Luke 22 - What is the New Covenant and How Do We Remember It?

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Good morning. Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed! It's good to say this not only just on Easter Sunday, but every day of the year. Today, as we read Luke 22, many of the scenes from Holy Week are covered.  Judas' betrayal, the Last Supper, Jesus' prayer in the Garden, Peter's threefold denial, His arrest, and his trial before the religious leaders. 

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

The religious leaders were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. It was the Passover time, so they needed to play their cards right, because there were so many people in Jerusalem. They didn't want to cause a riot, as there were many who favored Jesus. 

They found Judas, a willing betrayer. He played right into their hands. The leaders were delighted that Judas was willing to "play ball" and they agreed to pay for him for his services. In another gospel, we learn that Judas betrayed his Lord for 30 pieces of silver, a mere pittance. Judas waited for the right opportunity to hand Jesus over, where there were as a few people around as possible. 

The Last Supper

Jesus sent Peter and John to make preparations for the Passover meal, which would be his last meal with his disciples. The Passover meal was centered on the sacrifice of an innocent lamb in remembrance of the time when the blood of an innocent and unblemished lamb was posted on the doorposts of the of Jewish homes. The blood caused the angel of death to "pass-over" their homes, and only brought judgment on the Egyptian children.

Jesus was going to introduce the true meaning of Passover, as it is related to what he was going to do on the cross. He would become the innocent Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus gave them instructions where they would meet a man carrying a jar of water, who would bring them to a place where Jesus had pre-ordained to celebrate this last meal with them. 

This was an unusual sight, because carrying a pitcher was typically a woman’s work, and generally men carried liquids in animal’s skin containers. This would be a distinctive sign to the disciples.

The Teacher says to you: The scene here implies secrecy, and Jesus had good reason to quietly make arrangements for Passover. He didn’t want Judas to betray Him before He could give a final talk to the disciples. - Guzik

Jesus tells the disciples how eager he was to share this last meal with them, before he suffered and died. He also told them that the fulfillment of the Passover meal would not happen until it was fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Jesus took the cup of wine and passed it to them to drink saying, "I will not drink from the fruit of vine until God's kingdom came." 

So then he used the words which we now call the "Words of Institution", as he gave out the bread for them to eat and poured the wine for them to drink. Specifically, he took the bread, broke it, gave thanks and gave it to the disciples saying, "This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."  Little did they know his body would be broken on the cross. They would break his shins so that he could not lift himself up to breathe on the cross. 

Importantly Jesus says, "Do this in remembrance of me." This is a command Jesus gave to them and to us. At our church we serve communion every week because of this. I think we need to remember what Jesus did for us as much as possible. Receiving Holy Communion on a weekly basis is a very tangible way to remember what he did for us, using simple elements like bread and wine. 

After supper was over he took the cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you."

This is highly significant. God had previously made covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David, but now he was making a new one. What was new about it? 

Every previous covenant had a symbol.

Noah - Rainbow

Abraham - Circumcision

Moses - Ten Comandments

David - Crown

The symbol of the new covenant was Jesus body broken and blood shed. We remember them through the breaking of the bread and pouring out of the wine.

This meal was a reminder of the innocent Lamb of God, Jesus, who shed his blood for us, just like the Passover lamb did. The difference is that the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed once every year, Jesus the Lamb of God was sacrificed once and for all time. Therefore, Jesus' sacrifice put an end to the sacrificial system. A new and superior covenant had been instituted and is in effect until this day. 

You can see why it is so important for us to remember Jesus' body and blood, as we participate in Holy Communion. We must never forget to incredible price Jesus paid, and the incredible sacrifice He made to fulfill this new covenant. 

The meaning behind Holy Communion is at the heart of what we believe as Christians, and why it is so important that we receive it on a regular basis to always remember what it means to be a Christian.

Jesus, the only Son of God, died an innocent death on the cross for sins he did not commit. He paid a debt he didn't owe for we who had a debt we could not pay. 

The theological word for this is "substitutionary atonement." It basically means Jesus covered all my sins so I could be "at-one" with God! 

This is how we remember what Jesus did for us. As we eat the bread, we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption. As we drink the cup, we should remember that His blood, His life was poured out on Calvary for us. - Guzik

This is how we fellowship with Jesus. Because His redemption has reconciled us to God, we can now sit down to a meal with Jesus, and enjoy each other’s company. - Guzik

We can say that the blood of Jesus made the new covenant possible, and it also made it sure and reliable. It is confirmed with the life of God Himself. - Guzik

There has been much scholarly debate, division, and even denominational splits over the question of how Jesus is present in the wine and the bread. A rough division of the three different interpretations of this doctrine come within the following denominations: Catholic, Lutheran/Orthodox/Episcopal, Baptist/Methodist. 

This is a very "high level view" of how these three faith traditions teach in what is Jesus is present in Holy Communion, which is also called the "Eucharist". 

1. Catholic - The bread and wine literally are the body and blood of Christ. 

2. Lutheran - Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine for those who believe in faith. 

3. Baptist - Jesus is present as we remember him in a symbolic sense. I.e. It is more of a memory exercise.

I don't believe any group is trying to minimize the importance of Jesus' Last Supper. There are faithful bible believing Christians in each of these three groups. They are just different ways of interpreting how to understand when Jesus says, "This is my body given for you. This is my blood shed for you."

I take position #2. After all, I am a Lutheran pastor and have many reasons for doing so, but no matter what church you belong to the key thing is that we receive Holy Communion on a regular basis and deeply reflect on what he did for us on the cross and what it means for our life as believers. Ie. We continually need to die to sin and are raised to new life.  

Jesus also settled a dispute that arose among the disciples over who would be the greatest when the they entered into Jesus' kingdom. In John's gospel, Jesus had washed the disciples' feet to show them what it meant to be a servant. And he said, "If I washed your feet, you should do as I have done for you." 

Jesus defined true greatness as taking up the towel and washing someone's feet. Jesus was going to show true greatness in that though he was the Son of God he was going to surrender himself on the cross for us! 

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

I don't know if you have a favorite place to pray? I do. Jesus had one and it was at the Mount of Olives. He went with the disciples but at one point went off on his own. He only said to them, 'Pray that you don't fall into temptation."

Though Jesus was going to face massive temptation to not go to the cross, the disciples were going face their share as well. Would they stick up for Jesus? Were they doubting their faith? Did they really believe in Jesus? Why would Jesus let himself get crucified if he was the Messiah? 

Though Jesus had told them now at least three times he would suffer at the hands of the leaders, be crucified, and die. He also told them after three days, he would be raised from the dead. But did they really believe this? 

Jesus was in anguish as he prayed, which shows he knew that awaited him on the cross. If anyone ever doubted if Jesus was truly human, they need to read this passage. As Jesus prays in anguish, Luke says something like "drops of blood" fell to the ground. Some people wonder if it was actual blood. Here are some thoughts on that. 

 Luke did not say that Jesus’ sweat was blood, but that it was like blood; either in the way that it poured off His brow, or because it was tinged with blood from the burst capillaries and dilated pores on His brow. (Guzik)

“His perspiration was so profuse that it was like blood spilling on the ground.” (Pate)

When it says the "angel strengthened him", it shows that though the angel did not change the outcome of Jesus going to the cross, but he helped him to get through him. Prayer doesn't always change something we might be or need to be facing, but always gives us the strength to get through it. It is nice to think of angel's coming and strengthening us to face whatever it is we are going through. 

Jesus Arrested

With the plan set in place to betray Jesus, Judas now executed that plan. Judas came with a crowd following him. Apparently the religious leaders wanted to make this very public. From another gospel, we learn that Judas' tipoff would be orchestrated by a kiss. It wasn't as if they didn't know who Jesus was so it seems a little  puzzling? 

Apparently, Jesus was normal enough in appearance so that it was necessary that Judas specifically identify Him for the sake of those arresting Jesus, and he chose to identify Him by greeting Jesus with a kiss. - Guzik

Maybe it was that leaders wanted Jesus to know that it was one of his own who betrayed him. Therefore, the blame might be put to a lesser degree to them. 

In another version we learn that Peter jumped into action and took off the high priest's slave's ear with a sword. But Jesus wasn't resisting arrest, he was taking the step for the salvation of the world. So he healed the man on the spot. 

Even here, Jesus was present to clean up the mess His disciples left behind. He healed the damage done by Peter. - Guzik

Peter Disowns Jesus

This is not Peter's finest hour. While it is easy to be critical of Peter, I think there is a little bit of Peter in all of us. Peter's issue is impulsivity. When he feels something he says something or does something about it without necessarily thinking about it. I.e. He just cut off the high priest's servant's ear. Peter also impulsively said, "Lord I will never deny you!"  When Jesus told him he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed, he probably didn't believe him. 

As they took Jesus away, Peter followed at a distance. Perhaps he was toying with the idea of intervening, but he also knew what might happen if he did. He might end on a cross too. Peter tried to mix in the crowd around the fire, but he was found out by the servant girl. 

When she confronted him, Peter said, "I don't know the man." Later he was identified as one who was with Jesus and he said, "Man I am not." Another hour another person recognized him as a Galilean (another gospel tells us it was by his accent). Once again Peter said more vociferously, "I don't know the man!" 

With this the rooster crowd and he remembered Jesus' prediction that he would betray Jesus three times before the cock crowed! Oh, how Peter must have felt at that point. With all of his brash words about his loyalty to Jesus, he had just denied him publicly three times. Worse yet, Jesus knew he was going to do it. 

So not only did Peter have to deal with losing his Lord and friend, he had to come to terms with his own disloyalty. What a bad night for Peter. 

The Guards Mock Jesus

Meanwhile the guards were having their way with Jesus. Taunting him, hitting him, and insulting him on every level. In all of this Jesus didn't say a word. To think they were talking to the Son of God like this. 

Its hard to imagine this is taking place when you realize it is God they are doing this too. It only shows the extent to which God loved us so much He sent His only son to be treated like this and to die a cruel death on the cross. If that is not love, I don't know what is. 

Before Pilate and Herod

In the morning all of the religious leaders assembled and asked Jesus pointedly, "If you are the Messiah, tell us!"

It's hard to know if they were honestly wanting to know or to trap him and give them a reason to convict him of blasphemy. Jesus responds by saying, 'If I told you, you would not believe me anyways."

Jesus makes a further claim by saying, "From now on, they would see him at the right hand of God." Jesus once again is CLEARLY stating his divinity. By saying this he is saying, "Yes, I am equal with God." 

Having heard this, the leaders think they have what they need to proceed!  From this we can absolutely ascertain that Jesus unequivocally saw himself as the Son of God and equal to God. He knew this would be the grounds for sentencing him. He was not delusional at this state. 

The leaders had what they needed, Jesus had sealed his own fate.