Chronological Gospels: Luke 22; John 13
We jump back into the gospels with Luke and John this week and their accounts of the events surrounding the Last Supper with Jesus. A few nuggets in these chapters give us some additional insight into the accounts we have read from Matthew and Mark.
One of these chapters’ main pieces centers on Satan’s hand in the events that are about to unfold. In these passages, we learn that Satan put the thought of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, that later Satan entered Judas, and also that Satan had asked to sift Peter like wheat. Satan’s fingerprints are all over this scene. There are several reasons this is important.
Knowing that Satan was at work here is vital. First of all, notice “Satan has asked” in Luke 22:31. Satan had to get permission. On the flip side, though, notice that Satan did not enter Judas until after the idea had been put into his very heart. Satan cannot enter someone whose heart is steadfast on Jesus. Judas’ heart had turned on Jesus, and the fact that Satan entered him tells us that the deepest thoughts of Judas’ heart were on betraying Jesus.
Jesus knows our very hearts, and we see all over scripture warnings to guard our hearts and our minds. Later on, Jesus commands the exhausted disciples to pray so that they do not enter temptation. Instead, they kept falling asleep rather than praying, eventually, they all fled, and Peter ended up doing just as Christ warned him he would do and denied Christ 3 times to save his own neck.
Jesus knows exactly what Satan wants, exactly what will tempt us, exactly what we will stumble on, and He also knows exactly what – or should I say, Who – will save us from all of the above. He is the only One. When we place our faith and trust entirely in Him, He gives us what we need.
What does this teach you about the work of Satan in your own life?
Jesus also emphasizes that the disciples have never lacked anything they need while they were with Him. They agree with Him. He is pointing out that He made a way for them and provided all they needed. It was not their own doing, but His provisions that supplied their needs. He provides for our physical needs, as well as our spiritual needs.
When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He was teaching them even more about His provision and how we as His followers are to live and lead. In this beautiful moment, Jesus takes on the appearance and role of a servant, washing the dust off of their feet, and then explains to them that we are to do likewise.
By washing their feet He teaches them not only to serve one another, to not seek their own greatness, but also He is teaching a vital spiritual lesson. Once a believer is bathed by the Lord, once we enter into the family of God by faith in Jesus, we are made clean. From there on, we do not need to be made entirely clean again as if cleaning the whole body, but we need daily confession to wash the daily filth of life from us. When we confess our sins daily, we are forgiven of our sins. This is like washing only dusty feet rather than bathing the entire body.
What does Jesus washing the disciples’ feet teach you about Jesus?
What does this teach you about your own prayer and confession life?
As true disciples of Jesus, we are to humble ourselves to serve others, and daily confess our sins. He tells them later on His new command to love as He has loved, and that we will be known as His disciples by how we love other believers. This expands on loving your neighbor, and zeroes in on caring for one another as followers of Jesus.
What does this command teach you about biblical love?
What does this teach you about your relationship with other believers?
