Luke 22, a visual study from The Lampstand Project.
This is my body, given for you.
The betrayal plotted. The Last Supper. The dispute about greatness at the table. Gethsemane. Arrest. Peter’s denial. The trial before the Sanhedrin.
Three movements. The supper, Gethsemane, the trial.
Luke 22 is the chapter of the Passion’s beginning. It is distinctive in several ways: Luke’s institution of the Supper includes the command to do this in remembrance. Gethsemane includes the angel who strengthens him and the sweat like drops of blood — unique to Luke. At the arrest, Luke alone records Jesus healing the servant’s ear. Peter’s denial is followed by the Lord turning and looking at Peter.
A chapter in 3 movements.
Tap any numbered marker to read its part
“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
The Last Supper. The new covenant. The dispute at the table.
Judas goes to the chief priests and officers. They agree to give him money. He seeks an opportunity to betray Jesus in the absence of a crowd. Peter and John are sent to prepare the Passover. In the upper room, Jesus says: I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. He takes a cup, gives thanks, says: divide it among yourselves. Then he takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, gives it: this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after supper: this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Then a dispute arises among them as to which is to be regarded as the greatest — at the Passover table, after the bread and the cup. Jesus: the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is greater, the one reclining or the one serving? But I am among you as one who serves.
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Gethsemane. The angel. The sweat. The kiss.
He comes out and goes to the Mount of Olives as was his custom, and the disciples follow him. He says: pray that you may not enter into temptation. He withdraws about a stone’s throw and kneels and prays: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. An angel appears from heaven, strengthening him. Being in agony, he prays more earnestly; his sweat becomes like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
He rises from prayer and finds the disciples sleeping for sorrow. While he is still speaking, there comes a crowd, and Judas, one of the twelve, is leading them. He draws near to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus says: Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? One of those around strikes the servant of the high priest and cuts off his right ear. Jesus: no more of this. And he touches the ear and heals him. Then Jesus says: this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
“And he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.”
Peter’s denial. The look. The trial.
They seize Jesus and lead him away. Peter follows at a distance. He sits in the courtyard among those who have kindled a fire. A servant girl sees him: this man was with him. But he denies it: woman, I do not know him. A little later someone says: you also are one of them. Peter: man, I am not. About an hour later, another: certainly this man was with him, for he is a Galilean. Peter: man, I do not know what you are talking about. And immediately, while he is still speaking, the rooster crows.
And the Lord turns and looks at Peter. And Peter remembers the saying of the Lord: before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. And he goes out and weeps bitterly. Luke alone records the look. The men holding Jesus mock him and beat him. When day comes, the assembly of elders gathers. They say: if you are the Christ, tell us. He says: but from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God. They all say: are you the Son of God then? He says: you say that I am.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Luke’s account of the Last Supper contains the fullest institution formula. The cup after supper is the new covenant in his blood. The word ‘new covenant’ echoes Jeremiah 31: the days are coming when I will make a new covenant, not like the covenant I made with their fathers. The bread is given for you. The cup is poured out for you. The Passover that remembered the Exodus is now reinterpreted around his body and blood.
The chapter of the night before.
The feast of Unleavened Bread draws near. The chief priests look for a way to put him to death. Satan enters Judas. Judas agrees to betray Jesus for money. Peter and John are sent to prepare the Passover. In the upper room, Jesus says: I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. He takes bread and breaks it. He takes the cup after supper.
Then the dispute about which of them is greatest — at the Passover table. Jesus: the greatest among you become as the youngest, the leader as one who serves. I am among you as one who serves. He tells Peter: Satan demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you. When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Peter: I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus: three denials before the cock crows. In Gethsemane, an angel appears and strengthens him. He rises and finds the disciples sleeping for sorrow.
“For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’”Luke 22:37 ESV
All scripture quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV). A study from The Lampstand Project.