This week’s ongoing Biblical study series on the Social Gospel Blog with Rev. Paul J. Bern will be part 1 of Luke chapter 22: “The Greatest Passover”

A Savior Betrayed as One Man Seals His Own Fate, and All For the Salvation of the World

(Luke chapter 22, verses 1–19)

Last week when we concluded chapter 21 of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus had said all he was going to say to the Twelve — and to ourselves, the readers and students of Christ — regarding the signs of Christ’s 2nd coming and of the “end of the age”. Let’s not forget that we are living at or near the “end of the age” as Jesus described it, and we all have a responsibility to remain faithful to Jesus as we await his arrival to take us home. Chapter 21 ends with that discussion being over and done with, as Jesus had since returned to the Temple at Jerusalem where he taught daily.

Notice that our Lord and Savior had deemphasized the “end of the age” and had gone back to teaching and preaching. Jesus did not perform any more miracles during this time. Certain modern era churches would be wise to emulate our Lord’s example. Some are placing more emphasis on Jesus’ impending return than they are on saving souls and bringing them back to Christ where we all belong. Jesus prophesied about this when he said to his apostles, “He who does not gather with me, scatters”. In this week’s lesson, we will begin an analysis of the Last Supper and the betrayal of our soon-to-be-risen Savior and Kinsman Redeemer. So let’s get going here, starting at verse one.

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple Guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted, and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.” (Luke 22, verses 1–6)

It was the week leading up to the Passover feast, a major Jewish holiday, and those who opposed Jesus who were in…