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Exciting New Understanding

(by Bill Stevenson, March 13-15, 2005)

Note: On March 13, 2005, I heard a sermon based on some of Hebrews 12 and Luke 22. It was
mostly about the Last Supper and Judas. I looked at the contexts while I was listening
and discovered some things I never thought of before, even though I thought that I knew
the historic happening that was being emphasized. That indicates one of the main
reasons while the Bible is the most wonderful book in the world-- there is always new
understanding to be gleaned if we are being Holy Spirit led in our study of it. I was
going to write an essay response, but I ended up with something much different. Hope
that you will want to do your own thinking about why I became very excited in reading
the two passages of Scripture. Why did I bold (darken) certain phrases and underline
certain words?

Hebrews 12:1-4
“Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and the sin
which so easily besets us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before (in the future) Him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and sat down at the right of the throne of God.
For consider Him Who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and faint in your minds.
You have not yet resisted unto blood,
striving against sin.”

***For this part, imagine that you are writing a sermon or commentary about the following famous
Scripture passage and insert responses to why I indent formatted the verses, bolded some phrases and
underline certain words or phrases. Try to think what my new understandings were on the following
Sunday and Monday.

Luke 22:1-54
“1 And the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, drew near.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
3 And Satan entered into Judas, surnamed Iscariot
being of the number of the Twelve.
4 And so he went his way and talked with the chief priests and captains,
how he might betray Him to them.
5 And they were glad and they agreed to give him silver.
6 And he fully consented,
and he sought opportunity
to betray Him to them away from the crowd.”
***Why silver and why were two mentioned concerns about a possible crowd?

“7 And the day of the Unleavened Bread came,


when the passover must be killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying,
‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat.’
9 And they said to Him,
‘Where do You desire that we prepare?’

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10 And He said to them,
‘Behold, when you have entered into the city,
you will meet a man bearing a pitcher of water.
Follow him into the house where he enters.
11 And you shall say to the master of the house,
‘The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room
where I shall eat the Passover meal with My disciples?’
12 And he shall show you a large, furnished upper room.
Prepare there.’”
***Who was to be the final Passover lamb sacrificed? In the last three verses, count how many
prophecies and how many commands Jesus gave Peter and John. Also, normally, women did the water
carrying.

“13 And they went and found it as He had said to them.


And they prepared the Passover meal.
14 And when the hour came,
He and the twelve Apostles with Him reclined.
15 And He said to them,
‘With desire I have desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer.
16 For I say to you, I will not any more eat of it
until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.’
17 And He took the cup and gave thanks and said,
‘Take this and divide it among yourselves.
18 For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine
until the Kingdom of God shall come.’”
***Why wasn’t He not eating or drinking with them?

“19 And He took bread and gave thanks,


and He broke it and gave it to them, saying,
‘This is My body which is given for you,
this do in remembrance of Me.’
20 In the same way He took the cup, after having dined, saying,
‘This cup is the New Covenant
in My blood,
which is being poured out for you.’”
***What do you think the first cup represents? Why does He say that His blood is already being poured
out for them?

Read Hebrews 8, 9, and 12 before going on, in which is information about the New Covenant.

“21 ‘But, behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.’


***Why one hand? What might be in the other hand?
22 ‘And truly The Son Of Man goes,
as it has been determined,
but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!’
***Notice the verb tenses.
23 And they began to inquire among themselves
which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a dispute among them as to
which of them seems to be greater.”
***Notice there are two types of discussions, but only one of them is dealt with by Jesus:

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“25 And He said to them,
‘The kings of the nations exercise lordship over them.
And they who exercise authority on them are called benefactors.
26 But you shall not be so:
but the greater among you, let him be as the lesser,
and he who governs,
as one who serves.
27 For which is the greater, he who reclines, or he who serves?
Is it not he who reclines?
But I am among you as He Who serves.’
***Do you see how Jesus teaches logically in a way to encourage reasoning? Such learning is
remembered better because it is internalised, whereas learning from lectures or/and just reading is not
as successful.
28 ‘You are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
29 And I appoint a kingdom to you,
as My Father has appointed to Me,
30 that you may
eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom,
and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’”
***Read John 17 and then respond to what this might mean.
“31 And the Lord said,
‘Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not.
And when you are converted,
strengthen your brothers.’
***This was a surprise to me. What does the word “converted” mean? So when did Peter get truly
converted?
“33 And he said to Him,
Lord, I am ready to go with You,
both into prison and into death.’
34 And He said,
‘I say to you, Peter,
the cock shall not crow this day before you shall deny knowing Me three times.’”
***When do most roosters do their sound? Why is Simon Peter mentioned by name and none of the other
disciples are? Why do you think that three prophesied denials had to be made after the arrest by Peter?
Did he have to lose his status as a Disciple in order to be converted again?

“35 And He said to them,


‘When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you lack anything?’
And they said, ‘Nothing.’
36 And He said to them, ‘But now,
he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his wallet.
And he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
37 For I say to you that this
which is written must yet be accomplished in Me,
‘And He was reckoned among the transgressors’;
for the things concerning Me have an end.’
38 And they said, ‘Lord, behold, here are two swords.
And He said to them, ‘It is enough.’”
***Why does Jesus not want any purse or wallet left in the Upper Room? Why does He want each of the
Disciples have a sword with them when no violence will be involved?

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“39 And going out, according to His custom,
He went to the Mount of Olives.
And His disciples also followed Him.
***So He did this at least twice before.
“40 And when He was at the place,
He said to them,
‘Pray that you do not enter into temptation.’
***What did He mean by temptation? This was an isolation place, not in the city.
“41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw.
And He kneeled down and prayed, saying,
42 ‘Father, if You are willing,
remove this cup from Me.
Yet not My will, but Yours be done.
***The third cup message in this passage. And it represents what?
“43 And an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in an agony
He prayed more earnestly.
And His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when He rose up from prayer and had come to His disciples,
He found them sleeping because of sorrow.
46 And He said to them,
‘Why do you sleep?
Rise and pray
lest you enter into temptation.’”
***Remember, Jesus lowered Himself to pray. Look at Ephesians 6:10-14 & 18-19. And again there is
that word “temptation”. Why did the disciples sleep “because of sorrow”?
“47 And as He was yet speaking, ‘behold a crowd!’
And he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, went before them.
And he drew near Jesus to kiss Him.
48 But Jesus said to him,
‘Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’
49 And those around Him seeing what was about to occur,
they said to Him, ‘Lord, shall we strike with the sword?’
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
***Which sword do you think was used? See John 18:10-11 to see who was involved.
51 And Jesus answered and said, ‘Let it go until now.’
And touching his ear, He healed him.”
“52 And Jesus said to the chief priests and commanders of the temple, and the elders,
who had come to Him,
‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves?
53 When I was with you in the temple daily,
you did not stretch out your hand on Me.
But this is your hour,
and the authority of the darkness.’
54 And laying hold on Him, they led Him away
and brought Him into the high priest’s house.
And Peter followed afar off.”
***Who took Jesus away from His disciples and left the sword-user? Many of the passion plays and
Jesus movies have errors in them about this important part of the Passion Week. And again, Peter is
mentioned. The third time actually.

Please send me your results from this Bible study. I would like to see if we have come to the same
understandings. My regular e-mail address is for.trusting.God@googlemail.com.

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