleavened Bread and Passover were different they occured together. Numbers 28:16 - 19 gives us the perspective:

English Standard Version Chapter 28

16 “On the

This was a high and holy time for the Jews and yet this is the time that the chief priests and scribes sought to kill Jesus. They believed they were doing the right thing but it was motivated by envy. It is important to note that just since Jesus came into Jerusalem, the Pharisees are no longer the ones driving the machine that was planning the Saviors death. It is now the chief Priests and the Scribes. This is where the real power lies. While they yielded much power, they still feared the people and Jesus must be taken when the crowds are not huge or the situation could back fire on them. At this time of the year, it is not just the city folk, it is also the pilgrims from all around who had descended upon the scene.

The plot must proclaim in some fashion that Jesus made himself God and thus had blasphemed. Blasphemy would be an offense that would allow them to put Jesus to death. The treachery involved Judas, one of the 12. The depths of his selling out are hard to explain as to“why” he would do such a thing to someone who was so close to him as Jesus. He had seen the miracles and the love poured out on human kind and yet he still betrayed the Son of God. The plain and simple truth is that Judas had allowed Satan to enter into him. The demonic always is working towards death and the point of entering in came in the Holy City. Yes, this was possession. It really made the task of cornering Jesus a much simpler task. There is now an inside mole to do the dirty work. And, he worked cheap. 30 pieces of silver was all it took.

Passover withe the Disciples 22:7- 13

English Standard Version Chapter 22

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “

These are the same type of instructions that Jesus gave the disciples before they entered Jerusalem. Now, they are firmly entrenched in Jerusalem and the instructions are how to prepare for the Passover. Jesus had people in town that no one else knew about. Peter and John are the ones identified only here in Luke as the the ones securing the room for the Passover observance. This would be the last time that they would have special time of fellowship like this. And, it turned out to also be a time of betrayal. Since Peter and John were Galileans they were not well versed in where to go and what to do in Jerusalem. Jesus shows them in the directions that they are going to do Passover without charge.

It is interesting to note that while Peter and John did the prep work for the Passover, Judas did not. It is possible he might deliver Christ at Passover and not in the garden. The others did not know where it would be held. The idea is that they would be meeting and eating. We shall also mention that “these are some mighty fine details”. Details do make the world go round and round. With this last moment arrangement for the upper room, people could have all been looking for available rooms all over the city. And yet Jesus gets His room without a glitch. If these types of gifts were being touted as already included, in the course of the fellowship, a lot of value is being expressed in saying He was going to eat Passover with His disciples. Free food and life changing fellowship, all in one evening. Only Jesus has a clue as the the importance of the hour.

The Lord’s Supper is Instituted 22:14- 23

English Standard Version Chapter 22

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “

Jesus earnestly desired to have this time alone with the disciples before He suffered. It was a glorious time of instruction. Just think, we still do this today. The Lord’s Supper will not be celebrated after the church has been taken into heaven. It is to be celebrated “until He comes.” Every time we partake, it may be our last before we set down to eat with the Lord in Heaven. But as it would happen, the time of fellowship will be marred by the presence of of Judas who betrays the Lord. Even Jesus says that one who betrays Him is going to be cursed “woe to that man by whom He is betrayed.”

Some have wondered if this was a true Passover meal since we are not told about all of the items that are usually included in a Passover meal. It probably was a Passover meal, but only the details that Jesus wanted them to remember are told to us today. Nark and Luke both describe it as a Passover meal. Today, we do not celebrate Passover, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or as some say, the Lord’s table. The ingredients are clear: the bread and the cup. No more, no less. If we do more or less, then it is not the Lord’s Supper. Thanks is rendered after each element before we partake. We do all of this “in remembrance of Jesus.” I might add that it has been given to the church, but the first ones to partake were the disciples.

The question is our close. Who would do such a terrible thing as betray Jesus? Indeed, who would? Judas has cemented himself in the Bible and in history as a perfect example of someone who would put a knife in someones back. Woe, yes woe.