The Setup

Read This Week: Luke 22

Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. – Luke 22:9 NIV

Luke 22 is about preparation and setup. It is about the preparation and set up of events under the sovereignty and will of God for the mission of Jesus on earth. So much of what has already taken place in this gospel and in other accounts of the life of Christ is about the preparation leading to why He came. The setup of these events cannot be ignored in the context of the glory of God and the redemption of man for all time. They flow together and point toward God’s ultimate will in Christ.

In verses 1-6, we see the setup of Judas and the religious leaders. They were conspiring to betray and have Jesus arrested and did so during Israel’s holy festival. They were motivated by hatred, greed, jealousy, and a bitter disappointment that their agendas would not be fulfilled by Jesus. But their actions and setup led to love, charity, kindness, and grace demonstrated by the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

In verses 7-38, Jesus prepared for and the disciples set up the Passover or the Lord’s Supper. The setup here indicates that Jesus knew what was going on with his enemies in another part of the city. Many of the disciples did not even know the location of the upper room until they arrived; Jesus made sure that the one who betrayed would not have authorities show up before he demonstrated his coming sacrifice at the supper. The Lord was intentional in his setup of this sacred moment, so the “setup” that Judas was carrying out would not undermine its impact that still resonates today.

In verses 39-46, Jesus prepared for what was ahead of him in prayer. The setup to the pain and sting of being falsely accused and arrested was an intense, passionate time of communion with the Father. In verses 47-53, we see the setup of Jesus’ suffering at the hands of the Romans and religious leaders offset by his compassion in healing the ear of the servant of the high priest.

In verses 54-62, the setup of Peter’s denial of Jesus leads to his powerful restoration and the transcendent, Spirit-filled moment that he would spearhead at Pentecost. In verses, 63-71, the setup of Jesus’ authority is questioned and mocked, and his supremacy questioned by Pilate prepared the way to the revelation of his divine imminence and eternal power.

What does the setup look like in our lives as we are on mission with God? Are we prepared for the moments that His will is leading us? Like Jesus, God the Father can empower us to express His love, kindness, goodness, and patience when others and situations dictate otherwise. The spiritual setup and communion God with every day can help us navigate any circumstance, decision, or challenge the journey may bring.

We must set up so that we can stand up for God when we’re asked if we know Him. We must set up so we can get up and go to the places we are called to tell others about God and His salvation. We must never underestimate what God can do in the setup.

6 Comments

  1. Javaid Ahmed on August 10, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    This week in Luke 22 AMPC, God directed my attention at verses 24-27.

    24 Now [b]an eager contention arose among them [as to] which of them was considered and reputed to be the greatest.
    25 But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles [c]are deified by them and exercise lordship [[d]ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
    26 But this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.
    27 For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table (the master), or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as One Who serves.

    What God said to me about this is “Ego is the killer of faith. Confidence in doing what is right is very different however. To be innocent with wide eyes and absorbing as much love as you can within you allows you to be closest to Me. To think strongest is weak, but to think innocently is as strong as could ever be. Remove the ego blocking your faith.”

    If we open our hearts to be servants to God and to learn with arms wide open like a child we are able to get the best teachings from God. Its easy to put worldly ways over spiritual ways, but the quickest way to know if we’re doing that is to see if we are following Jesus’s example. We have the best guide we could ever ask for, the right hand of God. Let us eliminate our egos and allow our faith to fully consume us.

    • Heidi on August 12, 2022 at 11:08 am

      Wow that was awesome Javaid

  2. Heidi on August 12, 2022 at 11:08 am

    Luke 22: 32 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].

    What Father God saying to me through this verse is Jesus is praying for you too, in life there will be times when you fail, go through hard times, you may stumble, but always remember that Jesus is praying for you that your faith will get stronger everyday and as you have victory in those times with Me now you can help your brothers and sisters in the faith get stronger too!

    What this means to me is I know I can count on Jesus and my Father to be praying for me,
    It say in Romans 8:34 that Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding (with the Father) for us.
    I’m so thankful for that❤️

    Thank you Father that I can count on You and Jesus to be interceding for us and thank you for Uour Holy Spirt to help us and guide us into the right direction and help us to be aware of how we can help our brothers and sisters too!
    Love you so much ❤️

  3. Heidi on August 12, 2022 at 11:18 am

    What spoke to me about this song is the more we walk by faith even when I can’t see it
    and even thou there are broken roads He prepares His will for me which is good because He loves me so I wanna walk by faith with Him because I know He is working out everything because He loves me ❤️

    Walk by faith
    Jeremy camp

    Would I believe You when You say
    Your hand will guide my every way?
    Will I receive the words You say
    Every moment of every day?
    Well, I will walk by faith
    Well, even when I cannot see
    Well, because this broken road
    Prepares Your will for me
    Well, help me to rid my endless fears
    You’ve been so faithful for all my years
    With one breath You make me new
    Your grace covers all I do
    Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
    Well, I will walk by faith
    Well, even when I cannot see
    Well, because this broken road
    Prepares Your will for me
    Well, I’m broken (broken)
    But I still see Your face
    Well, You’ve spoken (spoken)
    Pourin’ Your words of grace
    Well, I will walk by faith
    Well, even when I cannot see
    Well, because this broken road
    Prepares Your will for me
    Well, I will walk by faith
    Well, even when I cannot see
    Oh, well, because this broken road
    Prepares Your will for me
    I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith
    (Well, Hallelujah, well, Hallelu-) faith, yeah-yeah-yeah
    (Well, Hallelujah, well, Hallelu-) well, faith, faith, yeah-yeah-yeah
    (Well, Hallelujah, well, Hallelu-) Yeah, I will walk, I will walk
    Whoa, I will walk by faith
    (Well, Hallelujah, well, Hallelu-) I will, oh, yeah, I will
    Well, I will walk by faith
    (Well, Hallelujah) well, Hallelujah

  4. reachchurch on August 14, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    This Week in the Life: Luke 22

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  5. Kathy on August 16, 2022 at 4:33 pm

    In reading Luke 22, this is what I got from God. This chapter is about Passover. It’s also about a new Passover that creates a people, those united in Jesus Christ, remembering and trusting His sacrifice for you. The focus became the sin-bearing suffering of Jesus on your behalf. Jesus has the authority to establish a new covenant between you and Me with His blood. In eating the bread and drinking the cup, you fellowship with Jesus. They aren’t just symbols, but powerful pictures of you taking part of or sharing with others. The covenant is all about you having a new and close relationship with Me. It is an inner transformation. Your thinking is changed. Living as a servant is the best way to live. My greatest servants receive the greatest rewards. Serve for the sake of My glory. If you have denied Jesus in any way, return to Him immediately. Turn your focus into helping others.

    What this said to me is With Jesus’s sacrifice of His blood, he created a new covenant between God and I. I can fellowship with Jesus and God. It is a personal relationship, and an inner transformation in my heart. The best way I can live my life, is as a servant for Him.

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