Lesson 29

I.       Observation

A.     Outline

Agreement to Betray Jesus (22:1--6)

The Passover Meal (22:7-38)

Preparation of the Passover (7-13)

The Last Supper (14-23)

Dispute about Being the Greatest (24-30)

Prediction of Peter’s Denial (31-34)

Warning about Coming Crisis (35-38)

Prayer on the Mount of Olives (22:39-46)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

Passover, must be killed, fervent desire, suffer, fulfilled, kingdom of God, “This is My body,” given for you, “in remembrance of Me,” “new covenant in My blood,” greatest, younger, serves, “bestow upon you a kingdom,” sit on thrones judging, “I have prayed for you,” “must…be accomplished in Me,” pray, temptation, “not My will, but Yours, be done,” agony, earnestly.

II.    Segment Analysis

1. see 20:1-19.

2. Jesus was drawing a great multitude (21:38). Arresting Him publicly might have caused a riot (Mk 14:1-2).

3. Judas, the keeper of the money box, lusted for money and stole from it. His greed left room for Satan to enter his heart and take control of him. His conscience was seared and became Satan’s instrument. It was only after he had betrayed the Lord that he realized the seriousness of his sin and ended his own life in bitter remorse (Mt 27:3-5).

5a. The verse stresses the necessity for the Passover lamb to be killed.

5b. Just as the Passover lamb must be sacrificed according to God’s decree, the Lord Jesus Christ must also lay down His life according to God’s plan and timing. The sacrifice of Christ was the fulfillment of the Passover (1Cor 5:7). Therefore, it is significant that the Lord instituted the Holy Communion, which serves as a remembrance of His death, during the Passover.

6. The Lord is all-knowing and all-powerful. When we do the Lord’s work and obey His will, we do not need to worry even if we seem to lack the means to accomplish our task. The Lord knows what we need in order to carry out His work, and He will provide accordingly.

7. 19-20 (cf. Mt 26:29; Mk 14:22-25; 1Cor 11:23-26).

9. By definition, a sacrament is an observance instituted by the Lord Jesus in which there is effect of salvation (There are three sacraments in the Bible: baptism, footwashing, and Holy Communion). The Lord Jesus established the Holy Communion and commanded His disciples to perform and partake of it. The bread and juice in the Communion, according to the Lord’s own words, are the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, when we partake of the Holy Communion, we partake of Christ’s body and blood (cf. 1Cor 10:17). This means that we share the life of Jesus Christ. Through this spiritual communion as well as a life of faith in Christ, we abide in Christ and have eternal life (Jn 6:47-58).

10. In the old covenant, the people of God received atonement by offering sacrifices and through the mediation of priests. The covenant was put into effect with blood (Heb 9:18-22). Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. But the old covenant was only a shadow of the better covenant, mediated by the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 7:22; 8:6). The sacrificial system of the old covenant pointed to the ultimate sacrifice on the cross (Heb 10:5-14). Whereas the blood of animals does not take away sin, Christ’s blood redeems us and washes away our sins (Eph 1:7; 1Pet 1:18-19; Rev 1:5; 5:9). Therefore, Christ’s blood is the blood of the new covenant.

14a. Receiving a kingdom (29); eating and drinking at the Lord’s table in His kingdom (30); sitting on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (30).

            The disciples received these great blessings because they continued with the Lord in His trials (29).

14b. They will be great in the kingdom of heaven and will reign with Christ (cf. 2Tim 2:12; Rev 2:26-27, 3:21). They will eat and drink at the King’s table and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

16. Whereas the Lord had formerly instructed the disciples not to carry money bags, knapsacks, and sandals (cf. 10:4), now He told them to bring these with them and even purchase swords. The clear contrasting instructions show that after Jesus’ arrest and death, the disciples would face much greater danger and oppositions. The new instructions here are more figurative than literal, warning the disciples to be ready for impending crisis.

17. They thought that the Lord was asking them to defend themselves with weapons. But such militancy was in fact against the Lord’s will (Mt 26:51-52).

18a. 1. That we may not enter into temptation (40, 46). 2. That the Father’s will be done (42).

18b. 1. Kneel (41)—an act of humility and importunity; 2. Be earnest (44)—total involvement of heart, mind, and strength.

18c. When we humbly ask for God’s will to be done, God will strengthen us so that we may have the power to subdue our own will and submit to God’s will (cf 43).

19. Denying His own will and overcoming His deep distress and agony (42, 44; Mt 26:37-38)

20. He surrendered His will totally in the garden and received strength from God to face the cross. Whereas He was overcome with grief before the prayer, He became dauntless in the face of His enemies and finally claimed victory over the sufferings on the cross.