Working Notes for Luke 22:52-71 (These are compiled from different scholarly works and my own synthesis of ideas)

V 52 indicates the religious leaders were in the background waiting to see if there would be a display of power or rebellion – they wanted others to bear the brunt of the fight, but now stepped into the torch light. They were cowards afraid of truth, of God, and of people. During this exchange the disciples ran away (including young Mark).

V 53 Exousia – authority but not authority earned or resident within the person – it is a given authority or a license to exercise dark deeds. John records in multiple places that Jesus knew this was coming and the Father had given the authority to darkness. Col. 1:13 – Jesus rescued us from darkness.

V 54 – They violently arrested him. Even though he submitted to this, they took him violently and force marched him from place to place. Hands bound likely behind his back, pushed step-by-step off balanced to be tried illegally at night – the decision handed down by a former high priest, Annas, and his son-in-law Caiaphas. Ratified and rubber stamped by their supporters on the Jewish council at first crack of dawn to give the appearance of legality.

V 55 – Peter because of John’s influence entered into the inner courtyard where the servants were awaiting the next commands. Restless – he sat, then stood, then walked around among the servants – he was feeling the darkness.

V 56-57 He was called out by the servants who had likely helped arrest Jesus. He is Galilean also – as was John, and a follower. “The light” of the blazing fire revealed who Peter was. Peter wasn’t good at staying under the radar.

V 58-59 The next servant girl was more adamant, and the third person more forcefully identified him. Peter is “One of them.” Guilt by association, if Jesus is a rebel. then they are the rebels he was leading. But the rebellion is a Kingdom takeover – the Kingdom of Heaven wins and supplants the prince of darkness.

V 60-61 He swears he is not “one of them”, perhaps fearful of his life – torn between running away and watching till the end. Remember his vow earlier that night – Not me, Lord. I’ll never run away.

And Luke alone includes that when the rooster sang away the second time, Jesus looked Peter’s way. A most intimate non-verbal exchange fraught with compassion. Both knowing the failure Peter experienced. And both knowing that mercy and forgiveness was extended in Peter’s darkest moment.

V 62 – He fled “toward the dawn” it says. He ran into the light. He wept painful, stinging, tears and cried loud and long. Mark says he threw his cloak hood over his face, perhaps to hide his shame. But the cloak came off and who he was came into the light. The best place for screw ups and failures is to come into the light. What comes into the light can be forgiven. Perhaps the mystery behind all that happened, really happened to Judas in his heart and in his final moments is because he avoided the light.

Vv 63-65 – Here Luke uses the word for roughing Him up by pushing, punching, and beating him. And this account is just a sampling of what they did to Jesus. But the other gospels fill in the experience – as they unleashed their fury against him and everything about life that had built cruelty into their sinews – they slapped him with open hands and closed fists, they spit on him, they beat him in ways that flayed back his skin, they threw him around violently, and beat him with rods. Then, blindfolded him so they could mock him with anonymity. The darkness ruled.

V 66 – Everyone shows up whom they invited (remember that Nicodemus and those sympathetic to Jesus were not, somehow, available.) And they repeat what they had already done to make their decision.

Vv 67-70 – In this short exchange, from the mouths of the religious leaders, Jesus is Messiah, Son of Man, and Son of God. Jesus tops them all by declaring his deity with “I am.” And in the midst of the Darkness, Jesus reigns. He assures them that they will see him on the throne. The very throne they claim for their right to rule is the seat Jesus takes.

V 70-71 – They heard the Jesus’ words and their own words affirmed and, if this wasn’t true of Jesus – if He wasn’t Messiah, Son of Man, Son of God, the Great I am – they were in the right. But they missed the Kingdom completely because of the darkness they chose.