Luke Part 3 Week 21

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:38 

³⁸ “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” he said. 

Jesus assured the disciples that their having two swords was enough. Apparently those were sufficient to show that the disciples were not going out on the offensive, but only having swords so they could be on the defensive. As the human author of the gospel, Luke does not comment further about these swords. 

REFLECT 

Just think that if the Bible answered everyone’s questions how big the Bible would need to be. 

RESPOND 

The ancients were well acquainted with swords. That is why the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 4:12 used a “two-edged sword” to explain how powerful the word of God is. Discuss with a friend about how convicting the Bible can be as one reads it and reflects on its teaching.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:39-40 

³⁹ Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. ⁴⁰ There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 

The group left the room where they were having their last supper together before Jesus went to the cross to die for their sins—and for the sins of all humanity. Notice the expression that they “went as usual to the Mount of Olives.” When they reached that point Jesus told the disciples to pray that they would not give in to temptation. What kind of temptation did He expect? 

REFLECT 

Today believers do not need to go to the Mount of Olives to meet Jesus; they can go to the Bible to meet Him face to face. As someone has said, “If you want God to speak to you, read the Bible out loud.” 

RESPOND  

Use this occasion to talk with a friend about the fact that the Bible is the only book that God has inspired. Read and discuss passages 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:41-42 

⁴¹ He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 

Notice how Jesus prayed. Because He was fully human as well as fully God He did not look forward to physical suffering. If possible, He wanted to bypass it. Above all, however, He wanted the will of His heavenly Father to be done. This provides an example for believers today. They also should want God’s will to be done even more than their own personal desires. 

REFLECT 

As you think about your own prayers for what you need, does the example of Jesus help you? 

RESPOND 

Talk with someone about how Jesus prayed. Do you know of someone who says we should pray and insist on what is desired and not pray for the Lord’s will to be done? If Jesus prayed in this way, it seems to set the pattern for the way His followers should pray.   

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:43-44 

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 

Luke is the only gospel writer to mention an angel strengthened Jesus. One sees the agony Jesus had as He labored in prayer. Notice it does not say His sweat was drops of blood but that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Think of the agony the Lord Jesus was going through as He was pointed toward doing what His love drove Him to do for us. 

REFLECT 

Think of the extent to which Jesus loved every person that He was actually willing to give His life as a sacrifice for them.  

RESPOND  

Take time to read 1 John 4:16-19. See also what Jesus said are the two great commandments as you read Matthew 22:34-40.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:45-46 

⁴⁵ At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” 

It was nighttime and the disciples were “exhausted from grief.” They were not able to stay awake. Jesus asked why they were sleeping, but as the Son of God He would have known the answer to His own question. Then He told the disciples to, “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” That is similar to the same comment that Luke 22:40 records Him as telling them. He wanted them to avoid temptation. 

REFLECT 

Have you found it impossible to stay awake sometimes when you have been praying? If so, you have some understanding of what the disciples were experiencing. They were exhausted from grief. Has that also caused your problem? 

RESPOND 

We need to have more sympathy for those who fall asleep in a worship service. It may be a health problem or medication that is causing it. Or it just may be exhaustion and this is the first time in a long time they have sat down and relaxed. Or it may be exhaustion from grief as the disciples experienced. Just because one sleeps does not mean he or she is not interested.