Last Supper, Cross & Emmaus
Luke 20–24What happens in Luke 20–24
These final chapters of Luke contain the most important events in history. Religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority; He responds with parables exposing hypocrisy. At the Last Supper, Jesus transforms the Passover: 'This is my body given for you... This cup is the new covenant in my blood.' In Gethsemane He prays in anguish yet submits: 'Not my will, but yours be done.' Judas betrays Him; Peter denies Him three times.
Jesus is tried before the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate. Though Pilate finds no guilt, he yields to the crowd. Jesus is crucified between two criminals, one mocks Him, the other receives the promise: 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' Darkness covers the land; the temple curtain tears in two; Jesus cries 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit' and dies.
On Sunday morning, women find the tomb empty. Angels announce: 'He is not here; he has risen!' The risen Jesus walks with two disciples to Emmaus, opening all the Scriptures to show how everything pointed to Him. When He breaks bread, their eyes open and they recognize Him. He appears to all the disciples, shows His wounds, eats fish, commissions them as witnesses to all nations, and ascends to heaven with the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Key takeaways
- The Last Supper transforms the Passover, Jesus IS the Passover Lamb whose blood establishes a new covenant.
- Jesus' prayer 'Not my will, but yours' is the ultimate model of surrender.
- The cross reveals both the worst of human sin and the greatest act of God's love.
- The resurrection changes everything, Jesus is alive, death is defeated, and all Scripture finds its meaning in Him.
A verse to carry
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit! Having said this, he breathed his last.Luke 23:44-46 (WEB)
Three cosmic signs at Jesus' death: darkness, torn curtain, and His final cry of trust. Even dying, He addressed God as 'Father.'
Something to sit with
Jesus prayed 'Not my will, but yours be done' even though it meant the cross. What area of your life do you find hardest to surrender to God's will?
Did you know?
The Last Supper was during Passover, Jesus chose this meal to reveal He is the ultimate Passover Lamb.
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