APRIL 4 READING…LUKE 22
Our reading today is part of Jesus’ passion week, and it moves us closer and closer to the cross. Jesus prophesies both Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. Both come true in this chapter. We can see that both these men committed acts against the Lord, but while Judas was not genuinely repentant toward Jesus…Peter was broken and repentant for his actions. Jesus also prophesies about the coming conflict for His disciples. I hope that we would understand that all followers will experience conflict with this godless world, and with the lost religious leaders that exist in every generation.
Jesus and His disciples meet for the Passover meal in the upper-room which was located on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. The Lord has His disciples prepare the room for the meal, and at this meal Jesus does several things. He institutes the Lord’s Supper, that we continue to observe in the church today, and will until Jesus comes again. Jesus exposes Judas as the betrayer and instructs him to go and do what he would do. Jesus corrects His disciples who begin to argue over their standing in the Kingdom of God. Jesus reminds them it is the servant who is the greatest in God’s Kingdom. From the upper-room Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray…He asks some of His disciples to pray with Him, but the are not able to stay awake. They really wanted to, but their flesh was weak…I find that this is so true of my flesh also. How desperately we all need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The authorities come and seize Jesus in the garden, they hit and mock Him, and then bound take Him before the Sanhedrin…where they illegally try Jesus. Here is something we need to understand…the world will never extend true justice to those who follow the Lord. Listen, my brothers and sisters, the world cannot give what it does not know…and the world does not know true justice for all.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READING…LUKE 23
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