The stage for the final scene has been set. The forces of evil have recruited Judas to betray Jesus which will allow Satan to unleash false allegations against him. When the charges of blasphemy, heresy, and false messiah are leveled against Jesus, Satan’s plan will all come together with the crucifixion of Jesus. But, God isn’t finished. Just as God turned the Pharaoh’s oppressive tyranny against him to set the Israelites free, so God will turn Satan’s fury against him to set the whole world free from slavery to sin and death. Soon the headlines will read, “Satan snatches defeat out of the jaws of victory.”
Books of atonement theology have been written trying to understand and explain exactly what God was doing through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Generally there are four main theories for understanding atonement: the ransom theory or Christ the Victor, the satisfaction theory, the penal substitution theory and the moral influence theory. All of these theologies have one thing in common: Christ died.
When Jesus shared the Passover Meal with his disciples he announced God’s New Covenant with all people. To help us hold tight to our new freedom Jesus used a simple meal to illustrate the value of his suffering and death. It is no wonder that many Christians choose to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion weekly, if not daily. Through the sacrament we are remembering we have been set free by the death of Christ, or as Paul put it:
We have been made right in God’s sight by faith,
We have peace with God because of what
Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Because of our faith,
Christ has brought us into this place of
Undeserved privilege where we now stand,
(Romans 5:1-2)
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
9-Feb-12 Luke 22:21-38
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