Study 51. Luke 22:31-62

 12 a. What do you learn from chapter 22 about Satan's plan for...

Jesus (22:3-6)

His betrayal (cf. Jn 13:2, 27)

But contrast Satan's actions at the Temptation  (4:1-13). There has been a change of strategy: if the Son of God can be persuaded to avoid the Cross and submit to him, He should be made to do so. Now, when it is clear that Jesus will not submit and is destroying his work (10:18, 11:18, 13:16), Satan determnines to destroy His ministry. 

 

Did Satan know what would happen at the Cross? Through Peter Satan tried to dissuade Jesus from suffering, dying and being raised again (Mt 16:22). Satan may have grasped the fact that God had a plan at the Cross, but he would not have known the full consequences of Christ's work there in completely destroying his work (...by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him Col 2:14-15)

 

The disciples (22:31)

 Satan 'demanded to have' them. This implies a shaking to cause them to fall.

The double use of Peter's pre-Christian name may forbode his denial. Jesus confidently predicts his eventual repentance and turning, because He has prayed for him.

"The Greek appears to mean ‘Satan has obtained you by asking’: there is the thought that the petition has been granted. In passing we notice that Satan has no rights here; he may ask, but it is God who is supreme. It follows that the trials and testings that come to God’s people are only those that he allows. The metaphor of sifting like wheat is unparalleled, but it is obvious that it signifies great trials... Jesus goes on to assure Peter that he has prayed for him (you this time is singular and indicates prayer specifically for Peter). Notice that the Master did not ask that his servant might be freed from trouble." (Morris)

 

b. How did Jesus expect the Father to use Satan's plans for His own ends (18:31-33,, 22:20, 32)

• OT prophecy would be fulfilled
• To have endurance for trials such that the one under trial would have the capacity to strengthen each other. Suffering accomplishes the purposes of God.
  
• The Cross would not be the end, but the beginning of the covenant promised to God's people.

13. When the disciples traveled during Jesus' life, they could count on the hospitality of those to whom they ministered (22:35). How were their needs going to be different after Jesus was executed as a criminal (22:36-37)?

They would need to provide for themselves. They would be going places where disciples of a Jewish rabbi would no longer be welcome. The message they would proclaim would no longer be that of the Jews.

The reference Jesus makes is from Is 53:12, speaking of his coming trial and punishment. This is one of the few places in the New Testament in which that chapter is explicitly applied to Jesus. The implication is of subtitutionary atonement.

What lessons does 22:31-38 offer for Christians today?

a. How did the disciples misunderstand Jesus' mission (18:31-34, 22:38)?

 They did not understand that Jesus' purpose was to be accomplished by suffering, dying and rising. The purpose of God was 'hidden from them'.

 Jesus' comment about swords may be 

1. Literal, although it is difficult to see this in view of Jesus’ general teaching and his later refusal to let Peter use his sword. However, the moneybag, knapsack and sandals are literal, so why not the sword? The sword may be for legitimate self-defense (e.g. from robbers, not to advance God's kingdom by force). The later refusal to let His disciples use them is only to stop them blocking His arrest. Also, the very fact that the disciples possess 2 swords suggests that Jesus has not prohibited them from carrying swords up to that point of time

 

2, Non-literal. Jesus’ response, It is enough, means not ‘Two will be sufficient’ but rather, ‘Enough of this kind of talk!’ He dismisses a subject in which the disciples were so hopelessly astray."It is Jesus’ graphic way of bringing it home that the disciples face a situation of grave peril".(Morris) "the disciples require that courage which regards a sword as more necessary than an upper garment and surrenders even its last possession, but cannot give up the struggle" (Schlatter, cited in Geldenhuys)

 

 

b. Are Christians ever tempted to act as the disciples did in 22:33-38? If so, in what ways?

 We may be tempted to promise God more than we are prepared to do. He knows this yet forgives our enthusiastic lack of awareness of our own weakness

We may misunderstand God's higher purposes and offer our feeble responses without full understanding. Yet He also receives this offering, which is never 'enough'.

 

 

We celebrated 4 birthdays this month!