Bible unfolding - Luke 22 - Why did Jesus die?
The behaviour and words of the Lord Jesus
become more mysterious. The Historian Luke, records Jesus following the normal Passover
celebration routine. They gather, He with the twelve disciples, in a large
upper room. Then begin the puzzling revelations:
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer” – He seemed to know something serious was about to
happen ! Luke 22:15
Again “ I will not eat it (Passover)
until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God” – how could the Passover be
fulfilled? Did it have something to do with the title given to Him by John the
baptiser – “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
As the meal was concluding, He said of
the bread,” this is my body given for you.” Again: “the new covenant in my
blood”. These are the terms of sacrifice, the promise of a better covenant, the
means of forgiveness.
Evidently, Jesus knew not only the
sufferings to come, but the purpose.
In many ways the disciples had reason for
foreboding fears. In 22:30, He breaks through the storm clouds with this kingly
statement: “I assign to you… to eat and drink at My table in My kingdom….”.
What a moment to announce a place in His glorious kingdom. Well, I don’t know
if they understood the glory of the statement, but we must perceive that this
Jesus, knew the sufferings of tomorrow could not destroy the glory that would follow.
Luke 22:31 The
foretelling of Peter’s denial is again evidence of His Divine knowledge. As
they leave the Passover meal, the Lord links the happenings of the next few
hours to the prophecies of the Old Testament.:
“For I tell you that this scripture must
be fulfilled: ‘He was numbered with the transgressors’.” ( Luke 22:37
- Isaiah 53)
This is so significant since the quote
from Isaiah 53 makes it very clear that the suffering Messiah would “bear the sins of many”. This would
enable the servant of the LORD to become the intercessor bringing many lost
people back to God, granting forgiveness of sins and giving an abundant entry into
His heavenly kingdom. Isaiah 53 is a must read to understand the seeming mystery
surrounding the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read it again today!
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