Today Our Thanksgiving Daily Bread Luke 22 & 2 Cor 2:14

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

Luke 22
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover celebration, was drawing near. 2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were actively plotting Jesus' murder. But they wanted to kill him without starting a riot, a possibility they greatly feared.
3Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted that he was ready to help them, and they promised him a reward. 6So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him quietly when the crowds weren't around.
The Last Supper
7Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together."
9"Where do you want us to go?" they asked him.
10He replied, "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11say to the owner, `The Teacher asks, Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' 12He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is the place. Go ahead and prepare our supper there." 13They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.
14Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. 15Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."
17Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."
19Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.[a]
21"But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 22For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!" 23Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
24And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. 25Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called `friends of the people.' 26But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. 28You have remained true to me in my time of trial. 29And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts Peters Denial
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."
33Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you."
34But Jesus said, "Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me."
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did you lack anything?"
"No," they replied.
36"But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one! 37For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: `He was counted among those who were rebels.'[b] Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."
38"Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us."
"That's enough," he said.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation."
41He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 43Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.[c] 45At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46"Why are you sleeping?" he asked. "Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you."

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
47But even as he said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. 48But Jesus said, "Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?"
49When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!" 50And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him. 52Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard and the other leaders who headed the mob. "Am I some dangerous criminal," he asked, "that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns."

Peter Denies Jesus
54So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's residence, and Peter was following far behind. 55The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"
57Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know the man!"
58After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!"
"No, man, I'm not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus' disciples because he is a Galilean, too."
60But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. 61At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times." 62And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.
63Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him; then they hit him and asked, "Who hit you that time, you prophet?" 65And they threw all sorts of terrible insults at him.
Jesus before the Council
66At daybreak all the leaders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,[d] 67and they said, "Tell us if you are the Messiah."
But he replied, "If I tell you, you won't believe me. 68And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. 69But the time is soon coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power."[e]
70They all shouted, "Then you claim you are the Son of God?"
And he replied, "You are right in saying that I am."
71"What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted. "We ourselves heard him say it."
Footnotes:
a. Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts omit 22:19b-20, given for you . . . I will pour out for you.
b. Luke 22:37 Isa 53:12.
c. Luke 22:44 These verses are not included in many ancient manuscripts.
d. Luke 22:66 Greek before their Sanhedrin.
e. Luke 22:69 See Ps 110:1.

~Lena’s Journalin’~
The enemy of God looks for opportunities to make it appear God is not God and make us think he is god. The very spirit of satan was in Judas or he would not have operated this way, yet the actions that followed were bringing together the purposes of God (Rom 8:28). Because of the nature of the enemy, he had no idea that the death of God’s Son would be the next step and the answer of the salvation of the world, he did not care about the world so did not think as God thought about the world. He felt death meant hell, because it did to him, it meant defeat, because that is his own destiny. He would have liked to “take Jesus down” with him. He knew sacrifices made atonement and that that had become somewhat of a futile and religious act. That people would make sacrifices (of animals) for sin and go and sin again, still needing salvation from their deeds. He never thought a man would do such an act, yet not only a man, but THE MOST HIGH GOD! Satan is into self exaltation, so he does not think of stepping down low, as Jesus did. It was/is not in his nature or in the nature of sin.
This is why Jesus said, the Son of man must die, but woe to the one who betrays Him. Jesus would die without Judas’ help, and satan wouldn’t want anyone to know that one! Also, Jesus said to His disciples, the greatest is the one who is willing to be the least- this exemplifies the very nature of God and shows forth the nature of satan. Self exaltation- satan, Love exaltation- God!
betrayal is defined –to give into the hands (of another), to give over into (one's) power or use, to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage, to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death, to deliver up treacherously, by betrayal to cause one to be taken, to deliver one to be taught, moulded, to commit, to commend, to deliver verbally, commands, rites, to deliver by narrating, to report, to permit allow, when the fruit will allow that is when its ripeness permits, gives itself up, presents itself
Not all of that definition sounds horrible, most sounds actually loyal, exactly! The loyalty is given over to the wrong master!
Remember Feast of Unleavened bread meaning, a gathering in celebration of those who are made spotless by the shed blood of one who makes them cleaner than they could ever make themselves? The one who takes away their sin and its penalty?
These carried the burden of guilt and sin all year long. They waited for the day when they could petition and sacrifice to be made clean from this guilt and its stain on their lives. They were pleased to be able to make sacrifices, they all stopped everyday life, had a holiday and gathered in this one place to make the sacrifices for their sins (they had church).
Is it not significant that the beginning of this feast was when Jesus was being prepared mentally for his own sacrifice? Also during the days of the feast He was being offered for the sins of the whole world! That is marvelous. As He was eating the “last super” the spotless, unblemished lambs were being brought into the city for slaughter.
At this last supper, Jesus was signifying what would be happening to Him at Passover. He had shown them that He was THE BREAD of LIFE, and this bread would be given to whoever would take and receive it and allow it/Him to become a part of their inner life, He was telling them He had to drink in the will of God in action and pour out His own life for His Father’s will and for the sake of the world, so that they could also decide to do the Father’s will. He was asking them to share with Him in the same pattern of taking Him in, giving Him out and laying down their own lives for the Father’s will and the world.
You can see they did not get the significance of this, as no natural man can. Without the understanding given by the power of God’s spirit how can a naturally minded man understand God’s mind, who does not think as men do? Jesus spent much time with them explaining, but soon they’d have the same spirit inside of them that He had demonstrated for them these 3 years! They would get it. It was in seed form now, and understanding would come and activate the seeds many times over in the future. If someone does not seem to immediately ‘get it” don’t worry, they will- for God’s powerful word does not go out void, but it will accomplish what it pleases and will prosper in the places it is sent. (Isa) The main part is to be available to get the word in so it will grow and be brought forth with time and experiences.
Notice Jesus telling the disciples that each of them had the very same offer of betrayal as Judas did, and that the time of its opportunities were not over with. Satan was coming to “take them all out”. The difference between Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial was allegiance, and deliberate turning towards and away from inside of the heart. Judas’s betrayal was influenced by satan and the nature of his works, Peter’s denial was based on flesh natured fear, self preservation, and revealing of iniquity. God was gonna show Peter His heart. Notice in this passage, Jesus tells him that he would be repenting. That very act of messing up and turning back to God would show disciples all over the world what to do.
to deny is defined- to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone , to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests
I wonder, when they were in the garden and Jesus admonished them that they too needed to pray, if He was showing them they’d have their own temptation to fight and their flesh would be weaker later on and through prayer was where they’d find all the strength they’d need? God is so faithful.
I cannot stand it when people blame Him for things that happen, because as we see here, Jesus showed Peter his own heart ahead of time, then told Him he’d be weak and needed to seek God, or he’d find himself in failure, which would bring great grief to His heart later on. Most of us listen to our pride and feel we know everything about everything, and so don’t heed foresight given us by God, and the subtle hints of obedience and prevention of woe. Had Peter listened, he may have done warfare and cancelled his fall and face off with woe. He would have seen it coming, but resisted its offer. We all can be like that, living by our own experiences or living by the faith of the Son of God and through obedience be blessed in that we do not have to walk through so much pain etc. We become wise when we live this way, fools when we do not. Fools live through lots of experiences and pain. They go somewhere, but not very far. Obedience is blessed and those who trust, listen to, and obey God, His word, His voice- these live long, go far, and reproduce blessings for others.
Let’s be the obedient ones who bring salvation to the earth, who go “far” with obedience, who reproduce Him.
Happy Thanks Giving!
(daily repetitive verse)
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.