22nd December – Luke 22: “He Humbled Himself”
Hey friends, welcome to December 22nd. Luke 22 is the night everything changes: the Passover meal, the garden prayer, betrayal, denial, mock trials. It’s the night Jesus humbled Himself to the uttermost, stepping down into the deepest valley for us. Years ago, I walked the ancient stone steps from Gethsemane down into the Kidron Valley and up to Caiaphas’s house, the very path Jesus took that night under guard. Those steps are still there (see video above), though worn by centuries. They remind me of Philippians 2: “He humbled himself… even the death of the cross.”
Part 1 – With Desire I Have Desired (vv. 1-38) The chief priests and scribes seek to kill Jesus. Satan enters Judas. Yet Jesus says to His disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (v. 15). He takes bread: “This is my body which is given for you.” The cup: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (vv. 19-20). He washes their feet, teaches servant leadership, warns Peter of Satan’s sifting, yet promises, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (v. 32).
Even knowing betrayal is coming, His desire is for fellowship with them, and also with us.
Part 2 – Gethsemane: The Cup of Humbling (vv. 39-46) On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (v. 42). An angel strengthens Him. In agony, He sweats as it were great drops of blood. The disciples sleep. He rises: “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
Here is the heart of Christmas continued… the eternal Son, who stepped down into a manger, now steps lower still, accepting the cup of wrath we deserved.
Part 3 – Betrayal, Denial, and Mockery (vv. 47-71) Judas betrays with a kiss. Peter slashes Malchus’s ear; Jesus heals it, then says, “I AM HE.” They fall backward. Peter follows afar off, denies three times, the cock crows, Jesus turns and looks upon him, and Peter weeps bitterly. Before the council, they mock, blindfold, slap Him: “Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?” At dawn: “Art thou the Christ?” He answers, “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” They cry, “Art thou then the Son of God?” “Ye say that I am.”
The night of His betrayal, He humbled Himself, to be betrayed, denied, mocked, and condemned. Yet He never used the power He could have: “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53).
Friends, those ancient steps from Gethsemane to Caiaphas trace the path of Philippians 2: “Who, being in the form of God… humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
This Christmas week, walk those steps in your heart. He came down, all the way down, for you. Look at the manger, then at the garden, then at the cross. And worship the One who humbled Himself to lift you up.
See you tomorrow for Luke 23. Grace and peace! 🙏
