22
Judas joins the plot against Jesus
1 Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called ‘Passover’, drew near. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to kill Him, because they feared the people.* The trouble was that the people were being so impressed by Jesus that they felt threatened. 3 Then Satan entered Judas† Note that Judas acted under satanic inspiration. (the one surnamed Iscariot), who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 So he went off and conferred with the chief priests and officers about how he might betray Him to them. 5 They were glad, and agreed to give him silver coins. 6 So he promised, and started looking for an opportunity to betray Him to them, without a crowd.
The last night
Preparation for the last Passover
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, in which it was necessary to kill the Passover lamb. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” 9 So they said to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare?” 10 He said to them: “Note, upon entering the city a man carrying a jar of water‡ This would presumably be rather unusual, since fetching water was normally done by women. will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you must say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you: Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He himself will show you a large upper room,§ Obviously this had all been arranged ahead of time. The owner was doubtless a believer, and the large upper room was presumably chosen with a view to the use that would be made of it later, as well. all furnished; make preparations there.” 13 So off they went and found things just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
They eat the Passover
14 When the hour had come, He reclined, and the twelve* A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “twelve” (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.). apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them: “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I tell you further that I will not eat of it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 And taking a cup He gave thanks and said: “Take this and share it among yourselves.† This ‘cup’ was not part of the ‘Lord's Supper’; I don't know what the purpose may have been. 18 I tell you further that I will not drink again‡ To suck a swallow or two from a sponge would not qualify as ‘drinking’. of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper
19 Then, after the meal, He took bread, gave thanks, broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 He also took the cup, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.
The betrayer is present
21 “But alas, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table! 22 To be sure, the Son of the Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”§ Judas had crossed the line of no return. 23 (They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who was about to do this.)
Wanting to be ‘the greatest’ is not a valid option
24 Now there had actually been a discussion among them as to which of them seemed to be greater. 25 So He said to them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors’. 26 But not so with you—rather let the greater among you become as the younger, and he who leads as he who serves. 27 Who is greater, the one reclining or the one serving? Is it not the one reclining? Yet I am among you as the one who serves. 28 However, you are those who have continued with me in my trials.* The gentle reproof is tempered with a word of appreciation. 29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom; also you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel!”† Then the twelve tribes must still exist! God knows who and where they are. I wonder who will take the Iscariot's place. Note that there will be eating and drinking in the future Kingdom.
Peter will deny Him
31 Then the Lord said:‡ A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Then the Lord said” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). “Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you (pl) so as to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you (sg) so that your faith not fail completely;§ The Lord prayed for Peter, but evidently not for the Iscariot. so you, when you have recovered,* The KJV reads ‘converted’, which is a misleading translation. strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 34 So He said, “I say to you, Peter, no rooster can crow today before you deny three times that you know me!”† This was the second warning; the first is recorded in John 13:37-38. For a complete discussion of Peter's denials, please see the Appendix: “How many times did Jesus say Peter would deny Him?”.
“Buy a sword”
35 Then He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” And they said, “Nothing.” 36 So He said to them: “But now, he who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword must sell his garment and buy one.‡ If you are obviously armed, this tends to slow down those who would otherwise attack you or take advantage of you. It is better yet to have spiritual power. 37 Because I say to you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was classed with the lawless’;§ See Isaiah 53:12. and because the things concerning me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
Gethsemane
39 Then going out He went to the Mount of Olives, as His custom was, and His disciples followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray, so as not to enter into temptation.” 41 Then He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you would just remove this cup from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done!” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in anguish He prayed with total concentration;* I believe that Hebrews 5:7 refers to this moment. To transpire blood is normally fatal, so Jesus came close to dying there in the garden. But He had to get to the cross, so the Father sent an angel to strengthen Him. The sleeping disciples did not observe this, so Luke received this information ‘from Above’ (Luke 1:3). then His sweat became like clots of blood, falling to the ground.† The eclectic Greek text currently in vogue places verses 43-44 within double brackets (based on 1.3% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality), thereby denying that Luke wrote them. These verses contain important information that should not be questioned on such a feeble basis. 45 When He rose up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 He said to them: “Why do you sleep? Get up and pray, that you may not enter into temptation!”
Betrayal and arrest
47 But while He was still speaking—wow, a crowd; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them! He approached Jesus to kiss Him (he had given them this sign, “Whomever I kiss, it is he”).‡ Some 45% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission (that I follow), have, “he had given them this sign, ‘Whomever I kiss, it is he’ ”. Every other version I have seen follows the 55%. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of the Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And a certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear!§ “The servant of the high priest”—presumably this man was leading the expedition. We know from John 18:10 that his name was Malchus. 51 But Jesus reacted by saying, “Allow at least this!” and touching his ear He healed him.* We know it was Peter (John 18:10), and if the Lord had not healed that ear, things would probably have been nastier for Peter in the ‘courtyard’.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, officers of the temple, and elders who had come against Him: “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a bandit? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour; even the authority of the darkness!”† This was Satan's hour, being part of the Father's Plan; ‘the darkness’ refers to Satan's kingdom; ‘your hour’ means that they were part of that kingdom.
Peter denies Jesus
54 Then they seized, took and brought Him to the house of the high priest, with Peter following at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a certain servant girl, seeing him sitting by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man also was with him.”‡ I wonder how the girl knew that! 57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know him!”
58 After a little while another saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another started insisting, “Surely this fellow also was with him, because he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don't know what you're talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster§ Instead of ‘a’ rooster, perhaps 3% of the manuscripts have ‘the’ rooster (as in TR, AV, NKJV). crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked directly at Peter;* I take it that here the Lord broke the Satanic spell, and Peter could think normally again. then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how He had said to him, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 62 And going outside he wept bitterly.
Guards mistreat Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus started mocking and beating Him. 64 And having blindfolded Him they would hit His face and† Perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “they would hit His face and” (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.). ask Him, saying: “Prophesy! Who was it who struck you?”‡ Those men were cowardly and perverse, but probably acted under demonic influence. 65 And they kept saying many other insulting things to Him.
Crucifixion day
Jesus judged by the Council
66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, came together and brought Him before their council, saying, 67 “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” But He said to them: “If I tell you, you simply will not believe. 68 But if I also question you, you will neither answer nor release me.§ Jesus tells them that He knows, and they know, that what they are doing is a farce. 69 Hereafter the Son of the Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 Then they all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You say it because I AM!” 71 Then they said: “What further testimony do we need? We ourselves have heard it from his mouth!”* They were condemning Him for blasphemy, but to do that they had to reject the obvious truth that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

*22:2 The trouble was that the people were being so impressed by Jesus that they felt threatened.

†22:3 Note that Judas acted under satanic inspiration.

‡22:10 This would presumably be rather unusual, since fetching water was normally done by women.

§22:12 Obviously this had all been arranged ahead of time. The owner was doubtless a believer, and the large upper room was presumably chosen with a view to the use that would be made of it later, as well.

*22:14 A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “twelve” (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.).

†22:17 This ‘cup’ was not part of the ‘Lord's Supper’; I don't know what the purpose may have been.

‡22:18 To suck a swallow or two from a sponge would not qualify as ‘drinking’.

§22:22 Judas had crossed the line of no return.

*22:28 The gentle reproof is tempered with a word of appreciation.

†22:30 Then the twelve tribes must still exist! God knows who and where they are. I wonder who will take the Iscariot's place. Note that there will be eating and drinking in the future Kingdom.

‡22:31 A mere handful (0.5%) of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Then the Lord said” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§22:32 The Lord prayed for Peter, but evidently not for the Iscariot.

*22:32 The KJV reads ‘converted’, which is a misleading translation.

†22:34 This was the second warning; the first is recorded in John 13:37-38. For a complete discussion of Peter's denials, please see the Appendix: “How many times did Jesus say Peter would deny Him?”.

‡22:36 If you are obviously armed, this tends to slow down those who would otherwise attack you or take advantage of you. It is better yet to have spiritual power.

§22:37 See Isaiah 53:12.

*22:44 I believe that Hebrews 5:7 refers to this moment. To transpire blood is normally fatal, so Jesus came close to dying there in the garden. But He had to get to the cross, so the Father sent an angel to strengthen Him. The sleeping disciples did not observe this, so Luke received this information ‘from Above’ (Luke 1:3).

†22:44 The eclectic Greek text currently in vogue places verses 43-44 within double brackets (based on 1.3% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality), thereby denying that Luke wrote them. These verses contain important information that should not be questioned on such a feeble basis.

‡22:47 Some 45% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission (that I follow), have, “he had given them this sign, ‘Whomever I kiss, it is he’ ”. Every other version I have seen follows the 55%.

§22:50 “The servant of the high priest”—presumably this man was leading the expedition. We know from John 18:10 that his name was Malchus.

*22:51 We know it was Peter (John 18:10), and if the Lord had not healed that ear, things would probably have been nastier for Peter in the ‘courtyard’.

†22:53 This was Satan's hour, being part of the Father's Plan; ‘the darkness’ refers to Satan's kingdom; ‘your hour’ means that they were part of that kingdom.

‡22:56 I wonder how the girl knew that!

§22:60 Instead of ‘a’ rooster, perhaps 3% of the manuscripts have ‘the’ rooster (as in TR, AV, NKJV).

*22:61 I take it that here the Lord broke the Satanic spell, and Peter could think normally again.

†22:64 Perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “they would hit His face and” (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.).

‡22:64 Those men were cowardly and perverse, but probably acted under demonic influence.

§22:68 Jesus tells them that He knows, and they know, that what they are doing is a farce.

*22:71 They were condemning Him for blasphemy, but to do that they had to reject the obvious truth that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD