Today we are reading chapter 26 of Matthew, beginning with verse 45, up to the end of the chapter. Jesus had just returned from praying for the third time. He knew what was coming up and he loved us all enough to go through it anyway. Each time he prayed that God's will be done, not his own. Once again he found his disciples sleeping. I don't think he was really angry with them, because they surely did not understand the gravity of the situation and what would be happening over the next several hours.
Jesus woke his disciples and told them the betrayer was at hand. While he spoke, Judas arrived with a multitude from the chief priests and elders, carrying swords and staves. Judas told them, the one I kiss, he is the one. He went up to Jesus , said hello and kissed him.
Jesus was immediately seized. One of the disciples drew his own sword and cut off the ear from a servant of the high priest.
52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Jesus was telling him that this was voluntary. He could have stopped all of this at any time; just said, I can't handle it this way and walked away. But he loved us all enough to continue. Jesus also mentioned that he was at the temple with them many times, but they chose not to do anything then. He said it had to be done the way it was carried out in order to fulfill the scriptures.
The disciples all fled, as Jesus knew they would do. Peter followed at a distance as the crowd took Jesus to Caiaphas' palace. The chief priests and elders all wanted to find someone who would witness against Jesus but found no one until finally someone said This man said he was able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.
The high priest wondered why Jesus never answered to the accusation. Jesus said nothing. Then he insisted that Jesus state whether he was the Christ, the Son of God.
64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
This made the high priest very angry. This man blasphemes! What further proof do we need? The answer was Jesus was guilty and should be put to death. They spit in his face and hit him continually, saying prophesy to us. Who is hitting you?
Meanwhile Peter was out in the courtyard trying to find out what he could. A woman saw him, and said You are one who was with Jesus of Galilee. Peter denied it. I don't know what you're talking about, he said (paraphrased).
He moved on to the porch and another woman identified him as a follower of Jesus. Once again, he denied it, saying he did not know the man. Later on someone else insisted that he knew Jesus and was one of his disciples because of the way he spoke. Peter began to curse and swear. I do not know the man! And immediately the rooster crowed.
Peter realized immediately what he'd done. Jesus had told him the truth. Peter left and wept bitterly
Showing posts with label chapter 26. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chapter 26. Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: The Betrayal of Jesus
Chapter 26 begins with Jesus telling his disciples that in two days is the feast of the passover and he will be betrayed and crucified. During this time, the chief priests, and the scribes and the elders of the people gathered together at the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. They wanted to catch Jesus and put him to death. They wouldn't do it on the feast day, because the people would get angry over that.
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, having a meal. While he ate, a woman came in carrying an alabaster box full of precious ointment. She poured it on his head while he ate. This made the disciples angry. How dare she waste something so precious? It could have been sold for much money and the proceeds given to the poor! Jesus told his disciples, leave the woman alone. She has done a good thing. The poor you will always have with you. I won't always be with you. She did it to prepare me for burial.
Can you imagine how sobering that conversation must have been? All along he's been telling his disciples that he is going to die, but I don't think they were ready to understand it, much less want to hear it.
Judas Iscariot found time to find his way to the chief priests and he conspired to deliver Jesus to them for the sum of thirty pieces of silver.
On the first day of the Passover Jesus told his disciples to go into the city to a certain man and tell him the master says his time is at hand and he wants to have the passover at his house with his disciples. The disciples did as they were asked and prepared for the passover dinner.
As they ate, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. Most of them, of course, couldn't imagine that any of them would do such a thing, and certainly not themselves. They kept asking, Is it I?
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for the betrayer:
23. And he answered and said, he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for the man if he had not been born. I think he was warning Judas that his life was not going to be easy once the deed was done. It was his choice to do this but this was not something he would be able to put behind him.
Judas asked him, Master, is it I? and of course Jesus said, You said it.
During the dinner, Jesus took unleavened bread, blessed it, and broke it and gave it to the disciples. This represented his body. He took a cup of the fruit of the vine and blessed it, and gave it to them also. This was a representation of his blood.
26. And as they were eating, Jesus too bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine , until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, having a meal. While he ate, a woman came in carrying an alabaster box full of precious ointment. She poured it on his head while he ate. This made the disciples angry. How dare she waste something so precious? It could have been sold for much money and the proceeds given to the poor! Jesus told his disciples, leave the woman alone. She has done a good thing. The poor you will always have with you. I won't always be with you. She did it to prepare me for burial.
Can you imagine how sobering that conversation must have been? All along he's been telling his disciples that he is going to die, but I don't think they were ready to understand it, much less want to hear it.
Judas Iscariot found time to find his way to the chief priests and he conspired to deliver Jesus to them for the sum of thirty pieces of silver.
On the first day of the Passover Jesus told his disciples to go into the city to a certain man and tell him the master says his time is at hand and he wants to have the passover at his house with his disciples. The disciples did as they were asked and prepared for the passover dinner.
As they ate, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. Most of them, of course, couldn't imagine that any of them would do such a thing, and certainly not themselves. They kept asking, Is it I?
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for the betrayer:
23. And he answered and said, he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for the man if he had not been born. I think he was warning Judas that his life was not going to be easy once the deed was done. It was his choice to do this but this was not something he would be able to put behind him.
Judas asked him, Master, is it I? and of course Jesus said, You said it.
During the dinner, Jesus took unleavened bread, blessed it, and broke it and gave it to the disciples. This represented his body. He took a cup of the fruit of the vine and blessed it, and gave it to them also. This was a representation of his blood.
26. And as they were eating, Jesus too bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine , until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
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