Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20100623.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Luke: Jesus, The Son Of Man For All Mankind
Part LXXX: Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Foresight Of His Disciples' Destiny
(Luke 22:21-38)
  1. Introduction
    1. One of the great evidences that Jesus is God's true Savior of the world was portrayed in the significant insight He had of the destiny of each of the men who sat around the table of the Last Supper.
    2. We view that evidence provided for us in Luke 22:21-38, and apply it to our lives for blessing as follows:
  2. Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Foresight Of His Disciples' Destiny, Luke 22:21-38.
    1. Jesus stated the final destiny of the disciple who would betray Him as being very bleak, Luke 22:21-23:
      1. At the Last Supper, Christ predicted that the hand of the disciple who would betray Him was with Him on the table, and that it was inevitable that the party betray Him in line with Scripture, Luke 22:21-22a.
      2. However, that disciple who betrayed Him would have a terrible end, and Jesus pronounced a "Woe" upon him, a warning of Judas' condemnation and eternal destiny in hell, Luke 22:22b with John 17:12.
    2. Jesus noted the destiny of the other disciples, though detoured by sin, would end up blessed, Lk. 22:24-30:
      1. After Jesus spoke of Judas' sin, the others began debating who was the greatest of them, Luke 22:24.
      2. Jesus revealed such self-exaltation was typical of the Gentile world's errant view where those who were perceived to be the greatest dominated those who were perceived to be the lesser folk, Lk. 22:25.
      3. However, this was not the right view, not the one Jesus wanted His men to have, Luke 22:26a: the greatest was to see himself as the younger, the ruler as the servant like Jesus did, Luke 22:26b,c, 27.
      4. However, in the end, these disciples who had been with Jesus, who had remained His faithful followers, would be appointed under God the Father's lead to be with Christ in His Kingdom, and would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel , Luke 22:28-30.
    3. Jesus stated the destiny of disciple Peter in particular, though it detoured dramatically due to his temporary sinful denial of Christ, would end up victorious via Christ's intercession for him, Lk . 22:31-32:
      1. Right after announcing the great future destiny of the faithful disciples in stark contrast to Judas' end, Jesus foretold of Peter's steep trial in His denial of Jesus under Satan's influence, Luke 22:31.
      2. However, though Satan had entered Judas as an unbeliever to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-4), Satan's effort to "sift" Peter "as wheat," to put Peter into a hard trial (Bible Know. Com., N. T. , p. 260), would be relieved by Christ's intercession for Peter that his faith not fail through that trial, Luke 22:32a.
      3. Peter tried to claim he would not fail the Lord, but Jesus noted he would, Luke 22:33-34.
      4. Nevertheless, Jesus looked beyond Peter's inevitable, imminent failure, calling him to strengthen the Christian community when he repented, Luke 22:32b with John 21:15-17.
    4. Having announced this destiny, Jesus headed toward the future in fulfillment of prophecy, Luke 22:35-38:
      1. Luke 22:35-38 is hard to understand, but it seems best to conclude Jesus meant by His disciples having two swords (Luke 22:38), items transgressors would typically carry, that the Isaiah 53:12 reference in Luke 22:37 to His being considered by His foes to be among criminals was about to be fulfilled, Ibid.
      2. Thus, Jesus prepared for the immediate future of His heading to the cross, warning His disciples that it would mean a difficult time for them, for He would cease His overtly protective, shepherding role of them to go to the cross, cf. G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According To Luke, 1931, p. 249.
      3. The disciples would then need a purse, a bag and a sword, items needed by men of this world, and that especially in the absence of Christ's shepherding ministry of them in their earthly lives, Lk. 22:36 NIV.
      4. Jesus then headed out into the difficult immediate future en route to the blessed, later Kingdom!
Lesson: Jesus had great insight into the devastating end for Judas Iscariot, the eventual triumph of the other disciples and the deep coming trial but final victory for Peter. Armed with this insight, He headed into the difficult immediate future, aware of what faced Him and His disciples en route to the Kingdom.

Application: May we (1) trust Jesus is God's true Savior of the world! (2) Then, may we evaluate our current status to make sure (a) that we are truly saved (not like Judas), and to (b) avoid painful, costly errant thinking (like the disciples and Peter) en route to our blessed final destiny in Christ's Kingdom!