Lesson

#16
Jesus Arrest
(22: 1-71)

Jesus' Arrest

Judaism viewed history as linear, with a beginning, a middle

and an end. Many in Jesus dayincluding Jesus himself
believed that the end was very near, just around the corner,
and Jesus believed that he would be instrumental in bringing
it about.
As we have seen, virtually everyone in the 1st genera?on of
the Church shared in this eschatological vision, and in Lesson
#15 we explored this vision more deeply before turning to a
close reading of Luke 21: 1-38, Lukes version of MaLhews
and Marks Olivet Discourse.

Jesus' Arrest

In Lesson #16 events unfold exactly as Jesus planned: Judas

agrees to betray Jesus; Jesus and his disciples share the
Passover meal; Jesus is arrested in the Garden of
Gethsemane; Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin; Peter
denies Jesus; and the Sanhedrin nds Jesus guilty of
blasphemy.
In a single chapter, events unfold smoothly, but quickly
with very liLle dramaas Jesus moves inexorably, but
calmly, toward the cross.
3

Jesus' Arrest

In Lesson #16 we begin our study of

Lukes Passion Narra?ve, which
spans 22: 1 - 23: 56. Our study will
progress like this:
Lesson #16: Passion Narra?ve, Part 1 (22: 1-71)
Lesson #17: Excursus: Judas, the Betrayer
Lesson #18: Excursus: Peters Denial
Lesson #19: Passion Narra?ve, Part 2 (23: 1-56)

Lesson #20 will end our study of

Lukes gospel with the Resurrec?on
Narra?ve (24: 1-53).

Jesus' Arrest

Lesson #16The Passion

Narra?ve, Part 1 consists of a 4-
part movement:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The Conspiracy against Jesus (22: 1-6)

The Passover Meal (22: 7-38)
The Garden of Gethsemane (22: 39-53)
The Sanhedrin Trial (22: 54-71)

Jesus' Arrest

 The Passion Narra?ve

includes 4 lessons, and the

rst of those lessons includes
4 parts. The balance and
symmetry are very nice!
Not me.

Dr. C. likes that

kind of stu!

Jesus' Arrest

1.
2.
3.
4.

The Conspiracy against Jesus (22: 1-6)

The Passover Meal (22: 7-38)
The Garden of Gethsemane (22: 39-53)
The Sanhedrin Trial (22: 54-71)

Jesus' Arrest

The Passion Narrative, Part 1

(Luke 22: 1-71)
Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the
Passover, was drawing near, and the chief priests and
the scribes were seeking a way to put him to death,
for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan
entered into Judas, the one surnamed Iscariot, who was
counted among the Twelve, and he went to the chief
priests and temple guards to discuss a plan for handing
him over to them. They were pleased and agreed to
pay him money. He accepted their offer and sought a
favorable opportunity to hand him over to them in the
absence of a crowd.








(22: 1-6)

Jesus' Arrest

Why were the chief priests and

scribes seeking to put Jesus to
death? Were their mo?ves
malignant? Were they jealous of
him? Did they object to his being
called the Messiah?

Not me.

I always thought
they just didnt like
him.

Jesus' Arrest

As an old rabbi once said, When you get two

Jews together you have three opinions! Judaism
thrives on puing ideas on the table, deba?ng
those ideas, and through a process of dialec?c and
argumenta?on, nding the truth. Unlike in
Chris?anity or Islam, heresy is not an issue in
Jewish theology. Judaism is a very big tent,
accommoda?ng everyone from the most radically
ultra-orthodox west-bank seLler to the most
secular atheist.
Jesus theology wasnt an issue, nor was his
claiming to be the Messiah. Many people both
before and aker Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.
As Gamliel said in Acts 5, if Jesus is not the
Messiah, his movement will zzle out, as many
others had; if he is the Messiah, history will prove
him to be correct. Simply wait and see.

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10

The real issue stemmed from Jesus reputa?on as

a radical from Galilee who entered Jerusalem on
Passover A.D. 32 with huge crowds proclaiming
him king and son of David, with the promise of
a new kingdom. Given the tensions in Jerusalem
between the Jewish popula?on and the Roman
authori?es, Jesus Palm Sunday entrance was
meant to provoke both the religious authori?es
who were trying their best to accommodate life
under Roman ruleand the Roman authori?es,
who were charged with keeping the Pax Romana
the peace of Rome.
The Jewish authori?es saw Jesus as a trouble-
making rabble-rouser; the Roman authori?es saw
him as a poten?ally dangerous revolu?onary, one
who may ignite a conagra?on with his incendiary
behavior at the very vola?le ?me of Passover.

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11

Finally, many of the Jewish people viewed their

own religious leaders as corrupt, seeking only to
maintain their own posi?on, status and wealth by
fawning before the Romans and collabora?ng with
them.
Conversely, many of the people viewed Jesus as
the teacher of righteousness, the leader for
whom they so fervently longed, who would usher
in the Kingdom of God, a kingdom in which
wrongs would be righted, jus?ce would prevail
and peace and prosperity would come at last, a
kingdom like that of Solomon where all lived
under their own vine and g tree from Dan to
Beer-sheba (1 Kings 5: 5).
Aker Jesus arrest and trial, the people who so
fervently supported Jesus felt they had been
duped by yet another false messiah, and they
quickly turned against him.
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12

Now I get it! But the religious

leaders could not arrest Jesus
publically, for at this point the
people were wildly suppor?ve of
him, and arres?ng him would
trigger the conagra?on they
Not me. feared.

Its really far more

poli?cal than
religious.

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13

Thats right, but it had to be done. As

the high priest Caiaphas said to the
Sanhedrin in John 11: 50
You know nothing, nor do you consider that
it is beMer for you that one man should die
instead of the people, so that the whole
naPon may not perish.

In the eyes of the Jewish leadership,

thats whats at stake!

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14

Its an interes?ng point, too, that we

read: Satan entered into Judas (22:
3). I remember back in 4: 13, we read
that When the devil had nished
every temptaPon, he departed from
him for a Pme.

Not me.

Hes baaaaak!

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15

In this sec?on we also have to

address Judas mo?ves for betraying
Jesus. Its something we talked about
in our studies of MaLhew and Mark,
but were going to postpone our
discussion here, since well devote all
of Lesson # 17our next lessonto
the topic.

Jesus' Arrest

16

1.
2.
3.
4.

The Conspiracy against Jesus (22: 1-6)

The Passover Meal (22: 7-38)
The Garden of Gethsemane (22: 39-53)
The Sanhedrin Trial (22: 54-71)

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17

When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived,

the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out
Peter and John, instructing them, Go and make
preparations for us to eat the Passover. They asked
him, Where do you want us to make the preparations?
And he answered them, When you go into the city, a
man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him
into the house that he enters and say to the master of
the house, The teacher says to you, Where is the guest
room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?
He will show you a large upper room that is furnished.
Make preparations there. Then they went off and found
everything exactly as he had told them, and there they
prepared the Passover.








(22: 7-13)

Jesus' Arrest

18

! Neighborhood of the Last Supper

! Temple Complex

! Eastern (Golden) Gate

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19

The tradi?onal Upper Room on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem

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20

When the hour came, he took his place at table with

the apostles. He said to them, I have eagerly desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell
you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in
the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, gave thanks,
and said, Take this and share it among yourselves; for I
tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the
fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Then
he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave
it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given
for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup
after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.








(22: 14-20)

Jesus' Arrest

21

Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper (tempera on gesso, pitch and mas?c),
1494-1498. Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.

Jesus' Arrest

22

Fra Angelico, InsPtuPon of the Eucharist, cell 35 (fresco), c. 1441-1442.

Convent of San Marco, Florence.

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23

Nearly all Chris?an denomina?ons read Jesus

words as the ins?tu?on of the Eucharist, or Holy
Communion.
Jesus specic words in Luke echo St. Pauls words
in 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to
you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed
over, took bread, and, aXer he had given thanks, broke it
and said, This is my body that is for you. Do this in
remembrance of me. In the same way also the cup,
aXer supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my
blood. Do this, as oXen as you drink it, in remembrance
of me. For as oXen as you eat this bread and drink the
cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord unPl he comes.

St. Luke met Paul in A.D. 50 in Troas and was with

him in Ephesus when he wrote 1 Corinthians in
the winter of A.D. 54.

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24

It appears that Lukes

understanding of the Last
Supper and of the
Eucharist was greatly
inuenced by St. Paul.
Not me.
It sure seems
like it!

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25

And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray

me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed
goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by
whom he is betrayed. And they began to debate among
themselves who among them would do such a deed.








(22: 21-23)

Jesus' Arrest

26

Carl Heinrich Bloch. The Last Supper (oil on copper), 1876.

Museum of Na?onal History, Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerd, Denmark.

Jesus' Arrest

27

Then an argument broke out among them about which

of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to
them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and
those in authority over them are addressed as
Benefactors; but among you it shall not be so. Rather,
let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the
leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one
seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the
one seated at table? I am among you as the one who
serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials;
and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has
conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel.








(22: 24-30)

Jesus' Arrest

28

Well, here we are, back to arguing about

who will be greatest in the Kingdom of God!
Didnt Jesus already explain in Luke 9: 46-48
that the one who is least among all of you is
the greatest? So, whats going on here?
Jesus, indeed, repeats that maxim, but then
he moves the discussion to a new level,
saying: I confer a kingdom on you, just as
my Father has conferred one on me, that you
may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel (22: 29-30).

When will this happen?

Jesus' Arrest

29

As weve said before, everyone in the 1st

genera?on of the Church believed Jesus
would return in their lifePme.
Luke is wri?ng his gospel in the 70s from this
perspec?ve, and for Luke, Jesus inaugurates
the Kingdom of God with his resurrecPon.
Lukes gospel, then, an?cipates his Acts of the
Apostles, in which we see Jesus Ascension;
the entrance into the world of the Holy Spirit;
the birth of the Church on the Jewish feast of
Pentecost, A.D. 32; and the Apostles being
sent out into the world to spread the news of
Gods new kingdom, with Christ as king.

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30

Jesus' Arrest

31

In taking the gospel to the world, the 12

become, in eect, co-regents with Christ of
the emerging Kingdom of God.

If we view Jesus resurrec?on as the

inaugura?on of the Kingdom, then we see its
eschatological comple?on in the book of
Revela?on in the thousand-year reign of
Christ, when John says: Then I saw
thrones; those who sat on them were
entrusted with judgment (19: 4).
In Revela?on, when the current earth has
passed away and the New Jerusalem
descends from Heaven, we learn that the
New Jerusalems 12 gates bear the names of
the 12 tribes of Israel, and its 12 founda?ons
bear the names of the 12 Apostles (21: 14).

Jesus' Arrest

32

Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of

you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith
may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must
strengthen your brothers. He said to him, Lord, I am
prepared to go to prison and to die with you. But he
replied, I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this
day, you will deny three times that you know me.








(22: 31-34)

Jesus' Arrest

33

Holy cow! Satan entered

Judas in 22: 3, and now he
has demanded that the
Apostles be siked as
wheat.
Not me.
I told you he was
back.

Jesus' Arrest

34

When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack

or sandals, were you in need of anything? No, nothing,
they replied. He said to them, But now one who has a
money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one
who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy
one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled
in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and
indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.
Then they said, Lord, look, there are two swords here.
But he replied, It is enough!








(22: 35-38)

Jesus' Arrest

35

In contrast to the earlier Galilean

ministry of the 12 and the 72, the
future missionary Church requires
prepara?on for the opposi?on it will
encounter in a world hos?le to the
gospel and to the Kingdom of God.
When the disciples point out that
they have two swords, Jesus replies
+Ikanovn ejstin , It is enough! He is
not saying that two swords are
sucient; rather, he is saying, Stop
it; end of discussion!

Jesus' Arrest

36

1.
2.
3.
4.

The Conspiracy against Jesus (22: 1-6)

The Passover Meal (22: 7-38)
The Garden of Gethsemane (22: 39-53)
The Sanhedrin Trial (22: 54-71)

Jesus' Arrest

37

Andrea Mantegna. Agony in the Garden (tempera on wood), c. 1458-1460.

Na?onal Gallery, London.

Jesus' Arrest

38

Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the

Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he
arrived at the place he said to them, Pray that you may
not undergo the test. After withdrawing about a stones
throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, Father,
if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not
my will but yours be done. [And to strengthen him an
angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such
agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became
like drops of blood falling on the ground.] When he rose
from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them
sleeping from grief. He said to them, Why are you
sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the
test.








(22: 39-46)

Jesus' Arrest

39

! Neighborhood of the Last Supper

! Temple Complex

! Eastern (Golden) Gate

Walking to the Garden of Gethsemane "

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40

Gethsemane

! Temple Plauorm

Temple

!Eastern
(Golden) Gate
Mount of Olives "

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41

Gethsemane, looking east from the Temple Mount area. The Church of All Na?ons (also called
the Church of the Agony) is at the boLom lek.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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42

The somber interior of the Church of All Na?ons features a beau?ful mosaic
of Jesus praying in agony.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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43

The exposed bedrock is the tradi?onal place where Jesus prayed.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Jesus' Arrest

44

Gethsemane means olive press. In Jesus day Gethsemane was a commercial center for the
produc?on of olive oil, used for ligh?ng the Temple complex. Today it is a beau?ful garden.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Jesus' Arrest

45

The oldest olive tree in Gethsemane, perhaps from the ?me of Jesus.
Like people, olive trees get wider, not taller, as they grow older!
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Jesus' Arrest

46

While he was still speaking a crowd approached and in

front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He
went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, Judas,
are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? His
disciples realized what was about to happen, and they
asked, Lord, shall we strike with a sword? And one of
them struck the high priests servant and cut off his right
ear. But Jesus said in reply, Stop, no more of this!
Then he touched the servants ear and healed him. And
Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and
elders who had come for him, Have you come out as
against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I
was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize
me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of
darkness.
(22: 47-53)

Jesus' Arrest

47

!Eastern (Golden)
Gate

The Temple Mount and the Eastern (Golden) Gate seen from the Garden of Gethsemane,
320 yards away. Jesus could see them coming.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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48

GioLo. Kiss of Judas (fresco), c. 1304-1306.

Arena Chapel, Padua.

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49

Psalm 2
Why do the na?ons rage,
and the people plot what is vain?
They stand together, the kings of the earth;
the leaders conspire against the Lord and his Anointed:
Let us break their bonds asunder;
Let us cast o their cords.
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord, he laughs them to scorn.
Then he will speak in his anger;
in his wrath he will strike them with terror:
Indeed, it is I who installed my king
upon Zion, my holy hill.

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50

I will announce the decree of the Lord,

the Lord said to me:
You are my Son;
today I have begoMen you.
Ask and I shall bequeath you the naPons,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With an iron rod you will break them,
shaMer them like a poMers jar.

Now, O kings, understand;

take warning, rulers of the earth:
serve the Lord with fear and trembling;
kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish,
for suddenly his anger will blaze.
Blessed are they who trust in God.

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51

Peter cuing o the

ear of the High Priests
servant!

Giuseppe Cesari. Christ Taken Prisoner (oil on walnut panel), c. 1597.

Museumslandschak Hesse, Kassel, Germany.

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52

1.
2.
3.
4.

The Conspiracy against Jesus (22: 1-6)

The Passover Meal (22: 7-38)
The Garden of Gethsemane (22: 39-53)
The Sanhedrin Trial (22: 54-71)
[Read from text]

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53

Antonia Fortress "

! Temple

Robinsons Arch "

! Southern Steps

Home of Caiaphus

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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54

MaLhias Stom. Christ before Caiaphas (oil on canvas), c. 1633.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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55

Just as he was
saying this, the
cock crowed,
and the Lord
turned and
looked at
Peter . . .

Luke 22: 60b-61a

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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56

Courtyard "

Wohl Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Jewish Quarter).

Model of the reconstructed home. The courtyard measures 27 x 27.

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57

Simon Bening. Prayer Book of Cardinal Albrecht Brandenburg (tempera colors,

gold paint, gold leaf and ink on parchment), MS Ludwig IX 19, Fol. 123v, c.
1525-1530. GeLy Museum, Los Angeles.
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58

Caravaggio. The Denial of St. Peter (oil on canvas), c. 1610.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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59

El Greco. The Tears of St. Peter (oil on canvas), 1587-1596.

Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.

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60

Ah, ha! So Peter didnt

deny Jesus because his
faith failed; he denied
Jesus because his
courage failed!

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61

Caravaggio. Crucixion of St. Peter (oil on canvas), c. 1601.

Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome.

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62

1. Why did the religious leaders want Jesus put to death?

2. Jesus said at the Last Supper he would not drink of the
fruit of the vine unPl the kingdom of God comes (22: 18).
When does it come?
3. Jesus had told his disciples that the one who is least
among all of you is the one who is greatest (9: 48), but
at the Last Supper he tells them that he will confer a
kingdom upon them and that they will sit on
thrones (22: 29-30). How do you reconcile those two
statements?
4. Likewise, when Jesus sent out his disciples in Galilee he
told them they were to take nothing with them (9: 3), but
at the Last Supper he tells them to take a money bag, a
sack and a sword (22: 36). How do you reconcile those
two statements?
5. Why did Peter deny Jesus, not once, but three ?mes?

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63

Copyright 2015 by William C. Creasy

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64