Luke 22:1-6
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who belonged to the number of the twelve. And he left and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he was to betray Him to them. And they were delighted, and agreed to give him money. And so he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them away from the crowd.

† The leaders feared the people but not God, plotting in secret.
† Judas' betrayal showed Satan's influence and the hardness of human hearts.
† The betrayal fulfilled prophecy and set in motion the final events.

Luke 22:7-23
Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it." They said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare it?" And He said to them, "When you have entered the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”' And he will show you a large, furnished upstairs room; prepare it there." And they left and found everything just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood. But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table! For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" And they began to debate among themselves which one of them it was who was going to do this.

† The Lord's Supper revealed the meaning of His sacrifice.
† His blood established the new covenant.
† Betrayal would come even from among His closest companions.

Luke 22:24-38
And a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.' But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

"You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

† True greatness was found in service, not domination.
† The apostles were promised authority in the kingdom.
† Christ's intercession preserved Peter despite his failure.

Luke 22:39-53
And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you do not come into temptation." And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you do not come into temptation." While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading the way for them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

† Gethsemane showed Christ's submission to the Father's will.
† His agony revealed the weight of the coming sacrifice.
† Judas' kiss marked the treachery of betrayal.

Luke 22:54-71
After they arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. Now after they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a slave woman, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man was with Him as well." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." And a little later, another person saw him and said, "You are one of them too!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" And after about an hour had passed, some other man began to insist, saying, "Certainly this man also was with Him, for he, too, is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

† Peter's denial fulfilled Christ's words, yet repentance followed.
† Jesus bore false accusation and mockery from the leaders.
† The trial exposed Israel's rejection of her Messiah.

How it applies to us today:
† Luke 22 reveals betrayal, denial, prayer, and sacrifice leading to the cross. The fulfilled perspective reminds us that these events ushered in the new covenant, confirmed by Christ's blood. For us today, this chapter calls us to faithful service, watchful prayer, and humble endurance, trusting in the Lamb who gave Himself for us.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Josephus, Wars 6.2.4
† Philo, On Dreams 2.19
† Tacitus, Annals 15.44
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.2.2