Reflections with Andy – Luke 22: 1-6 – Jesus is the Answer 

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As we begin the narrative of the Passion in Luke 22, we are confronted with the sobering reality of Judas’s betrayal. We recognize that even those closest to Jesus, those trusted with the community’s resources and called to His side, are susceptible to the influence of spiritual darkness when they prioritize their own agendas over God’s will. We understand that while improving our society through education and resources is a vital Christian duty, these clinical solutions cannot reach the spiritual root of sin. We acknowledge our own agency and accountability, realizing that we must keep our hearts guarded and focused on Christ, who is the only ultimate answer to the brokenness within us and around us.

Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history.

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Good morning! It is wonderful to conclude this week with you. I hope you truly enjoy rest this weekend before we gather for our traditional service this Sunday at St. Matthew’s.

As a reminder, we will be off this Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I love your suggestion to find a way to serve and improve our community that day; it is the perfect way to turn our “rooted” faith into “reaching” love. We will pick back up on Tuesday, the 20th.

Today, we step into the shadow of the Cross as we begin Luke chapter 22.

The Shadow of Betrayal (Luke 22:1–6)

The atmosphere in Jerusalem is tense. The Passover is near—a time celebrating liberation—but the religious leaders are plotting a death.

“Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them.”

The Trusted Treasurer

It’s important to remember that Judas wasn’t a “villain” to the other disciples. He was their treasurer. You don’t give the money bag to someone you don’t trust. He was loved by Jesus and respected by his peers.

Scholars often wonder: Why? Many believe Judas wasn’t trying to “kill” Jesus as much as he was trying to force His hand. If Jesus were arrested, surely He would finally call down the legions of angels, overthrow Rome, and establish that earthly kingdom they all wanted. But in trying to manage God’s plan, Judas opened a door to something much darker.

Clinical Evil vs. Spiritual Reality

You touched on a profound point about how we view “evil” in modern society. We often try to make evil clinical. We say:

  • “If we just had better education…”
  • “If we just had more resources…”
  • “If we just had more opportunity…”

These things are good and necessary. As Christians, we should be the first in line to fight poverty and improve education. But as you wisely noted, education without a transformed heart just makes someone a “more clever devil.”

The Agency of the Heart

Luke tells us plainly: “Satan entered into Judas.” There is a spiritual dimension to the brokenness of our world that a checkbook or a textbook cannot fix. While we aren’t mere puppets—Judas had agency and made his own choices—there is a battle for our souls.

We cannot “resource” our way out of sin. We can only “Jesus” our way out of it.

  • We need houses, yes.
  • We need jobs, yes.
  • But ultimately, we need the Savior.

When we try to solve spiritual problems with purely clinical answers, we miss the root of the issue. The answer to the betrayal in our own hearts and the ills of our society is the same person Judas walked away from: Jesus Christ.

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