Luke 22:14-23 The Covenant Renewed
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: November 30, 2018 Luke 22:14-23
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
(Understanding the Text) I’ve never been able to picture eating Roman style at a table. It seems awkward to me, but people routinely did it in Jesus’ day. The fact that they were reclining tells me that John Mark’s mother was well-to-do.
(Revelation of God) Jesus was with the same men that he had interacted with day-in and day-out for several years. He loved them dearly and had chosen them to be His family on earth. He had been their teacher, but He wanted them to understand that He was also their friend. I think it interesting that Jesus said that He had earnestly desired to eat that particular Passover with His disciples. Why? Was it because He needed to give them some last instructions before the end? Was it a graduation ceremony for them, and He was giving the commencement address? Why this one more than the others that they had eaten together?
Even Judas was included in the first communion. Even though Jesus knew what was in his heart and that Judas had already taken the first steps towards betraying his Master, Jesus still included Judas. In fact, he made one last appeal to Judas. Warning him that his choices were only going to lead to Judas’ own destruction. Jesus was telling Judas that although Jesus was going to die, it did not have to be by Judas’ choice. Judas could still have chosen not to betray Jesus at this point and the plan of salvation would still have gone forward with Judas innocent of the blood of his Master, but Judas did not take the helping hand that was reaching out to him. Judas continued along the path that he had set his foot on even though Jesus was giving him a direct appeal to stop. Jesus was telling Judas that Judas was not being smart; instead, Judas was not only hurting Jesus; Judas was hurting himself, and there was nothing Jesus could do to rescue him.
Maybe Jesus desired this Passover because it was the time of a new covenant. He was making a covenant with mankind at this meal. He included even the representative of the men who would reject Him in this covenant. This would be the final covenant promise that would be needed. It was really a renewal of all the other covenant promises from Adam to Abraham to Moses. God was promising once again to save all mankind if they would allow Him to. There was a blessing and cursing in a way. The blessing was that Jesus would eat and drink again with them when the kingdom of heaven came. The cursing was to the one who rejected Him. When we drink and eat in the communion service we are remembering the covenant that Jesus made with us. It is to remind us of His promises and the fulfillment of those promises. He was about to become our King again. He was about to win the world back from the enemy. It was the night before the battle, and He was cementing the ties between His followers and Himself.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that Jesus has a covenant with me and I can count on Him to keep up His side of the covenant. He did what He did and does what He does because of His great love for humans and for me specifically. He wants me to be part of the group that He calls friend and wants me to know the communion of worshiping together with my fellow believers. I know that these verses are rich in lessons, but I just can’t think of any more this morning. Help me with the stresses and cares that I am pressed down with and bring Your peace and joy into my life.