Conspiracy and Counterconspiracy

Luke 22:1-38

Introduction:

As we arrive at Luke chapter 22, we are beginning the last series of events that leads to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Jesus has been in Jerusalem teaching in the temple daily. The religious leadership have tried to trap Him in what He says. They have challenged Him on His authority, His theology, and the Roman tax law. They presented Him with questions to try to get Him to say something they could use to accuse Him and ultimately get rid of Him. He responded to them with challenges that confounded them because they were afraid of the crowd. He exposed their ignorance to what was right in front of them. He warned His followers about the scribes who were hypocrites and prey on the most vulnerable in society.

Jesus predicted both judgement on Israel and destruction of the temple as well as predicting His return at the end of times. And all of this sets up the increased tension between Jesus and the religious establishment. It is at the height of this tension and environment so far that we open Chapter 22.

This was a holy season for Israel. The Festival of Unleavened Bread and Passover, were two intertwined holidays being celebrated while Jesus was in Jerusalem.

The Festival of Unleavened Bread commemorated when the Israelites left Egypt when they were released by Pharoah after the final plague. God had told them to be dressed and ready to go with bread made without leaven.

Passover was celebrated as a memorial of when God rescued the Israelites from Egypt after the plague of the first born. God sent the angel of death to strike dead the first born of every house except those who had spread the blood of the passover lamb on the doorposts of their house.

The city was full of people due to the Passover. Word had spread that Jesus was there. The opposition had grown throughout the gospel of Luke. The religious leaders wanted Jesus dead but they wanted to avoid a riot.

I. Moving toward the Mission (v. 1-6)

Luke 22:1–6 ESV

1 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.

This is the beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly life. I hope you both see and feel the heaviness of this as we head toward celebrating Good Friday. We are in the middle of Jesus’ last week of earthly life. The events we are reading about take place during the most important week in the history of the world.

Satan personally attacks Judas

Real enemy who means real harm

Yet Judas was still held accountable for his actions. We don’t have a lot about why he did this apart from greed. But we know he was not a true follower of Jesus.

Sinful leaders who are trying to get rid of Jesus during a holy time, a time that memorializes the Passover which in itself foreshadowed Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb.

They were afraid of the people.

Judas agreement with the leaders and what his motivation was…

Conspiracy and counter-conspiracy

Goal of conspiracy was Jesus dying.

Goal of the counterconspiracy was Jesus dying for the sins of man.

The history of Judas, who, although he occupied such a privileged position as one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, nevertheless betrayed the Master, serves as a permanent and powerful warning to every member of the church of Christ—there is always the terrible possibility that even among us who apparently live in the closest connection with the Lord there may be those who are inwardly false and are busily engaged in betraying Him.4

Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 453.

II. Looking to the New Covenant ( v. 7-23)

Luke 22:7–23 ESV

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, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 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 11 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?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 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.

Luke chapter 22 contains many allusions to the Old Testament. It’s a testament to the unity and trustworthiness of scripture. If you ever find yourself wanting to see the ways the Bible confirms itself, this would not be a bad place to begin.

The setup for the meal.

A man carrying a jar of water would have been odd due to in those days it would typically been a woman carrying water.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

v. 19 - Jesus’ language of taking the supper in remembrance of Him applies Biblical language regarding how sacrificial offerings were tangible memorials to God’s faithfulness.

He’s anticipating for them that there’s going to be an extended period of time when His followers would use this meal in a way to not remember the Passover but instead to remember Him.

v. 20 - Jesus’ description of the sacramental nature

Old Covenant to New Covenant

Jesus’ teaching around the table

Themes in the Passover meal section:

Jesus is Lord of history and the one in control. Evidenced by the way He told them what to look for and then they found it exactly as He said. Reminds us of the colt for His entry into Jerusalem.

2. Jesus’ death established the new covenant between God and His people.

3. God’s people must properly respond to the the establishment of this new covenant.

Fulfillment of the Scriptures

In-time fulfillment

Eschatological fulfillment

Christological fulfillment

If Jesus is not betrayed, arrested, crucified, and buried then arise, then we would not have a kingdom to inherit. Because He was betrayed unto death, we get a kingdom.

The subversive and upside down nature of the kingdom

The disciples show their lack of understanding regarding these things as we see the turn their conversation takes.

III. The Disciples display their lack of understanding. (v. 24-38)

Luke 22:24–38 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

The conversation at the table moves from who will be the one that will betray Jesus to who among them is the greatest. Who was going to be the greatest after Jesus was gone?

Who is the greatest?

Jesus responds graciously to them.

As Mike McKinley put is it, “Being a follower of Jesus means that we ought to find places where our values and love are in stark contradiction to those of the world around us.”

2. Jesus predict’s Peter’s denial.

Peter’s belief in his own commitment/strength

Note that Jesus doesn’t say it’s the end for Peter. He would be restored after falling.

Note the different way that Judas and Peter are talked about.

3. Jesus is the fulfillment of the scriptures.

Interesting facts to note:

Jesus clearly identifies Himself as the suffering servant in Isaiah 52 and 53. He is the one set apart to bear the transgressions of the wayward sheep. Jesus would prove to be the sheep led silently to the slaughter.

Jesus was sinless but would be counted among the sinners. The guiltless would die alongside the guilty.

The end of the passage anticipates how the sword, of the Romans, will be set against the followers of Jesus who will be accused of being allies of a prosecuted criminal.

Jesus calls back to when he had sent them out before.

The use of swords won’t prevent Jesus from dying on the cross.

It has been suggested by Edwards that it’s best to understand teh sword in view here as “a metaphor of admonition and preparedness, not a sanction to spread the gospel by violence.”

In keeping consistent with this understanding, Jesus likely isn’t telling them two swords is enough for the coming situation. Surely it’s not enough for that. Instead it’s a way of telling them to drop it. Stop talking about swords. Move on.

Conclusion:

Remembering the NC in Jesus’ blood through His sacrifice and looking to the return of Christ

Don’t stand on your own strength but on the one who forgives and restores us when we have betrayed Him.