Luke22 – Judy in the Sky

Read Luke 22:35-71 – It’s getting real.

Jesus prepares the men by noting the shift, he sent them out with nothing before and now they would need to be prepared for hostility. They would be counted as rebels(:37).

Jesus asked them to pray, as he stepped away to pray also. An angel came and ministered to Jesus as he prayed, and he prayed to the agony of blood. Beloved, if there were any way to Salvation, apart from the cross, this is the time God would have changed Jesus’s course. The wrath I deserve, the wrath you deserve and all sinners for all time was in that cup, and Jesus pleaded for another way while still surrendering, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. ” 22:42

And when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping and not praying(:46). Beloved, pray fierce and fervently, do not cower in denial, do not sleep when you should be praying.

Then Judas shows up, betraying Jesus with a kiss. The disciples are ready to fight; the high priests slave gets his ear chopped off. Jesus puts a stop to it and heals the man (:51)! Jesus gives a miracle here in the middle of this betrayal. Jesus is arrested, Peter denies him, Jesus is beaten with a level of cruelty that is hard to comprehend.

Beloved, don’t look away, don’t sleep. Pray.🙏🙇‍♀️🙏

Read Luke 22:1-34 – Sifting gets the lumps out.

Today’s portion of Scripture covers Judas’s betrayal. It covers what we call THE LAST SUPPER and COMMUNION. And it contains a verse that has carried me through many trials.

This is Jesus speaking: SIMON, SIMON, SATAN HAS ASKED TO SIFT YOU AS WHEAT. BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, SIMON, THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS. 22:31-32

Beloved, have you ever felt sifted? Do you know that Jesus prays for you? Do you recognize that the trial is not your forever, but that Jesus has great things for you to do ‘when you have turned back’? The Bible tells us that we are to consider trials as pure joy because of the great things they accomplish in us (see James 1:2-4).

Judas and Simon(Peter) will both fail Jesus, but only Simon turns back (repents)… and he lives an amazing life for Christ that literally changed the world. Beloved, don’t ever quit before the miracle. ❣↩💖🙌💖↪❣