LUKE LESSON 54

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 22:47  "And while he yet spake,
behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve,
went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him."

    This is so important that it is touched upon in all four gospels.
Judas Iscariot (the betrayer) would make it even worse by betraying
Jesus with a Kiss. this, like so many other crimes, was done under the
cover of darkness. Judas knew where Jesus went to pray and that there
would not be a large group there.

    Luke 22:48 "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son
of man with a kiss?"

    Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do. He even knew about the
kiss. Only someone who had been counted as a friend would have gotten
so close.

    Luke 22:49 "When they which were about him saw what would follow,
they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?"

    Had Jesus not have wanted to go with them. He would not have
needed warriors, or even swords. Jesus was in full control of
this whole situation. He was fulfilling Scripture. He could have
paralyzed all these that came for Him with just one word. It was His
decision to go.

    Luke 22:50  "And one of them smote the servant of the high priest,
and cut off his right ear."

    This had to be impulsive Peter who smote off the ear of the high
priest's servant. As I said in the explanation above, Jesus could have
stopped them any time He had wanted to. He knew this must be done to
be the Saviour of the world. At any moment, Jesus could have called
10,000 angels to fight for Him, and they would have been there. In
fact, He could have stopped it without the angels. He chose to die for
you and me that we might have everlasting life. He had come to
Gethsemane to strengthen His flesh, not His Spirit. Gethsemane is an
olive crusher which makes olive oil {Holy Spirit}.  There was no need
to fight. Jesus would fulfill the wishes of His father.

    Luke 22:51 "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And
he touched his ear, and healed him."

    Had there ever been any doubt from any of these people who Jesus
was, there shouldn't be now. It appears they knew who He was and went
ahead with this crucifixion, anyhow.

    Luke 22:52 "Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains
of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out,
as against a thief, with swords and staves?"  Luke 22:53 "When I was
daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me:
but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
    They had not stretched forth their hands against Him in the
temple, because they feared the people He was ministering to. Of
course, the only way they could take Him now was to fulfill God's
purpose. Notice, They came under cover of darkness. This was the place
Jesus went to withdraw from the multitude. This was like a kangaroo
court. All of this happened at night. Jesus makes the chief priests
and captains aware that He knows what they are doing.

    Luke 22:54  "Then took they him, and led [him], and brought him
into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."

    It seems as though all of this trial of Jesus took place during
the night. This is a very strange way to try someone. It is even
strange to me that these people of this great authority would be awake
at this hour of the night. The high priest's house was the beginning
of the trials. We see, here, Peter does not want to be totally
separated from Jesus. He is following from afar. The symbolism here is
for our day. many of the Christians follow Jesus from afar. We love
Him, but some of us won't get close enough for people to realize we
belong to Jesus. Peter was afraid to get too close, afraid they might
crucify Him, too. Are we like that? If we get too close to Jesus, our
friends and neighbors might turn on us and persecute us.

    Luke 22:55 "And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the
hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them."

    Peter wanted to be close enough to know what was going on, but not
close enough to share in the punishment. In these big halls of these
homes, they had fires burning. Peter sat by the fire. This tells us
that at this time of year , it was still pretty cool. This all happens
on the 14th of Nisan, which is early spring.

    Luke 22:56 "But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire,
and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him."

    Peter had been with Jesus when He taught the multitudes. It would
have been impossible to hide the fact that Peter was a follower of
Jesus.

    Luke 22:57 "And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not."

    This strong apostle of Jesus who had been so close to the Master,
in the face of loss of his own life, denies Jesus.

    Luke 22:58 "And after a little while another saw him, and said,
Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not."

    It is interesting to me that even though Peter is being accused of
being Jesus' follower and he is denying it, he still stays near.

    Luke 22:59 "And about the space of one hour after another
confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with
him: for he is a Galilaean."

    Now even his speech and dress have given Peter away. He is
obviously a Galilaean.

    Luke 22:60 "And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew."

    This had to be the saddest moment of Peter's life. When this cock
crew. Peter immediately realized what he had done.

    Luke 22:61 "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the
cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."

    The Lord knew when the cock crew that Peter had truly denied Him
three times. Whether this look was one of compassion or not, I know
Jesus felt sorry for His friend, Peter, who had done the very thing he
had said he wouldn't, under pressure of death. This had to be a very
saddening remembrance of the prophecy Jesus had made.

    Luke 22:62 "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

    Peter probably thought the Lord would never have any use for him
again. Peter hates his own weakness. Perhaps, one of the reasons Peter
went back to his nets to fish for a living, again, was because he felt
Jesus would not want someone as weak as he to preach the salvation
message.




























                           Luke 54 Questions

1.  What was Judas to do to show them which one was Jesus?
2.  What part of the day was this done in?
3.  How do we know that Jesus knew what Judas was about to do?
4.  What did Jesus' disciples ask about defending Him?
5.  What did one of the disciples do to the high priest's servant?
6.  What disciple was it, probably?
7.  Why did Jesus let them take Him?
8.  What miracle did Jesus do in front of all these accusers who had
    come for Him?
9.  What did Jesus say to the chief priests and captains?
10. Why had they not come against Him in the temple?
11. Which of the disciples followed afar off?
12. Where did they take Jesus first to try Him?
13. All of Jesus' trial took place at __________.
14. What is so strange about this trial of Jesus?
15. What is the symbolism of Peter following from afar?
16. Where did they kindle a fire?
17. What was Peter fearing?
18. What was the month and day this happened?
19. Who was the first to say they recognized Peter as being with
    Jesus?
20. What was Peter's reply?
21. In verse 59. what gave Peter away?
22. Just as Peter denied Jesus the third time, what happened?
23. When did Peter remember what Jesus had prophesied?
24. When Peter realized what he had done, what did he do?
25. What was probably the reason Peter stopped preaching and went back
    to his nets?