65 to 80 min Analyze the institution of the Lord's Supper as the new covenant in Jesus' blood. Understand Jesus' redefinition of leadership and greatness through humble servant ministry. Examine Jesus' intense prayer and agony on the Mount of Olives, submitting to the Father's cup. Trace Peter's denial, the piercing gaze of Jesus, and the nocturnal trial before the Sanhedrin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread arrives, and Satan enters Judas Iscariot, who confers with chief priests to betray Jesus. In an upper room in Jerusalem, Jesus shares his final Passover meal with the Twelve, declaring his intense desire to eat this meal with them before he suffers. He transforms the bread and cup into the perpetual memorial of his self-giving sacrifice: the new covenant established in his blood. Even at this solemn table, the disciples bicker over who is the greatest; Jesus rebukes them by defining true leadership as service, identifying himself as the one who serves. Moving to the Mount of Olives, Jesus agonizes in solitary prayer, sweating drops of blood as he surrenders to the Father's cup: "Not my will, but yours, be done." Judas betrays him with a kiss, Jesus heals the severed ear of the high priest's servant, and Peter denies him three times before the cock crows. Under Jesus' piercing gaze, Peter weeps bitterly, as the religious council interrogates and condemns the Son of Man. In the shadow of betrayal, Jesus institutes the new covenant in his blood, demonstrates that true leadership serves, and surrenders in agonizing prayer to accomplish our redemption. 22:1-23: The Passover and the New Covenant in His Blood Satan enters Judas Iscariot, who agrees to betray Jesus for money. Peter and John prepare the Passover. Reclining with the Twelve, Jesus says: "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." Taking bread, he gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them: "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Likewise the cup after supper: "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." The ancient Exodus meal of lamb and bitter herbs is fulfilled and re-centered around his own impending sacrifice. 22:24-38: Greatness as Service and the Sifting of Simon A dispute arises among the disciples as to which of them was considered the greatest. Jesus contrasts them with worldly rulers: "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them... But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves... I am among you as the one who serves." Turning to Peter, he reveals: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter boldly claims he is ready to die, but Jesus foretells his threefold denial before the rooster crows. 22:39-46: Agony and Surrender on the Mount of Olives Jesus withdraws to the Mount of Olives to pray, telling disciples to pray that they enter not into temptation. Withdrawing a stone's throw, he kneels and prays: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." An angel appears strengthening him. In deep agony, he prays more earnestly, and his sweat becomes like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Rising, he finds the disciples sleeping for sorrow: "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." 22:47-53: The Betrayal with a Kiss and the Power of Darkness A mob arrives led by Judas, who approaches to kiss Jesus. Jesus asks: "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" A disciple strikes the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus commands: "No more of this!" He touches the man's ear and heals him, refusing violence. To the chief priests and elders, Jesus says: "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." 22:54-71: Peter's Denials and the Trial Before the Council Jesus is led to the high priest's house. Peter warms himself by the courtyard fire. Questioned three times by a servant girl and bystanders, Peter denies knowing him. Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crows. "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord... and he went out and wept bitterly." The men holding Jesus mock and beat him, blindfolding him and asking him to prophesy who struck him. At daybreak, the Sanhedrin convenes: "If you are the Christ, tell us." Jesus answers: "If I tell you, you will not believe... But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They cry: "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips." Architectural Framework The Passion Sequence of Luke 22 to 24 forms the theological summit of Luke-Acts, connecting covenant sacrifice with the global mission: * **The Upper Room (Luke 22:1-38):** The Passover is fulfilled and transformed into the Lord's Supper; leadership is redefined as humble service. * **The Agony on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-46):** Jesus wrestles with the cup of divine wrath, submitting his human will in perfect obedience to the Father. * **The Betrayal and Peter's Sifting (Luke 22:47-62):** Darkness appears victorious, yet Jesus' intercessory prayer preserves Peter for future pastoral restoration. * **The Sanhedrin and Roman Trials (Luke 22:63 to 23:25):** The innocent Son of God is condemned by corrupt religious and political systems. * **Crucifixion and Vindication (Luke 23:26 to 24:53):** Jesus dies forgiving his enemies, is buried, rises bodily, opens the Scriptures, and commissions his disciples to reach all nations. New Covenant in My Blood The fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34, where Jesus' sacrificial death cleanses sin and reconciles humanity in an unbreakable covenant relationship with God. The Cup (Potērion) The Old Testament metaphor for divine judgment and wrath against sin (Isaiah 51:17), willingly drained by Jesus on behalf of sinners. Sift Like Wheat (Siniazō) The testing permitted by God where Satan shakes and tests believers, ultimately overruled by Christ's intercessory prayer. Approach the Lord's Table with solemn gratitude, remembering the cost of Christ's broken body and shed blood for your salvation. Reject authoritarian, worldly leadership styles; measure your leadership by how humbly and faithfully you serve those under your care. In seasons of intense temptation or suffering, follow Jesus' example in Gethsemane: bring your honest anguish to the Father and surrender to his will. Take comfort in Christ's intercession: when you stumble or fail like Peter, remember that Jesus prays for you and his grace restores the penitent. How does Jesus transform the ancient Passover feast into the memorial of the new covenant? Why did the disciples argue about greatness immediately after celebrating the Lord's Supper, and how did Jesus correct them? What is the emotional and theological significance of Jesus turning to look at Peter after the rooster crowed? Notice how Luke emphasizes Jesus' intercession for Peter: "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." Highlight the medical precision of Luke's description of hematidrosis (sweat like drops of blood) during extreme psychological agony. Contrast Peter's violent sword stroke in the garden with Jesus' healing touch restoring the wounded servant's ear. Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, chapter 22. Raymond E. Brown, The Death of the Messiah (Anchor Yale Bible), comprehensive study of the passion narratives. Darrell L. Bock, Luke 9:51 to 24:53, section on the Last Supper and arrest. Spend twenty minutes in quiet meditation on Gethsemane this week. Read Luke 22:39-46 slowly, kneeling if possible, and pray your own prayer of surrender: "Father, not my will, but yours, be done." Lord Jesus Christ, Suffering Servant and King of glory, you poured out your blood to seal the new covenant and drank the bitter cup of our judgment. Forgive our arrogant self-confidence and our sleepy indifference in prayer. When we fail and deny you, turn your loving eyes upon us, break our hearts with godly sorrow, and restore us to serve your people. Amen. Covenant, Agony, and Servanthood in Luke 22 Write 700 to 900 words on the theological themes of Luke 22. Analyze the institution of the Lord's Supper in the Upper Room in [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem), Jesus' redefinition of greatness, his agony in prayer on the [Mount of Olives](/bible/explorer/place/mount-olives) near [Gethsemane](/bible/explorer/place/gethsemane), and the denial and restoration of [Peter](/bible/explorer/person/peter). Examine how [Jesus](/bible/explorer/person/jesus) transforms the Passover meal in [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem) into the new covenant in his body and blood. Analyze Jesus' teaching on servanthood and how it directly rebukes the disciples' dispute over greatness. Evaluate Jesus' agony in prayer on the [Mount of Olives](/bible/explorer/place/mount-olives) near [Gethsemane](/bible/explorer/place/gethsemane), focusing on the wrestling between human distress and divine surrender. Discuss the denial of [Peter](/bible/explorer/person/peter), the piercing gaze of Jesus, and how Christ's intercession guarantees Peter's future restoration. Integrates rigorous textual exegesis of Luke 22 with Old Testament covenant background (Jeremiah 31, Exodus 24) and mature pastoral theology. What words did Jesus speak over the cup after the Passover supper in Luke 22:20? This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. What did Jesus pray concerning the Father's will during his agony on the Mount of Olives in Luke 22:42? Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. What happened immediately after Peter denied Jesus for the third time in the high priest's courtyard? The rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60-62). Read Luke 22:1 to 71 in two modern translations. Read Exodus 12:1 to 14 and Jeremiah 31:31 to 34. Textual Authenticity of the Bloody Sweat (Luke 22:43-44) Some early manuscripts omit the angel and the sweat like drops of blood. Textual scholars debate whether it was omitted by scribes uncomfortable with Jesus' deep emotional distress or added early; it fits Luke's intense psychological and physiological portrait. The Two Swords (Luke 22:35-38) Commentators reject literal militaristic interpretations. Jesus uses irony and hyperbole to warn disciples that the peaceful era of their first mission is over and they are entering hostile, dangerous territory; when they take him literally, he cuts them off: "It is enough." The term hematidrosis describes a rare medical condition where extreme physiological stress ruptures capillary blood vessels into sweat glands. The Greek word diatithēmi in 22:29 denotes covenanting or bequeathing a kingdom to the disciples. Raymond E. Brown, The Death of the Messiah: From Gethsemane to the Grave (Doubleday). Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (NICNT).