24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:3-23
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
The Garden
It makes complete sense that after the Lord’s Supper it’s time to have a good argument about who is the greatest… actually no… it makes no sense at all. The disciples were anticipating a great Kingdom to be established, and if positions are up for grabs, why not call dibs early? Did they listen to Jesus at all? It seems they are still transfixed on the glory they will receive when the New Covenant is established. They are still hopelessly in denial and not willing to budge. It almost as if they heard that Jesus’ blood inaugurated the New Covenant but forgot that His blood had to be shed to inaugurate it. Once again, the disciples show themselves to be fools – they very kind of fools that God loves to transform to show His power.
Jesus uses this as a teaching point. Sadly, the last teaching point that they will receive. The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship. They expect service and honour and praise from their subordinates. You only had to look at the late King Herod the Great of Judea. He had 10 wives, multiple children, and ordered the death of every baby boy under the age of 2 in Bethlehem. The man was a paranoid psychopath and expected to be obeyed even in the most inhumane and immoral of decrees. The current Roman Emperor Tiberius routinely had his senators and officials murdered for the most nonsensical reasons, spending most of his time on the island of Capri engaging in all sorts of debauchery and orgies. The Gentile Kings were corrupt, evil, licentious men who even had the nerve to refer to themselves as benefactors. The disciples knew of their excesses.
Jesus contrasts the Gentiles with His Kingdom. He says that His Kingdom is different. The greatest should become the least, and the leader as a servant. Who is greater? The one eating food, or the person waiting on them? Of course, it is the one eating at the table, and yet Jesus says that He is one who serves. If Jesus is the Lord of all and serves, so should the officials and lords in His Kingdom.
The disciples have stayed with Jesus in His trials so far, proving their loyalty (somewhat). They are still woefully underprepared for what it about to happen – to no fault of Jesus. He has told them again and again what they will have to face. But, despite this, the disciples have a privileged position in the Kingdom that is to come. They will sit at the table of the King and be judges of the 12 tribes of Israel. Who would have thought an argument of who is the greatest would result in this? The disciples must feel chuffed with themselves. They still don’t understand what it will take from them to be given this privilege.
Jesus informs Simon Peter that Satan wanted to ‘sift you like wheat.’ Well that would be terrifying to hear. To think that Satan asked for you by name and wanted to sift you – I’m not sure what that means but it doesn’t sound pleasant. Peter is probably a bit concerned after hearing that, but Jesus reassures Him. He has prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. When you have turned, assumedly from this trial sent by Satan, strengthen your brothers. Jesus is letting Peter know beforehand that he will fail, but he will have a role in strengthening and preparing the disciples for what comes next.
Peter is not happy with this. He declares that no matter what, whether prison or even death, he will never leave Jesus. I’m sure Peter meant this wholeheartedly. The problem was Peter didn’t really know himself. For by morning, before the rooster crows, Peter will have denied Jesus three times. This would have been taken very hard by Peter, and he was even more determined to prove Jesus wrong. Peter was going to do whatever it takes to protect Jesus… we’ll see how he goes with that one.
Jesus reminds the disciples now of Luke 9:1-6, the moment He sent them out to preach the Gospel. He asks them if they lacked anything, which of course they didn’t. They left prepared, with money, a knapsack, shoes – everything they needed to be itinerant evangelists. Well now Jesus is sending them again, this time things will be different. They will no longer be going in peace and comfort as they had before because things were going to get ugly. He says to them, ‘the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.’ Your lives are going to be in danger now as you go out among the wolves as a sheep. Bring protection.
The Scripture was about to be fulfilled. Isaiah 53:12, ‘because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.’ Jesus was going to die. The Father was going to number Jesus with the transgressors and punish Him as if He was a transgressor like the rest. The disciples were going to have to weather the storm that would result from this.
The disciples inform Jesus that they have two swords among eleven men. Jesus says that will be enough. They weren’t going to be a travelling band of armed evangelists. They only needed enough for self-protection, to deter robbers and other groups from attacking them. Jesus has now prepared His disciples for what is ahead.
He withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives to pray. Luke let’s us know that was His custom. This is not good, because Judas now knows where Jesus will be. Surprisingly, this is Jesus’ very intention. Let them come.
He informs His disciples to pray that they will not enter into temptation – namely, that they will stick firm and not abandon Jesus. He then retreats a short distance away from the disciples and prays intensely and loudly enough that the they could hear Him. He asks for the Father to remove the cup from Him. What is the cup? It is the cup of God’s wrath that is poured out for sinners to drink completely. It is God’s divine and perfect wrath against sin which must be satisfied if God is a good judge. Jesus understands that He must drink it and drain it completely, and the prospect of it was terrifying.
Jesus was sweating drops of blood, a condition called Hematidrosis. It is a medical condition which occurs when someone is placed under extreme physical or emotional stress – causing their sweat glands to rupture and ooze out blood. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ve ever come close to that level of stress. Jesus understood what He had to do. He was going to drink the cup of God’s wrath…
Here we find an amazing interaction between Jesus’ humanity and divinity. He asks that the cup may pass from Him, that perhaps there might be some other way. In an act of sheer submission to the Father, under such intense pressure and stress, He submits Himself to the Father’s will. What is the will of the Father? Isaiah 53:10, ‘Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him…’ it was the only way. An angel appears and provides Him with the strength He needs to get through what comes next.
He arises to find His disciples asleep – overcome by grief and sorrow. They should not be sleeping but praying. Their spirit is willing, but their flesh is weak. They are about to enter into intense temptation, and they need all the help from God that they can get. But it’s too late. The moment of temptation has come, and they were about to be put to the test.
How does knowing Jesus’ experience in the garden renew our love and appreciation for what He has done for us? How might this help you in moments of stress and turmoil in your life?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your great love towards us. Jesus, you drank the cup of wrath for us so that we would never have to drink it. You did not have to do this, but you submitted yourself to the Father, for His glory and for our good. Thank you. In Jesus Name, Amen.