39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
The events we read about in the Gospel of Luke today are familiar to everyone. We constantly encounter injustice and violence, cruelty and betrayal. Sin and suffering have penetrated human nature so deeply that they seem inevitable. And so, as we prepare for Great Lent, we read how God, having become man, drank this cup to the dregs. Unlike us, He accepted our suffering voluntarily in order to share it with us. We therefore seek an opportunity to honor His suffering through some spiritual effort. Last week we read the words of the apostle and evangelist John, who told us that this can only be an effort to love our neighbor, an effort to keep Christ's commandments. In the second half of the sixth century BC, the author of the second half of the book of Isaiah also conveyed God's words to us: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness...” And the passages about Christ's way to the Cross that we read this week tell us that loving God and loving people means standing with the Mother of God at the foot of the Cross.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, |
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. |
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. |
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? |
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? |
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. |
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. |
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? |
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. |
54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. |
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. |
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. |
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. |
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. |
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. |
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. |
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. |
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. |
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. |
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? |
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. |
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, |
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: |
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. |
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. |
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. |
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. |
The most remarkable thing about the arrest and interrogation of Jesus is that no one involved in it, except, of course, Jesus Himself, truly understands what is happening. The disciples think that they are witnessing the beginning of a failed uprising which ended before it could even begin. Peter, the most determined of them, is ready to fight and even tries to start it, but the Teacher's response leaves him completely bewildered, as it does the other disciples. They do not understand what is happening or what they should do next. In the end they simply scatter: there is nothing else left for them to do, since everything is lost.
Peter follows the Teacher, but now without any hope, simply wanting to see what will happen to Him. He denies Him so easily precisely because nothing matters to him any longer. Everything is over, so what difference does it make now whether or not he was with Jesus? It would be utterly absurd to suffer for taking part in an uprising that never happened. Only the cock's crow brings Peter back to reality: true reality, where relationships matter absolutely and where nothing is over yet, but everything is only beginning.
As for the high priest and his circle, they understand little more. For them too, Jesus is merely the leader of a failed messianic uprising who remains dangerous as long as He is alive. All the charges are transparently fabricated and judicial procedure is not observed. Clearly, they simply want to get rid of Him.
But He goes about His work: bringing into the world the Kingdom that He must bring. Caring for His disciples without relying on them. Paying no attention to mockery and abuse. And making no attempt to defend Himself at the “trial,” not only because it is indeed a “trial” in quotation marks, but also because in this case He could have defended Himself only by abandoning the fulfilment of the one supreme task for which He came into the world. And He goes on, to the cross. In a fallen world, there is no other path for Him.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, |
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. |
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. |
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? |
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? |
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. |
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. |
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? |
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. |
54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. |
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. |
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. |
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. |
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. |
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. |
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. |
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. |
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. |
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. |
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? |
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. |
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, |
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: |
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. |
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. |
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. |
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. |
What happened was what had to happen, as Jesus had repeatedly foretold to His disciples. The world under the power of Satan could not endure its meeting with the Righteous One. It had either to die to sin itself, to change radically, to be reborn, or to pass a death sentence on this Man.
Having become disciples of Jesus, we must not forget this incompatibility of Christ and sin, not only in Him Himself, not only in our hearts, but also in the world. If we have truly found faith in Christ, then the choice inevitably stands before us: to die to ourselves and live with Him, or to join those who condemned Him to death two thousand years ago. Peter's denial shows that this choice does not change a person automatically, that his fears, weakness, and cowardice remain with him. Yet there is still an enormous difference between Peter, who wept bitterly over his denial, and the members of the Sanhedrin.
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 any thing? 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. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, |
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. |
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. |
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? |
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? |
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. |
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. |
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? |
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. |
The path to Golgotha began even before Gethsemane, with loneliness among the disciples who did not understand Him. Very little time would pass before the apostles became entirely different people, but for now they are causing the Teacher additional suffering.
Seeing this, Christ, who came to save us, does not reject the disciples. This is precisely the meaning of His words to Peter, which contain both a warning about his coming weakness and the commission to strengthen his brothers after his fall. Christ sees Peter’s weakness, just as He sees the weakness of each of us; yet He not only refrains from condemning or rejecting Peter and every one of us, but also strengthens us. Even in the words addressed to Judas, we hear not condemnation, but a sorrowful reproach capable of awakening the conscience.
If only we were ready to accept His support. Peter will be able to do so a little later, but Judas will not want to...
The name of the Mount of Olives makes us remember the oil used for anointing, including anointing to kingship. But Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, and He goes toward His triumph not through ritual anointing, but through sacrificial suffering.
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 any thing? 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. |
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. |
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, |
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, |
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. |
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. |
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? |
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? |
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. |
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. |
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? |
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. |
The carefree times are over. If earlier the apostles could preach without a penny of money and without bread in a bag, now not even a sword can save them and their Teacher. There is a time when God does not grant the prayer even of the most righteous person, and when one cannot trust even oneself. Jesus must drink His cup, and Peter deceives himself, assuring the Teacher of faithfulness to the grave.
What should one do when "the time of the lawless and the power of darkness" comes? If the apostles did not know, how can we know? All they have left are Jesus' words: "I prayed that your faith may not fail..." Faith that even in the darkness everything remains in God's hands...
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 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 shew 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 any more 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 any thing? 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. |
Today we read a vast passage from the Gospel according to Luke, including the account of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem and the account of the Last Supper and Christ’s Farewell Discourse with His disciples. In essence, it is the account of the establishment of the New Covenant, which will be finally sealed by Christ’s Blood shed on the Cross.
For the sake of establishing the New Covenant, the Lord goes to the Cross. Today we read that not one step on Christ’s final path is easy. Like a razor, God’s saving action divides people. A few disciples accept what Christ does and says, but the voices of opponents who take offense at Jesus are constantly heard around Him. In the end, only the twelve disciples remain beside Him, and even one of them proves to be a traitor. At the foot of His cross, amid the mocking crowd, we see only His Most Pure Mother with the beloved disciple, several women, and the astonished centurion Longinus, who unexpectedly to himself declares the truth that this man was the Son of God.
But despite the ever-growing opposition, the Son of Man goes as it is written of Him. Reading such a long passage allows us to feel the events gathering ever greater speed. This is not a slow and stately procession. Rather, the evangelist’s account gives the impression of a swift march whose final purpose is the establishment of the New Covenant, the covenant in which we become participants by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ according to His commandment.
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 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 shew 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 any more 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 any thing? 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. |
The Mount of Olives is the beginning of Christ's glorification. It is His Entry into Jerusalem, the entry of the King. And He returns to the same mountain after He has eaten the Passover with the disciples. And again from the Mount of Olives begins Christ's glorification, now as Savior of the World.
And at the Passover meal Christ explains to the apostles what He Himself had been doing and what is being accomplished. He is the One who serves, and beside Him were people whose hearts had already changed. People to whom He promises a meal in the Kingdom of Heaven. And to whom, as witnesses of His deeds, He bequeaths the Communion of His Body and Blood. Communion in His death and imminent Resurrection. Communion in the glory of Christ, through which all Christians have been strengthened and saved from those days onward.
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