Luke 22:1-38 "How is Jesus Truly Present in Communion"

Luke 22 - NIV 

Luke 22 - Enduring Word Commentary

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The religious leaders saw that they were losing their grip on the people, so they knew it was now or never to get rid of Jesus. The Passover was the biggest and most important Jewish holiday of the year, and they knew there would be thousands of Jews from all over the world there. 

The leaders got what they needed in Judas, who came under the influence of Satan, also called the devil. Did Judas invite Satan in, or did Satan initiate the takeover? There are a lot of unknowns in this area of demonic possession, but suffice it to say that the devil can't come in where he isn't invited. 

In Matthew's version of this story, Judas initiated the deal. He said, 

 “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” Matthew 26:15

In Mark, it says something similar, 

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mark 14:10-11

So what exactly did Luke mean when he says, "Satan entered Judas". I think Barnes has the best commentary on this,

"Then entered Satan into Judas - It is not necessary to suppose that Satan entered personally into the body of Judas, but only that he brought him under his influence; he filled his mind with an evil passion, and led him on to betray his Master." (Barnes)

You don't have to be demon possessed to be influenced by the devil. The devil takes our existing lusts and sins and exploits them. We know in other passage that the price given to Judas for betraying Jesus was 30 pieces of silver. Historians estimate this is about two months of wages for a day laborer in Jesus' time. 

The Last Supper

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

On the eve of the crucifixion Jesus knew what was ahead of him, and also knew how important it was for him to enjoy this last meal with his disciples. He must have thought of this ahead of time, because he sent the disciples to a man who had already knew to prepare for their coming that night. 

This must have been a very moving commemoration for Jesus. Passover remembers the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which was the central act of redemption in the Old Testament. Jesus now provided a new center of redemption to be remembered by a new ceremonial meal. - Guzik

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

The Passover meal was a preview of what was going to happen in less than a day, when Jesus the Passover lamb would take away the sins of the world. 

Jesus has not yet celebrated a Passover in heaven. He is waiting for all His people to be gathered to Him, then there will be a great supper, known as the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). This is the fulfillment in the kingdom of God Jesus longs for. - Guzik

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

These are the words we use for the celebration of Holy Communion every week. There have been a lot of debates over what way does the bread and wine symbolize or signify the body and blood of Jesus. The bread was symbolic of Jesus' body given to them, and the wine was symbolic of Jesus' blood shed for them for the forgiveness of sin. 

But was it merely symbolic, or was there more to it than that? When Jesus says, "This is my body given for you", in what sense are we given his body and what should it mean to us. 

First, let me say that this has been a topic of debate since the church started. There would not be space enough to describe the different schools of interpretation of the sacrament of Holy Communion, but I am going to give you three high level views of the church's interpretive stance. 

1. Transubstantiation. This is the view of the Catholic church. It means that the bread and wine are literally and physically turned into the body and blood of Christ at the moment the priest consecrates the elements. Thomas Aquinas developed this doctrine to a greater degrees in the middle ages.

2. Consubstantiation. This is the view of Lutherans and Episcopalians. This view says that Jesus is "in, with, and under" the bread and wine. It is a way of getting around the literalness of Transubstantiation, but also avoiding communion is merely symbolic. 

I think that Martin Luther, who was the main proponent of this view put it best. He said in the bread and wine Jesus was "truly present", as we trust in His words, "given and shed for you". It is a mystery that Jesus is present, which can only be apprehended through faith. Luther also called it the "real presence of Jesus". 

3. Symbolic - This was the view held by Zwingli and Calvin and is the basis for most Reformed churches, including Baptist, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal. The view was Jesus is only present symbolically, as we remember what he did on the cross. Communion is also called a "memorial".  As we remember what Jesus did on the cross we receive the benefits of what he did spiritually.

I am biased but I like the Lutheran understanding of Holy Communion and how Jesus is truly present. In a sense some might think is theological hair splitting, but I think it is important. Jesus commanded us to eat of the bread and wine every time we gather to remember what he did on the cross purchasing for us our salvation through the forgiveness of our sins.  

In some churches it can seem like "drive by communion", as people come up in lines to take a wafer of bread and a communion cup. In other churches, congregants kneel and spend time in reflection as they receive the wine and the bread.  In some churches communion is received by each person at the same in the pews together. Some do it weekly. Some monthly. 

In the end we need to remember that the Sacrament of Holy Communion is God's gift to us. As we remember what Jesus did for us and receive the bread and wine in faith Jesus is truly present. Saying Jesus is TRULY present is a powerful thing. If Jesus is truly present we have everything we need. We can celebrate what He has done for us and that He will never leave or forsake us ever.  

Here is an excerpt from an argument Luther and Zwingli and Calvin had on this subject.

John Calvin taught that Jesus’ presence in the bread and wine is real, but only spiritual, not physical. Zwingli taught that the bread and wine are significant symbols that represent the body and blood of Jesus. When the Swiss Reformers debated the issue with Martin Luther at Marburg, there was a huge contention. Luther insisted on some kind of physical presence because Jesus said, “this is My body.” He insisted over and over again, writing it on the velvet of the table, Hoc est corpus meum – “this is My body” in Latin. Zwingli replied, “Jesus also said I am the vine,” and “I am the door,” but we understand what He was saying. Luther replied, “I don’t know, but if Christ told me to eat dung I would do it knowing that it was good for me.” Luther was so strong on this because he saw it as an issue of believing Christ’s words; and because he thought Zwingli was compromising, he said he was of another spirit (andere geist). - Guzik

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Rather than being concerned with how Jesus was present, the disciples were more worried about who was going to be the greatest. They still thought Jesus was going to bring in an earthly kingdom, and they were hoping to be the benefactors of it. Jesus took that moment to teach them that true greatness came in service to others. Jesus has set them an example of this, as he came to be serve not to be served and give his life as a ransom for many. 

The result of their faithful service here on earth would mean being given the authority in heaven to judge the twelve tribes of Israel one day.

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

The disciples completely misunderstood what Jesus was saying. Jesus was teaching them to be ready to go when he was taken from them, whereas before Jesus told them to take nothing with them on their journeys but to rely on the goodwill of others. God would provide for them in this way. 

The disciples had been sent out to do ministry without Jesus before (Luke 10:1-17), but then they were received with goodwill and hospitality. Now they faced a hostile world without Jesus and must be prepared. - Guzik