Slices
Prepare
Where have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life or others’ lives? Thank him that he is trustworthy and ask him to increase your faith that his other promises will be fulfilled.
Bible passage
Judas agrees to betray Jesus
22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The Last Supper
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’
9 ‘Where do you want us to prepare for it?’ they asked.
10 He replied, ‘As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks: where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.’
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Explore
This is the second time in our readings in Luke that we have seen Jesus send his disciples with mysterious instructions to do things he needs. Some people think that perhaps Jesus had arranged it all in advance with the donkey’s owner and the owner of the house. In the story in chapter 19, that is possible, but it is very hard to imagine him organising today’s activities. How would you arrange for a man to be walking through the right part of town with a water jar (usually a woman’s task) at the perfect moment – all with no mobile phone?!
It is no harder to believe that he knew the actions and the heart of the man with the jar than that he healed the sick and raised the dead! He knew the man would be willing to share his home, and he knew when he would be popping out for water, so he sent the disciples at just the right time.
His disciples knew him well enough not to argue, but to simply obey and do all that he told them to. Are we willing to do the same?
Respond
How does it make you feel to think that God knows your every thought and action before you do? It is a great mystery, but one that should cause us to be honest in prayer, since he knows anyway.
Deeper Bible study
‘Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.’1
The passion narrative2 begins with the plot of the religious leaders to kill Jesus during the Passover celebration. Their earlier attempts were unsuccessful because of the crowd.3 They needed another scheme to get rid of Jesus. Judas became the solution, after Satan entered him. He agreed, with the exchange of money, to help the religious leaders get hold of Jesus in the absence of the crowd.
The Gospel of Luke is explicit in revealing Satan as the driving force behind Jesus’ betrayal. The passage does not explain what may have led Judas to do this. What is important is that Satan is portrayed as having his way and he seems to be triumphing. Earlier in his earthly life, Jesus had encountered Satan in his temptation.4 At the end of Jesus’ temptation, Satan left him until an ‘opportune’ time.5 That moment had arrived: Satan entered Judas, leading to the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Yet, as dark as the night may seem, we must not forget that evil does not have the final say. The emphasis of the Gospel of Luke is that the death of Jesus is the heart of the divine plan of salvation. It is repeatedly mentioned in Scripture that the Messiah must suffer and rise again.6
We see so much evil in our world today. The rise of injustice, wars, killing of innocents and the displacement of people are some of the troubling news stories confronting us on a daily basis. While we may feel helpless, we must not lose hope. The days of evil are numbered. God will put things right. Let us be vigilant as we wait patiently for the return of Christ to rule and reign.
‘Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.’7
1 3 John 11 2 Luke 22:1 – 23:56 3 Luke 19:47,48; 20:19 4 Luke 4:1–12 5 Luke 4:13 6 Luke 9:22,44; 18:31–33; 24:7,26,27,46,47 7 Rom 12:9
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 31,32; Romans 8
Pray for Scripture Union
The South West team will be involved in youth and children’s work at SPREE near Exeter in June. Pray for them as they prepare and for the Faith Guides planning to take groups from their communities. Pray that children and young people might respond to the love of God.