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The story of Easter - Part 1: The Betrayal and The Last Supper

The story of Easter - Part 1: The Betrayal and The Last Supper
The story of Easter - Part 1: The Betrayal and The Last Supper

Luke 22 (1-71) as told in New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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Judas agrees to betray Jesus

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.'

9 'Where do you want us to prepare for it?' they asked.

10 He replied, 'As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, "The Teacher asks: where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.'

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

A QUESTION TO REFLECT ON: This is now the last day of Jesus life. Jesus once again demonstrates his incredible supernatural knowledge for specific events, in explaining the plans for the Passover meal. The Passover is an ancient festival celebrating the Israelite Exodus out of Egypt. Under the leadership of Moses, God led the one million Israelite slaves out of Egypt. They passed through the Red sea, and migrated up into the lands that are now called Israel. The Passover is symbolic of our deliverance by God from a life of sin, which is also described in the bible as slavery, and into a life of freedom. God enables us to live free from sin through the Holy Spirit given to us. You can read about the Passover in the book of Exodus in your Bible. Have you exited from sin in your life? What things are you struggling with, that you need God's help to exit from? Ask for his power and deliverance today.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.'

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!' 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

A QUESTION TO REFLECT ON: During this meal with his 12 friends, Jesus breaks bread and shares wine, symbolic of his suffering which was soon to come. To this day, followers of Jesus still share a meal, break bread, and drink wine, in remembrance of what Jesus suffered for us. Jesus suffered and died for our sin, in our place. How amazing is that? God himself took on himself the punishment for our wrongdoing, our sin, so we do not have to. Are you suffering things that you do not have to suffer? Can you accept Jesus' gift of suffering and dying for you today?

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

A QUESTION TO REFLECT ON: How amazing is Jesus? The Son of God, living as a servant, suffering, and dying for us, to save us. Do you know any leaders like that? Can you model your life, and your leadership, on Jesus?

31 'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.'

33 But he replied, 'Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.'

34 Jesus answered, 'I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.'

35 Then Jesus asked them, 'When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?'

'Nothing,' they answered.

36 He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: "And he was numbered with the transgressors"[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment.'

38 The disciples said, 'See, Lord, here are two swords.'

'That's enough!' he replied.

The story of Easter - Part 1: The Betrayal and The Last Supper
The story of Easter - Part 1: The Betrayal and The Last Supper

Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you will not fall into temptation.' 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'

A QUESTION FOR REFLECTION: Here is Jesus, the Son of God, a perfect man without sin, being tempted to avoid suffering and dying, being tempted to place his own will ahead of God's will. Jesus was going to know sin, and become sin, one way or the other. Either he chose his own will over God's will, and rebelled like Adam and Eve did, OR because he accepted God's will, and took on our sin for us. How amazing is our Saviour, that he would leave heaven, come to earth, to become sin for us, the very thing that separates us from God, so we could be rejoined to God. It is profound, if you stop and think about it. Does this change the way you see Jesus?

Jesus arrested

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'

49 When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, 'Lord, should we strike with our swords?' 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, 'No more of this!' And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, 'Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour - when darkness reigns.'

Peter disowns Jesus

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.'

57 But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know him,' he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.'

'Man, I am not!' Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.'

60 Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.' 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The guards mock Jesus

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, 'Prophesy! Who hit you?' 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

Jesus before Pilate and Herod

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 'If you are the Messiah,' they said, 'tell us.'

Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.'

70 They all asked, 'Are you then the Son of God?'

He replied, 'You say that I am.'

71 Then they said, 'Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.'

A QUESTION FOR REFLECTION: At the end of it all, the leaders wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah. And he told them when he said "I am..." because "I am" is the meaning of the ancient name of God, YHWH, pronounced Yahweh. To the leaders, Jesus did not look like the Messiah they were expecting, so to them, this was blasphemy. But to us, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies for the Messiah, as God's suffering servant. Who is Jesus to you? Is he your Messiah, your saviour?

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