Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 22:21-23.
TEXT: (Jesus said) "Behold, the hand of him who
betrays Me is with Me on the
table" (Luke 22:21).

Jesus first mentioned a betrayal when He predicted
His sufferings to His disciples. Now at the Last
Supper He staggers His disciples with the words,
"Behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me
on the table."

Judas must have been dumbstruck. Jesus has just
put the secret he has carefully hidden out on the table
for all to see. The tables have completely turned, and
Judas is at Jesus' mercy. He has the power to betray
Judas into the other disciples' hands or, at the very
least, He can foil any attempt Judas may make to try
to betray Him.

Now that He has Judas' fearful attention, Jesus
continues, "The Son of Man goes as it has been
determined...." No one will force the Son of God to
His sufferings- not Judas, not the Jewish leaders, not
the Roman governor-but in order to fulfill His Father's
will and to save mankind He willingly goes to His death.

But Jesus' focus is not on Himself; it's on Judas, "But
woe to that man by whom He is betrayed." Jesus wants
it to sink in. Like so many of the sins we contemplate,
Judas doesn't understand the full magnitude of what he
is about to do. Jesus wants him to understand, so he
will confess his sin now and receive Jesus' pardon and
forgiveness-before it is too late.

The disciples question among themselves as to who
would do this dastardly act. Jesus could do to Judas
that which Judas agreed to do to Him. It is in His power
to betray Judas to them. But He shields and protects
him instead.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You reached out to Judas with true love
and concern, urging him to repent and believe. Destroy
my love of worldly things that I may repent and trust in
You alone. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 22:7-20.
TEXT: And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired
to eat this Passover with you before I suffer"
(Luke 22:15).


The day has finally come when the Passover Lamb
must be sacrificed; Jesus' time is drawing near. He
sends Peter and John to make preparations for their
Passover. This memorial feast recalls the night when
God sent His angel of death to kill the firstborn of Egypt.
However, the angel passed over the houses of His people
whose doors were marked with the blood of the Passover
Lamb. By His mighty hand the Lord forced Pharaoh to
free His people Israel.

When evening comes they are reclining at the table.
Jesus tells them how much He has desired to share this
Passover together. He has just a few hours to prepare
His disciples for an ordeal that will shake them to the core.

Everything He says and does points to His sufferings,
which they have been trying so hard to ignore:

"This is the last Passover I will eat with you."

"Take, eat, this is My body, do this in remembrance of
Me."

"This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant
in My blood."

And yet with the sorrow of these words, Jesus institutes
a new feast-a memorial feast far beyond Moses' Passover.
In, with and under the bread He miraculously gives us His
body, which suffered God's wrath in our place. In, with and
under the wine He gives us His blood, poured out in death,
so we might live with Him forever. Forgiven, fed and
nourished with this heavenly meal, we have the full
assurance the angel of death will pass over us on Judgment
Day.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son gave Himself to suffering and death
to satisfy Your wrath at my sins, and to secure my place with
You in heaven. Receive my thanks and praise. In Jesus'
Name I pray. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 22:1-6.
TEXT: Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew
near, which is called the Passover
(Luke 22:1).

Luke tells us the great Jewish festival of the
Passover with its Feast of Unleavened Bread is
drawing near. It is the reason the huge crowds have
come from all over the Roman Empire to Jerusalem.
It recalls Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt
by the death of the Egyptian firstborn. It was called
"Passover" because the Lord caused the angel of
death to pass over the Israelite houses marked with
the blood of the Passover Lamb.

The Jewish high court is meeting. Having already
determined to put Jesus to death, they are looking for
the best time and manner to accomplish this. They
won't consider an assassination; they want to find
Him guilty of a capital crime and persuade Pilate to
execute Him.

They keep coming back to one key problem: the huge
crowds of pilgrims are thronging around Jesus,
hanging on His every word. As long as the crowds are
in town, there is nothing they can do to Jesus. They
decide they must wait to kill Jesus after the Passover
is complete, when the crowds leave Jerusalem to
return home.

Suddenly, an unexpected possibility arises. One of
Jesus' hand-picked disciples, Judas Iscariot, offers to
betray Jesus to them for the modest price of 30 silver
pieces. The priests rejoice in this unforeseen opportunity.
They never could have predicted a defection from within
Jesus' camp. Now they have a man on the inside,
watching for the opportunity to hand Jesus over to them
before the Feast.

Jesus' predictions are falling into place: "the Son of Man
is about to be delivered into the hands of men."

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You knew Judas was plotting against You,
yet You continued to reach out to him in love. Reach out
to me with Your forgiveness and grace. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)