Luke 22:1-23
Introduction
The Lord’s Supper and baptism by immersion are the two ordinances of Southern Baptist churches. An ordinance is a religious ritual whose intent is to demonstrate the faith of believers and point people to Christ. The ordinances are symbolic in nature, yet they are not mere symbols; they point to the central covenant of the Christian faith. Unlike Roman Catholics, Baptists deny the concept that grace is dispensed through the ordinances, called sacraments in the Roman Catholic tradition.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
As the time for the annual Passover meal approached, the chief priests and scribes were seeking a way to put Christ to death, considering him to be a danger to their power and authority. However, Jesus was popular with the people as demonstrated during his entrance into the city of Jerusalem a few days before. The Jewish leaders feared the people.
While the leaders were considering an assassination plot, Judas came to them. The Scripture boldly declares that the archenemy of God, Satan, possessed Judas. This possession is a witness to the fact that even though Judas was one of the twelve, he never truly believed Jesus. Neither Satan, nor any of his demons, can possess a true believer because he is protected and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Judas offered the Jewish leaders a plan to betray Jesus into their hands. They welcomed his plan and offered to pay Judas for his assistance. They came to an agreement to give Judas money for his part in the plot. So, Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.
The Passover
Jesus and his disciples made plans to share in the Passover meal together. He sent Peter and John ahead of the group to prepare the meal. A gracious host provided an upper room (guest room) for the disciples to prepare the meal for the entire group. The Passover commemorated the Israelites’ emancipation from Egyptian slavery. Moses was the prophet leader of the Israelites. He met with Pharaoh, the Egyptian emperor, on several occasions and demanded the release of the Israelite slaves, but Pharaoh hardened his heart more at each request. The Lord brought ten plagues upon the Egyptians. The first nine were ignored by Pharaoh, but the last one captured his attention. The messenger of death came upon the Egyptians taking the first born of all the people during the night. Moses commanded the Israelite families to offer a sacrificial lamb to the Lord. They were to eat the lamb at their evening meal time. Some of the blood from the lamb was placed on the doorposts of the Israelites home, above the entrance and on each side of the door frame. Interestingly, if you drew a line from the center of the door frame to the ground and drew another line connecting the two sides where the blood was placed, you would have the image of a cross. When the death angel saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites home, he passed over the house and the firstborn was unharmed. The Passover commemorated God’s divine deliverance from death annually for the Israelites.
The sacrificial lamb was to be without spot or blemish. The grace demonstrated when the death angel passed over the houses with the blood on the doorposts pointed toward the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the final sacrificial lamb, Jesus was sinless (spotless). He was the only person who could die for the sins of the world because he was the only human who ever lived who never sinned. Grace took our place on the cross through the sacrificial, atoning death of the Lord.
The Lord’s Supper
When the time for the meal arrived, Jesus reclined at the table with his disciples. He looked forward to this last meal that he would share with his friends prior to his death. Jesus took a cup, offered thanks, and divided it among the twelve. Then he took bread and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, ESV). Then he took the cup and told them that this cup was the new covenant in his blood. It was poured out. No one took Jesus’ life from he; he gave it willingly because of his love for us. As Christians partake of the Supper, they are reminded of the great cost of their salvation. Jesus paid a debt he did not owe for believers who owed a debt they could never pay. He took the sins of the world on his body as he died on the cross. The Lord’s Supper points toward the redemptive work of Christ on the cross resulting in the salvation of all who believe. As believers share this communion with the Lord in the context of biblical community, they remember and honor the vicarious death of the Lord and his victorious resurrection until he returns as King.
The Betrayer
Judas was identified as the betrayer in Luke 22:3-5. He was possessed by the enemy to betray Christ into the hands of the chief priests and Jewish leaders. Jesus pointed out that the betrayer was with the twelve at the Lord’s Supper. Judas had been with Jesus for three years. He witnessed the miracles and the lives that were changed by the work of Christ. Yet, he never believed. Everyone who repents (turns away from their sins and turns to God) and believes the gospel of Christ is regenerated as a believer. Jesus impending death had been determined before the foundation of the world to provide the only way of salvation for humanity. Jesus fulfilled the will of God, being humble unto death in obedience (Phil 2:5-11). However, Jesus sternly warned the betrayer of the judgment for his rebellion. The disciples wondered which one of them it could be, but Jesus and Judas knew.
The truth is that all of us are tempted to deny Christ. When we sin, it is like driving another nail through Christ’s wrist. May the Lord help us to live faithful lives of obedience. When we sin or betray the Lord and repent of our sin, the Lord hears our prayer and forgives our sins (1 John 1:9). That is grace in action.
Application
First, remember and reflect on the cost of your salvation, thanking God for his grace. Second, offer thanksgiving to Christ who bore your sin burden on the cross. Third, rejoice in the new covenant that was sealed in the blood of Jesus. He has taken our hearts of stone and made them of moldable flesh. We no longer have to offer a blood sacrifice for our sin; Jesus, the final sacrificial lamb, paid our sin debt once and for all. There is no need of any other sacrifice. In fact, there is no other sacrifice that can atone for our sins. Fourth, be on guard as you live in obedience to all that Christ taught. We are called to be holy, for he is holy. Reject any inclination to deny Christ. Rather, follow the Lord in humble obedience.