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April 2019 Messenger Newsletter

"They began to ask one another which one of them it could be who could do this."
(Luke 22:23)

Passion/Palm Sunday

Jesus Institutes the Lord's Supper

Luke 22:14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.
Luke 22:15 He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
Luke 22:16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Luke 22:17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves;
Luke 22:18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Luke 22:19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Luke 22:20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Luke 22:21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.
Luke 22:22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!"
Luke 22:23 Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.

The Disciples Argue About Greatness

Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Luke 22:25 But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
Luke 22:26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Luke 22:28 "You are those who have stood by me in my trials;
Luke 22:29 and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom,
Luke 22:30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,
Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:33 And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"
Luke 22:34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."

Supplies for the Road

Luke 22:35 He said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a thing."
Luke 22:36 He said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.
Luke 22:37 For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted among the lawless'; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled."
Luke 22:38 They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "It is enough."

The Prayer in the Garden

Luke 22:39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.
Luke 22:40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."
Luke 22:41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,
Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."
Luke 22:43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.
Luke 22:44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
Luke 22:45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,
Luke 22:46 and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial."

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him;
Luke 22:48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
Luke 22:49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?"
Luke 22:50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
Luke 22:51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.
Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?
Luke 22:53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!"

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly

Luke 22:54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance.
Luke 22:55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
Luke 22:56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him."
Luke 22:57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."
Luke 22:58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
Luke 22:59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean."
Luke 22:60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times."
Luke 22:62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

Luke 22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him;
Luke 22:64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?"
Luke 22:65 They kept heaping many other insults on him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

Luke 22:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.
Luke 22:67 They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe;
Luke 22:68 and if I question you, you will not answer.
Luke 22:69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
Luke 22:70 All of them asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I am."
Luke 22:71 Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

Luke 23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.
Luke 23:2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."
Luke 23:3 Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so."
Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."
Luke 23:5 But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."

Jesus Faces Herod

Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
Luke 23:7 And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
Luke 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.
Luke 23:9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.
Luke 23:10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
Luke 23:11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.
Luke 23:12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

Luke 23:13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
Luke 23:14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Luke 23:15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
Luke 23:16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him."
Luke 23:17
Luke 23:18 Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!"
Luke 23:19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
Luke 23:20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
Luke 23:21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"
Luke 23:22 A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him."
Luke 23:23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
Luke 23:24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
Luke 23:25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

The King on a Cross

Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Luke 23:27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
Luke 23:29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
Luke 23:30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
Luke 23:31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Luke 23:32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
Luke 23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
Luke 23:35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
Luke 23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
Luke 23:37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
Luke 23:38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
Luke 23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
Luke 23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Luke 23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Luke 23:44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
Luke 23:45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent."
Luke 23:48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
Luke 23:49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb

Luke 23:50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council,
Luke 23:51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
Luke 23:52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
Luke 23:54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.
Luke 23:55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
Luke 23:56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Luke 22:14] "The hour" is after sundown of the fifteenth of Nisan, when the meal is eaten.

[Luke 22:17] Four cups were actually shared during the Passover meal. Luke mentions two, while Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and 1 Cor. 11:23-26 speak of only one cup, which follows the bread. The other synoptic Gospels and Paul focus attention on only one cup because of its memorial significance. This is probably the "cup of blessing" (1 Cor. 10:16) which ties the old and new observances together.

[Luke 22:19] The eucharistic words of Jesus are easily understood. The disciples knew that Jesus spoke metaphorically of the bread as His body and the fruit of the vine as His blood. The literal presence of Jesus was evident. The supper would serve as a memorial that God Himself secured man's redemption, through the suffering of the incarnate Christ (the bread) and the shedding of His blood (the cup), in vicarious atonement (cf. 1 Cor. 11:23, note).

[Luke 22:20] This is the "new covenant" because it is a covenant of grace and forgiveness based on the shed blood of Jesus (Jer. 31:31).

[Luke 22:21] The impression is given that Judas is present for the institution of the new memorial. In John, however, the impression is that he has gone (John 13:26-30). Luke is giving the information that Jesus shares with His disciples at the time of the supper, but not in strict order of occurrence. Judas, it appears, does not take the supper.

[Luke 22:30] It is a high honor to sit at Christ's table. In the future the apostles will be given places of honor with Him and will share in His eternal rule. Furthermore, this is a millennial promise, clearly indicating that the disciples will literally reign with Christ over the twelve tribes of Israel.

[Luke 22:36} This phrase is understood in various ways: (1) Jesus is indicating that His former way has failed and now the disciples must become revolutionists; (2) Jesus is speaking in irony: previously the disciples found His way adequate, but now they are ready to abandon it; (3) the disciples are heading toward a time of persecution different from anything they have known and for which they are to make prudent preparation. The first view is impossible. The second or third interpretation best fits the passage.

[Luke 22:38] "It is enough" dismisses the subject, rather than pointing out the adequacy of the number of swords. The disciples completely miss the point about the sword.

[Luke 22:23] "This cup" is a figurative expression meaning "that which is allotted to a person." These words recall the supper and refer to Jesus' death. They can be understood only in light of the larger prayer: "not My will, but Yours, be done."

[Luke 22:45] "Sleeping from sorrow" means that the disciples are exhausted from the emotional demands made by the prophecy of Jesus' death and the difficult future facing them.

[Luke 22:47] In the Middle East friends customarily kiss when they meet.

[Luke 22:53] "This is your hour, and the power of darkness" is an acknowledgment of more than the darkness of the night in which Jesus is arrested. Satan is at work. This "hour" is apparently the hour of triumph for the enemies of Jesus, but there is a future "hour" that will be His hour of triumph.

[Luke 22:58] "Another saw him" refers here to an otherwise unidentified person. Mark 14:69 refers to a girl. Matt. 26:71 refers to "another girl." Luke's masculine pronoun "another" refers to a man. Several persons identify Peter as one of Jesus' disciples.

[Luke 22:66] The sequence of events which occurred during the last hours of Jesus' ministry may be arranged as follows: (1) the Last Supper (vv. 17-20); (2) Gethsemane (vv. 39-46); (3) the preliminary trial in the house of Annas (John 18:19-23); (4) the illegal Sanhedrin trial (Matt. 26:57-68); (5) the morning Sanhedrin trial (vv. 66-71); (6) the first appearance before Pilate (John 18:28-38); (7) the referral to Herod (23:6-12); (8) the second appearance before Pilate (23:13-25); (9) the scourging and mockery (Matt. 27:26); and (10) the crucifixion (23:26-33). See chart, "Events of Holy Week," Luke 19:28.

[Luke 22:68] "You will by no means answer" is demonstrated in 20:41-44, when Jesus challenges the authorities with a question about the sonship of the Messiah. They do not answer.

[Luke 23:1] "The whole multitude of them" refers to the Sanhedrin. Pontius Pilate was governor from A.D. 26-36.

[Luke 23:17] The custom of releasing a prisoner goes back to the times of the Maccabees and underscores the meaning of Passover: freedom in exchange for bondage.

[Luke 23:28] "Daughters of Jerusalem" is a tender expression.

[Luke 23:29] The suffering that is coming upon Jerusalem will be so great that childless women will be considered fortunate, because they have no children over whom to mourn.

[Luke 23:31] If an innocent person like Jesus is called upon to suffer this much, what will the suffering of the guilty be? If the Romans do this to Him, what will they do to the city?

[Luke 23:34] The clothes of the executed fall to the soldiers carrying out that assignment. The most obvious subjects of Jesus' prayer are the soldiers who nail Him to the cross.

[Luke 23:38] No two accounts of the inscription over the cross are exactly the same. Mark's is the briefest; John's is the fullest. The central fact of all is the mockery of the inscription: "King of the Jews."

[Luke 23:43] "Paradise" is derived from a Persian word meaning "garden" or "park." In the LXX it refers to the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2; 3). In the N.T. it is a synonym for heaven (cf. 2 Cor. 12:4, note).

[Luke 23:44] "The sixth hour" by Jewish reckoning would be noon, and "the ninth hour" about three o'clock in the afternoon.

[Luke 23:45] A veil separated the Most Holy Place (where God dwells) from the holy place and the rest of the temple (Ex. 26:33; 2 Chr. 3:14). The tearing of the veil symbolizes the opening of the presence of God to mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus.

[Luke 23:51] "Arimathea" is the ancient Ramah (Jer. 31:15), which belonged to Samaria in O.T. times but is counted as being in Judea in N.T. times.

[Luke 23:54] The Preparation Day is a term that describes the day that is used to get ready for the Sabbath.

Readings for the week of April 21st
Easter Sunday
First: Acts 10: 34-43
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
Second: 1 Corinthians 15: 19-26
Gospel: Luke 24: 1-12

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon