After Supper - Part 1

The Warning

Luke 22v14-34

2^nd November 2006

Many of us are familiar with Luke's account of the Last Supper, particularly these verses:

Luke 22v14-38
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him."

This was a devastating speech - Jesus was going to die, and one of the 12 was going to betray Him!

As we read on, we see that the response of the disciples was firstly, "Who could Jesus possibly mean?"

Luke 22v23
They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

At first, it was inconceivable that any of this band of brothers, colleagues, disciples (and yes, Judas is described elsewhere in Scripture as a disciple) could do such a thing. They'd been on the road with Jesus for three and a half years. They'd walked, talked, eaten, slept, taught and healed together. They'd performed miracles together. How could any of them betray Jesus after that? It was unthinkable, wasn't it? But Jesus said it was true. Who could it be?

John 13v22
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.

Then, as it dawned on them that Jesus was serious, they began to face the question "Could it be me? Could I betray Jesus? Surely it's not me?"

Mark 14:19
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

When we first come to Christ, we think that other Christians are such wonderful people! Over time, we learn that they're sinners. They let Jesus down by the way they live and talk and act. And we see some who we thought were such shining examples, falling away, to the point where to they don't go to church, they don't share Jesus with other people, they don't read their Bibles, they don't want to know.

And, eventually it dawns on us to ask, "Could I be like that? Could I fall away? Could I betray Jesus?" If you think you couldn't ever betray Jesus, then you've never been seriously tested, and you're kidding yourself.

Luke 22v24
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Scarily, they move from considering the possibility that they might themselves betray Jesus, to a dispute about the relative merits of the disciples. They were saying "Well, I'm better than HIM! I'm more spiritual than HIM!".

Luke 22v25-27
Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."

Jesus teaches them - again - about humility, meekness. It's remarkable that they needed to hear this right now - they were just confronted with the truth that every one of us is capable of utterly betraying Jesus - and they still need a lesson in humility!

Luke 22v28-30
You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus encourages them. He confers a kingdom - or "kingship" - on them. That is, He promises that they will be rulers in the age to come.

How often it is that we get a rebuke from God, and an encouragement, together. And the mature Christian will do the same - never bring a rebuke without also bringing an encouragement - just like Jesus.

Then Jesus takes Simon aside and says:

Luke 22v31-32
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

A more accurate translation would be:

"Simon, Simon, Listen. Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not come to an end. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

And, although it's not obvious in the English translation, the first "you" is plural and the second is singular.

These differences are important. Jesus tells Simon to concentrate for a minute and LISTEN:

Jesus is saying:

• Firstly: Satan has asked God for permission to put the twelve through a severe trial - and God has agreed. See Job 1 for another example of this.
• Secondly: Jesus has prayed for Peter, that his faith would not utterly fail.
• Thirdly: when Peter comes back into a good relationship with God, he should care for other Christians.

He's also saying, by implication, that Simon WILL rediscover a good relationship with God!

Why does God allow Satan to put us through severe trails? We can guess, and we can find scriptures that help, but in the final analysis, we don't know why a particular trial has come upon a particular Christian. We know God could prevent it. And we know that God is good. But we know that bad things happen to good people. And we try to trust God that there's a reason. This is the testing of our faith - will we keep trusting God when we really can't see why life is as horrible as it is?

Why does Jesus specify that he has prayed for Simon - not for the others? There is some speculation about this in the commentaries. But I believe it's because Simon was the one He was talking to. Particularly at a time of crisis, it's good to know that Jesus prays for all Christians - and He does.

Romans 8v34
Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

But it's so much more comforting to know that Jesus is praying for ME! That I'm not just one of a sackful of Christians, I'm an individual - and Jesus prays for ME!

And it's great to know that although our faith may fail us sometimes, it will not fail utterly - it will not come to an end. It's great to know that no matter how badly we mess up our lives - how great is our sin - we will never lose our salvation!

And it's great that Jesus was already telling Simon what to do when he gets sorted out - a demonstration that he WILL get sorted out - that his falling away is going to be temporary.

Luke 22v33
But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

Peter hears, but he doesn't listen. He doesn't believe what Jesus is saying. He doesn't believe that he's capable of falling away.

Do you?

We're all weaker than we think we are.

Luke 22v34
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Jesus tells Peter - oh yes, you will fall away! This is prophecy - it will happen.

We can read in John's gospel that Simon Peter was so affected by his own sin that even the resurrection didn't bring him back to confidence in his relationship with Jesus. He went back to fishing - doing what he did before he ever met Jesus (John chapter 21). But Jesus went out to meet him there, and restored him. Simon Peter did turn back. Jesus helped him to. Is it time for you to turn back? Are you finding it difficult? Jesus wants to help you to turn back! And He - and His church - will welcome you back! And when you do, strengthen your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Luke 22v35-38
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment."
The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied.

The disciples must have thought, "What's this? Everything's changing! Now, we do take a purse and a bag! Now, we go out and buy swords"! How we hate it when church life changes!

And Jesus is going to be betrayed and crucified! How we hate it when bad things happen and we can't see the sense of it!

Each of the 12 must have thought "It's all going to feel desperately horrible. And I'm going to have to live through it. Do I trust God?"

And what about us - in our own trials? We have to live through them. Sometimes they are genuinely horrible. Can we trust God? Do we remember that Jesus is praying for each one of us?

And we must ask ourselves "Do I understand that any one of us is capable of betraying Jesus? Do I realise that it might be me?" Yes, any one of us can fall away. Any one of us can get caught up in sin. Any one of us can walk away.

But will our faith fail completely? No! Jesus will save us!

2 Timothy 1v12
...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

No matter how much we mess up, we will remain children of God. We will be saved through our trials. Even if, like Simon, we betray Jesus. Jesus went back for Simon (see John chapter 21). And He'll be back for us.

It's good to know this. But it's also good to pray that we don't betray our Saviour, even in the darkest days.