Betrayal, Passover, Arrest
- It's almost time for the festival of Unleavened Bread, celebrated right after Passover. Want some history on these festivals? Check out Exodus 12:1-28.
- The chief priests and scribes are still trying to find a way to crush Jesus, but his popularity with the crowd holds them in check.
- Meanwhile, none other than Satan takes possession of Judas. This demonic higher-up is back after his departure in 4:13.
- Judas consorts with the chief priests and officers about how he might assist them in capturing Jesus most efficiently.
- They are super happy and promise to pay this double agent well.
- Judas accepts their offer and starts to look for an opportune time, when no crowd is around to protect Jesus.
- It's time for the big kick-off to the festival of Unleavened Bread, which starts with the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.
- Jesus tells Peter and John to enter the city, where they'll spy a man carrying a jar of water. They're supposed to tail him to whichever house he's going, and then ask the owner of that house where "the teacher" (22:11) can celebrate the Passover with his disciples. The owner will show them a big room. That's where they should make their preparations.
- Wait, is Jesus the Son of God or a really creepy fortune teller?
- Everything happens exactly as Jesus foretells. NBD.
- Later, Jesus and his disciples are reclining for the Passover meal. Jesus says he's really excited to celebrate this holiday with them before things go south. After all, he's not going to celebrate like this again until everything's fulfilled in God's kingdom.
- Jesus raises a cup of wine, give thanks, and passes it around.
- Then he takes a loaf of freshly baked bread, gives thanks, breaks it up, and distributes a few tasty morsels for everyone. He says, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" (22:19).
- How 'bout some blood to wash that body down? Don't mind if we do: "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (22:20).
- Jesus's table-talk is already ominous enough, but then he adds that one of the people he's eating will rat him out. There's a mole in the mix!
- The Son of Man's destiny is fixed, but his betrayer is still in big trouble. There's a fate-freewill conundrum for you to chew on.
- After arguing about who's the bad guy, they start arguing about which of them is the best.
- Jesus won't have any of it and tells them that he's in the process of transferring God's kingdom over to them.
- They can look forward to wining and dining in his kingdom. Oh, except for Simon—Satan's got his number. But Jesus assures Simon that his faith's not going to leave him for good. Once Simon's sobered up, his task will be to prop up his fellow disciples.
- Simon rejects this cryptic talk. He's ready to accompany Jesus to prison and will embrace execution if necessary.
- In response, Jesus tells Simon what he's in for point blank: "the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me" (22:34).
- Well, then.
- Jesus rewinds back to 9:3 and 10:4 and asks whether they had any needs when he sent them out without their wallets, bags, or even sandals.
- Answer: nopers.
- Jesus reverses that order: that was then, this is now.
- This time, they should take their wallets and bags. Oh, and get a sword, too.
- As is his custom, Jesus departs for the Mount of Olives, and the disciples tag along.
- When they get there, Jesus goes into a pretty hefty prayer and he suggests that his disciple pray that they don't flunk their upcoming exam.
- And now, folks, the moment you've all been waiting for.
- A crowd appears with Judas at the lead. Judas approaches Jesus and greets him with a kiss. Jesus replies, "is it with a kiss that you're betraying the Son of Man?" (22:48).
- As soon as his disciples realize what's going down, they want to kick some serious butt. One of them even draws his sword and slices off the ear of the chief priest's servant. But Jesus settles them down and restores the servant's ear (ah, tiny details).
- Jesus wonders why they didn't just arrest Jesus while he was teaching in the temple precinct. Well, darkness is the right time for shady people to do their work, so it's pretty fitting.