When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me.” After supper He took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray Me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays Him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
Luke 22:14-23
Have you picked up on the patterns in Luke which evidence where he has taken his cue or his lead from? Note the wording of much of what Luke has recorded in the words of the Communion Sayings come from Paul’s words which he states were passed on to him. Now how did that come about? Who is it that passed it on to Paul. Where did he get it from. The Biblical experts agree that the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians was written some time between 53 and 57 AD. On the matter of when Luke was written there is a wider variance of dating. Most put the date somewhere between 60 and 80 AD. Meaning that Luke is written after Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. But most also agree that this particular element of the words of the Communion was already circulating early in the time following Jesus’ ministry on earth. This was an early element that was adopted by the early church and used and copied widely. It is clear that Luke has Paul’s words when he assembled the accounts that had been written about Jesus ministry, including Paul’s elements on Communion.
Paul tells us these words didn’t come from him. He received it from the Lord. When did he receive it? Is it something that has come to him after he heard of the way the Corinthians were practising communion? Or is it something he got from the Lord some time before? If that is the case when did that happen? Was it in the midst of the blinding revelation on the Damascus Road as some think? I am sure there was a lot to download then. After all he was blind for some says afterward. Or did he receive this when he was caught up to the third heaven and heard things unspeakable and unutterable? Well you do some thinking about it and decide for yourself. Paul is stating his source clearly. This is not from me, Paul. This I received from the Lord himself. On the night He was betrayed he took bread and broke it and gave to each of the disciples. Did you get that? Gave to EACH of the disciples. It is like John said in John 13:4-5 “So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.” Washed the disciples feet’! – the disciples including Judas. Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread and broke it and gave it to JUDAS as well.
Note how prominently the betrayal features in Luke’s account. Note the parallels with Paul’s writing. Not only does Luke’s account quote from Paul’s account of the communion word for word but Luke also picks up on references in Paul’s account to the betrayal. The others don’t include this theme. Luke does. The betrayal is brought into centre stage in Luke’s account of the Last Supper. Note the tone of Luke’s account features the betrayal and Judas prominently in the context of the Last Supper. Now that is interesting. Was Judas at the Last Supper in the latter stages or not? Yes he was clearly there up until the time this matter of the betrayal arises. At which point John records for us that Judas left quickly. Yet in Luke’s account Judas appears to have been present at the time of the institution of Communion. Is that possible? Take some time to think about it.
Another thing to think about are the pericope that Luke includes from this point. After this segment Luke moves the story on quickly. Take note of the segments Luke chose from all the available material at his disposal. It is revealing. After the Last Supper Luke includes the following pericope:
- The dispute among the disciples
- The prediction of Peter’s denial
- The use of the sword
- Praying on the Mount of Olives (a very brief account)
- Jesus Arrest
- Peter’s Denial
These were the pericope available to him:
- The dispute among the disciples
- Jesus washes the feet of disciples
- The prediction of Peter’s denial
- The use of the sword
- The farewell discourse
- The discussion on the way to Gethsemane
- Jesus’ intercessory prayer
- Praying on the Mount of Olives
- Jesus Arrest
- Peter’s Denial
You can see Luke’s is very much a cut down version of the available material and apart from issues of betrayal, Luke’s coverage is brief at best in this section. It is like he has picked up on the matter of betrayal and made that the focus over the next pericopes. But also the account is not very flattering to the disciples. We will investigate Luke’s coverage and the matters related to betrayal over the next few Gems. In the meantime look carefully at this section and the units Luke selects to see what you can glean from it all.
The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.
Benjamin Mays
When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.
Anon
Do you know that : what you know, won’t change anything, until you DO what you know?
Alice Budiman
If your plans don’t generate opposition, you may have set your sights too low?
Anon