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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 6 - THE REPORT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION (Luke 22 - 24)

1. The Leaders' Decision to Kill Christ Before the Passover (Luke 22:1-2)


When Jesus had foretold his disciples how they would be persecuted, fearful, delivered up to the synagogues and prisons, and hated by all, he himself gave practical effect to what he had foretold, that they might follow the impressive stateliness of his humility, and the holiness of his meekness, and glorify him through faithful obedience to his Spirit.

Have you repented and become free from the bonds of money, worries, and hypocrisy, committing yourself to Christ the Lord of Glory, who is coming soon?

Then you will be prepared to hear the reports of the sufferings and death of the meek Lamb of God, and you will abide in him.

Read the following three chapters prayerfully, for they contain verses that are more important than all the books of world literature.

LUKE 22:01
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.

In the Old Testament, the Passover corresponded to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was celebrated seven days according to the lunar year of the Jewish calendar. At Passover, every year the Jews cleaned their houses and remove the old leaven, as a symbol of cleaning their houses completely from the old evil spirit. During all that week they ate unleavened bread. On this occasion, they killed many lambs in the Temple court-yard. These were roasted and eaten at a family meal, to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, and the passing of God’s wrath over their people when they were slaves of Pharaohs in Egypt in the thirteenth century BC. They all knew that only their continuous fellowship with the One symbolized by the Passover lamb would save them from the anger of the just Holy One. They were not more righteous than the peoples around them, but their faith in the lamb of God kept them from judgment, and the meat of the offering they ate symbolized a right to come to the ceremony of making the covenant with God on Mount Sinai (Read Exodus 12:1-36). Thus all the people were kept by the sacrifice they offered to God, and the protection of its blood. As they ate unleavened bread when they came out of Egypt, so they ate bread of affliction for one complete week after the Passover, and called it the Feast of Unleavened Bread in memory of their flight to the wilderness and their liberation from bondage. Whoever ate leavened bread, or drank wine during those holy days was stoned, and cut off from his people. As such hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered every year in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration, meet together before God, and live by his unique grace.

LUKE 22:02
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

The leaders of the people did not find rest or pleasure from the coming of the feast, for the multitudes hurried to the young man Jesus of Galilee of the Gentiles, who became, beside the Temple, the second center of the feast. He had made the delegation of the Sanhedrin confess their ignorance, and condemned the scribes as hypocrites, for they were not prepared to obey the truth of the Holy Spirit. Therefore those leaders flared up and decided seriously to find a way to destroy Jesus. But the love of the people for him prevented the cunning foxes from carrying out their plans openly, for the multitudes sensed the authority of God coming from of the Nazarene.


2. The Treachery of Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:3-6)


LUKE 22:03-06
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

We do not know exactly why Satan entered Judas, who was a Jew, and the only one of the twelve who was not from Galilee. Judas was a lover of money, and a thief. Appointed as the disciples’ treasurer, he disregarded the warnings of Jesus concerning greed and hypocrisy and appropriated funds to his own use, killing the voice of his conscience, and refusing Jesus within his heart. When Jesus warned against love of mammon, he looked at Judas and pierced his thoughts. But Judas disliked Jesus who had blamed him openly at Bethany when he protested Mary’s use of the costly perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-8).

The traitor probably expected to receive glory, riches, and dignity soon through the authority of Jesus. But when Christ’s power worked in him and performed miracles through his hands with the other apostles, he was not converted. His heart was hardened, and he became treacherous. So Satan gained authority over him. He dwelt personally in the traitor, and led him to come to a decision about betraying his master.

In his enraged hatred, Judas went directly to the most powerful enemies of Jesus, who welcomed this split in the loyalty of Christ’s disciples. They asked the traitor about all the motives and details of the Nazarene’s life, and discussed with him the best way to destroy this meek leader secretly.

In this plot, the taint and pull of money prevailed, for the wicked leaders and the base traitor did not work for a principle’s sake, but to please themselves. The notable leaders purchased this traitor, who rushed madly to accept Satan’s bargain, for he was a worshiper of money, and not a man of God.

Money discloses the characters of people. Most people have a price at which they may be bought. Unfortunately, their price is often very cheap. They sell their honesty and consciences for a little.

Then, Judas, the demon-possessed, led by Satan, began to investigate and inquire about the roads and places where the Holy One of God went to ensnare and deliver him to destruction. This is the design of Satan with all men: to possess them, fill them with his spirit, and then lead them to attack God. Are you a servant of Christ, or a slave of Satan? Are you a fountain of love, or a source of hatred? Are you clinging to money, or trusting God? Do not deceive yourself! No one can obey two masters; for either you will love God and hate money, or else you will worship gold and reject the Holy One. Do not harden your heart against the voice of the Holy Spirit. Repent, lest you become like Judas.

PRAYER: O Lord, I am not more righteous than Judas, the traitor. Deliver me from my wicked heart, and from the authority of the evil one. Do not lead us into temptation. Deliver me from avarice, and give me a meek, humble mind that I may love you with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my strength, sacrifice my money, and seek the poor, as you were merciful to them.

QUESTION 129: Why did Satan enter Judas?

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