The Days and Nights of His Passion, vol. 1
GO AND PREPARE THE PASSOVER FOR US
Luke 22:7-13
Intro: The events of the last week of Jesus’ life before the crucifixion is often called His “Passion.” A survey of the four gospels reveals that by proportion, the largest body of materials deals with the Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Matthew, Mark, & Luke, each devote three full chapters to the events that cover fewer than four days, while John gives an impressive 9 chapters of his twenty-one to that same period! This proportion should not surprise us since the gospel preached in the early church centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Furthermore, the apostle Paul said the tradition he received and preached dealt with the death, resurrection and appearances of Christ (1 Cor 15:3-8). Of the ten affirmations about Christ in the Apostles’ Creed, five of them have to do with the passion and resurrection. The next two passages in Luke 22 reveal the Passover/Last Supper with Christ and the Apostles. What Jesus instituted that night reverberates to His Church still. We have our regular covenant meal, the Lord’s Supper, wherewith we remember that Jesus’ body was tortured in place of our own bodies – which our sins deserve. Also, in the cup we remember His blood that redeems us and ushers us into a new covenant with His Father, where God remembers our sins no more. Our Lord wants our church to grow in understanding and rejoice in grace as we consider the truths these verses teach.
The Passover was not just another meal, but the most important festival of the Jews. And there were specific requirements about its schedule and the activities of the worshipers.
Luke 22:7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.
Luke 22:8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
Luke 22:9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
Here is the first partnering of Peter and John. Before this, we find them connected to their brothers. But Andrew served a certain purpose (bringing others to Christ) and James would soon be martyred.
After the Resurrection, Peter and John become the visible leaders of the Jerusalem church.
It is not surprising that they ask where. They were Galileans and would not know Jerusalem well since it was not their home.
Additionally, at that late of a time there would be few places available, despite the tradition that residents of Jerusalem were expected to make spare rooms in their houses available to visiting pilgrims without charge.
Why send Peter and John to prepare the Passover in secret?
The Passover meal was not a private affair. It was to be eaten in small groups in homes usually with 10-20 family members and friends.
Passover Eve would have been a most convenient moment for Judas to betray Jesus to the religious authorities and turn Him over.
During that time period, the hundreds of thousands attending the festival would all be indoors together in small groups engaged in celebrations. Hardly a single Jew would be in the street.
By doing so, Jesus was preventing Judas from betraying Him/having Him arrested before the Last Supper. Jesus was determined to eat the Passover with the apostles.
He would die for sinners, but in His own good timing, not when His enemies chose. So, none of the disciples knew the location where the Passover meal would take place.
Jesus would not offer His life as a sacrifice for our sins until Passover.
At the very time when worshipers were celebrating God’s saving deliverance from Egyptian bondage by offering lambs for the sins of their families, Christ would offer Himself as the Passover Lamb for the whole world.
1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Cor 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
What are the common agreements?
1. Date(s) of the Passover/Day of Unleavened Bread
14th day of Nisan – Day of Unleavened Bread
15th day of Nisan – Passover observed
illus: like our observance of Christmas Eve/Christmas morning…from noon to sunset on 14th and from sunset until midnight on 15th covers two calendar days in 12 hours
2. List of necessary preparations
What happened on the Day of Unleavened Bread? spiritual/practical preparations – it was the opening day of the festival.
• All leaven removed from homes (swept/burned)
• Unblemished lamb purchased and all other food necessary for the meal (unleavened bread, bitter herbs)
• Lambs taken to temple and slaughtered/sacrificed for the Passover meal (bet. 2:30pm & 6pm – just before sunset)
• Roasting the lamb
• Arranging the room
3. Typical accommodations
The Passover had to be eaten within the walls of Jerusalem (Deut 16:2). Therefore, it was necessary for residents to open their homes to pilgrims for the week.
Recall that Jesus and His disciples did not have personal dwellings in Jerusalem and had been spending their nights outside the city on the Mount of Olives or in Bethany.
Luke 22:10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.
Luke 22:11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
Luke 22:12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
Christ’s Instructions:
(1) Enter the city
(2) Look for a man carrying a container of water (unusual since women usually did that…jars/skins)
(3) Follow him to a certain house (cloak & dagger)
(4) Ask the homeowner to show you the guest room for “the Teacher” (Jesus’ reputation was enough)
(5) Make the room ready (already furnished with couches/coverings)
Luke gives us these details to show that Jesus was in full control of everything leading up to the crucifixion.
Our Lord had determined that He would eat this one last meal with His disciples and institute the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper for His church.
Luke 22:13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
What is the major point of disagreement?
How did Jesus know the unusual details concerning the upper room ahead of time?
Two options:
(a) He prearranged with the homeowner and set the whole thing up
(b) He supernaturally knew details that only God could know
Quotes from commentators:
skeptical
“Jesus seems to have made a secret arrangement with the owner of the house.”
“From the following verse this appears to be less an example of Jesus’ foreknowledge than a prearrangement on His part.”
“There is no reason to attribute Jesus’ instructions to supernatural knowledge.”
believing
“His divine providence and sovereign foreknowledge had arranged a room where they could meet.”
“Luke highlights Jesus’ prophetic status…[Jesus] demonstrates flawless foresight…His disciples “found it just as He said to them.”
“Jesus is exhibiting prescience and a supernatural ordering of affairs.”
Do we have evidence that Jesus had supernatural knowledge elsewhere in Scripture?
Knows politics
Matt 17:24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
Matt 17:25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
Matt 17:26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
Matt 17:27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Knows thoughts
Matt 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
Matt 9:3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
Matt 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
Matt 9:5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
Matt 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Knows secrets
John 4:16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
John 4:17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’
John 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
John 4:19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
John 4:29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”
1 Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
1 Cor 14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Conclusion: MAKE SURE THE JESUS YOU BELIEVE IN IS MORE LIKE GOD THAN HE IS LIKE YOU.
Is it too farfetched to suggest that these last two passages show rival preparations?
In vv.1-6 one of Jesus apostles says, “I want a price for Him.”
In vv.7-13 one of Jesus’ nameless disciples offers his spare room and says, “I have a place for Him.”
