Luke Bible Study, Day 36
Today’s passage: Luke 22:21–38
Focus verse: But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33)
As Jesus shares wine with his disciples to wrap up the meal, he also has some other things to share—dreadful things.
First, Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him. Someone who has just shared this sacred meal with them is going to turn on him and then turn him in.
Jesus says this must happen, and it will happen regardless, but a special dose of major woe awaits the man who betrays him.
The disciples can’t believe it. Who would do such a thing? I’m sure Judas is just as adamant in his denials as the other eleven.
It doesn’t take long for the discussion to turn around from who’s the betrayer to who’s the best among the twelve.
Jesus tells them they have it all wrong. “The greatest should be the least, and the ruler should serve.” Then Jesus confirms they will help him rule the twelve tribes of Israel.
After this distraction about who’s the most important, Jesus turns to Simon Peter. Jesus knows Satan wants to take Peter down.
Jesus has already prayed that his disciple will be strong, that his faith will prevail. Then Peter can rebound from his failure to encourage the others.
Peter says, “I’ll never let you down. I’m ready to go to jail and even die for you.”
Jesus shakes his head. “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, three times you will have disavowed that you even know me.”
Jesus understands that Judas will betray him, and that Peter will deny him.
Though Jesus prays that Peter will bounce back from his failure, the Bible records no similar prayer for Judas. And Luke doesn’t mention what happens later to Judas or Peter, but Matthew and John do.
Through them we know that Judas commits suicide in anguish over his role in bringing about Jesus’s death. We also know that Jesus restores Peter back into right relationship with him and the rest of the disciples.
Peter gets a second chance, but Judas doesn’t stick around to find out if he will.
Questions:
- We may think we’re willing to go to jail and even die for Jesus, but when that moment comes, will we react like Peter?
- When we mess up—whether in big ways or small—do we look to God for a second chance?
[Discover more about Judas’s and Peter’s responses to their failures in Matthew 27:5 and Matthew 26:75.]
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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.
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