Lk. 22
As I was reading this chapter, I was overwhelmed with the degree of humiliation and pain embedded in such a short span of words. How intensely sad and heartbreaking! First, the humiliation and pain of Jesus.
"This is my body which is given for you." As Jesus was serving his disciples, He was fully aware of the intense pain yet to come for these words to have true meaning. "The cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." It was His actual body and blood, not a symbol or a metaphor. That He could share Himself this way is amazing! What a gift that came at such a great price!- He was also serving the others in His final hours. He humbly lowered Himself to servant status meeting the needs of those who would betray, neglect, and deny Him.
Then Jesus immediately mentioned His betrayer. How His heart must have ached to have one who had been with Him do such a thing! From a God-point of view, He knew it had been determined, but from a human-point of view, it was such a deep, personal wound.- Then in the midst of this time when Jesus was in the throes of his impending betrayal, death, and crucifixion, His other disciples began a dispute over greatness, a fight over prominence and pride. Did Jesus really need this issue to handle right now? Could they have been a little focused on the meaning of Jesus' statements? Could they have been there to support Jesus and not be concerned about their futures? This must have increased Jesus' heartache, but still He used their questions as a teaching tool.
- Following this Jesus tells Peter of Satan's sifting .How hard to tell a close friend such horrible news! How hard to realize that that close friend will deny Him! It's like the pain and humiliation never stop! It's one thing to be humiliated by the enemy, but when it's by your close friend, it's intense.
- After this Jesus tells them that He will be numbered with the transgressors so Scripture would be fulfilled. Now Jesus contemplates having his reputation and character smeared by association.
- After praying so intensely that His sweat had become great drops of blood, He came back to find His disciples asleep. Asleep! How could it be? He was so alone. Even though He had prayed asking the cup to be taken away, He was submissive to the Father's will so God did send an angel to strengthen Him. Yet, His own close friends were sleeping during this horrible time in His life.
- Then He had to endure the kiss of betrayal by Judas. It was like Judas was throwing His identity back in His face, saying, 'where is Your power now?'
- After Peter had denied Jesus, the Lord turned and looked at Him. I can only imagine the pain and agony in that look. Friends and enemies were all trying to crush the Spirit of this man, but Jesus endured. He knew the Father's will and that was the most important thing to Him.
- Finally, He was beaten and blasphemed. I wonder if this was easier to bear. Wouldn't He have expected this treatment from His enemies?
- After he denied Jesus 3 times, the rooster crowed as Jesus had said it would. But then, Jesus looked at Peter, eye to eye, heart to heart. The pain that Jesus felt by this betrayal was probably equal to the pain that Peter felt after doing the deed. Once Jesus looked at Him acknowledging Peter's overwhelming fear, it says Peter went out and wept bitterly. Peter had an epiphany like no other! His sin was exposed by the very Son of God! He had no words, no rationalization, just an all- consuming guilt. What humiliation!
Father,
Help me never to undervalue my great salvation and the horrible suffering Jesus endured to give it to me. Keep my strong in my faith so that denial will be far from my mouth and my spirit.
In His name,
Amen
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