Matthew 26 - Part 1

 

Read Matthew 26

If you were watching this chapter as a play or a movie, there would be multiple scene changes.  Jesus would remind his disciples that he would be crucified.  It would happen very soon.

The scene changes to Caiaphas and other senior religious leaders plotting to kill Jesus.  They can’t do this publicly.  They can’t do this in broad daylight.  They can’t do this during the festival but it must happen soon—very soon.  But how?

The scene changes back to Jesus and his disciples at Bethany.  They are gathered for a meal in the home of a man named Simon.  An unnamed woman brings a jar of very expensive perfume and pours it on the head of Jesus.

The disciples can only see the economic value.  This perfume could have been sold and could have bought a bunch of food and fed the poor.  Jesus noted that the poor will always be with you but Jesus would remain with them only a little while longer.

She prepared Jesus for burial.  Jesus noted that what she had done would be told wherever the gospel was spread.  We don’t know her name but we know what she did.

It’s time for another scene change.  Those who wanted to kill Jesus needed some help.  Enter Judas Iscariot.  For 30 pieces of silver, he will lead those who want to seize Jesus to him.  He just needs the perfect opportunity—someplace off the beaten path and sometime at night.

The scene shifts to Jerusalem and the disciples follow the instructions of their Master and secure a place to celebrate the Passover with a meal.  It would be the most special meal they ever shared with their Master.

During this meal, Jesus noted his betrayal but gave us words that we continue to use as we remember Jesus in the way that he instructed us.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

The scene changes again and Jesus and his followers adjourn to the Mount of Olives.  They are singing as they go.

Jesus lets his closest friends know that the time has come and that they will desert him for a time.  Peter does not believe that he could ever abandon his Master, but Jesus tells him that is exactly what he will do.

Jesus also affirmed that he would rise from the dead and meet them in Galilee once he had risen.  This was a lot to take in.

The next scene change takes four men to a place within the Mount of Olives called Gethsemane.  Jesus, Peter, James, and John have adjourned to this place.  Jesus needs to pray and does.  Things are getting real.  Jesus is God but Jesus is also man.  He is human.  What lies ahead would deter any human.

Jesus, knowing there was no other way, asked his Father if there was another way.  The three disciples who accompanied him fell asleep.  They did not yet realize the magnitude of the moment.

Jesus knows what the next several hours hold for him and he is ready to do this last part of this Father’s will.

The time had come for him to be betrayed by Judas.  The scene remains the same but many will enter to bring about what had to happen.

We pause at this point to consider one thought.  His time had come.  For everything that was a part of his earthly ministry—teaching, healing, other miracles, confronting the religious hypocrites, and amazing people because he spoke with authority, the sine qua non was his trip to the cross, his death, and his resurrection.

Jesus was fully committed to enduring whatever this sinful world would put him through in the next hours.

The word of the hour is passion.  No person could do what Jesus did and even he required passion and love for us that we cannot comprehend.

If life ever gets so tough that you are ready to throw in the towel, consider the passion that Christ Jesus put forth for you.

His time had come.  He could have told his Father that they are not worth it, but evidently, we are.

Thanks be to God.  Praise the name of Jesus.

Amen.