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Luke Chapter 22 Second Continued

Luke 22:47 "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."

“A multitude”:

These were heavily armed representatives of the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43), accompanied by a Roman cohort with lanterns, torches, and weapons (John 18:3).

“Kiss”:

A typical greeting, but this was the prearranged signal by which Judas would identify Christ for the soldiers (Matt. 26:48-49).

This is so important that it is touched upon in all four gospels.

Judas Iscariot (the betrayer), would make it even worse by betraying Jesus with a Kiss.

This, like so many other crimes, was done under the cover of darkness.

Judas knew where Jesus went to pray and that there would not be a large group there.

Luke 22:48 "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"

Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do.

He even knew about the kiss.

Only someone who had been counted as a friend would have gotten so close.

Luke 22:49 "When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?"

Had Jesus not have wanted to go with them.

He would not have needed warriors, or even swords.

Jesus was in full control of this whole situation.

He was fulfilling Scripture.

He could have paralyzed all these that came for Him with just one word.

It was His decision to go.

Luke 22:50 "And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear."

“Cut off his right ear”:

All four gospels record this incident.

Only John revels that the swordsman was Peter and the victim was named Malchus (John 18:10). And only Luke, the physician, records the subsequent healing (verse 51).

This had to be impulsive Peter who smote off the ear of the high priest's servant.

As I said in the explanation above, Jesus could have stopped them any time He had wanted to. He knew this must be done to be the Savior of the world.

At any moment, Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to fight for Him, and they would have been there.

In fact, He could have stopped it without the angels.

He chose to die for you and me that we might have everlasting life.

He had come to Gethsemane to strengthen His flesh, not His Spirit.

Gethsemane is an olive crusher which makes olive oil (Holy Spirit).

There was no need to fight.

Jesus would fulfill the wishes of His father.

Luke 22:51 "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him."

“Touched his ear, and healed him”:

This is the only instance in all of Scripture where Christ healed a flesh wound.

The miracle is also unique in that Christ healed an enemy, unasked and without any evidence of faith in the recipient.

It is also remarkable that such a dramatic miracle had no effect whatsoever on the hearts of those wicked men.

Neither had the explosive power of Jesus’ words, which knocked them to the ground (John 18:6). 2

They carried on with the arrest as if nothing peculiar had happened (verse 54).

Had there ever been any doubt from any of these people who Jesus was, there shouldn't be now. It appears they knew who He was and went ahead with this crucifixion anyhow.

Luke 22:52-53 "Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?" "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

“Your hour … power of darkness”:

I.e., nighttime, the hour of darkness.

They had not the courage to confront Jesus in the presence of the crowds at the temple, where He had openly taught each day.

Their skulking tactics betrayed the truth about their hearts.

Nighttime was a fitting hour for the servants of the power of darkness (Satan), to be afoot (John 3:20-21; Eph. 5:8, 12-15; 1 Thess. 5:5-7).

They had not stretched forth their hands against Him in the temple, because they feared the people He was ministering to.

Of course, the only way they could take Him now was to fulfill God's purpose.

Notice, they came under cover of darkness.

This was the place Jesus went to withdraw from the multitude.

This was like a kangaroo court.

All of this happened at night.

Jesus makes the chief priests and captains aware that He knows what they are doing.

Luke 22:54 "Then took they him, and led [him], and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."

“High priest’s house”:

I.e. Caiaphas’ house.

“Peter followed afar off”:

All 4 gospels record this fact.

John indicates that another disciple, presumably himself, also followed (John 18:15). It seems as though all of this trial of Jesus took place during the night.

This is a very strange way to try someone.

It is even strange to me that these people of this great authority would be awake at this hour of the night.

The high priest's house was the beginning of the trials.

We see here, Peter does not want to be totally separated from Jesus.

He is following from afar.

The symbolism here is for our day.

Many of the Christians follow Jesus from afar.

We love Him, but some of us won't get close enough for people to realize we belong to Jesus. Peter was afraid to get too close, afraid they might crucify Him too.

Are we like that?

If we get too close to Jesus, our friends and neighbors might turn on us and persecute us.

Luke 22:55 "And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them."

Peter wanted to be close enough to know what was going on, but not close enough for him to share in the punishment.

In these big halls of these homes, they had fires burning.

Peter sat by the fire.

This tells us that at this time of year, it was still pretty cool.

This all happens on the 14th of Nisan, which is early spring.

Luke 22:56 "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."

“A certain maid”:

All 4 gospels mention her.

She appears to have been the doorkeeper of Annas’ house (Matt. 26:69; Mark 14:66; John 18:17).

Peter had been with Jesus when He taught the multitudes.

It would have been impossible to hide the fact that Peter was a follower of Jesus.

Luke 22:57 "And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not."

“He denied him”:

(John 18:13-18), says this first denial took place while Jesus was being examined by Annas father-in-law, to Caiaphas.

Both accounts mention a fire in the courtyard (verse 55; John 18:18), so it may be that the houses of Annas and Caiaphas shared a common courtyard.

Only John mentions the examination by Annas, so the other gospels describes Peter’s 3-fold denial as an incident that took place in the porch and courtyard of Caiaphas’ house.

This strong apostle of Jesus who had been so close to the Master, in the face of loss of his own life, denies Jesus.

Luke 22:58 "And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not."

“Another saw him”:

“Another” is a masculine pronoun in the Greek indicating a man.

(Mark 14:69), says this second challenge to Peter came from the same servant-girl who first recognized him (verse 56).

The supposed discrepancy is easily reconciled when it is remembered that Peter was among several bystanders, and many of them questioned him at once (Matt. 26:73).

He responded with his second denial.

It is interesting to me that even though Peter is being accused of being Jesus' follower and he is denying it, he still stays near.

Luke 22:59 "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."

“He is a Galilean”:

They knew because of his accent (Matthew 26:73).

Now even his speech and dress have given Peter away.

He is obviously a Galilean.

Luke 22:60 "And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew."

This had to be the saddest moment of Peter's life.

When this cock crew.

Peter immediately realized what he had done.

Luke 22:61 "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."

“The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter”:

Luke alone records that Jesus made eye contact with Peter.

The verb used suggests an intent, fixed look.

The fact that He could see Peter suggests that the men holding Jesus had already brought Him into the courtyard to beat Him (verse 63).

“And Peter remembered the word of the Lord”:

Matthew 26:75 "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And he went out, and wept bitterly."

The Lord knew when the cock crew that Peter had truly denied Him three times.

Whether this look was one of compassion or not, I know Jesus felt sorry for His friend Peter, who had done the very thing he had said he wouldn't, under pressure of death.

This had to be a very saddening remembrance of the prophecy Jesus had made.

Luke 22:62 "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

Peter probably thought the Lord would never have any use for him again. Peter hates his own weakness.

Perhaps, one of the reasons Peter went back to his nets to fish for a living again, was because he felt Jesus would not want someone as weak as he to preach the salvation message.

Luke Chapter 22 Second Continued Questions

1.What was Judas to do to show them which one was Jesus?

2.What part of the day was this done in?

3.How do we know that Jesus knew what Judas was about to do?

4.What did Jesus' disciples ask about defending Him?

5.What did one of the disciples do to the high priest's servant?

6.What disciple was it, probably?

7.Why did Jesus let them take Him?

8.What miracle did Jesus do in front of all these accusers who had come for Him?

9.What did Jesus say to the chief priests and captains?

10.Why had they not come against Him in the temple?

11.Which of the disciples followed afar off?

12.Where did they take Jesus first to try Him?

13.All of Jesus' trial took place at __________.

14.What is so strange about this trial of Jesus?

15.What is the symbolism of Peter following from afar?

16.Where did they kindle a fire?

17.What did Peter fear?

18.What was the month and day this happened?

19.Who was the first to say they recognized Peter as being with Jesus?

20.What was Peter's reply?

21.In verse 59, what gave Peter away?

22.Just as Peter denied Jesus the third time, what happened?

23.When did Peter remember what Jesus had prophesied?

24.When Peter realized what he had done, what did he do?

25.What was probably the reason Peter stopped preaching and went back to his nets?

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