Jesus Revealed and Acended to His Father

Luke 24:36-53

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

The Scriptures Opened

44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

The Ascension

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

The creed tells us to summarize scripture by the birth, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also reminds us He then ascended into heaven at the right hand of God our Father and will return to judge the living and the dead.  Here in the last passage of Luke we see how Jesus rose from death to life and visited them after His resurrection before His ascension.  He came suddenly into their gathering and said, “Peace to you.”  The disciples could not respond because they were in such fear and the Lord asked why they were troubled and doubted that He had risen from death to life.  He asked them pointedly why they still doubted His word which He had been telling them for some time that He had to suffer and die and rise again from the grave after being buried and lamented unnecessarily.  He proved to them all it was truly Him in a resurrected body of flesh and bones which they were told to touch to make certain of this fact.  If He were a ghost then they would not be able to touch Him.  They were able and did feel He was real, just as we now feel that by the presence of His Spirit living in us who gives us the same certainty without seeing His body except by promise and the account of these faithful men and this inner testimony to the truth of His resurrected body and soul which is promised to us as well.  We then hear how Jesus opened their understanding to know how all the scriptures from the Old Testament since Genesis pointed to His birth, life, suffering, death, and resurrection as this promise for deliverance from sin’s penalty of God’s wrath.  He “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” that they might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent (John 17:3) and turn from sin to Him in repentance and faith to (John 5:24) pass from eternal death to everlasting life as those released from the penalty of sin and judgment in a cosmic reprieve from the sentence of death (2 Corinthians 1:9-10).  He explained by exposition of the Old Testament writings of Moses and the prophets how essential it was for him as the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day after His sacrifice in the crucifixion as their great high priest (Hebrews) so repentance leading to remission or release from bondage and imprisonment of sin and death, which is God’s forgiveness or pardon of sins, would be granted.  This truth from all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17) was their gospel message for them (and us) to proclaim to the world after His ascension as we await the final  judgment in truth and righteousness upon His return.  They only lacked then what every new reborn believer now has, the living and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit of God in them.  They were told to wait for Him to come in them as the scriptures promised (Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 44:3-5, Joel 2:28) on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-17) that they might have a more full understanding of Him and His Word to proclaim for the salvation of all who were appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48) would believe and receive by God-given faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Then He ascended as promised into heaven before their eyes after blessing them!  They worshipped and waited for the promise for the power from on high (Luke 24:49) to understand and preach  as they continually praised and blessed and worshipped the Lord God who had done and revealed such wonderful things!  This is our call and joy as well in understanding and living the coming of the Christ who suffered, died, was buried, arose from death, and ascended to sit at God’s right hand of all authority and power (Matthew 28:18-20). 

The Way to Jesus Revealed from the Beginning

Luke 24:13-35

The Road to Emmaus

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

19 And He said to them, "What things?"

So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples' Eyes Opened

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Jesus opened the eyes of the disciples to see with spiritual vision and hear the word of God with heavenly sounds that resonated throughout the scriptures from Moses through the prophets.  He continues to do those things in all whose ears and eyes He opens by His Spirit through conviction and regeneration to confession of sin and redemption through our repentance by faith in Him.  Just as the two gained such a view from Emmaus as they traveled and discussed what Jesus Christ had said and done, we also journeyed along until He came beside us and gave understanding to all Christ had suffered and was condemned as an innocent man yet crucified to death.  He straightened out their misconceptions of why He had come to die at the hands of the enemy and apparently did not deliver His people Israel from the Roman occupation as they imagined and expected He should have done.  They told Him how the women went to an empty tomb and yet reported seeing Him alive, but only as a vision that angels gave them.  Some other disciples went to validate their account but found nothing save the empty grave.  They did not realize that Jesus arose just as He said He would.  When the Lord who walked alongside them heard them say these things, He set them straight by asking how blind they were when the scriptures that they had explained all that had happened.  He led them through an exposition of Moses and all the prophets, meaning from the Pentateuch and both the major and minor prophets which was essentially the entire Old Testament, and pointed out how throughout they spoke of the Messiah-Christ (Luke 1:70-71)!  He was foreordained to suffer and die (Luke 1:68-69) to enter into glory by this route of the divine becoming a man (John 1:1, 13), suffering for the truth, dying on a cursed tree to redeem His people (Isaiah 53:10-11, Luke 1:76-77), and rising from death (Acts 2:27-28, 30-31) to life as both proof of His work and hope for the future resurrection to life for all of His called and chosen ones.  

When they arrived at their destination, the disciples still did not know whom He was and convinced Jesus not to continue on without them but stop and stay with them awhile and continue on in the morning to wherever He was going.  They broke bread with the unseen Lord and only when He had broken the bread and blessed it did their eyes open to see Him and understand what He had been revealing to them from the scriptures about whom He was and what He had done to redeem them by His birth, suffering service, sacrificial death in their place to redeem them from sin’s penalty, and His resurrection of hope proven for eternity!  How we need our eyes opened as well to come to know Him and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:9-10)!  Then when Jesus opened the eyes of their hearts He vanished from their sight but ever since His pouring out of His Spirit on all believers at Pentecost we all have Him with and in us always to exposit the entire Bible to our spiritual and intellectual understanding.  How our hearts respond in kind to those disciples at Emmaus long ago as He now opens up His word to us and our hearts burn with joy in these revelations!  Yes, we all respond in elated joy in declaring that the Lord is risen indeed and our joy is made full in relating these truths to others of the birth, suffering, sacrificial death, life giving hope in His resurrection from death to life as a promise for all who believe and receive Jesus as the Christ, and the everlasting hope forevermore because He lives!  This is the good news, the gospel of our deliverance from God’s wrath on our sin because of Him.  This is the message we share with others along the road so He can open the eyes of their hearts as He did ours.  He loved for you, He died for you, He hung on a cross and cried for you.  He arose, He arose, and our hope is secure behind the veil (Hebrews 6:19) in God’s presence now!  The way to Jesus has been revealed from the beginning and He reveals that to us through His word by His Spirit.  Amen. 

He Rose Again from Death to Life

Luke 24:1-12

He Is Risen

(Matt. 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; John 20:1–10)

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Jesus not only suffered for our sin and was crucified and buried, but He did the impossible for a mere man afterwards by raising Himself from death to life!  He arose from the grave to live and breathe again!  When the women who knew Jesus came after the Sabbath weekend to bring spices (Luke 23:55-56)to His grave early in the morning, they discovered that the massive round stone door weighing weighed from one to three tons to the tomb had been somehow rolled back from the opening.  It had been sealed by the Romans to keep His dis from stealing the body to claim He arose as promised and it would take many men to kill the guards, unseal it, and then roll the door away to get to Him.  According to Matthew 28:2-4, an angel had come down from heaven to move the enormous rock away and shake the earth at the same time to demonstrate the power of God there.  By Matthew’s account the Lord was already gone from the tomb before the door was even opened!  Then the women saw the angels who looked like men with bright shining clothes as angels often did before and would again before Jesus rose the second time from earth to heaven in Acts 1:10-11 and they spoke hope to the disciples of His return.  These angels asked why they were looking for a dead Jesus when He was among the living.  They exclaimed, “He is not here, but is risen!”  Then they reminded the onlooking women who were in shock and awe how the Lord had told them before that He would be delivered to suffer and die, be crucified, but then rise again on the third day which was that first day of the week at that time they had come to the tomb.  Only then did they recall what He had told them when it was brought up to their attention.  They ran back to tell His disciples that Jesus Christ was no longer dead, but the apostles did not believe them since they were women probably spinning yarns to them in imagination.  Peter, however, took it to heart and ran to the tomb to see for himself and found the burial clothes neatly folded up as if someone awoke and changed into new clothing.  Jesus did put on a new incorruptible body as a forerunner (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 42-44, 49, 51-52) of the ones we will also have in our resurrection because of and in like manner as His.   This was then the new clothes He put on and why He was able to leave the old  to be seen by the women and Peter.  Just as Peter left that sight with these and other thoughts filling his mind with awe and wonder, so we also are left breathless at the thought of Jesus suffering for us, dying on a cursed tree (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13) to take the punishment for our sin due to us, being buried as if all hope was lost, but then rising again to give us all eternal hope in the promises of His word of salvation and eternal life after death in Him!  He has promised us the same and proved it.   We will rise once more after death to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28) and of we are found in Him we will be with Him forever forgiven.  This is the certain hope of the good news of the life, suffering, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection from death to life (John 5:24) which we have through repentance and faith in God’s work for us which we are incapable of achieving ourselves.  On His glorious appearance at His return we shall all find this same awe and wonder of the women and Peter at the empty tomb which will never end!  We will behold Him face to face at last! 

Jesus was Crucified, Died, and Buried

 Luke 23:26-56

The King on a Cross

26 Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."

36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."

38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Jesus Dies on the Cross

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last.

47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb

50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Jesus was mocked while taken to be crucified, He died on the cross of punishment, and then He was buried in a tomb meant for a good and just man.  He was led to the place of death called skull while a man was commanded to bear His cross which Jesus was unable to carry after a merciless beating and followed after Him there.  When some along the way of suffering mourned and lamented Him, the Lord spoke words of warning to these and all within earshot.  He told them to weep for their own children for the times of judgment to follow and not for Him.  He told them how in that day people would cry out for an end to the suffering by desiring to be buried in the mountains around their city as it will be on that day spoken of in Revelation 6:16-17 when those facing the punishment of sin find no relief apart from faith and trust in Him.  Jesus was nailed to that cross of punishment for us to take away our sin’s just due (Colossians 2:14-15) along with criminals two.  The Lord demonstrated His forgiveness being earned there by Him for us by saying loudly, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  This is the grace earned not by our good works, but by the infinitely good work of the only righteous man who ever lived, the divine God-man, Jesus the Anointed Christ of God, our Messiah.  This was the Lamb slaughtered as a sacrifice before the world was created (1 Peter 1:19-21, Romans 3:23-24, 25-26, Revelation 13:8) that we might not face the day when we too cry out to be buried by rocks instead of face His fierce wrath which we all deserve for our rebellion against His sovereign authority over the works (Isaiah 64:8) of His good hand.  One of the two criminals acknowledged his sin to Him on the adjacent cursed tree and asked to be remembered by the Lord in His kingdom; Jesus promised based on that statement of faith that he would be with Him in paradise that very day.  There was no unnecessary sinner’s prayer required, just faith to receive Jesus as Lord and Christ whose work alone made him righteous in Christ.  Jesus then died as He willingly gave up the life in the body prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5-7, 10) and cried out once more, this time saying, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’ (Psalm 31:5, 14-15) as a promise to all who trust, believe, and receive Him for who He is and what He has done through His suffering and death on our behalf.  The centurion presumably presiding over the crucifixion confessed who Jesus was by exclaiming, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”  He witnessed the Lord sacrificing Himself at the hands of the Roman soldiers and dying on his behalf and likely came to repentance and faith after witnessing these things including the darkened skies and the massive veil of the temple ripped in half.  Later many would consider these occurrences as well and consider the way into God’s presence was effected by the symbolic tearing of the veil to the place of the Most Holy which only the high priest could enter and which the eternal High Priest had removed so we could enter there through Him (Hebrews 10:19-22)!  He then was buried as foretold and necessary to prove His human body was actually dead that when He rose to life from death it would be proof for our hope that we also will rise from death to life in Him! This is the factual account of the suffering, death, and burial of our Lord who is our fittest God and Savior (Titus 2:13), Jesus Christ who did these things for His people whom He has called and chosen for Himself. 

Handed Over In Exchange for a Sinner

Luke 23:1-25

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
He answered him and said, "It is as you say."

4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."

5 But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."

Jesus Faces Herod

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" 17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

18 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"— 19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

22 Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Jesus as handed over by the religious leaders and people of Israel who were under their influence to the occupying Roman authority (the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria) in exchange for a known sinner who was a murdered and insurrectionist.  When the mob dragged Jesus to Pontius Pilate they accused Him of starting an uprising in the nation, of telling people not to pay taxes, and of making Himself out to be king and Christ.  For the first count, Jesus was falsely a of doing what Barrabas actually had done because Jesus never taught disobedience to the state.  On the second count, Jesus actually told even His followers to pay taxes to whom they are due (Matthew 17:25-27, Mark 12:17) because it was the money of the government who minted it anyway.  On them third and final count, the Lord was accused of being the Christ (guilty!) and therefore a king.  However, Jesus as the Christ was king of heaven and not of a particular country in competition or a threat to Caesar the king of the Roman occupiers who were to judge Jesus he condemn Him to death.  When Pilate questioned Him Jesus admitted He was king of the Jews and the Roman ruler understood that He was no legitimate threat to Romemas He pronounced Him innocent of the accusation at first.  The Jews grew angry and told how this man had stirred up the people (which they perceived as a threat to their religious control over them).  Pilate sought a way out by sending Jesus to Herod the governor since as a Galilean the case fell under his purview.  This Herod had been desiring to listen to Jesus for quite some time and was glad to hear Him, but unfortunately nothing moved him to deliver Him.  Herod expected to see the miracles reported to him but was disappointed and so unmoved that he treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, put a gorgeous robe on Jesus, and sent Him back to Pilate as an act of friendship with Pilate in a political move for popularity.  Pilate told the crowd that neither he nor Herod found Jesus guilty and was ready to beat and release Him.  The crowd went wild because they had been stirred up and so forced a decision and the insurrectionist was spared instead of the Christ, even though his crime was committed against the government letting him go free, which is quite shocking compared to a Jewish man accused of being a spiritual king of a conquered nation.  Jesus was delivered to die for the sins of His people in exchange for a sinner for whom He also died a sacrifial atoning death!  Such is the sovereign plan of God in His wisdom who moved the heart of kings like diverting a river (Proverbs 21:1) to accomplish His purpose set forth from the beginning (Genesis 3:15, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Galatians 4:4-5) of time.  He exchanged His life for sinners and took our sentence of death and judgment! 

Mocked in Disbelief and Denied as the Christ

Luke 22:63-71

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

63 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. 64 And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?" 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 "If You are the Christ, tell us."

But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."

70 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"
So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."

71 And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

Jesus was mocked for claiming His right as God in hypostatic union with man of the lineage of Adam through David (Jeremiah 23:5-6, Micah 5:2, John 7:42) as Messiah, the Christ.  They also beat Him as it was prophesied long before He set forth human foot on earth. He was dishonored and rejected as Isaiah 53:3-5 recorded for us to look back on in awe and wonder of God’s plan but whom Israel continued to disbelieve and reject their LORD as they had since their calling as His people.  These religious misleaders of God’s people comman Jesus to prophesy as they blindfolded and mocked Him as a false prophet to tell them which one was beating Him whom He could not see with His eyes.  It was not Jesus’s eyes which were covered though; the blind led by the blind (Luke 6:39) were unable and unwilling to see Jesus as the Christ come to suffer at their hands and be crucified for their sins as a sacrifice which no mere animal killed in the temple could ever do to cover their sins (Hebrews 9:12-13, 10:4, 10) for any length of time as they had come to rely on.  Jesus then was brought to face the council of the Sanhedrin, the religious rulers of scribes, chief priests, and elders to be judged and sentenced to death for what they claimed was blasphemy for confessing who He was.  They asked Jesus if He was the Messiah because they missed find the place of His birth thinking it was Nazareth instead of Bethlehem as Micah 5:2 foretold.  They knew the scriptures but failed to understand them and to see the facts before them, and so they set out to destroy Him as they were predetermined to do by God for their rejection of Him and His word.  Jesus therefore told them if He answered them that they would only refuse to accept His word because they had no faith to believe.  They would never let Him go because they were intent on killing Him as their fathers did to so many messengers of His Father before Him (Matthew 23:34-35, Acts 7:52, 1 Thessalonians 2:15) whose inconvenient truth from God only caused their persecution and death.  When Jesus therefore told the rest of the truth about His equality with God sitting at His right hand of power and divine authority, they called His confession of being the Son of God blasphemy instead of taking it to heart and believing the fulfilled promises which they claimed they had been waiting for.  Jesus was mocked in disbelief and denied as the Christ.  They sent Jesus therefore to be put to death, unable to comprehend that this would fulfill His work to die for their sins!  They meant these things for evil, but God intended it for good as Genesis 50:20 foreshadowed in the captivity of Joseph for the deliverance of God’s people.  God’s sovereign plan could not be stopped by religious leaders set against Him just as those today who preach false gospels will never prevail against His work through His chosen ones who are the church which the very gates of Hell cannot overcome (Matthew 16:18).  Christian, be of steadfast courage and conviction when you face persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ and the gospel of truth!  We dare not expect to escape the same from those set against the Lord.  

Denial and Betrayal

Luke 22:47-62 

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."

57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."

58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them."

But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."

60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Denial and betrayal of our Lord are not the same nor bring the same consequences.  The betrayal by Judas was complete and based on his hatred of Jesus for not making him a rich man.  The denial by Peter was temporary and based on fear of what might happen to him if he openly identified as a follower of Jesus Christ.  Judas calculated and made a deal with those set on killing the Christ whom they denied in a more permanent and deeply hate rooted way.  He led the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders whose religious and political control over the citizens was threatened in their estimation.  He betrayed Jesus with a kiss that was not a sincere greeting but a spear aimed at the man he pointed out by a mere sign they agreed on to attempt to cover the hateful act.  Judas was filled with the devil who is God’s adversary set on killing and destruction (John 10:10) of God’s work in Christ (Revelation 12:9, 12, 17).  The disciples tried to defend Jesus with a sword but He undid their attempt by healing the injured man.  He told them to allow the persecution as He alone understood the necessity of enduring the cross (Hebrews 12:2) and shame to suffer and die so they could find salvation in Him and His name.  Jesus did not miss the opportunity to expose those by whose hand He would be sacrificed, however.  He identified them as thieves and robbers coming against Him in the dark away from the observing eyes of the people like a lion seeking to devour Him.  They did not dare to come against the Lord in public because they knew many were beginning to believe He was the Christ which would upend their control over the people and put their own lives in jeopardy.  

The denial by Peter, on the other hand, was done out of fear for his life even after earlier promising that he could not and would never deny the Lord (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31, Luke 22:33-34).  How we are all capable of such boasting and then still denying by hiding or running away instead of standing boldly at the risk of our very lives for the gospel and person of Jesus Christ!  We should therefore not be quick to judge dear faithful Peter.  This man did risk his life to a degree by following Jesus to the court of the high priest among the enemies of our Lord even if he did then deny out of fear that he was a follower when asked.  There are many martyrs we read about who refuse to deny they follow Jesus when faced with torture or death, but there are also many who keep silent or even deny this to avoid the danger.  May we not judge them until we face the same situations.  Peter was reminded of his denial by the gaze of Jesus as the rooster sounded off as an alarm to waken Peter just as predicted.  When he realized what he had done, Peter wept bitterly in godly repentance leading to life (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) which Peter later wrote to us about in 1 Peter 4:14, 19 so we might consider our own responses when we are called to bear witness to the hope we have within us.  May we therefore learn from these events to avoid betrayal and repent from our fleshly denial to follow our Lord in spirit and truth with a more completely whole and loyal (2 Chronicles 16:9) heart.  Above all, may we learn from these two responses to following our Lord. 

Lacking Nothing in His Will

Luke 22:35-46 

Supplies for the Road

35 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"

So they said, "Nothing."

36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end."

38 So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."

And He said to them, "It is enough."

The Prayer in the Garden

39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Jesus asked the disciples whom He had sent out with nothing but the clothes on their back to preach the gospel of the coming kingdom of God and heaven if they lacked anything.  They answered that they lacked nothing and we know it was because God had supplied all their need (Matthew 6:32-33, Philippians 4:19) along the way.  They were about their Father’s business and received all the supplies they needed and asked for along the way to sustain them and enable their mission.  As Hudson Taylor observed long ago, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”  We also will lack nothing if we walk in His will and are about His business of speaking the gospel and serving others with the person and teachings of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).  We are not just to give the moral teachings of what to do or not to do, but the person of Christ whose words we are to observe (Matthew 28:20) while following Him.  It is impossible to separate the person of Jesus Christ from the moral teachings as many do with liberal theology today, for that slippery slope only leads away from Christ and allows the morality to diverge from ethical behavior to suit our own desires apart from His authority and sovereignty.  When we therefore proclaim Christ crucified as the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:23-25) who then gives us the desire and ability to observe all things He has commanded us to do.  That is the true preaching of the great commission, receiving the person and words of Jesus to follow.  Merely telling others He is with them and nothing more lacks everything when they need Him to truly lack nothing.  Jesus then told the disciples to constantly pray to avoid falling into temptation and giving up on this call of the commission to speak the words of this life (Acts 5:20) according to His will and word.  He Himself was tempted as a man to stop and not go through with the incredible suffering of the beating and crucifixion to come shortly after the prayer in the garden.  He prayed for relief from the suffering only if it was according to the Father’s will and word (Luke 24:46-47) spoken long ago for Jesus to fulfill just as we are also predestined to walk in His deliverance according to His word which is now written in our hearts.  His prayer was emotionally and physically weighty and ours will be also as we wrestle with difficulties in following His word and will in proclaiming these hard truths of the message which requires admitting sin, turning from it to Him while holding nothing back that the hearers may be transformed and reborn as we once were.  Only then can others enter into this kingdom with us and follow the person of Jesus Christ as their sovereign King to rule over them with peace in the loving forgiveness of His grace.  No mere rules of liberal teaching can substitute for following the Lord of the universe and soul hope of the world.  Following and keeping selective rules without Christ is ineffective for entering the kingdom.  In following Jesus Christ and His word we never lack anything! 

Greatness and Sifted Weakness

Luke 22:24-34

The Disciples Argue About Greatness

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Here is a recollection of the pride of the disciples seeking greatness and the weakness of denial for self perseveration out of fear which results in faith sifted with its testing by the Lord to strengthen it.  The pride rose up as to which disciple would be seen as the greatest or most important and influential among the chosen ones.  They failed to grasp the humility of their Lord who had been giving them the example and teaching them for all that time.  They would later come to reflect on these words and be humbled in their service in His name as they imitated Christ Jesus, but that was still a work in progress just as it is with us in our lifelong sanctification as He works in us and we gradually are changed (Psalm 138:8, Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13).  Jesus made it clear that they were not to be worldly in pursuing greatness and honor, but that they must instead be as a younger under submission and service to the older who rules over them.  They were to see that though Jesus sat as Master at the table, He lowered Himself to serve them instead (Matthew 20:28, John 13:15-17, Philippians 2:7-8) as their example to follow as servants of others as unto Him.  Their reward for serving was a crown of His righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) and the kingdom of God over His people for their service as His first followers.  The weakness of denial followed immediately after this as the bedrock apostle Peter boasted that he would never deny the Lord after hearing Jesus tell him plainly that Satan would sift him like wheat on the threshing floor of trials and temptations.  The Lord told him He was praying for Peter to hold fast on his faith in such times so he in turn could strengthen others when he returned to follow the Lord in unwavering trust once more.  This is an encouragement to us all.  We are weak and find strength in Him (2 Corinthians 12:10) to strengthen and comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) in their failures of faith as we all learn and grow to trust Him more.  We need not be proud like Peter and continue to boast that we will never fail Him but admit we all are capable of doing so and will in time as trials and tribulations overcome us at times.  What we do then determines our growth in sanctification.  If we are like Peter, when we fail miserably we will then trust in humility and serve with more grace in enduring resolve by His strength and wisdom in place of our hubris of boasting in ourselves.  Our greatness is in Christ alone and our weakness is sifted to eliminate the chaff of sin from the seed of Him growing in us (2 Corinthians 3:18) as we are transformed in ever increasing glory (Romans 8:29-30) into His image.  This is true greatness in sifted weakness.