Luke 22:39-53

JESUS ACCEPTS GOD’S WILL

Keywords 22:42

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

 

1. “Not my will, but yours be done” (39-46)

 As the time of his suffering drew near, Jesus prayed in order to find strength to

face it. He commanded his disciples to pray as well, so they would not fall into

temptation in this time of testing. In prayer, Jesus expressed his desire to escape

from his cup of suffering, but he sought God’s will above all. He prayed in such

anguish that his sweat was like blood. God did not take away Jesus’ cup, but he

gave him strength to drink it.

 

2. Jesus is betrayed and arrested (47-53)

 At that moment Judas arrived, leading a mob to arrest Jesus. A kiss of friendship

became a secret signal to show which one to arrest. Jesus knew this and even

convicted Judas of his sin. The disciples tried to fight back with swords, but Jesus

stopped them and even healed one of the guards. After his prayer, Jesus had

power to reveal God’s glory even through his arrest.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for your example of prayer that wins the victory in

trials. Help me be spiritually equipped through prayer.

One Word Pray for strength to accomplish God’s will

Luke 22:24-38

JESUS PREPARES HIS DISCIPLES

Keywords 22:26

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.

 

1. Jesus teaches servant leadership (24-30)

 The disciples should have been supporting Jesus at this time, but instead

they were obsessed with which one was greater than the others. Jesus taught

them that true greatness comes from serving others. The prime example is

Jesus himself, who is the greatest but lowered himself to serve needy sinners. A

kingdom where the leaders are servants is like heaven.

 

2. Jesus predicts Peter’s failure and promises restoration (31-38)

 Jesus seemed to choose Simon Peter as the top disciple, but he would fail Jesus

completely at the most crucial moment. Yet Jesus’ grace had power to restore him

even from this failure and then equip him to strengthen others based on the grace

he received. God uses our failures to shape us into the kind of servants he wants.

Jesus prepared his disciples to live a life of mission without his physical presence.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace that works through my failures.

Help me not to seek to be considered great, but to serve and strengthen

others.

One Word Be restored from failure to serve others

 

Luke 22:1-23

THE NEW COVENANT IN JESUS’ BLOOD

Keywords 22:20

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."

 

1. The Passover is prepared (1-13)

 When the religious leaders were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, Satan came

into Judas who then went to the chief priests. Judas offered to betray Jesus.

The forces of evil seemed very powerful. But Jesus showed his awareness of

everything that was happening, even in the way he had his disciples prepare their

Passover celebration. Jesus was working together with God, who was preparing

Jesus to be the true Passover lamb.

 

2. Jesus declares the covenant (14-22)

 Jesus was eager to teach the disciples the meaning of his suffering and death

through this supper. Jesus gave the bread and wine of the Passover meal their

true meaning: They represented his own body and blood. His blood was shed for

the forgiveness of our sins, and, as the Lamb of God, he himself is the food for our

eternal spiritual life. We should continually remember Jesus’ body and blood given

for us.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for fulfilling your plan to give yourself for our sins.

Help me to remember what your body and blood provided for me.

One Word Jesus gave his life to us

Luke 21:29-38

JESUS TEACHES HOW TO BE READY

Keywords 21:33

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

 

1. Learning from fig trees (29-33)

 Many of the signs of Jesus’ coming happen in every generation, just as the trees

bloom every spring. This is because every generation must get ready to meet

Jesus. We may not be able to predict the date of Jesus’ coming, but we can take

changes in this world as reminders that the Kingdom of God is near. In a world

where everything seems to be changing, we can root our lives in Jesus’ word.

 

2. Don’t get weighed down (34-38)

 If we let ourselves become too absorbed with the worries, business, and

pleasures of this world, we will not be ready for Jesus’ coming. These things

weigh down our hearts like spiritual concrete. Jesus told us to adopt an attitude

of spiritual watchfulness and prayerfulness. Then we will be able to stand before

Jesus without shame. Jesus spent his last week on earth teaching the word of

God in the daytime and praying at night.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us your words as the foundation of life in

a changeable world. Please teach me watchfulness.

One Word Be watchful, not weighed down

Luke 21:20-28

YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN

Keywords 21:28

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

 

1. Escaping the destruction of Jerusalem (20-24)

 The siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. showed the characteristics of

judgment in the end-times. Jesus saved his disciples’ lives by telling them to flee

when they saw it coming. Jesus was moved with compassion when he thought

about how people would suffer, but he knew it was part of God’s plan to usher in

the times of the Gentiles. We can escape the judgment coming on the world when

we are not too attached to earthly things.

 

2. Seeing Jesus come again (24-28)

 Jesus said that when his second coming draws near, the land, sea, and even

the heavenly bodies will be shaken. People will faint with terror over what is

happening. But we can walk with our heads held high with the joyful expectation

of seeing Jesus. For some people, the end of this age means judgment, but for

us, it means our redemption is near—the fulfillment of all our hopes in Jesus.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us the way to be saved from judgment,

especially by your death on the cross. Help us to joyfully expect our

redemption.

One Word Be ready to welcome Jesus

Luke 21:5-19

TROUBLE IN THE END TIMES

Keywords 21:14

But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

 

1. Fearful signs will appear (5-11)

 Jesus shook his disciples out of their infatuation with the Jerusalem temple’s

beauty with a prophecy of its destruction. They realized Jesus was talking about

the end times and asked him what the signs of the end would be. Jesus predicted

wars and natural disasters but warned his disciples not to be deceived by false

teachers who feed on people’s fear in difficult times. These types of events do not

mean that the end will come right away.

 

2. Stand firm in persecution (12-19)

 Jesus also warned his disciples that persecution would come against them

personally. They would have to stand before the highest authorities for Jesus’

sake. But we don’t have to worry beforehand about how to defend ourselves

because, at such moments, Jesus gives undefeatable words and wisdom. The

most painful persecution is from our own friends and family. But even if everyone

hates us, we can win the victory by standing firm.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for knowing everything that will happen and for

teaching us to take strength from you. Give me confidence that can reveal

you to others in troubled times.

One Word Don’t worry beforehand; stand firm

Deuteronomy 10:1-22

WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF YOU

Keywords 10:12

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

 

1. Not to destroy but to restore you to the Lord (1-11)

 Despite the stiff-neck Israelites, God heard Moses’ prayer. God wrote the Ten

Commandments again to be put in the Ark. Eleazar succeeded Aaron as a priest.

The Levites carried the ark. The Lord became their inheritance again. God’s will

was to restore them. God commissioned them to take possession of the Promised

Land. Praise God who sent Jesus to restore sinners to be royal priests and a holy

nation and inherit the kingdom of God.

 

2. Circumcise your heart and serve the Lord (12-22)

 To the Lord God belong the heavens and the earth. Yet he loved Israel above all

the nations. He prospered them from seventy until they became as numerous

as the stars in the sky. Now they should circumcise their hearts, love God with

all their hearts, and love their neighbors (the foreigners, the fatherless and the

widows) as themselves.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for restoring me to you through Jesus. Circumcise my

heart to love you with all my heart and my neighbors as myself.

One Word God restores