Lucas 22

Lucas 22

Pentecost address, etc.), was completely ineffective. For example see Acts 6:7+. The impression left upon us by these words of our Lord is that they were spoken in a calm and earnest manner. To be sure, Jesus rebukes, but at the same time He is even now seeking the lost, that He may save them. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke) While Luke surprisingly makes no mention of the fearful response of the disciples, Matthew and Mark both record that "all the disciples left Him and fled" (Mt 26:56, Mk 14:50). In addition Mark adds the unique account of the young man who fled in a linen sheet (Mk 14:51-52). Lay (1614)(ekteino) gives us a graphic picture meaning literally to stretch out (Luke adds Greek word for hands) in context clearly signifying a hostile intent, specifically the intent being to arrest Jesus. Matthew uses ekteino to describe when Jesus "stretched out His hand and took hold of" Peter as he was beginning to sink under the water (Mt 14:31)! Matthew also uses ekteino to describe when Simon Peter "reached and drew out his sword" to cut off Malchus' ear (Mt 26:51)! Jesus used ekteino to describe Peter's mode of death declaring "when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone will gird you," describing Peter's crucifixion (Jn 21:18). (See 1 Clement 5:4; 6:1; See Eusebius The Ecclesiastical History Book 2. Chapter 25, note 5 = "It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified under Nero. This account of Peter and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to the present day."). Prior to this time it was not yet the hour, but now the hour has arrived... (Jn 7:30) So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. (Jn 8:20) These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. God's redemptive timetable was perfectly on schedule! As Mark 14:49 states “this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures,” which is "another way of pointing to the arrival of the time in which God’s redemptive plan would take place and find its fulfillment." (Stein) This hour...yours - Hour is hora which is not a literal 60 minutes in this context but speaks of a defined period of time, a "fixed time" or specific time for some activity, in this case the evil activities surrounding Jesus' arrest, trials and crucifixion. As Jesus had prophesied earlier "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour' (hora)? But for this purpose I came to this hour (hora)." While this "hour" might seem to be an hour of triumph for the enemies of Jesus, His crucifixion would bring about His hour of triumph over the power of darkness (Satan) and the penalty and power of Sin. NOT JUST EARTHLY BUT COSMIC OPPOSITION Stein - That which was taking place involved a far deeper opposition than that between the Jewish leadership and Jesus. It involved the cosmic opposition between Satan, the ruler of this age, and God (cf. Acts 26:18; cf. also Luke 22:3, 31). The darkness of the present moment is symbolic of the reign of darkness at this time. Compare John 13:30+. (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture)) The power (exousia) of darkness (skotos) are yours - NLT has "the time when the power of darkness reigns." HCSB has "this is your hour-- and the dominion of darkness." This phrase is an acknowledgment of more than the darkness of the night in which Jesus is arrested. The power of darkness is another name for the kingdom of Satan, Paul explaining that God "rescued us from the domain (power) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." (Col 1:13+) The mixed crowd that came to arrest Jesus in the Garden were all willing subjects of the kingdom of Satan, under his power, serving as his "pawns" exercising his authority in this darkest hour in the history of the world! Of course Satan only had the authority which God permitted him to exercise in order to bring about the final events of the Passion, but even his evil would fulfill prophecy and God's plan of redemption. One is reminded of Joseph's words “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive (cf Jn 1:29b)." (Ge 50:20). As always, the temporary finite power of darkness is subject to the eternal overruling providence of God. Jesus mention of power (exousia) of darkness (skotos)reminds one of John's description of Judas who "after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night" (Jn 13:30) and also the fact that the prince of darkness, Satan, had just "entered into him." (Jn 13:27). A dark heart went into a dark night for a dark deed. In Ephesians Paul reminds the saints that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12) In Colossians Paul reminds the saints that God has "rescued us from the domain (exousia) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." (Col 1:13+). Peter says we "are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Pe 2:9) John warns that "If we say that we have fellowship with Him (God) and yet walk (present tense) in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth, but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn 1:6-7)