Luke Bible Study, Day 37
Today’s passage: Luke 22:39–71
Focus verse: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
The Bible is full of perplexing stories.
One is when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. What father would kill his son? What God would demand it?
However, Abraham wants to obey God regardless of the cost.
Three days later we find Abraham on a mountain with his son tied up on an altar. With knife in hand, Abraham raises his arm, ready to plunge the dagger into Isaac’s chest.
Just then, God stops him. “No!” he says. “Don’t do it. It was just a test to see if you would obey me.”
Wow, that was close. Then God provides a ram for the sacrifice instead of Isaac. Abraham proves himself faithful to God, and Isaac is spared.
Fast-forward several centuries to Jesus. Before his arrest and execution, Jesus spends time praying. His disciples wait nearby. He tells them to pray so that they won’t give in to temptation.
We don’t know if Jesus had a specific temptation in mind or if this is for them to guard against all kinds of temptation. But we do know that his disciples fall asleep as he prays. Perhaps they longed to close their eyes—just for a minute—but they nod off.
At one point in his prayer, Jesus asks God for a reprieve—that he won’t have to die—even though that was the plan all along. But he’s quick to add an addendum. He’ll do whatever his Father wants.
I wonder if Jesus is thinking about the test God gave Abraham, commanding the patriarch to kill his son, Isaac.
For Abraham and Isaac, God the Father says, “Stop!” Then he provides a different sacrifice, a substitute. Isaac gets a reprieve, and the ram dies in his place.
Does Jesus hope God will again say, “Stop! This is just a test” and provide a substitute sacrifice or a different solution? But this time God doesn’t offer an alternative.
Jesus must die as a once-and-for-all sacrifice to restore us into right relationship with Father God.
However, God sends an angel to Jesus to encourage him. Now knowing there’s no plan B, Jesus prays in earnest anguish. Sweat falls from him like drops of blood.
When Jesus finishes praying, he finds his disciples asleep. They weren’t even able to stay awake and support him in the darkest time of his life.
Again, he tells them to pray so that they won’t give in to temptation. Maybe he’s thinking specifically about Peter and Judas.
When it comes to Jesus dying instead of us and taking our punishment on himself, he doesn’t have second thoughts, but he’s open to alternatives. God doesn’t provide one.
Jesus dies to make us right with the Father. Though our wrongs separate us from God, Jesus takes our punishment upon himself, thereby restoring us to right relationship with Papa.
Jesus prays. Jesus obeys. Jesus dies. We live.
Questions:
- Do we fight temptation with prayer or give in to it?
- How do we react when God asks us to do something difficult or painful?
[Discover more about God’s provision of an alternate sacrifice for Isaac in Genesis 22:1–14.]
Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.
Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more about the book of Luke in Dear Theophilus: A 40-Day Devotional Exploring the Life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke, now available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.