Luke 22:14-30

Luke 22:14-30

14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the 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 say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and 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 in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. 22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.

24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

This is an intimate scene where Jesus celebrates the Passover for the last time with His disciples.  This festival was instituted to remember God’s liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  However, Passover was also designed by God to foreshadow God’s liberation of all who believe from slavery to sin.  To accomplish the liberation of Israel God killed the first-born son of all in Egypt who did not apply the blood from a perfect Lamb on the doorposts of their home.  Moses warned Israel of the judgment of the angel of death and told them how they might escape.  To accomplish the liberation of believers from sin, God crucified His only begotten Son so that His blood might be applied to our hearts in faith so that our sin is forgiven.  We who believe are called to warn the nations of the coming judgment of all who don’t believe and then explain the Good News of how they might escape by trusting Jesus.  The Passover was a reminder and a foreshadow just like the Lord’s Supper is designed to be.

REMEMBER JESUS FROM THE PAST: The Lord knew that His time of suffering was soon approaching.  The reason He had come to this earth was to pay sin’s price.  However, all that knowledge could not diminish the anguish and suffering He would face.  This last Passover meal was something He looked forward to as an opportunity to spend this intimate time with His disciples.  In this time, He would change the significance of this festival from remembering freedom from slavery in Egypt to remembering Him.  The bread represents His body that would be broken on the cross.  The wine represents His blood that would wash away man’s sin.  Those who believe in the Lord Jesus for their salvation from sin are to partake of these elements regularly in remembrance of Him.  Men are prone to forget.  It seems like it would be impossible for us to forget the sacrifice of Jesus, but it is so easy for us to go through the motions of life without intentionally focusing on Christ.  The death and resurrection of Jesus must never fade from our memories.  We must always remember Him, so we never begin to think that somehow, we are worthy of the salvation He gives to us.  He died so we might live.  Jesus also warns the disciples that one in their midst is a betrayer.  Jesus knows all that Judas will do but still celebrates the communion meal with him.  This must serve as a warning to those who attend services regularly and have even been baptized and partake of communion but have not trusted Jesus to save them from sin.  The love and sacrifice of Jesus must always be at the front of our minds as it informs how we should live and love.

FORGET YOURSELF IN THE PRESENT: There are two questions that begin to circle amongst the disciples at this meal.  The first question is: Who is the worst?  The second question is: Who is the best?  When Jesus revealed that one of the twelve would betray Him, they all began to ask and speculate about who this might be.  Interestingly, the discussion quickly turned into a dispute about who was the greatest of the disciples.  Perhaps, we may think that the first question about who the betrayer might be was born out of humility.  That does not seem to be the case.  A humble person would have asked a different question: “Brother, do you think that I could somehow be the betrayer?”  They all are confident in themselves.  This is just another form of pride.  The second argument makes that very clear.  Someone may have said a little bit too loud: “I think that Peter is the one who will betray the Master.  He’s always talking so much.”  When Peter got wind of this comment, he would naturally respond: “Me?  No way!  I’m ‘the rock’ the Master made it very clear that I’m the greatest.  It is impossible for me to be the betrayer.”  To which John may have responded: “You’re the greatest?  Who is one Jesus loves?  You all know that answer to that question.  Isn’t it obvious that I’m the greatest?”  Then it just spirals on from there like children on a playground arguing about who has the most important dad.  The problem with both questions is they focus on self and not the Lord.  We would do well to stop thinking about ourselves.  Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but simply thinking of ourselves less so we can focus our thoughts on Jesus and others. 

BELIEVE GOD FOR YOUR FUTURE: Jesus calls His disciples, all of us, to follow His example of servant leadership.  This goes against all that our culture naturally believes.  We think that the one served is always above the servant.  Jesus came to serve, not be served and calls us to pick up a towel or a dish of food and serve others.  The path to greatness is not through being served but through serving.  The Father exalts the Son because the Son serves.  The Son has promised a place at the table and on thrones with Him in His future kingdom.  We must believe God’s promises for the future if we are going to be motivated to follow God’s commandments in the present.  The call to serve is not an easy one.  It was not easy for Jesus.  It was not easy for the disciples to stand with Jesus in all His trials.  It was not easy for them after His ascension.  It will not be easy for us as we seek to follow the path of the suffering Servant.  However, the final result will be glorious.  When we are tempted to be selfish, seek comfort, recognition and luxury we must take our eyes of the passing pleasures of the presents and focus on the promises of God for the future.

APPLICATION: Never forget that following Jesus is not about our greatness, it is all about His.  As we take communion and go through life, we must never forget the sacrifice He made on the cross on our behalf.  In light of His greatness, the focus of our lives should always be Him.  We are not to think poorly of ourselves or think of our own greatness.  We focus on serving Him and serving others.  No matter how much a life of following Jesus may cost us, the promises of the future He has given make any sacrifice shrink in light of His promise.