Day 158, Luke 22 
If there ever was an
example of someone serving mammon over God, Judas' betrayal of Jesus is it.
Note that Judas took the initiative to secretly visit the chief priests, and
"they agreed to give him money" (22:5). He offered them his services
for pay, and they ultimately agreed on 30 pieces of silver. That may not
sound like very much money, but it was enough to buy a field (Matt. 27:7).
Incidentally, if Jesus and His apostles were so wealthy, as is so often claimed
by modern prosperity preachers, one would have to wonder why Judas would betray
the One who was helping him to get rich in hopes of gaining enough money to buy
a field.
Beware of the love of
money! Even one who literally lives with Jesus for three years, who witnesses
miracles, and who serves in supernatural ministry, is not beyond its lure.
Judas had already seared his conscience by pilfering funds from the ministry
money box, effectively stealing from Jesus, His disciples, and the poor (Jn.
12:6). Selling Christ Himself was the final step in his downward
fall. The one who opens the door to greed opens the door to Satan,
just as Judas did. When we disobey Christ to give money primacy, we
betray Christ as Judas did, only to a lesser degree. Choose serving Christ
or serving money! Both cannot be master!
The church's
first Lord's Supper was Jesus' last Passover meal, and so we see that both were
full meals. That is how the Lord's Supper was practiced by the early church,
which is why it is referred to as the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:20) rather than the Lord's Snack, which is what it has become in modern
Christendom. Jesus made it clear that He Himself was the fulfillment of
what had been annually practiced by millions of Israelites for centuries. As we
chew the bread of the Lord's Supper, it should remind us that Jesus was
"crushed for our iniquities" (Is. 53:5), and as we swallow that bread
we should remember that the Living Bread had come down from heaven to live
inside us (Jn. 6:51)!
Today we read
something that is not found in Matthew or Mark's Gospels. Jesus told Peter that
Satan had demanded (or, "obtained by asking") permission to sift him like
wheat. This reminds us of the story of Job. Satan "obtained by asking"
permission to bring trouble into Job's life.
What was Peter's
sifting? From the context, it seems it was his experience of denying the Lord
three times after publicly declaring his loyalty. Imagine how Peter felt when
the cock crowed a third time and his eyes met Jesus' eyes. The Lord had no need
to lip the words, "I told you so." The tough fisherman from Galilee
wept bitter tears over his failure, and it no doubt continued to trouble
him deeply even after the Lord's resurrection. But as He foretold Peter of
his betrayal, Jesus also foretold him of his restoration. Peter would "turn
again" and be able to "strengthen his brothers" (22:32). Amazing grace!
Luke is the only
Gospel-writer who mentions that Jesus' "sweat became like drops of blood,
falling upon the ground" (22:44) in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke was
likely describing a rare condition known as hematidrosis, when, under extreme emotional stress, tiny
blood vessels rupture in a person's sweat glands, producing a mixture of blood
and sweat. Jesus was not only anticipating being scourged and crucified, but
bearing God's wrath for the sins of the world. No wonder He prayed to escape
what He was about to suffer if it were possible. There was no other way,
however, to save you and me.
I almost wish
that the high priest's slave wouldn't have ducked when he saw Peter's sword
swinging in his direction. Had he not, Peter may have cut off his head (as he
apparently intended), and Jesus would have performed a greater miracle than
just healing a severed ear! What a testimony that man would have had: "I
was decapitated by a preacher, but Jesus put my head back on!"
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