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 Luke 22:47-53: Credibility gap?(please click here for todays passage)

It is sadly possible for there to be a ‘credibility gap’ between our talk and walk. In a Christian, lips and life should be moving in the same direction. Judas invariably challenges me with this thought: is there a chance that I may be ‘kissing’ Jesus with my lips, ‘in church’, in my praises; yet at the same time am I betraying Him with my life?

It is also possible to be fighting the Lord’s battles with the wrong weapons (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). The knee-jerk reaction is not necessarily the right or best response. What does the Lord Himself have to say about this? That’s the question. The disciples did right to ask Jesus His view on what they planned to do (49). But Peter was wrong not to await a reply (50). Jesus had a clear statement to make on the matter and it was to be heeded (51).In this spiritual battle we’re in, let’s not make a grab for the sword (or its equivalent), but use ‘the weapons of our warfare’ that are ‘not carnal’, such as prayer, fasting, praise and worship.

It is a sobering thought to realise how much power Satan has in this world. He exercises it by Divine permission of course. He is on a ‘chain’; but it is a long chain. The evil day (53b), when all hell breaks loose, can come for the church (Eph.6:10-12). Supremely it came at the Cross. But never lose sight of the clear inference that Jesus is in complete control.

Prayer: In all my trials and struggles let me never forget that you are Lord.

Luke 22:39-46: More about prayer.(please click here for todays passage)

There are at least 3 lessons about prayer in this short passage:

1. There is something about prayer and place (39): ‘as was his custom’. It seems that the Mount of Olives was a favourite spot frequented by Jesus for prayer. Although there is not one part of God’s world more sacred than another, and we can pray anywhere, there does seem to be something helpful about a familiar location for prayer. For me, it’s an armchair in a downstairs room, and when I sit there in the early morning I am almost instantly in a reflective and prayerful frame of mind.
2. There is something about prayer and power (40, 46 cf. 31,32). As in the conversation with Peter earlier in the chapter, Jesus showed by His words that He believed in the potency, the efficacy of prayer – that certain things can change when people pray. We particularly see that our own prayers, and/or the prayers of others on our behalf can have a protective power.
3. There is something about prayer and submission (41-44).Remember that prayer is not about getting man’s will done in heaven, but God’s will done on earth. Prayer is powerful, but it won’t remove every experience from your life that you might wish to avoid, if possible. But if prayer doesn’t move the mountain, there will always come the strengthening you need to climb it! (Or to tunnel through it.) And you will find the strength to return to your knees and pray on.

Luke 22:35-38: The Lord will provide.(please click here for todays passage)

‘Everything written about me is now coming to a conclusion.’ (37) The Message.

The words of today’s reading were spoken under the shadow of the Cross. Jesus was about to die for the sins of the world. Everything was coming to a head. Jesus teaching here shows:

• God’s provision is perfect (35). It is miraculous. It is ‘against the odds’ naturally speaking. Countless stories from the Bible and church history endorse this. Hudson Taylor’s dictum that ‘God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply’ remains true. Read a book such as A.T.Pierson’s biography of George Mueller, and it will stir your heart and encourage your faith. Mueller wanted to demonstrate to the world what could be achieved by prayer through faith, and so he was scrupulous in making the needs of the orphanages known only to God. Time and again there were remarkable, and timely, answers to prayer.
• There are ‘seasons’/’chapters’ in a disciple’s walk with Jesus (36). ‘This is different.’ The Message. Some periods are more difficult (more dangerous even) than others. F.B. Meyer wrote that ‘the storm’ was about to burst on the disciples ‘with furious intensity’. The current phase of your life may look different to a previous one. The instructions you receive from above may not be the same. The gears can shift. So it is vital to keep in step with Jesus, listening for His voice and doing whatever He says.

‘Do whatever He tells you.’ (John 2:5)

Prayer: In each day, Lord, there are so many distracting sights and sounds to contend with. It is not always easy to keep my eyes fixed on you. But I want to. I know I need to. Please help me with this.

Luke 22:14-23: Remember.(please click for todays passage)

The gospels are not strict biographies as such. In them you find such a concentration on the events surrounding the death of Jesus. It’s estimated that between a quarter and a third of the contents deal with the last week of His life. Someone said that the gospels set off like express trains, but then the brakes are applied, until we gradually come to a halt at the foot of the cross. In a normal biography there is much more of a focus on the whole life, and not just the end of it.

When we want to remember someone we love, we usually keep a photo of them in a prominent place, showing how they appeared when they were alive and well. But Jesus wanted to be remembered in His death. He lived like His death was the most important part of His life.

His death was no accident: ‘The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed’ (22a).

It involved real suffering (15b).

It is ‘for you’ (19, 20)

It is instructive that even in the face of His impending death Jesus gave thanks (19). He blessed the Lord at all times, and His praise was always on our Lord’s lips.

Please note that the reality of Satan and his work in the world, in human beings, does not remove personal responsibility (22b).

One final thought: there is a place for self-examination to see if there is anything of the betrayer in me (23).

Luke 22:7-13: Jesus never fails.(please click for todays passage)

We see in this short passage something about the utter reliability of Jesus and the total dependability of His Word. We will always find things to be ‘just as’ He tells us (13). Life does line up with His infallible Word. But even if, sometimes, in the short term, this doesn’t appear to be the case, ultimately we will find that the Lord has every detail organised, and everything has been (and is) ‘just as’ He said. We do go through days when we find it hard to locate our experiences within the big Bible picture, but we will finally see that ‘all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.’

After all, at the heart of our faith there lies the cruel and savage death of a totally innocent young Man. That is hard to understand; difficult to come to terms with. But the more we understand, the more clearly we see that ‘the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed’ (7). There surely is a deeper meaning behind Luke’s statement than what lies on the surface? (1 Corinthians 5:7). What looks like a tragedy is central to God’s plan. In the offering of Jesus on the cross we are finding things ‘just as’ God said they would be.

Here is one further thought: Jesus has made preparations for what He wants US to enjoy: a feast, a banquet, you might say, in fellowship with Him. But we too have to make our own preparations if we are to fully enter into all that He has for us. Reading between the lines, Jesus had already made some arrangements before sending the disciples to do their bit. But that didn’t absolve them of the responsibilities that they were given to carry.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you have given to me everything I need for life and godliness. I want to make every effort to progress in this life of discipleship.

 Luke 22:1-6:God-haters and men – pleases.(please click here for todays passage)

These religious leaders hated God and feared men (2). They didn’t realise they were haters of God. But they were. This was revealed in their attitude to God’s Son. (What a person feels about Jesus shows what they feel about God.) The flip side to being a man-pleaser is to be a man-fearer. You fear their frowns, their disapproval, their dislike, their adverse reactions. This is a terrible way to live – hating God and pleasing/fearing people. To be a man-pleaser is a form of slavery. You need emancipation. It is never okay to be inconsiderate, insensitive and rude. It is important to take the thoughts and feelings of others into account. But you must be ‘your own person’ before God. Your backbone is not formed from jelly.

The world system is always looking ‘to get rid of Jesus’. It does not want this Man to reign over us. I note that they were not afraid to do wrong; they were just scared of being found out (and yes, of public opinion.) Judas helped them get what they wanted. ‘They were delighted and agreed to give him the money.’ This says to me that  you always pay a terrible price for the removal of Jesus from your life. It costs and no-one can afford it.

The mention of ‘Passover’ (1) underlines the truth that there was a higher power operating and God was in charge, not men. Even more to the point, ‘Satan’ (3) was not running the show. The Lord would work out His great purpose to deliver the world from sin in and through the death of Jesus. It was no accidental tragedy, in spite of outward appearances.

Prayer: Lord set me free from the tyranny of men-pleasing.