David W. Jones

The Lord’s Supper – Luke 22:1–38

Read the Passage: Luke 22:1–38

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Luke 22:1-38

Before Supper (22:1–13)

This passage begins on Wednesday of the Passion Week. As this day dawned, the religious leaders were desirous to kill Jesus; however, they intended to wait until after the Passover so that Jerusalem would be less crowded (cf. Matt. 26:3–5). Yet, in evidence that Christ would die on God’s timetable, not according to that of men, Satan was allowed to enter Judas. Judas had apparently become dissatisfied with Jesus’ ministry, especially concerning matters related to money. Indeed, the narrative of Mary anointing Christ with costly perfume occurred just prior to the triumphal entry (cf. John 12:1–11). Of course, Jesus was not surprised by Judas’ betrayal of Him (cf. John 6:70–71). Next, in his disillusionment, Judas approached the religious leaders and offered to betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver (cf. Matt. 26:15), which was the price of a slave (cf. Exod. 21:32).

In Luke 22:7–13 Jesus tasked Peter and John to make arrangements for the disciples’ observance of the Passover meal. This was not a small task, for this meal would have included at least 13 people, and possibly more. In short, the disciples would need a place to meet, for food to be bought, and for the preparation of the meal itself. Apparently, Jesus had already made some of these arrangements with an unnamed man whom Peter and John would soon encounter in Jerusalem. They could identify this man, said Christ, as the man would be carrying a pitcher of water, which was uncommon work for an adult male. Tradition holds that the upper room was in the home of the parents of John Mark, who later wrote the Gospel of Mark. It is possible that Christ concealed the details of this meal from His disciples in order to prevent Judas from betraying Him prior to the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

During Supper (22:14–23)

The narrative of the Lord’s Supper itself is familiar to many Christians, as these verses are often quoted when believers observe this ordinance. Jesus’ claim that He earnestly desired to eat the Passover with His disciples in interesting. Likely this was because He wanted to prepare His followers for His death, as well as to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. Note that Christ mentions the kingdom of God two times in this passage. This highlights the fact that the Lord’s Supper is not just a backward-looking memorial, but also a forward-looking celebration. Luke 22:16–20 explains the elements of the Lord’s Supper, with the bread and the wine each symbolizing aspects of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement. In Luke 22:21–23 Christ revealed that He knew a traitor was in their midst. Indeed, Judas’ willful betrayal of Jesus had previously “been determined” (Luke 22:22) by God (cf. Acts 2:23).

After Supper (22:24–38)

Jesus’ announcement about the presence of a betrayer caused the disciples to question themselves about the identity of the traitor (cf. John 13:21–30). Ironically, in Luke 22:24 this debate morphed into a discussion about which one of them was the greatest. This dispute highlights the degree of immaturity and ignorance among the disciples, as well as perhaps Judas’ skill at hiding his duplicity. In response to this discussion, Jesus did not sharply rebuke the disciples; rather, He exhorted them to serve one another. While Luke omits details of the event, this may have been when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (cf. John 13:1–20). In Luke 22:28–30 Christ returned to the theme of the kingdom of God that He had introduced in Luke 22:16–18. While the disciples surely had in mind an imminent earthly kingdom, Jesus’ comments here reveal that the full arrival of kingdom is an as yet future reality.

In Luke 22:31–38 Jesus teaches about trials and conflict—first in the life of Peter (cf. Luke 22:31–34), and second in the lives of all believers (cf. Luke 22:35–38). Christ’s teaching here that Peter would deny Him three times must have been sobering for the ever-confident Peter. It is possible that Jesus disclosed this information to Peter at this point because Peter was one of the leaders in the prior debate over the imagined greatness of the disciples. Next, Christ implicitly taught about the trials that all believers will face as they seek to live out their faith in the midst of a hostile world. While earlier the disciples lacked nothing when Jesus sent them out in ministry (cf. Luke 9:3; 10:4), now Christ taught that when the disciples ministered, they were to arrange for their own support. This does not imply a lack of divine protection; rather, it merely speaks to the practicality of ministerial service.

Application Questions:

  1. How important is the observance of the Lord’s Supper for the Church? How often ought Christians to celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
  2. Given all of Jesus’ miracles, most of which Judas surely witnessed, how could he agree to betray Christ?
  3. How does the timing of the Lord’s Supper, as well as Jesus’ ensuing death, show God’s sovereignty over the crucifixion?
  4. In what sense in the kingdom of God already present in the world? How will this differ from the future kingdom of God?
  5. How can those in ministry best balance practical preparation with reliance upon divine protection?