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Christmas Reflections: Walk Through Luke - Chapter 22



The Gospel of Luke tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.


December 22

Day 22

Luke chapter 22

There are 24 chapters in this book

They bring us through the story of Jesus - the reason for this season.


I also include in the bottom or comments some “extras” like short videos and songs that you may have never heard (or artists you may not know) that resonate with me during this holiday time.


Each post will start with who is who so that you can get a solid understanding of what this chapter is about. I encourage you to read the chapter in your own Bible after you read this. If you don’t have a Bible there are lots of free apps. I use several versions in my studying to ensure I have a full understanding of what I’ve read.


Thank you to the many of you who have engaged in the discussion or who have read these words and wrestled with or embraced what they mean to you personally. These are just my interpretation of each chapter. The thoughts come from researching multiple versions of the Bible. I used The Bible app. It’s free!


Each post starts with outlining who is involved in that chapter, followed by details of what each chapter says - how Jesus engaged - interspersed with my own thoughts. I write these posts to go deeper myself and to keep in my conscious mind how much Jesus loves us. Now - O come let us adore Him back...


This is my commentary.


Who was Luke?

A physician, a researcher, a traveling friend of Paul (mentioned in Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), perhaps someone researching facts to help the legal case for Paul while in prison in Rome, a non-Jew, the only Gentile author of a book in the New Testament. He penned not only Luke, but also Acts.


New characters continue to be introduced - new in this chapter:

* the leader of the priests

* A man with a jar of water

* An angel from heaven

* Soldiers

* Unnamed people


SECRETS, DARKNESS & LIGHT

It was Passover time and the Jewish leaders privately continued to talk about how they wanted Jesus killed but they were afraid of the reaction of His followers and needed to cover their tracks.


Satan began living inside of Judas Iscariot (one of the 12 disciples). He went to the priests and police and told them he would be able to hand Jesus over to them for a price. He wanted them to take Jesus when there would not be crowds around so he revealed info only the disciples would know.


COORDINATION

It was time for the Passover meal and they needed to kill a lamb for the meal. Jesus asked Peter and John to go prepare the meal. They asked Jesus where they should prepare it.


He told them when they got into the city they’d see a man carrying a bottle of water.


Think about this - he was always with his disciples. There were no cell phones.

  • How did this get all coordinated?

  • Who was the man.

  • Why was he chosen?


God can do all things seen and unseen, things we understand and things we don’t.

Jesus told them to follow the man into the house and tell them that the Master sent them to ask where the room would be for Him and His visitors for the meal.


He told them the man would show them a large room with everything they needed in it already set up. Already set up. Nothing to do but be there to sit with the Master.


God had everything already planned and set up.

They left and everything happened just as Jesus described.


VIP DINNER

It’s unclear where Jesus was while the meal was being prepared - but when it was time to eat He told His disciples that He really wanted to have this meal with them and that it had to happen before He suffered and died.


Jesus told them it would be the last meal He would eat on Earth but that He would eat again with God in His Kingdom once the meaning of the meal was fulfilled.


COMMUNING WITH THE HOLY ONE

Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for the wine. He told each of them to drink from the cup and that He would not drink again until He was in God’s Kingdom.


Then he took a loaf of bread, thanked God for it, broke it into pieces and passed it around.

He told them “this is My body - it is being broken to save you - when you eat it always remember Me.”


He then held up the wine glass and said “this cup shows the new promise that God makes because of my death. When I die my blood will pour out of My body as a sacrifice for you.


But look! You need to know that the person that will hand Me over to authorities is sitting with us now as a friend. His hand is eating the same food as I am. The Son of Man must die in the way God says. Great sorrow awaits for the man who turns me over to enemies.”

Imagine what they must’ve been thinking - they all wondered who it was that would betray their teacher and beloved friend.

While they pondered the lowliest person, at the same time the apostles started arguing among themselves about which one of them was most important person.

They weren’t talking about what he just said about dying for them. They were talking about ego and self importance.

Jesus told them “kings of other countries use authority over the people. Leaders want people to say good things about them even if it’s not true. You must not be like that. The most important person among you must be the least important. The person who will be your leader must be like a servant. Ahh the leadership lesson for the ages.


Jesus shared:

Tell me this. Who is more important:

- the person who sits at the table to eat

- Or is it the person who puts out the meal for him

The person who sits at the table is important but I am here to serve you.

- you never left me

- You’ve always stayed by my side when trouble came to me

- I’m here to tell you you’ll rule with me

- My Father in heaven has said that I will rule with Him in His kingdom

- In my kingdom you will sit at my table and eat and drink with me

- You’ll sit in chairs like kings and rulers

- You will judge the 12 families of Israel”


STRENGTH AFTER WEAKNESS

Then Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Simon - Satan has asked to have authority over all of you and shake you like a farmer shakes seeds. I have prayed for you Simon that you’ll continue to believe in Me and that your faith not fail. This is what you must do - when you’ve repented and turned back to Me, help your brothers be strong again”.


Simon told Jesus that he was ready to go to prison with Him and even ready to die for Him.


Jesus said, “Peter I tell you this. Very soon you will say you don’t know Me. In fact you’ll say it 3 times before the rooster crows in the morning.”


Jesus knew what he would do but wanted him to remember what He said - once you’ve done this, you WILL repent. You need to turn back to Me and help the others be strong. They would need a leader that was strong and could show the power of God’s redeeming grace and love and forgiveness.


CHANGE OF PLANS

Jesus then addressed His group and said “when I sent you out you didn’t have a bag, clothes or a need for anything. Did you need anything?” They all said no.


Then He said - “now it has to be different. If you have a purse or bag or coat take it with you. If you don’t have a sword - sell your coat to buy a knife.


Here’s why.

Long ago people in the Bible wrote what must happen to me. It said that people will think I’m one of the bad people. So what is about to happen to me must happen soon.” (He quoted from the prophet Isaiah chapter 53)

One of the disciples told him they had two long knives and He said that would be enough. Things were about to get bad. You'll hear some of this brought to life in the final clip below.


ALWAYS MAKE TIME TO PRAY

As he had done each night - Jesus left the city and went up to the mount of olives. Jesus told his friends to ask God to help them so they wouldn’t want to do wrong things. He walked off about a stones throw away and went on his knees to pray.

He said “Father - if You want You can save Me from this time of great pain and suffering. I don’t want You to do what I want - do what You want for Me.”

Is this a prayer we are willing to make?

We may think we want to do this. Just as the disciples wanted to follow Jesus - we may want to. But will we be ok if God’s will isn’t what we want? I know I personally struggle with this sometimes.

Jesus was willing to do whatever the Father wanted. Even die a horrible death.

WITH HIM FROM THE BEGINNING

After He prayed this prayer - an angel came to Him from heaven and made Him stronger.

Angels weren't instructed by God to shield Jesus from what was to come, just to make Him stronger.


HEMATOHIDROSIS

Jesus began to have troubles in his mind and started praying even harder. He was so stressed and agonizing that he started sweating blood that was dripping on the ground. This is a true physical reaction to stress.


GOD WANTS THIS FROM US WHEN WE ARE TIRED AND SAD

When He finished praying He stood up and went back to the disciples. They were sleeping since they were so weak and tired from being sad. He told them to wake up and that they needed to start praying so God would help them not do wrong things. (Second warning)


FALSE FRIENDS

While Jesus was speaking to them - a crowd led by Judas was approaching. Judas leaned in to kiss Him on the cheek and Jesus asked why he’d want to kiss the Son of Man and yet be leading the enemies to take hold of Him. I struggle wondering if Judas totally knew he was being a traitor or if he was hurt emotionally or really though he was doing something good. There are a few schools of thoughts on this. He was chosen by God to be the ultimate betrayer. What a horrible role to be cast in.


WAR. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

His disciples asked Him if they should use their weapons to fight. One even cut off the ear of a servant of one of the priests.


HEALING IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE

Jesus shouted “that’s enough!” And then healed the man’s ear. There are other accounts in other books of the New Testament that say when all of this was happening of course people were astonished and maybe afraid when they witnessed the healing. But they still chained Him to have Him arrested.


SOMETHING MORE TO SAY

Before that happened for Him to be taken away - Jesus spoke to the leaders who came to arrest him.


WHAT HAPPENS IN DARKNESS

He said “you came here with weapons. Do you really think I came here to lead people against our country rulers??!! Come on. Of course not! I was with you every day in the temple - God’s great house - and you didn’t try to take Me then. Now is however the time when the devil has authority for you to do your work.”

They weren’t strangers to Him. They had been listening to him teaching day after day. He wasn’t a stranger to them. They were not unaware of what He taught. Why did they now suddenly think he came for something evil.

How often do we not understand what God is doing in our lives. Do we blame him for our circumstances even though we know what He taught and why we came?


THE POWER OF "THREE"

They bound Jesus and took Him to the house of the leader of the priests. Peter followed but not closely. When he got near the place - he lit a fire and:

1. a girl saw him in the light and shouted “this man is a friend of Jesus!” Peter replied it wasn’t true and he didn’t know Jesus.

2. A short time later another person said “yes! You are one of his followers”. Peter replied that it was not true and he was not one of them

3. An hour later another man saw him and said “I’m sure this man was a friend of Jesus and is also from Galilee.” Peter replied that he didn’t know what the man was talking about.


Just then the rooster crowed.


Jesus turned His face toward Peter and he remembered what Jesus had told him. Peter ran off sobbing in complete remorse for what he did to his friend and his Lord.


The men that were holding Jesus were laughing and mocking him and beating him. They covered his eyes with a blindfold and said if he was a prophet then He should be able to tell them who was hitting him.

Imagine this horror.


3. 33 actually. 33 years before this - Jesus was brought into the world. This torture was the beginning of what would take Him out of it.


When we think of Christmas we think of a tiny baby swaddling in a beautiful safe crib (not a smelly and dirty feeding trough in a barn).


Indeed He was born but He grew up - not in a beautiful safe Heaven - but in a stinking barn of a world. He came here for 33 years (keep your eyes on this number. It continues to be a vitally import number.)


WHAT'S UP AHEAD

Let’s not forget as we sing 'O come let adore Him'. Or 'Away in a manger no crib for a bed' - that the story didn’t end there.

These next few days and posts from Luke are not about a Silent night. But they’re very important since the last verse of Luke shows why Jesus was born on that day.

Please keep reading and learning about what happened. To quote Downhere “How many kings stepped down from their thrones - how many Lords have abandoned their homes - how many greats have become the least for me? I’ll put the song in the comments below. It moves me every time I listen to it.


Back to the scene.

This beating went on for HOURS and in the morning the Jewish leaders met. Jesus was dragged to them and they asked him “are You the Messiah?”


Jesus said “if I tell you - you won’t believe Me. If I ask you a question you won’t answer Me. But from now on the Son of Man will be sitting in the most important place at the right side of God in the most high heavens.” He answered. Not in the way they wanted.


They asked again if He was claiming to be the Son of God and he replied - “you say that I am”. It was because they already knew the answer.


They were very upset and said they didn’t need anyone else to speak out against Him for He now has said enough for them to continue to proceed with His arrest. So even though He didn't say the words they wanted - they convicted Him and yet they didn't seem to be convicted by it.


More to come. More beatings and torture and people turning from Him.

Death will happen. But so will life again come.

He may have left this earth but He came back once 3 days later and will come back again. “THIS is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown” (see clip below)


It's not done yet. Christmas is coming. 'O come, o come Emmanuel'.


Tomorrow more to come with Ch 23



PRAYER

Lord, thank You for Your word. Lord may we remember You at all times. Thank You for opportunities to share who You are and that no matter what I do - it’s not about me - but You. Lord we are living in times with great confusion and distortion of who You were, how You lived and what You taught. We have government and religious leaders who pervert Your very words and teachings and do so parading around in masks as deceivers. May we all be more vigilant to the truth. Thank You that You God loved us so much that You would send Your Son into the world to become a human, to take on our sins, to continually have to repeat lessons all while being up against foes. You bore our shame and sin through a horrific and inhumane torture just so we could be reunited in eternity. How could You possibly love me that much? Thank you for grace and mercy, forgiveness and redemption. Amen


MUSIC - the universal language

The song that resonates with me today is this one by Downhere. Please listen to this song. It’s one of my all time favorites and moves me each time I hear it https://youtu.be/WTYe9sWYKdo


And this from Hillary Scott and the Scott Family https://youtu.be/PAmh3yvmzXs



EXTRAS:

This is a clip of something you likely saw before. Hear this a new way this year https://youtu.be/Ys8CMWtXiNg


Important to see this clip as well. This is the meaning of this holiday. Don’t get caught up in gifts and hustle and bustle. https://youtu.be/kaB0HRyFZ_0


Lastly - here is the season 4 trailer of The Chosen. I shared it yesterday but its worth your time. The show is free on the app. But this season will also premiere Feb 1 in theaters. You'll see in this clip a LOT about what todays commentary was about. https://youtu.be/wisX-CEjoxc?si=6GD4thjjXUqEAXKI


SPECIAL EXTRA:

Think about this. So poignant for the verses of today. It was a dark time. Jesus had been arrested and the beatings have begun. He was betrayed and denied and about to go through the most gruesome death. But light is coming. Although we celebrate the birth of Christ in a few days - the chapters of Luke also come to a close which bring us the fulfillment of why He came and the promise that He will come back for us. Yesterday was the Winter Solstice. Today is a new day.






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