Luke 22:17-18

Luke is the only gospel writer who mentions more than one cup being shared at the Passover meal.  As I wonder about that fact, I think that it is a possibility that Jesus did not drink any of cups.  I will tell you why.  Verse 17 sounds like he told his disciples to share the cup among themselves.  Verse 18 is interesting.  The word translated “from now on” can have an alternate meaning of “now”.   You can see both examples in the translations below”

“I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes”  NASV

“I will not (now) drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come”  KJV

"Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives." MESSAGE

Jesus just said (in verse 16) how he had longed to eat the Passover with his disciples this one last time and that he would never eat it again until it was fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. That statement included the four cups.  They were part of the meal.  But now Luke writes down that Jesus also said something about not drinking of the “fruit of the vine” until the Kingdom of God comes.   If Jesus declined to drink any of the cups that night… what would have been a possible reason?  This is what I thought of:

• Priests were not allowed to drink wine and enter the temple to offer sacrifices. Leviticus 10:9
• A person who had taken a Nazarite vow could not drink wine, or ingest any grape product,while they were living out the days of their vow.  Numbers 6:1-27

I can see Jesus setting himself aside for God’s special purpose by taking a Nazarite vow.  And I can also see him as my high priest entering the Holy of Holies with the ultimate sacrifice for my sin.  Either would have required his abstaining from the cups that evening.

Every now and then I like to paraphrase what I have read in the scripture.  I am not inspired so you don’t have to accept what I have written.   But here is how I would say what Jesus was saying in Luke 22:17 – 18.

“You guys go ahead and partake of these cups tonight.  I cannot this time since I have set myself apart to God for the task of becoming the sacrificial lamb tomorrow evening.  I will celebrate with you later when the Kingdom of God comes.”  Tealease

If this is true that Jesus set himself apart for God’s purpose by denying himself certain things, (like not ingesting anything coming from a grape vine) then perhaps I should look at my own life and do the same.  Are there times or moments when I should change my behavior to demonstrate my dedication to my spiritual journey?  I think maybe yes. 

Luke 22:16

¹⁶for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Jesus is facing his own torturous death and yet he is thinking about the future.  He is making plans even as he faces the end.  He says that this is the last Passover he will celebrate… until the next one.  He says that He will eat the next Passover after it’s meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom. 
  
In Exodus 6:6-7   God mentioned four things he was going to do for the Israelites in Egypt.

“I will bring you out” 

"I will deliver you"

“I will redeem you”

“I will take you to me for a people”

Each of these promises was celebrated at the Passover meal by a cup of wine.  The first two cups were drunk during the meal and the last two after the meal.  (Some add a fifth cup after the meal from a promise in verse 8, “I will give it (the land) to you for a possession.”)  I personally think that the cup Jesus called the “new covenant in my blood” was the third cup.  The cup of redemption, as his blood would release us from sin’s prison.  The fulfillment of the fourth and maybe fifth cup was yet to come.  I would like to imitate Jesus example of facing hardship that I see demonstrated in this verse.

As Jesus faced hardship, he believed he had a future. 

As Jesus faced hardship he believed that the difficulty was a smaller part of a bigger drama.

As Jesus faced hardship he tried to give the vision to others. 

As Jesus faced hardship he believed that there are some meaningful things that survive any difficulty, even death.

Luke 22:15

Jesus sat down with his disciples to celebrate the Passover.  He tells his disciples, as The Message paraphrase puts it, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering.”  So I just have to ask, Jesus, why did you so “look forward” to this time?  Jews usually observed the Passover with their families, but where was yours?  Jesus, how could you have thought of food at a time like this?  You were headed for the toughest moments of your life?  

How do I face trouble?  I usually avoid people and suffer on my own.  What do you do?

Jesus wanted to be with his disciples doing something, not just hanging out.  He was celebrating the Passover.  Why the Passover.  Why not just enjoy a fishing trip or a sight seeing tour of the temple?  Jesus saw his own identity in the Passover.  He identified so closely with it that he renamed portions of the meal in his own honor!  “This is my body”.  “This is my blood”.   Jesus wanted to be with the Disciples but he wanted to share his life with them as well. 

When I am with others what part of myself do I share?  Is there anyone in my life that knows my inner longings my sense of purpose?  The reason why I am here?  Do I know?

Jesus would be arrested in a few hours and events would begin that would crescendo until his physical life ended before sundown the next day.   He wanted to be close to his disciples and he wanted to share more of himself with them.  He really looked forward to it.  He wanted to spend the time.  He wanted to share his life.  We should probably imitate his example more.

Kind of sucks when you think that our modern Lord’s Supper celebration usually amounts to a blip on a church bulletin somewhere between the announcements and the offering.

Luke 22:7-13

All or Nothing?

I remember the story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  Goldie found that the lukewarm porridge was “just right”.  (Neither hot nor cold).  Jesus said that if he found a follower to be like that (lukewarm) he would “spew him out of his mouth”. (Revelation 3:16)  I have difficulty in my spiritual path following Jesus when it comes to an acceptable level of commitment or devotion.  Is it really all or nothing or is it all or something? 

Why did Jesus tell Peter and John to go to town and prepare the Passover?  Why did Jesus maintain this connection with the Jewish Religion when the leaders of that very Religion were plotting his death?  I guess, if I were to be honest, I would have abandoned the whole thing.  It would have be an “all or nothing” thing for me.  But even though Jesus often showed contempt for what the Jewish religion had become, He did not abandon it.

I think Jesus saw some things I don’t often see without some effort.  He saw something worthwhile mixed together with something that was not.  (Sort of like seeing me and my life.)  He also saw himself in that thing of value.  When he celebrated the meal he made mention that the meal did more than commemorate the delivery of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  He revealed a new message in an old practice, “this is my body” and “this is my blood”. 

I have met many people in my lifetime who have abandoned the Christian faith and their own spiritual journey because they were disillusioned by churches, people, or God himself.  For them it was all or nothing.  There is another old saying that I have heard a lot.  It was first found in print in England about 500 years ago.  “Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.”  In other words it may not be all or nothing, but maybe all or something. 

Teale