Holy Week 2022 Day 3: Luke 22:35-71

Day 3: Luke 22:35-71

“When I sent you without a purse, bag, or sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” 

“Nothing.” 

“But now, now, let the one who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let the one who does not have a sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, it is necessary that this that has been written about me be completed, namely, “He was reckoned with the lawless.” For in fact, this [prophecy] about me is coming to its culmination.” 

Jesus begins to prepare the disciples for what’s coming. (Of course, they totally miss it.) Then, after eating with the disciples and having the Last Supper with the disciples, he leaves to the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, to pray. 

This wasn’t an atypical thing for Jesus; Scripture says that it was according to his custom. Jesus, even on the night he would be handed over, still did what he did daily and prayed to God in obedience and relationship. Honestly, this could be a whole sermon, a whole reflection in itself: Jesus still prayed; in the big and the small, he got down on his knees and talked to God. We’ve received his robes of righteousness, we’ve been adopted as sons, and God sees Jesus’s robes on us. We are invited into this level of relationship with God, and how often do we pray or convene with God? 

He tells his disciples, to pray that you do not enter into temptation— a cryptic command— before going to pray fervently and asking God, “Father, if you will it, take this cup away from me.” He prays to not enter into trial if God wills it— he understands how much this will be, and displays his humanity in this prayer. However, even in the midst of his humanity, even in the midst of His pains, he chooses the will of God: “Nevertheless, let your will, not mine, be done.” In the midst of his prayer, an angel comes and strengthens him, and he prays even more fervently… but interestingly, in Luke, it says that he becomes "steeled for combat.” Prayer becomes the preparation for Jesus’s final battle. His sweat becomes like drops of blood as he is prepared for what is to come. God walks with him, sees him. He rises from prayer to find the disciples sleeping from grief. They sink into sleep from their grief, but Jesus, powered by prayer, says, 

“Why are you sleeping? Rise, pray so that you not enter into temptation.” Right in that moment as Jesus urges them to pray, Judas comes with a crowd and draws near to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus looks at him. Knowing what’s to come, prepared for what would ensue, he says, 

“Judas, with a kiss do you betray the Son of Man?”

Others, seeing what is happening, ask Jesus if they should fight. One moves before hearing Jesus’ answer and cuts off the right ear of the high priest— a big disrespect and act of violence against the head leader. Jesus says, 

“That’s enough!” 

He puts his hand to the ear of the servant and heals him before giving himself over to the chief priests, who had brought swords, as though they were capturing a criminal. But Jesus’s concern was not them; his concern was the will of God. 

There’s not a lot to be said about this— just a recount will do. But a key thing to note is the way that Jesus was prepared for the will of God in prayer. He got on his knees before God, right before all that was about to occur; many nights of coming before God prepared him for the posture of worship. But in this midst of prayer, he was strengthened and lifted up for the will of God, no matter how difficult it would be. Unlike the disciples, who fell under in their temptation to grief, Jesus was stronger than ever. And this act, although gruesome and horrific, was about to save the whole world. 

We also can’t miss the fact that God was with him, too. Jesus was honest. He got on his knees and said, “is there any way I don’t need to bear this?” And God was there to listen. I can’t imagine how God must’ve felt, watching his son talk to him like that. But God strengthened him. God was not passive— he was an active agent in Jesus’s life and in this moment. 

Never underestimate the power of prayer. Be vigilant and stay before the throne. If you feel underprepared, let God into that space. If you feel lost, pray and let God lead you. The road is perilous, but God will never leave you. He is actively involved, and He loves you so much, even to a cross. Let’s all reflect and let that sink in today.