Monday, August 23, 2021

2021.08.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Luke 22:21–34

Read Luke 22:21–34

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose hand does Christ mention in Luke 22:21? With Whom is it?  Where is it? What does Jesus call Himself in Luke 22:22a? What determines how/where He goes? But what/whom does this predetermination not absolve (verse 22b)? What do they begin to question (Luke 22:23)? Among whom? What else are they doing among themselves (Luke 22:24)? About what? Who knows about these things (Luke 22:25)? About whom does He first speak to them? What do these kings do? With what do they credit their authorities? How should this relate to the dynamic among Christ’s disciples (Luke 22:26)? What must the greatest do? What must someone who governs do? Who is supposed to be greater (Luke 22:27)? But how was Christ, the Greatest, among them? What does Christ now call them (Luke 22:28)? How does He respond to their being brought low with Him—what does He bestow upon them (Luke 22:29)? What was the pattern for this? In what action(s) is their receiving of the kingdom displayed and enjoyed (Luke 22:30)? Whom does the Lord now address in Luke 22:31? Who has asked for him? To do what? But what has countered this (Luke 22:32)? What has Jesus prayed for him? What will he do? What does Peter need to do at that point? What does he now say to the Lord (Luke 22:33)? How does Jesus answer him—what will Peter do before when (Luke 22:34)?

Immediately upon the Lord Jesus presenting Himself as believers’ ultimate provision (Luke 22:19-20), we get a rapid-fire series of examples of how badly we need that provision. 

Betrayal, Luke 22:21-23. Jesus ties the news of the betrayer to the Supper itself with the conjunction “but” (more literally “nevertheless”) at the beginning of Luke 22:21 and by highlighting the betrayer’s hand being on the table. Our potential for such wickedness in the face of such goodness is a very big deal. Even the fact that it comes under the reality of God’s sovereign providence (Luke 22:22a) does not remove the horrific guiltiness that the betrayer bears (verse 22b). And apart from Jesus’s grace, every one of His followers is a potential betrayer (Luke 22:23).

Rivalry, Luke 22:24-30. The Spirit takes us from one dispute in Luke 22:23 to a rather disturbing one in Luke 22:24. The potential Christ-betrayers are arguing about which of them is the greatest. They are acting exactly like the wicked world (Luke 22:25). Each wishes to get to the top, even if it comes at the cost of the others. Christ’s kingdom (Luke 22:16) and kingship (Luke 22:27) are exactly opposite. Again, He draws attention to the table and their need for Him. Their privilege is not in high status but in suffering (Luke 22:28). The way up is the way down, both for Christ (Luke 22:29) and for them (Luke 22:30). And again, the Lord Jesus draws attention to the table.

Arrogance, Luke 22:31-34. The Lord calls him Simon in Luke 22:31, not the strong name, “Rock.” The Lord tells him that Satan himself has asked for him. The Lord tells him that He has prayed for him. Even with that prayer, and what Peter is up against, Jesus tells him that he will stumble and return in Luke 22:32. Peter’s disagreement with Jesus in Luke 22:33 implies greater confidence in himself even than in Jesus’s own prayers. The horrible arrogance! And Jesus basically tells him so (Luke 22:34). Still, just as it’s Jesus Who provides at His own table, so also it is Jesus Who provides for Peter through His prayers (Luke 22:32a) and even provides Peter himself for the strengthening of his brethren (verse 32b). 

Betrayal, rivalry, and arrogance are just three examples of why we desperately need Christ as our sacrifice, Christ as our life and goodness, Christ as our help and Mediator. 

How have you seen your own neediness of Christ? For these needs, how is Christ abundantly sufficient for that need? How has He assured you that He has given Himself to be your sufficiency?

Sample prayer: Lord Jesus, our God and Savior, we praise You for Your perfect covenantal faithfulness, when we are prone to betrayal. We praise You for Your humbly giving Yourself up for us, when we so easily indulge a spirit of rivalry. We praise You for the perfection of Your strength, when we who are weak have only illusions of our own strength. And we praise You most of all that You have made Yourself ours. As You display and do at Your table, give Yourself to us we pray, in Your own Name, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH435 “Not What My Hands Have Done”

 

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