June 16 2025

Monday June 16

Luke 22:7-13 – The Day the Passover Lamb is Prepared

7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." 9 So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" 10 And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." 13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

Today, as we look at Luke chapter 22, we need to remember the setting behind this chapter, focusing on what was happening in Jerusalem during the week of Passover, what we call Passion Week. Jesus came into Jerusalem on Sunday, Palm Sunday, riding on a donkey and being acclaimed by the people as the Promised King, Hosanna in the highest, the Son of David, the Messiah. On Monday, Jesus cleanses the temple of the money changers and thieves who were cheating the people with their exorbitant prices for the sacrificial animals and other wares. On Tuesday, Jesus is found publicly teaching in the temple and revealing Himself to be the Messiah by continuing to heal people.

There was tremendous excitement this week in Jerusalem as the Passover was taking place. Over 100,000, perhaps 300,000 or more, Jewish pilgrims had come to the city. They had been looking for the Messiah for centuries and were expecting that Jesus, who performed miracles and proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah, might be the one. John the Baptist had proclaimed that He was the Messiah, and many had repented and followed John. After John the Baptist was killed, Jesus continued His ministry of teaching the people, proclaiming the message of the Kingdom, healing people and doing miracles, for a total period of three and a half years. Jesus Christ was now back in Jerusalem during this week for Passover Week knowing He would be sacrificed as the Lamb of God to take away our sins.

The Jews were excited, but the Romans were scared and worried, thinking this might be a time for an uprising. This is likely why Pilate and Herod were both in Jerusalem, though Herod would normally be at Caesarea in his palace, and Pilate would be relaxing in Tiberias. As Roman rulers over Jerusalem and the Jews at the time, they were present, knowing there could be a riot or uprising. They were responsible to Rome to keep peace in the land. As you can imagine, it was a very electric time.

In the first six verses, Judas went to the chief priest, elders, scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders, making a deal to betray Jesus secretly. They were afraid that an open betrayal would cause issues with the people, and they knew the Romans needed to be involved to make it appear as though the Romans, not the religious leaders, were responsible for putting Christ to death. The religious leaders were already struggling with their integrity and accountability, especially since Jesus had publicly called them hypocrites.

“Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb must be killed” (v 7). We believe this day was Thursday, as the Jewish day begins in the evening. (The evening of this day would have been considered Friday, the day the Passover Lamb would be killed, and the same day Jesus would be crucified.) Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us that we may eat." Jesus already knew who Judas was. He knew from the beginning that Judas was a thief and would betray Him. Jesus knew Judas had already gone to the chief priest and betrayed Him, and He knew a plot was underway to have Him crucified. He knew because that’s why He came to Jerusalem; He knew what awaited Him there.

So, He sent Peter and John secretly, because if Judas knew, he might have had people come to arrest Jesus in the upper room. Only Peter and John knew the plan. When they asked Him where to prepare, He said, "Behold, when you’ve entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters." This was unusual because men typically didn’t carry pitchers of water; women did. Seeing a man with a pitcher would stand out, signaling, "That’s the guy." He must have been a believer. They were to say to the master of the house, "The Teacher says to you, 'Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?'" This man, likely a believer already preparing for the Passover, would show them a large, furnished upper room. They went and found it just as He had said and prepared the Passover.

Peter and John purchased the Passover lamb, took it to the chief priests, had it sacrificed and roasted, and waited in the upper room on Thursday evening for Jesus and the rest of the disciples to come.

Jesus knew what was going on, and He knew that He was the final Passover Lamb Who had been in preparation from the foundation of the world. Jesus knew this was "The Day"! And He was willing to give His life as a ransom for you and me. Oh, what a Savior! What a Savior!

God bless!