Introductory remarks:
This chapter begins with Judas plotting with the chief priest to betray Jesus. He continues His journey to the cross. This chapter may be outlined as follows: the plot to kill Jesus vv. 1-6; the preparation of the Passover vv. 7-13; the institution of the Lord's Supper vv. 14-23; the dispute about greatness vv. 24-30; Peter's denial foretold vv. 31-34; purse, bag, and sword vv. 35-38; the prayer on the Mount of Olives vv. 39-46; the betrayal and arrest of Jesus vv. 47-53; Peter's denial of Jesus vv. 54-62; the mocking and beating of Jesus vv. 63-65; Jesus before the council vv. 66-71.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matt. 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; John 11:45-53)
Verse 1, "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."
LGT "And was drawing near the feast of unleavened [bread], which [is] called Passover."
The Mount of Transfiguration and His Triumphal entry behind Him, Jesus is on His way to the cross.
Verse 2, "And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.'
LGT "And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking as to how they might put him to death, for they feared the people."
The popularity of Jesus was very embarrassing to the religious rulers of the city, so they sought among themselves how they might draw Him away and have him put to death and be rid of Him once and for all. "The triumphal entry and the temple speeches of Jesus had revealed His tremendous power with the people, especially the crowds from Galilee at the feast. They were afraid to go on with their plan to kill Him at the feast" (Robertson).
Verse 3, 'Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve."
LGT "And Satan entered into Judas, the one who is called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve."
Judas was one of the twelve, but how far from their believing spirit was he? He was so far removed from the eleven that Satan was able to enter into him; Satan has never been able to take the body of a believer. Remember how in the Garden Satan left Christ for a season, well now, he's back!
Robertson notes:
"Now Satan uses Judas and has success with him for Judas allowed him to come again and again (John 13:27). Judas evidently opened the door to his heart and let Satan in. Then Satan took charge and he became a devil as Jesus said (John 6:70). This surrender to Satan in no way relieves Judas of his moral responsibility."
Verse 4, "And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him unto them."
LGT "And having gone away, he spoke with the chief priests and captains how he might deliver Him up."
Judas, led by Satan, went away to negotiate with the chief priests and the captains of the temple (vs. 52) to see how much Jesus' hide was worth to them.
Verse 5, "And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money."
LGT "And they rejoiced, and agreed to give him money."
These religious rulers were wondering among themselves how they might take Jesus and kill Him, and one of His own disciples came to them to betray Him. Luke only has here money, but Mathew's account says thirty pieces of silver.
Verse 6, "And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude."
LGT "And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver Him up to them away from the crowd."
The Greek word for "promised" is exhomolegesen, from homologeo, homo=same, and logeo=to say, "to say the same thing" thus he consented with their terms.
McGee comments on this verse:
"The plot was: wait until the crowd leaves Jerusalem. Wait until we can get Him alone so people will not know what we are doing. They planned to take Him secretly. Judas was to bide his time and let the religious rulers know when the time is right. Actually that time never came, because Jesus forced them to act immediately. Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of John, gave Judas that sop in the Upper Room at the Last Supper and told him, 'What you do, do quickly. The time has come. You are going to have to move hurriedly.' And Judas did just that."
The Preparation of the Passover
(Matt. 26:17-25; Mark 14:12-21; John 13:21-30)
Verse 7, "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed."
LGT "And the day of unleavened bread came, in which it was necessary the Passover to be killed."
On Passover, the lamb must be slain by the head of the family (Exo. 12:6). "It is almost impossible to imagine anything more evident, than that Luke wishes us to understand that Jesus was about to celebrate the ordinary Paschal Supper" (Edersheim).
Verses 8, 9, "And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?"
LGT "And He sent Peter and John, saying, Having gone prepare for us the Passover, in order that we may eat [it] And they said to Him, Where do You wish we should prepare?"
"A great deal of effort was involved in the preparation of the Passover. First the site had to be selected. Detailed instruction was given on how they would find the appointed place with tens of thousands of pilgrims looking for a suitable place in which to observe a Passover. Christ evidently had not left this to chance but had prearranged for the use of the upper room of sufficient size to accommodate Himself and His disciples for this occasion" (Pentecost).
Edersheim notes:
"It was, therefore, with the view of preparing the ordinary Paschal Supper that the Lord now sent Peter and John. For the first time we see them here joined together by the Lord, these two, who henceforth were to be so closely connected: he of deepest feeling with him of quickest action. And their question, where He would have the Paschal Meal prepared, gives us a momentary glimpse of the mutual relation between the Master and His disciples: how He was still the Master, even in their most intimate converse, and would only tell them what to do just when it needed to be done; and how they presumed not to ask beforehand (far less to propose, or to interfere), but had simple confidence and absolute submission as regarded all things."
Verses 10, 11, "And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in; And ye shall say unto the Goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples?"
LGT "And He said to them, Lo, on your having entered into the city, you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him in the house which he enters in; and you shall say to the master of the house, the Teacher says to you, Where is the guest chamber where the Passover with My disciples I may eat?"
Jesus sends Peter and John into the city to seek out the prearranged location where He and His disciples were to observe the Passover Meal. "Once again Jesus did not leave things until the last moment; His plans are already made. The better-class houses had two rooms. The one room was on the top of the other; and the house looked exactly like a small box placed on top of a large one. The upper room was reached by an outside stair. During the Passover time all lodging in Jerusalem was free. The only pay a host might receive for letting lodgings to the pilgrims was the skin of the lamb, which was eaten at the feast. A very usual use of an upper room was that it was the place where a Rabbi met with his favorite disciples to talk things over with them and to open his heart to them. Jesus had taken steps to procure such a room. He sent Peter and John into the city to look for a man bearing a jar of water. To carry water was a woman's task. A man carrying a jar of water would have been very easy to pick out. This was a prearranged signal between Jesus and a friend" (William Barclay).
Verse 12, "And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready."
LGT "And he will show you a large furnished upper room. There prepare [it]."
"The direction which the Lord gave, while once more evidencing to them, as it does to us, the Divine foreknowledge of Christ, had also its deep human meaning. Evidently, neither the house where the Passover was to be kept, nor its owner, was to be named beforehand within hearing of Judas" (Edersheim).
Verse 13, "And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover."
LGT "And having gone, they found just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover."
The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and they began making preparations for the Passover Meal. "Whether it was a friend's house or a public house does not appear; but the disciples found their guide, and the house, and the room, just as He had said to them; for they need not fear a disappointment who go upon Christ's word: according to the orders given them, they got everything in readiness for the Passover" (Matthew Henry).
The Institution of the Lord's Supper
(Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; 1 Cor. 11:23-25)
Verse 14, "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him."
LGT "And when the hour was come, He reclined [at table] and the apostles with Him."
The hour had come to eat the Paschal lamb, which was in the evening, the Lord reclined at the table with His twelve apostles.
Matthew Henry notes:
"The solemnizing of the Passover, according to the Law. When the hour was come that they should go to supper He sat down, probably at the head-end of the table, and the twelve apostles with him, Judas not excepted; for it is possible that those whose hearts are filled with Satan, and all manner of wickedness, may come yet continue a plausible profession of religion, and be found in the performance of its external services; and while it is in the heart, and does not break out into any thing scandalous, such cannot be denied the external privileges of their external profession. Though Judas has already been guilty of an overt act of treason, yet, it not being publicly known, Christ admits him to sit down with the rest at the Passover."
Verse 15, "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer."
LGT "And He said to them, With desire I desired to eat this Passover with you before the suffering as to Me."
The Lord expresses extreme joy at having this Passover Meal with His disciples expressed by the phrase, by these Hebraisms, with desire I have desired.
Pentecost notes on the significance of this meal:
"The Old Testament observance of the Passover not only looked back to a previous redemption from bondage but also looked forward to the coming of the Lamb of God who would deliver Israel from bondage to sin. Understanding the true significance of the Passover Feast, Christ could rejoice, as could no one else in the observance of it. Thus He said to the Twelve, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you.' As the Passover brought an enslaved people into a new life of liberty and rest, so Christ anticipated that through His death believers would be brought into new life of peace and rest."
Verse 16, "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
LGT "For I say to you, that I will in no way eat of this, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
Christ is assuring His disciples that He would be sharing in a Messianic feast with all who would believe on His name now; Christ is making a reference to sharing with them in His Messianic Kingdom, or as we like to state it, in His thousand year physical reign in the Davidic Kingdom (See my notes on Matthew 26:29).
Verse 17, "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:"
LGT "And having received a cup, having given thanks, He said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:"
The Lord took the Paschal cup, having given thanks, gave it to the disciples and told them to divide it among themselves, for their would be no more use for it after this last Passover. (The institution of the Lord's Supper came later, and I believe it was intended for the first church before the Bible would be completed, and then done away with; of course this is my own personal belief)
Barnes notes:
"This was not the sacramental cup, for this was taken after supper, vs. 20. This was one of the cups which were taken during the celebration of the Passover, and pertained to that observance, After He had kept this in the usual manner, he instituted the supper which bears his name, using the bread and wine which had been prepared for the Passover, and thus engrafted the Lord's Supper on the Passover, or superseded the Passover by another ordinance, which was intended to be personal."
Verse 18, "For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."
LGT "For I say to you, [that] in no way will I drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God is come."
Christ had to be referring to the physical kingdom here, for He Himself is the completion of the Spiritual Kingdom of God. McGee noted, "On the dying embers of the fading feast of Passover, the Lord Jesus Christ fanned the flame of the new feast of the Lord's Supper."
Verse 19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
LGT "And having taken a loaf, having given thanks He broke [it], and gave to them, saying, This is My body which is given on your behalf: this do in remembrance of Me."
The Lord instituted His Supper in order for them to keep doing it, remembering His death on the cross.
Verse 20, "Like wise also the cup after the supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
LGT "And the cup in just the same way, after having supped, saying, This cup [is] the new covenant in My blood, which on behalf of you is poured out."
Here we have the Lord introducing grace into Israel's economy; they had been under the Mosaic Law system, which was a schoolmaster showing them the way to Christ, and now after He completes their salvation on Calvary, they will be under a new system, that of God's unlimited grace. The most dangerous thing we can do in this age of grace is to mix Law and Grace; when we do this we can be assured we will distort the true meaning of this new covenant.
McGee makes this most beautiful observation:
"The Lord took two of the most frail elements in the world as symbols of His body and blood. Bread and wine - both will spoil in a few days. When He raised a monument, it was not made of brass or marble, but of two frail elements that perish. He declared that the bread spoke of his body and the wine spoke of His blood. The bread speaks of His body broken - not a bone broken but a broken body because He was made sin for us (see 1 Cor. 5:21). I do not believe He even looked human when He was taken down from that cross. Isaiah had said of Him, ' . . . his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men' (Isaiah 52:14); and ' . . . there is no beauty that we should desire him' (Isaiah 53:2).
For centuries the Passover feast had looked forward to the Lord's coming and His death. Now He is in the shadow of the cross, and this is the last Passover. The Passover feast has now been fulfilled."
Verse 21, "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."
LGT "Moreover, behold, the hand of the one delivering Me up, [is] with Me on the table."
The Lord is declaring that the hand of Judas was at that very moment resting on the same table with Him.
Verse 22, "And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed."
LGT "But indeed the Son of Man goes according as it has been determined, but ooiee to that man by whom He is delivered up."
The Lord pronounces this woe upon Judas, according to the prophetic announcements.
Verse 23, "And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing."
LGT "And they began to question together among themselves, to whom of them it might be who was about to do this."
They all had their hands on the table, and they were wondering among themselves who it might be without speaking to the Master. McGee wrote: "Every one of the disciples believed he was capable of betraying the Lord. If you are honest, you know that you also could betray Him. If He did not keep His hand on me, I could deny Him in the next five minutes. Thank God, however, He will not take His hand off me, and I rejoice in that."
The Dispute about Greatness
Verse 24, "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."
LGT "And there was also an excited contention among them, that is, which of them is thought to be [the] greater."
The eleven go from wondering who it might be that would betray Him, to which one of them will have the chief seat at this feast.
Barnes notes:
"The apostles, in common with the Jews generally, had supposed that the Messiah would come as a temporal prince, and in the manner of other princes of the earth - of course, that He would have officers of His government, ministers of state, &c. Their contention was founded on this expectation, and they were disputing which of them should be raised to the highest office. They had similar contention (see Matt. 18:1; 20:20-28). Nothing can be more humiliating than that the disciples should have had such contentions, and in such a time and place. That Just as Jesus was contemplating His own death, and laboring to prepare them for it, they should strive and contend about office and rank, shows how deeply seated is the love of power; how ambition will find its way into the most secret and sacred places; and how even the disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus are sometimes actuated by this most base and wicked feeling."
Verse 25, "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors."
LGT "And He said to them, The kings of the nations, they lord it over them, and exercise authority over them, and are called well doers."
The ruler ship of the nations was to be expected, however the Kingdom of God will be on a much higher scale ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Verse 26, "But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
LGT "But ye not thus [shall be], but the one who is greater among you, let him be as the younger, and the one who leads as the one who serves."
The Lord is telling the eleven, "true greatness is in service not rank" (Robertson). In the Eastern family the youngest filled the menial [unskilled] tasks.
Verse 27, "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth."
LGT "For which [is] greater, the one who reclines [at table] or the one who serves? [is] not the one who reclines [at table]? But I am in [the] midst of you as the one who serves."
"Jesus dares to cite His own conduct, though their leader, to prove His point and to put a stop to their jealous contention for the chief place at this very feast, a wrangling that kept up till Jesus had to rise and give them the object lesson of humility by washing their feet (John 13:1-20)" (Robertson). Of course we know from our other studies that there was a much more important lesson in the foot washing that included confession of sin, and the need for a daily washing; the feet needed washing as they stand for service; If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:7).
McGee notes:
"The Lord is telling them that He has taken the lower position. That is what He did when He took my place on the cross. It is like the master getting up from the table and telling his servant, 'You sit down and eat, and I will serve you.' When Jesus Christ came to earth, all mankind should have been His servant! Instead, He served mankind. He set a table of salvation and has invited us to this great feast of salvation."
Verse 28, "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations."
LGT "But ye are the ones who have remained through with Me in My trials."
The Lord is always encouraging His own, even after His gentle rebuke. The word "temptations" is better "trials".
Verses 29, 30, "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
LGT "And I appoint to you, just as My Father appointed to Me a Kingdom, in order that you may eat and drink at the table in My Kingdom, and may sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
These are wonderful promises from the Lord to His disciples; there are those today who teach that believers in this age of grace will be the ones who will rule over the twelve tribes in the coming Kingdom; however, this is not dispensationally correct. Believers in the age of grace will receive rewards for our willingness for the Holy Spirit to work through us, and then we will be rewarded for what He is able to accomplish; in the Apostolic Church, the Holy Spirit gave gifts to men before the Word of God was completed for His particular ministry; today, after the completion of the Scriptures, we have the Word as our guide, and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin, and to allow Him to work in and through us. In Chafers text book on the ministry of the Holy Spirit he points out three most important workings of the Spirit, in giving us power to do good; In our Salvation He has delivered us from the Penalty of sin; in our present walk He has delivered us from the Power of sin; and when we go to glory He will have delivered us from the Presence of sin; Oh! Happy day!
Peter's Denial Foretold
(Matt. 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; John 13:36-38)
Verse 31, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"
LGT "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for himself to have you, for the sifting [you] as wheat:"
We obviously think back to the time when Satan desired to ruin Job; here he seeks to ruin Peter, and actually comes very close, however, Christ has never, nor will He ever lose one of His own. "Even in spite of Peter's denial he was fundamentally loyal. H.G. Wells once said, 'A man may be a bad musician, and yet be passionately in love with music.' No matter what Peter did, however terrible his failure, he was nonetheless passionately devoted to Jesus. There is hope for the person who even when sinning is still haunted by goodness" (William Barclay). Satan wanted to sift him as wheat; he wanted to agitate Peter as wheat was separated from the chaff by the wind; he wanted control of Peter to test his loyalty to Christ. Satan didn't give up when he tested Job, nor when he tested Christ in the wilderness; and now with Peter; and he is still trying men today to win in this great 'angelic conflict.'
Verse 32, "But I prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
LGT "But I plead for you, in order that your faith may not fail: and when you have turned back render your brothers committed."
Jesus looked forward to the time when Peter would deny Him, but He assured Peter that even though he would stumble, he would not be lost; and when he turned back, he would be stronger than before because Christ was praying for him. After Peter repented, he would then become the apostle Christ intended him to be; I thank God that Christ is praying for me today, for without Him I most assuredly would deny Him too. After Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter became an outstanding preacher of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today in this age of grace we have the same Holy Spirit indwelling us and providing us with power over sin coupled with God's inspired blueprint.
Verse 33, "And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."
LGT "And he said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and death."
Peter was not yet aware of the importance of Christ's prayer for him, for he boasts aloud his feeble intent. Peter will soon find out how really weak he is.
Verse 34, "And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."
LGT "And He said, I tell you, Peter, [the] cock will not crow today, until three times you will deny knowing Me."
Peter will not only deny Christ, he will deny even knowing Him. This verse substantiates the Proverb Pride comes before a fall. Peter had to learn as we all do that without Him we could do nothing. Peter would deny the Lord before the night was over.
Purse Bag and Sword
Verse 35, "And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing."
LGT "And He said to them, When I sent you without purse, and provision bag, and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing."
Jesus makes reference to the time He sent them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and that they were not to go unto the way of the Gentiles; they took no provision on the journey, yet they lacked not.
Verse 36, "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
LGT "And He said to them, But now, the one who has a purse let him take [it], likewise also a provision bag, and the one who has not [one] let him sell his garment and buy a sword."
Christ is telling them that they were to expect a time ahead of great trial and persecution; different times require different methods; there is a time for peace and a time for defense. There is a time for forgiving the enemy, and time for killing the enemy; otherwise we would all be slaves.
Verse 37, "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, and he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."
LGT "For I say to you, that this that has been written, and stands written, must be accomplished in Me, and with the lawless He was reckoned: for also the things concerning Me have an end."
When Christ was put to death on the cross that put an end to His payment for the sins of the whole world. These words of Jesus are from Isaiah 53:12, and they mean that He was about to die the death of a criminal; "His doom is fixed beyond recall" (TEGT).
Verse 38, "And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords, And he said unto them, It is enough."
LGT "And they said, Lord, behold, there [are] two swords. And He said to them, It is enough."
Jesus tells them this is enough on the subject, as we would say, 'Let it rest.' You may not understand all I am telling you, but you will soon.
The Prayer on the Mount of Olives
(Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42)
Verse 39, "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him."
LGT "And coming out, He went according to [His] custom to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples also followed Him."
"It was because Judas knew that it was Jesus' custom to go to the Mount of Olives in the evenings that he was able to betray Jesus, without waiting for all the people to go home after the festival" (Robertson).
Verse 40, "And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation."
LGT "And having arrived at the place, He said to them, Keep on praying not to enter into temptation."
Jesus knew the only preventative against the temptation from the evil one. He said, not only to pray, but keep on praying not to enter into temptation. The disciples were prone to think only of themselves, as shown in their arguing over whom would have the highest seat at the feast.
Verse 41, "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed."
LGT "And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and falling on [His] knees He began to pray."
Luke makes the distance our Lord withdrew himself about a stone's throw, not too distant that they would not overhear him. The Expositor's Greek Testament makes the comment on His posture in prayer; it states that "the usual posture for prayer was standing, but the fact that He kneeled was produced by His urgency."
Verse 42, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
LGT "Saying, Father, If Thou art willing, take away this cup from Me: but not My will, but Yours continue to be."
It was not the physical suffering that Christ feared; it was the spiritual separation He was about to face when He bore our sins on the cross; that three hours of darkness put a fear in Him that will take me an eternity to understand. The ridiculous movies such as the "Passion" can only give us a picture of His physical suffering; it can in no way produce to the audience what it cost our God in giving up His only begotten Son for us. The Word of God is the only way we will ever understand the infinity of His grace, when Christ offered Himself as the spotless Lamb of God on that Tree, that He might reconcile a lost and dying world back to Himself. We must depend on God's Word alone for all the blessings He has made available to us; please take advantage of His wonderful Word!
McGee adds:
"The cup, I think, was the cross, and I do not mean the suffering of death. The cup was that He was made sin for us. He is the Holy One of God. When my sin was put on Him, it was repulsive. I do not know why we think we are so attractive to God. My sin put upon Christ was repulsive and awful. It was terrible, and for a moment He rebelled against it. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane under the shadow of the cross that the Tempter came to offer the Lord once again the crown without the cross. The Lord, however, had come to do His Father's will and so He could say 'nevertheless not My will, but thine be done.' He committed Himself to His Father's will, although bearing your sin and mine was so repulsive to Him."
Verse 43, "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."
LGT "And appeared to Him an angel from heaven strengthening Him."
Luke alone mentions this fact; an angel came to Him in the wilderness after Satan had tempted Him, and now in the Garden of Gethsemane; the angel appeared at the beginning of His ministry and now at the close.
Verse 44, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
LGT "And being in conflict He prayed more intently: and His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down upon the earth."
McGee comments on this verse, bringing it down to this hideous generation:
"One of the tragic things of the moment is all of the American boys who have bled and died on various battlefields around the world to keep America free. How many Americans appreciate what they have done? I am not impressed with the crowd that protests war while they are living it up in pleasure-mad America. However, there is a worse tragedy than this. Christ's heart was broken because of our lost condition. He bled and died for our eternal liberty. He said, ". . . I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He loved a lost world so much He went to the very depths of Hell itself to offer it salvation. And the world spurns the Holy One of God, the spotless Savior who was made sin for us."
Verses 45, 46, "And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."
LGT "And having risen from prayer, coming to His disciples, He found them sleeping from grief, and He said to them, Why sleep ye? Having risen up, pray, in order that you may not enter into temptation."
Christ reproaches them for sleeping while He was praying; Luke does not give the details of His reproach as we find in the synoptics. The disciples were sleeping from fatigue caused by their great sorrow; we have all experienced mental exhaustion caused by sorrow; sometimes it feels as though we can't go on; and this is why the Lord exhorts His disciples to pray, and not fall into the temptation of self-pity.
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
(Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50; John 18:3-11)
Verse 47, "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him."
LGT "And yet as He was speaking, behold a crowd, and the one who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was going before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him."
Judas was leading the band to arrest Jesus; it was planned before that Judas would kiss the One who was to be arrested. This was the basest of all deceit; Judas would use the sign of affection to betray the Lord. Our Lord did not stand out from the crowd, for he was as other men. He had to be identified, and the betrayer had an unscrupulous plan devised ahead of time.
Verse 48, "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
LGT "But Jesus said to him, Judas, Do you deliver the Son of Man up with a kiss?"
Even now Judas had the opportunity to change his mind, but even with Christ's question Judas did not stop his shameful deed.
Barnes notes on this verse:
"Do you violate all thy obligations of fidelity [loyalty], and deliver thy Master up to death? Do you betray the one, so long with Him, so much favored, so pure that this is the Messiah? Do you betray the Son of Man - the Messiah, the hope of the nations, the desire of all people, the world's Redeemer? Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss - the sign of friendship and affection employed in a base and wicked purpose, intending to add deceit, disguise, and the prostitution of a mark of affection to the crime of treason? Every word of this must have gone to the very soul of Judas. Perhaps few reproofs of crime more resembles the awful searching's of the souls of the wicked in the day of judgment."
Verse 49, "When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?"
LGT "And seeing what was about to happen, the ones around Him said, Lord, shall we smite with [the] sword?"
A natural question, after the Lord had told them to take up the sword in verse 36, for they had two swords with them verse 38. However, they did not understand the context of what Jesus had told them; He certainly did not want, nor did He need their assistance. No man is able to take Him until His time.
Verse 50, "And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear."
LGT "And a certain one of them smote the bondman of the high priest, and took off his right ear."
Luke does not identify this disciples as Peter; but it does show two things about Peter:1) he is impulsive, for he acts before the Lord answers their question, and 2) he is no swordsman, for he was aiming at the bondsman head.
Verse 51, "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him."
LGT "And Jesus answering said, Suffer us thus far: and having touched the ear He healed him."
The first phrase is not real clear suffer us thus far; it probably means that Peter was to allow the mad crowd to have its way. He healed Malhcus' ear, again showing that He was their Messiah.
Verse 52, "Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come with him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?"
LGT "And Jesus said to the ones who were come against Him, chief priests and captains of the temple, and elders, As against a robber have you come out with swords and staves?"
Jesus is very calm and peaceful in this dire situation, now that Gethsemane is behind Him; He is now prepared for the cross. He is unarmed and putting up no resistance, and so the cowardly priests and elders can come forward and face him.
Verse 53, "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hand against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
LGT "Daily, when I was with you in the temple, you stretched not out [your] hands against Me, but this your hour, and the authority of darkness."
Christ surrenders to the authority of Satan's darkness; for one of the most important things about Christ's vicarious suffering on the cross is that He gave His life a ransom for many, that is, for those who would believe. Jesus says two things about His captors; 1) this was their hour, and 2) their authority was one of darkness, for they were about to crucify the Son of God.
Peter's Denial of Jesus
(Matt. 26:57-58, 69-75; Mark 14:53-54, 66-72; John 18:12-18, 25-27)
Verse 54, "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."
LGT "And having seized Him they led [Him away], and led Him into the house of the chief priest: And Peter was following afar off."
They took Christ to the house of Caiaphas where He was examined; this was strictly an illegal trial. Luke makes a side note that Peter followed at a distance, moving toward his shameful denial. (See my paper on the Real Meaning of Easter for the illegality of this trial)
Verse 55, "And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them."
LGT "And having kindled a fire in [the] midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter was sitting among them."
Peter was sitting by the large blazing fire in the courtyard of the high priests house; the fire was large enough for the soldiers all to sit around in the cold evening in April; the blaze was large enough too not only give off warmth, but also light for all to see Peter, sitting in their midst.
Verse 56, "But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him."
LGT "And having seen him, a maid sitting by the light, And having looked intently on him said, and this one was with Him."
This maid was looking at Peter intently and said, as if pointing at him; This man was one of His disciples. It seems as if they were all talking about Peter then this maid singles him out as one that was following Christ.
Verse 57, "And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not."
LGT "But he denied, saying, I do not know Him, woman."
Peter denied even knowing the Lord, let alone following Him, as Christ had predicted he would in verse 34.
McGee notes:
"While the farce of the trial of Jesus was in progress, Simon Peter was in the place of great temptation. A little wisp of a maid caused him to deny His Lord. Peter was ashamed to be known as a follower of Jesus at this time. Have we ever been in a similar position?"
Verse 58, "And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not."
LGT "And after a little [while] another seeing him said, And you are of them."
Peter now becomes a little irritated and answers this man more bluntly I am not. The EGNT says "it is more cowardly to deny before a woman than a man."
Verse 59, "And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean."
LGT "And about an hour having elapsed, a certain other strongly affirmed, saying, In truth this one was also with Him, for he is a Galilean."
After an hour had elapsed after Peter had made his second denial, he though himself safe until another identified Peter by his Galilean accent. McGee noted "this time Peter's desire to talk too much got him into trouble again."
Verse 60, "And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew."
LGT "And Peter said, Man, I know not what you say. And immediately, as he was yet speaking, a cock crew."
Each time Peter denied the Lord, he entangled himself deeper and deeper. This is exactly what happens when we lie; the sooner we admit our guilt, the easier it is to make amends. The cock crew just as the Lord had predicted, and I imagine Peter could hear the crowing in his head all night.
Verse 61, "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."
LGT "And having turned, the Lord looked at Peter; and Peter having remembered the word of the Lord, how He said to him, Before [the] cock crow, today you will deny Me thrice."
As soon as the cock crew, Jesus looked upon Peter, and what a look it was; it was a look, I am sure, of sorrow and pity at the same time. Every time we sin we should visualize that look. Peter thought he had fooled the company he was with, but he knew the Lord could see his heart; and that look, what a look!
Verse 62, "And Peter went away and wept bitterly."
LGT "And having gone forth outside he wept bitterly."
Peter went out by himself and burst into tears. Peter, unlike Judas, was genuinely repentant; Judas betrayed Christ, and he was never a true believer; Peter denied Christ, and he was a true believer. Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit so he had no power over sin. No man can resist the flesh with the flesh; the only way a person can have power over sin is by allowing the Holy Spirit to conquer the flesh, because the flesh constantly wars against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
(Matt. 26:67-68; Mark 14:65)
Verse 63, "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him."
LGT "And men who were holding Him mocked Him, beating [Him]."
The soldiers had their sport with Jesus, acting out their brutish sadistic natures; when they were through, Jesus had been beaten, and nearly skinned alive, taking in the other Gospel accounts.
Verses 64, 65, "And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophecy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him."
LGT "And having blindfolded Him, they were striking His face, saying, Prophecy, who is it that struck you? And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him."
They continued their idiotic games mocking the wonderful Prophet of God; it was not just a Prophet they were mocking and beating, it was the very Son of God. Luke doesn't dwell on the physical sufferings of Christ, and neither should we; the fact that He suffered as no other man, is in fact, that He suffered most by being separated from His Father during those three hours of darkness while He paid the price for your sins and my sins. We will spend eternity learning what a price God expended to purchase our Salvation.
Jesus before the Council
(Matt. 26:59-66; Mark 14:55-64; John 18:19-24)
Verses 66, 67, "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:"
LGT "And when it became day, the elderhood of the people were gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him into the Sanhedrim, saying, If you are the Christ, tell us. And He said to them, If I should tell you, in no way would you believe:"
Jesus is led before the Sanhedrim council; this council is made up of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the elders of the people; the main council of the people was in Jerusalem. The first question begins with an "if" a condition of the first class assuming the reality, if you are the Christ, the Messiah they mean. Christ answers, even if I tell you, you will refuse to believe Me.
Verse 68, "And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go."
LGT "And if I should ask [you], in no way answer [Me]."
The last phrase nor let Me go is not in the best manuscripts. Christ is saying to these unbelievers, prove what I say is false; so far every time He asks them questions concerning His Messiaship they were silenced.
Verse 69, "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God."
LGT "Henceforth, however, shall the Son of Man be sitting at [the] right hand of the power of God."
Here He boldly makes the claim to be the Son of Man, that is, the Son of God manifested in the flesh. When He is sitting on the right hand of God there will be no need for these silly questions.
Verse 70, "Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am."
LGT "And they all said, Are You then the Son of God? And He said to them, You say, that I am."
There is nothing stupider than an unbeliever. He has been claiming to be the Son of God for three and a half years, and these morons are just now asking this question. They first ask if He is the Messiah, the Son of Man, and now they ask if He is the Son of God, and He answers, Yes I am.
Verse 71, "And they said, What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."
LGT "And they said, What need we any more of a witness? For [we] ourselves have heard from His [own] mouth."
"They were right if Jesus is not what He claimed to be. They were eternally wrong for He is the Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God. They made their choice and must face Christ as Judge" (Robertson). We will see that when they come before the Roman authorities they will change their charge to have Him crucified; this charge of Him being the Son of God and the Son of Man is only good before the Jewish council.
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