November 10

Luke 22, John 13 (biblegateway.com)

Love, Humility, and Surrender

After sharing the Passover meal and revealing His coming betrayal, Jesus gives His disciples final instructions in the Upper Room, showing humble love and preparing them for His road to the cross. In Luke 22 and John 13, Jesus establishes the Lord’s Supper as a lasting reminder of His sacrifice, taking the bread and cup to signify His body given and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Even in this sacred moment, a dispute over greatness arises, and Jesus teaches that true greatness lies in humble service.

John 13 also highlights a remarkable act of love as Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, including Judas, giving a living example of the humility and love He calls His followers to display. After Judas departs, Jesus gives a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved them.

From there, Luke records Jesus’ agonizing prayer in Gethsemane, His full submission to the Father’s will, and the events that follow: Judas’ betrayal, His arrest, the disciples’ scattering, and Peter’s denial. Though others falter, Jesus remains faithful, steadfast, and surrendered to the Father’s redemptive plan.

Luke 22 — Plot, Passover, Prayer, and Arrest

As Luke 22 opens, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called the Passover, is approaching, and the chief priests and scribes are looking for a way to put Jesus to death, yet they fear the people, who have been listening to His teaching with great interest (v. 1–2). Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt by the blood of the lamb, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed immediately afterward. By New Testament times, the names were often used interchangeably to refer to the entire week-long celebration. During this time, Jerusalem is filled with Jewish pilgrims from across the Roman Empire, making the leaders cautious about arresting Jesus publicly, lest they provoke a riot.

At this critical moment, Satan enters Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, influencing him to betray Jesus (v. 3). Judas willingly goes to the chief priests and officers of the temple guard to discuss how he might hand Jesus over to them away from the crowd (v. 4). They are glad at this opportunity and agree to give him money, and Judas accepts their offer (v. 5). He then begins looking for the right moment to betray Jesus in private (v. 6). Scripture presents both the spiritual and human dimensions at work: Satan is actively opposing the redemptive mission of Christ, yet Judas is fully responsible for his sinful choice. His actions flow from an unbelieving heart, and this tragic cooperation with the enemy ultimately leads not to the overthrow of Christ, but to Satan’s own defeat through the cross.

This opening scene shows the intensifying spiritual battle as the hour of the cross draws near. Jesus has faithfully taught, healed, and extended grace, yet the religious leaders plot in darkness, and Judas yields to temptation rather than remain true to the Lord. While Christ’s enemies scheme in secret, God’s sovereign plan is unfolding exactly as foretold. The Passover setting is not accidental; rather, at the very time lambs would be slain, the true Lamb of God prepares to offer Himself for the salvation of the world.

The day of Unleavened Bread arrives, the time when the Passover lamb must be sacrificed (v. 7). Jesus sends Peter and John to make the preparations, instructing them to go into the city. He tells them they will meet a man carrying a jar of water, and they are to follow him to the house he enters. There, they are to say to the owner, “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’” (v. 8–11). As Jesus said, they find everything exactly as described and prepare the Passover meal (v. 12–13). This scene again displays Jesus’ divine knowledge and quiet authority, showing that even the smallest details of the final hours unfold under God’s sovereign plan.

Peter and John would have been responsible not only for securing the room but also for purchasing and preparing the lamb, unleavened bread, herbs, wine, and the other elements required for the Passover. The homeowner’s willingness to provide the guest room suggests he was a follower of Jesus. The careful arrangements and intentional secrecy also guarded the location from Judas until the appointed time, ensuring that Jesus would share this final meal and teaching with His disciples undisturbed. Even here, we see the Lord’s purposeful preparation, the fulfillment of Scripture, and the unfolding of redemption according to God’s perfect timing.

When the hour arrives, Jesus reclines at the table with His apostles (v. 14). He tells them that He has earnestly desired to eat this Passover with them before He suffers (v. 15). This meal marks the final Passover before His sacrificial death, the true fulfillment of what the Passover lamb pointed toward. Jesus declares that He will not eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God (v. 16). He takes a cup, gives thanks, and instructs them to share it among themselves, saying He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until the kingdom of God comes (v. 17–18).

Then Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (v. 19). After supper, He takes the cup, declaring, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (v. 20). In this moment, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, revealing that His death will establish the promised New Covenant, secured through His once-for-all sacrifice, and provide forgiveness of sins and new life for all who believe. For believers today, the Lord’s Supper is a continual remembrance of Christ’s saving work, a proclamation of His death until He comes again, and a reminder of the future joy we will share with Him in His kingdom.

Yet even in this sacred moment, Jesus declares that His betrayer sits at the table with Him (v. 21). He affirms both the certainty of God’s sovereign plan and the personal responsibility of the betrayer: “The Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” (v. 22). The disciples begin questioning one another, unsure of who would commit such a sin (v. 23).

Shockingly, this is followed by a dispute over who should be considered the greatest (v. 24). Jesus gently corrects their thinking, contrasting worldly leadership with the values of His kingdom. Earthly rulers seek power and recognition, but in Christ’s kingdom, true greatness is found in humble service. “I am among you as the One who serves” (v. 27). He then affirms that despite their weaknesses, they have remained with Him in His trials, and He promises future honor: they will share in His kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 28–30). The path to honor in Christ’s kingdom is not through self-exaltation, but through faithful, Christlike servanthood.

Jesus then turns to Simon Peter, revealing a sobering spiritual reality: “Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (v. 31–32). Peter confidently insists that he is ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death (v. 33), yet Jesus foretells that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows (v. 34). Peter’s zeal is sincere, but he underestimates the weakness of his own flesh, a reminder that believers stand only by God’s sustaining grace.

Jesus reminds the disciples that when He previously sent them out with nothing, they lacked nothing because God provided for them (v. 35). But now, as His suffering draws near, the circumstances will change, and they must be prepared for hardship and opposition (v. 36). His mention of a sword has been understood in two primary ways: some view it as symbolic of spiritual preparedness, while others see it as allowing reasonable self-defense. Either way, Jesus is not endorsing violence, and His later rebuke of using the sword shows that His kingdom would not advance by force.

The central point is that Scripture must be fulfilled: He will be “numbered with the transgressors” (v. 37). When the disciples present two swords, Jesus says, “It is enough” (v. 38), ending the discussion and indicating that human weapons cannot prevent what is about to unfold. All is moving according to God’s redemptive plan.

Jesus goes out to the Mount of Olives, as was His custom, and the disciples follow Him (v. 39). Knowing the spiritual danger before them, He urges them to pray that they may not enter into temptation (v. 40). Withdrawing about a stone’s throw, He kneels and prays, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done” (v. 41–42). The “cup” speaks of the suffering and judgment He is about to face as the sin-bearing sacrifice.

Here, in a garden, where sin first entered through Adam, Jesus, the Last Adam, remains fully obedient to the Father’s will. Luke alone records that an angel appears from heaven to strengthen Him (v. 43). In deep agony, He prays more earnestly, and His sweat becomes like great drops of blood falling to the ground (v. 44), showing the weight of sorrow He bore as He prepared to drink the cup of wrath in our place. Returning to the disciples, Jesus finds them asleep from sorrow and admonishes them again to rise and pray so they will not fall into temptation (v. 45–46). Gethsemane reveals both Christ’s true humanity and His perfect submission to the Father, choosing the cross for our redemption.

While He is still speaking, a crowd arrives led by Judas (v. 47). Judas approaches to kiss Jesus, a customary sign of greeting from a disciple to his teacher, but Jesus exposes the treachery in the act: “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (v. 48). As the crowd moves in to arrest Jesus, the disciples react, asking, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” and one of them, identified elsewhere as Peter, strikes the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear (v. 49–50; John 18:10).

Jesus immediately rebukes the violence and, in a final act of mercy before His suffering, touches the servant’s ear and heals him (v. 51). Even in the moment of betrayal, Jesus demonstrates compassion toward His enemies and refuses to advance God’s kingdom by force. His healing highlights both the disciples’ misunderstanding of His mission and His unwavering commitment to the Father’s redemptive plan.

Jesus then addresses the chief priests, officers of the temple, and elders who have come to seize Him: “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? I was with you daily in the temple, and you did not seize Me” (v. 52). They arrest Him under the cover of darkness because they fear the people and wish to avoid a public scene. Jesus declares, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (v. 53). Though evil appears to be prevailing, Jesus makes clear that the moment belongs to the sphere of darkness only because the Father has permitted it. Satan is active, yet God is still sovereign. What seems like the triumph of evil is, in truth, the unfolding of God’s eternal plan of salvation.

Jesus is led to the house of the high priest, first to Annas and then to Caiaphas. At the same time, Peter follows at a distance, gaining access to the courtyard (v. 54). As he warms himself by the fire, Peter is confronted three times and accused of being a follower of Jesus. Fear overtakes him, and his denials grow increasingly emphatic: first denying that he knows Jesus, then denying that he is one of His disciples, and finally denying any understanding of what they mean (v. 55–60).

At that moment, the rooster crows, and Jesus turns and looks at Peter. The Lord's look pierces his heart, and Peter remembers Jesus’ words. Overwhelmed with grief, he goes out and weeps bitterly (v. 61–62). His failure is heartbreaking, yet his sorrow reflects a repentant heart. Though he falls, he will be restored by Christ’s grace and later strengthened to shepherd others.

Meanwhile, inside, Jesus begins to suffer abuse at the hands of those guarding Him. They mock and beat Him, blindfold Him, and taunt Him to prophesy by identifying who struck Him (v. 63–65). Their actions reveal the injustice and spiritual blindness of the religious leaders, who condemn the very One with true prophetic authority. Jesus endures humiliation silently, fulfilling Scripture and submitting to the Father’s plan. The contrast is striking: Peter fails under pressure, yet will be restored; Jesus, though innocent, is unjustly condemned, yet remains faithful for our redemption.

When day comes, Jesus is brought before the Council, the Sanhedrin, composed of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, the highest Jewish court (v. 66). Because Jewish law prohibited trials at night, this morning assembly delivers the formal verdict that will be presented to Rome.

They demand, “If You are the Christ, tell us” (v. 67). Jesus responds that they will not believe, nor will they answer if He questions them, revealing their hardened unbelief (v. 67–68). Yet He openly declares the truth of His identity and future exaltation: “From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (v. 69), uniting Daniel 7:13-14 and Psalm 110:1.

They then ask whether He is the Son of God, and Jesus answers, “You say that I am” (v. 70), a solemn affirmation that places responsibility for their rejection on them. With this, the Council concludes no further testimony is needed. In their eyes, His claim to be the Messiah and the Son of God is blasphemy, and they render Him guilty (v. 71). Though the Sanhedrin could condemn, only Rome could execute, so this verdict sets in motion Jesus’ delivery to the Roman authorities. Their rejection reveals the nation’s spiritual blindness, yet even their verdict fulfills God’s redemptive plan.

Luke 22 reveals the deliberate movement of God’s plan toward the cross. Betrayal, denial, spiritual conflict, and human weakness fill the chapter, yet Jesus remains faithful. He institutes the new covenant, prays in surrender, faces arrest without resistance, and shows compassion even toward His enemies. The disciples fail, yet His grace remains. The Son of Man steps forward into the hour of darkness, fully obedient to the Father, to accomplish salvation for sinners.

John 13 — Humble Love, Betrayal Revealed, and a New Commandment

As John 13 opens, the hour Jesus has spoken of throughout His ministry has arrived. He knows that His time to depart from this world and return to the Father has come. Having loved His own who are in the world, He loves them to the end, completely, perfectly, and to the full (v. 1). During the Passover meal, the devil has already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot the plan to betray Him (v. 2). Jesus knows that the Father has given all things into His hands, that He has come from God, and that He is returning to God (v. 3). With full awareness of His divine authority and identity, He rises from supper to perform a servant’s task.

Jesus lays aside His outer garments, takes a towel, and wraps it around His waist (v. 4). He pours water into a basin and begins washing the disciples’ feet, wiping them with the towel (v. 5). The Lord of glory stoops to serve, demonstrating the nature of true greatness. When He comes to Peter, Peter objects, asking, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” (v. 6). Jesus replies that Peter will understand later (v. 7). Peter insists that Jesus must never wash his feet, but Jesus answers, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me” (v. 8). Peter then asks for his hands and head also, revealing both zeal and misunderstanding (v. 9). Jesus explains that the one who has bathed is clean, and only needs his feet washed, “and you are clean, but not every one of you” (v. 10). He knows who will betray Him (v. 11). This act of foot-washing symbolizes cleansing and fellowship; Judas’s unrepentant heart remains unchanged.

When Jesus finishes, He asks if they understand what He has done (v. 12). He affirms that He, their Lord and Teacher, has washed their feet, and therefore they ought to wash one another’s (v. 13–14). He gives an example of humble service and commands them to follow it (v. 15). A servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sends him (v. 16). Knowing these truths calls not for admiration only, but obedience: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (v. 17). Christlike leadership is marked by humility, not pride.

Jesus then reveals that the betrayal is unfolding. He quotes Psalm 41:9, showing that Scripture is being fulfilled: one who shares His bread has lifted his heel against Him (v. 18). He warns them beforehand so that when it happens, they may believe that He is (v. 19). Trouble fills Jesus’ spirit as He testifies, “One of you will betray Me” (v. 21). Confusion spreads among the disciples (v. 22).

John, reclining close to Jesus, quietly asks who the betrayer is (v. 23–24). Jesus identifies him by a sign of intimate friendship, giving a piece of bread after dipping it and handing it to Judas (v. 25–26). This act is significant: a host would often offer a dipped morsel to a guest of honor, making Judas’ betrayal even more treacherous. After receiving the bread, Satan enters Judas in a more dominant, controlling way than earlier (v. 2), showing that Judas has now fully yielded to the evil intent in his heart. Jesus tells him, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (v. 27). The phrase conveys urgency, as Judas’ actions will unfold according to God’s timetable, not Satan’s. Jesus remains in complete control.

The other disciples do not understand this exchange. Since Judas handled the moneybag, they assume Jesus is sending him to buy what is needed for the Passover meal or to give money to the poor (v. 28–29). Judas immediately leaves, and John adds the solemn note, “It was night” (v. 30). This is more than a time stamp. It symbolizes the spiritual darkness Judas has entered. He walks away from the Light of the world and steps into the night of sin, deception, and final ruin.

While Satan exerts influence, Judas remains fully responsible for his decision. Satan had already prompted the betrayal in Judas’ heart, but now takes fuller possession of his will. Judas may have been disillusioned because Jesus spoke of dying rather than overthrowing Rome, or perhaps he tried to force Jesus to reveal His power. It is also possible that Judas no longer believed Jesus was the Messiah at all. Whatever his reasoning, Judas tragically aligns himself against Christ. Satan assumed that Jesus’ death would end His mission, yet Christ’s death was the very heart of God’s redemptive plan from the beginning (Acts 2:23). The enemy’s scheme would only accomplish the saving work of God.

John’s narrative shows Jesus’ full awareness and sovereignty. He knows what Judas will do and what Peter will soon do, yet He does not stop loving them. Judas rejects grace and ends in destruction. Peter fails, but clings to the Savior he loves, repents, and is restored. The contrast is striking: Judas’ despair leads him away from Christ, while Peter’s sorrow leads him back to Christ. One ends in darkness; the other in forgiveness and triumphant service.

With Judas gone, Jesus speaks of glory. “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him” (v. 31). His impending death is not defeat but the pathway through which the Father and Son are glorified (v. 32). Jesus addresses His disciples as “little children,” and tells them that He is with them only a little longer (v. 33). They cannot follow Him now where He is going, but will follow afterward. He gives them a new commandment: “that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (v. 34). This self-giving, holy, sacrificial love is the distinguishing mark of discipleship: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (v. 35).

Peter asks where Jesus is going (v. 36). Jesus replies that Peter cannot follow now, but will follow later. Peter protests, expressing willingness to lay down his life for Jesus (v. 37). Jesus responds with a solemn prediction: before the rooster crows, Peter will deny Him three times (v. 38). His sincere devotion collides with the reality of his human frailty, yet Jesus will restore him.

John 13 reveals the heart of Jesus on the night before the cross. He loves His own fully, serves them humbly, exposes betrayal, teaches kingdom greatness through lowliness, and gives the new commandment of Christlike love. Judas’s treachery stands against the backdrop of Christ’s steadfast mercy, while Peter’s coming failure reminds believers of their need for grace. The chapter calls disciples to humble service, sacrificial love, and steadfast allegiance to Christ. The One who stoops to wash feet walks toward the cross to cleanse hearts.

Conclusion

Luke 22 and John 13 draw our hearts into the humility, love, and surrender of Christ on the night before the cross. Jesus washes the feet of the very ones who would abandon and deny Him, showing that true discipleship is marked by selfless love and servant-hearted obedience. The Lord’s Supper calls believers to remember the price of redemption with reverence and gratitude. Gethsemane reveals the cost of submission and the depth of Jesus’ surrender to the Father’s will.

For believers today, these chapters call us to follow Christ’s example, loving as He loved, serving as He served, and surrendering as He surrendered. The Lamb who served in humility and prayed in anguish invites us to a life that reflects His heart. May we remember His sacrifice, walk in His love, and yield our will to His as we seek to honor Him in all things.