"Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. (8) And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. (9) And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? (10) And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. (11) And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? (12) And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. (13) And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (14) And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (21) But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. (22) And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! (23) And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. (24) And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (25) And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. (26) But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. (27) For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (28) Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. (29) And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; (30) That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (33) And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (34) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (35) And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. (36) Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (37) For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. (38) And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. (39) And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him."
I have not interrupted the precious narrative, both of the celebration of the Passover, the institution of the Lord's Supper, and the Redeemer's divine discourse, both before, and with those services, and after. The account, as here given by Luke, carries on the subject to the moment when the Lord Jesus arose from the table, and went for the last time to the Mount of Olives. But, the Reader must be aware, that numberless incidents beside those which Luke hath here recorded, took place at this memorable season. Here it was, at this table, Jesus delivered in part that sweet discourse which John hath recorded in John 14:1; John 15:1, and John 16:1 of his Gospel. According to my apprehension of those solemn transactions, I conceive that Jesus, viewing the deep sorrow of heart expressed in the countenances of the eleven Apostles, after the traitor was gone out, begun that most blessed Sermon, as related by John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled, etc. And when the Lord had concluded that chapter, he arose, as Luke here describes, and went forth towards the Mount of Olives. And I am inclined to suppose, that, as Jesus was passing along, beholding the rich luxuriant vines which spread their branches on the ground, he continued his discourse, and took occasion to describe himself under this similitude with his people, and then begun at the words John hath recorded in the opening of John 15:1, and thus prosecuting his blessed Sermon through the whole to the end of John 16:1. And then offered up the prayer John 17:1. Whether this be rightly placed, according to order, I venture not to determine. But, certain it is, that somewhere about this time the Lord Jesus preached this farewell Sermon to his dear disciples; and as a dying Father, encircled by his family, the Lord thus took leave of them as a body together. I remember, in the writings of Luther, that highly honored servant of the Lord, concerning this loving Sermon of Jesus, he saith, "Never since the world began was there such a precious, costly, sweet, and heavenly banquet feast conversation and discourse, as this of Jesus' Supper with his disciples."
The Reader will observe, that I have not ventured to say more on the services of the Passover, and the Institution of the Supper, than barely to point out, according to Luke's account of it, at what verse the service of the Passover ended, and that of the Holy Supper began. But I leave him to his own meditations on both, under the hope that God the Holy Ghost will unfold and explain to him the whole in order. Christ was here doing away forever the one, and establishing the other. It was the last Passover ever to be observed in the Church of God; for Christ the true Passover was now come; and the shadow of the ordinance wholly ceased. And it was the first Supper in commemoration of Christ's death, and which was instituted for a perpetual remembrance of the same, until time should be no more. Under the impressions of all these high ideas, and infinitely more than our faculties are competent to conceive, the Lord Jesus abolished the one, and established the other; and enjoined the sweet service of the Supper in those endearing words, This do in remembrance of me!
In remembrance of thee! O Lamb of God! I would say in words similar to the Church, as she spake of her beloved Jerusalem; If I forget thee, let my right hand forget her cunning! If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; yea, if I prefer not the meditation of Jesus and Gethsemane above my chief joy! Psalms 137:5-19
For observations from Luke 22:23-30, inclusive, see Matthew 26:27 to the end.
On the subject of Peter's temptation, fall, and recovery, I purpose to gather the whole into one view, in the latter part of this chapter, where we have the circumstances more fully recorded; and offer a few observations. But I would in this place just remark, what a most interesting view is given the Church in this short but striking account of Peter's danger, and Christ's all-sufficiency. Think how the Lord's eye is everlastingly watching over his redeemed. This was an hour of deep sorrow; but Jesus forgets his own sorrows, to attend to the exercises of his tried ones. Satan desired to have Peter, that he might sift him as wheat, Yes! that deadly foe desires to cast the whole Apostles, yea, the whole Church of Christ into hell. Revelation 2:10. And observe Peter's, and the whole Church's safety, I have prayed for thee! Reader! above all things keep this in everlasting view. It is not our prayers, our tears, our strivings, our strength! The devil laughs at the whole, for they are no more than a feather to the wind, in the hour of temptation! Precious Lord! it is thy Advocacy, thy Blood, thy Covenant righteousness, which becomes the security of thy people! And what a sweet thought to every child of God in a trying hour; there is more in Jesus: in point of descryings for his redeemed, than there is of undeservings in all their persons. Jesus hath more to plead in himself and his merit for poor sinners, whom the Father, hath given to him, than all their unworthiness hath to say against them! Reader! never lose sight of this!