Chapter 22
There’s something kind of funny that happens when you put a bunch of people with driver’s licenses in a room. Just ask, “Who thinks you’re a good, safe driver?” and watch the hands go up.
But facts are facts. On average, every driver makes between 5 and 20 mistakes per hour behind the wheel, depending on their experience. For people with long commutes to and from work, that means every morning and afternoon those numbers apply to you.
Even more serious, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 94% of all crashes happen because of driver error. And studies show that every driver will make at least one serious, life-threatening mistake every 1,000 miles—things like a near-miss or a dangerous move. On top of that, distracted driving has become so common that the average driver now spends 30% of their driving time distracted.
So if I said to a group of drivers, “One of you will cause a serious accident that injures someone this year,” I imagine each person would take a quick look inward and hopefully ask, “Is it me?” Then the justifications would start. “Surely not me—I haven’t had a ticket in 10 years.” Another might say, “I haven’t had one in 20.” Someone else might add, “I’ve never had a ticket or an accident in 25 years.” Each person would try to prove they’re the safest, trying to show they aren’t the one I was talking about. It must be someone else.
That moment reminds me of the disciples when Jesus told them one of them would betray Him that night. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we see they actually asked, “Is it I?”
That question reveals something personal. It shows that each of them had, at some point, thought about giving up, or had doubts about the mission they were on. But their minds couldn’t settle on that thought. They had to defend their faithfulness. And soon, they were arguing about who was the most righteous or the greatest. I don’t think they did that out of arrogance. I think it came from a deep fear—a desperate attempt not to admit that each one had struggled in their own heart.
We all go through seasons where we struggle with our faith. Every one of us will question our walk with Christ at times. But think about what Jesus said and did after that moment. He didn’t ask them to prove their loyalty. He reminded them how to live for Him, even in weakness—not by trying to justify ourselves, but by staying faithful through it all.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1 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 [to seek by thinking, meditating, reasoning, enquiring. To crave and strive] some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid [Greek: phobeo. Where we get the word phobia. a verb meaning to fear something.] of the people. 3 Then Satan entered [as a man enters a room, or as food enters the mouth., implies an open access point.] 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 [to deliver, give over, give into, allow access treacherously] Jesus. 5 They were delighted [Greek: chairo. The same kind of gladness and rejoicing mentioned in Matthew 2:10, “when they saw the star; they were overjoyed.” Yet this rejoicing was from the dark forces, not God.] 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. [This would be highly unusual sight because men did not carry water, women did.] 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. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question [Literally: enquire, reason together, dispute with] among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24 A dispute [literally: quarrel, strife.] also arose among them as to which of them was considered [of the opinion] to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, [recently born, new, youthful, in attitude] and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked [demand permission] to sift [shake you with agitation] all of you [Greek hymas: “y’all”] as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you [“you” singular], Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. [As Jesus prepares them for what was coming he began to speak of them getting spiritually prepared. Having a “sword” to defend against the real enemy of God, Satan. Even if it means to give up our comforts, (cloak) to do so. Later in Ephesians we see the Word of God called the Sword of the Spirit. This is likely a preview of that inspiration.] 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” [They missed the spiritual point and took his words literally.] “That’s enough!” [Better translation is; “Enough of this kind of talk!”] he replied.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” [Jesus wasn’t afraid to die. But he knew that his death would separate him from God’s presence. There would be a moment when all the sin of the world would be laid upon him, and the Father turned his eyes away from him. THAT is why Jesus asked if there was any other way for the redemption of man to come, other than this, let this pass from me.”] 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying [to deliver, give over, give into, allow access treacherously] the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour–when darkness reigns.” [has authority, jurisdiction, liberty, permission.]
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
Jesus Before the Chief Priest
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
