Luke 22:1-13

The Passover Meal
1-2The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.
3-6That‘s when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve. Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them. They couldn‘t believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well. He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd. 7-8The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together." 9They said, "Where do you want us to do this?" 10-12He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there." 13They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
Devotion (by Emily Alsobrook):
What I find interesting in this section is that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own. Jesus had many followers, crowds of people who followed Him and listened to His teachings. But there was a select few that were always with Him, the 12 disciples. And Judas was in that group.
Judas was aware that the religious leaders hated Jesus and would most likely strike a deal if the price was right. But Luke takes note that Satan entered Judas. This betrayal involves more than the jealous religious leaders or a greedy betrayer; it involved a cosmic battle between God and Satan, a battle in which we know Satan is completely defeated.
Satan‘s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove all responsibility from Judas.
Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than about setting up His kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus’ hand and make Him use His power to prove He was the Messiah. Or perhaps Judas, not understanding Jesus’ mission, no longer believed that Jesus was God‘s chosen one. Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus’ death would end Jesus’ mission and thwart God‘s plan. Like Judas, Satan didn‘t know that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most important parts of God‘s plan all along. God is always in control, even when things seem dark and hopeless.

Prayer:
God, thank you that no matter what the situations look like, You are always in control. Thank You for sending Your Son to be betrayed and sacrificed for me and the rest of the world. Help me to trust You, no matter what. In Jesus’ name, Amen.