Daily Dose of Hope
September 23, 2025
Scripture – Luke 22:39-71
Prayer: Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love. Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives. Lord, we want more intimacy with you. We are desperate to know you better. In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us. We need to hear your voice... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up Luke 22.
Yesterday, we joined Jesus in the Upper Room with this disciples. Today, we find them praying together on the Mount of Olives. The only problem is that the disciples cannot stay awake. Jesus is pouring out his heart to the Father, asking that the cup be taken from him, and the disciples (in their humanness) can't keep their eyes open. Luke says that they were exhausted from sorrow. They don't know what is about to happen but they do know that it's going to be bad.
I love how Luke mentions that an angel comes down to strengthen Jesus. Remember, he freely chooses to go to the cross but he knows it's going to be terrible. In his humanity, he dreads it. But God knows what he needs and provides it. Just in case you don't know, God knows what you need and will provide it. That doesn't mean he will save you from pain and sorrow. I mean, Jesus is about to be executed on a Roman cross. But God will walk with us and give us the strength we need.
Jesus is then arrested. Luke tells us that Jesus is approached by the chief priests, officers of the Temple guard, and the elders. They come at him with swords and clubs. Verses 49-51 read, "When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. Even in this situation, Jesus responds with love.
Jesus kept his disciples from fighting back with violence. He trusted God to the end. He also made it clear that his kingdom doesn't follow the pattern of this world. This world's pattern is violence, power, and control. Jesus' way is love, truth, justice, mercy, and peace.
I did want to spend a little time on Peter's denial of Jesus. I don't know why but I've always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus' closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don't really know. But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times. When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.
Maybe I'm fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat. I have denied Jesus. I haven't spoke up when I knew I should have, I haven't stood firm on certain issues, I haven't loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven't put Jesus first, I could go on and on. I have denied Jesus. I hope that I've gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less. But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times. When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I'm filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent. And just like he did for Peter, I'm forgiven and restored.
Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
