SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 29th/30th June 2011
LUKE – Jesus, Son of Man

Chapter 22:39-65 This is your hour

The Old Testament gives many prophecies of the coming Messiah. There is a ‘red cord’ that speaks of the one dying to bring reconciliation. The first time this is shown to be a person is Isaiah 52-53. Read 52:13 to 53:5 before proceeding with our study. V3 – probably sums up this passage (and the next) –‘He was despised and rejected’, and this written some 700 years before the event.

Prayer in the garden  v 39-46
Matthew, Mark and particularly John tell us it was the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke gives us a brief summary –showing how Jesus consented to ‘drink the cup’ and also the disciples ‘exhausted from sorrow’. What does this teach you about Jesus, in His praying and the answer to His prayer? 
v45-46	What do these verses tell us about the disciples? How would we have faired? What did the disciples learn from this for the future times when they would face testing? Notice how graciously Jesus deals with them.

Power of darkness   v 47-53
Jesus did not finish talking with them –before the ‘crowd’ came – from the Sanhedrin (as Matthew and Mark tells) and also Roman soldiers (as John tells us). Why send such a large group?
v47	Judas last act with Jesus –a normal greeting, but one which the authorities could identify Jesus.
v48	What a betrayer! How does Jesus deal with him?
v49-51	Armed resistance? Notice the detail of an eyewitness. What do you make of Jesus’ response?
	Refer also to Matthew 26:51-53.
v52-53	It would seem this was taken very seriously by the leaders, when you consider who was there.
Jesus draws attention to their weapons –which, in reality, were inappropriate. In fact they were not needed –as in the last sentence The leaders of course had not the courage to confront Him during the day. Yet Jesus means more than that here. ‘this is your hour’ – what does He mean?

Peter disowns Christ   v54-62
Stop here and meditated on these three words ‘they led Him’. Sinful humans (created beings) leading God the Son (the uncreated –sinless One)!
Read v33 of Peter’s boldness, then go through this passage, noting ‘he followed at a distance’ (v54)- then the episode that brought him to tears.
See how the denials get stronger –what does that tell us?
v61-62	The look –literally a fixed looked. It brought a remembrance –it brought repentance. That was a new beginning for Peter –but not completed until the resurrection. What does this tell us about failure and forgiveness?

Prophesy requested   v63-65
Jesus was now left in the custody of the guards. Beating and mockery – while waiting it would seem for the full Sanhedrin to assemble. (Isaiah 50:6) 
What do you learn from Jesus in this situation? - see -1 Peter 2:21-25
In conclusion read –Acts 8:33 and 2 Corinthians 8:9
												D.J.

PRAYER POINTS:
Preparations for How Cool is That Holiday Club – 22-26 August.
Surrey Sketchers and Surrey Smarties –the contacts made with unbelievers.
Naomi – Youth Work Assistant.