Matthew 26

 Good morning everyone. I am so glad we had rain yesterday- I was getting worried that we hadn't had any in a few days!! (Just kidding!) I did manage to get the lawn cut and some trimming done- and was promptly stung 6 times from some friendly yellow jackets! At least I am able to get up and do things and be happy!

This chapter is quite lengthy. We are in Holy Week and this chapter is Thursday of the week.  Last chapter was Wednesday and Jesus was on the Mount of Olives- he is still there today as we begin. The last few days, Jesus has been talking of the corruption of the religious leaders and today he warns the disciples (again) of his upcoming betrayal and crucifixion. I assume that the disciples were determined that nothing bad could happen to Jesus, but Jesus reminds them (vv 1-2) that this is not true. How must they have felt hearing these words? Not the same thing, but how do you respond when a good friend tells you they have terminal cancer or some other life threatening disease?

Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, the conflict between Jesus and the religious authority had come to a head and they begin plotting Jesus' death. A very calculated and planned event. They knew the following that Jesus had, so they didn't want it to happen during the Passover festival- yet this is how it happened. 

Mary (Lazarus and Martha's sister) anoint Jesus. We have heard that story many times- it is an integral part of our understanding of the events of the week. The biggest concern from the disciples is the waste! Mary was expressing love and devotion to Jesus- how could that be a waste?! Do we love Jesus enough for people to call it a waste? I don't think Mary really knew what she was doing- especially when Jesus says that she is preparing him for burial (v 12). It was common for priests and kings to be anointed before they began their term of "office"; this would have been appropriate for Jesus too- but he comments that it is for his burial. Her motive was pure love. How many people have that as their motive?

Judas (vv 14-16). Why? What happened? Was he angry at the power that the others had in the group? Was he recognizing the fight between the religious authority and Jesus and wanted to cut ties with Jesus? Did he sense that Jesus might be losing and wanted to be gone? Did he want Jesus to reveal his Messiahship and this was they way for him to do that? There is no indication why Judas did what he did; we do see some regret later when he eventually commits suicide, but nothing here. Thirty pieces of silver would have been about $25; thirty piece of silver was the base price for a "basic slave". Have we betrayed Jesus? Was it for less that thirty silver pieces?

Jesus sits down to a meal with is friends. This brings some confusion to the timeline. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have the meal on Passover; John has it before Passover. How do we reconcile that? Do we need to? Maybe Jesus knew that he would be dead before the right time for the meal, so he ate it earlier? There was also to be a lamb )remember the Exodus story?), but there is no indication in any of the Gospel texts that a lams was slaughtered. Possibly it was before the traditional time- so therefore no lambs had been slaughtered yet. We do call Jesus the Paschal lamb- and his death may have been the "slaughter" of the Passover lamb for the group of disciples. 

Jesus comments about the betrayer will dip at the same time as Jesus does (v 23).  Each of the disciples denied it- including Judas. Judas, knowing he was the one, asked the same question as the others. How did Judas feel at that moment? Did the others catch on? How did Jesus feel? Jesus responds (in my translation, v 25), "Yes, it is you." Did he say it with love? Compassion? Mercy? Grace? Hate?

Typically at the Passover meal, the head of the household holds up all the foods that are eaten and explains their symbology for the Exodus; Jesus reinterprets the foods (bread and wine) for the new covenant. There is no place in the Passover liturgy where the words "This is my body... This is my blood..." com up- so imagine the thoughts of the disciples and others gathered together! Jesus establishes a new covenant- something only God could do! Did the group see Jesus as God at this point?

After dinner, they leave singing hymns. The traditional hymn at the end of the Passover meal was the Hallel: Psalm 116:3-4, 8-9, 14-15; 117:1; 118:13-14, 17-19, 22-23, 27-28. Jesus warns the followers that hey will falter and stumble- to s how that he was in control of the situation. Peter returns with, "Well, they may stumble, but not me!" Then Jesus tells the rooster crowing event (v 34) that will come back to haunt Peter in a short while. Do we stumble in our faith?

Jesus goes out to pray with Peter, James, and John. Jesus was obviously distressed and anxious. He needed prayer to calm him and converse with God. How could one knowingly face execution (especially via crucifixion) and not be anxious. In his prayer- he does ask God to remove the suffering, but then adds in "I know it is your will." Did God hear? What was God thinking at that moment? What was going through the minds of the men with Jesus? What about those that weren't there?

Judas comes with the Roman guard- dressed for battle with swords and clubs. Judas greets Jesus in typical fashion, "Greetings Rabbi" and a kiss. But this was the kiss of death. The arrest happens quite uneventfully (except for the soldiers ear being cut off). Jesus' follower flee. What would we have done? Flee? Fight? Stand in surprise?

Th e "trial" (if it can be called that?!) happens. The Sanhedrin had already been assembled so the trial could proceed quickly! The trial was illegal (according to Jewish Law) as all trials had to start in the day time and end before night time. This first trial had no legal standing, that is why there was a second "trial" in the morning. Also, there could be no trails during the Passover (Jewish law). Guilty verdicts had to be handed out a day after the trial (only acquittals could happen on the day of trial). There was no evidence of innocence (as required by Jewish law). So many things were wrong wit this "trial" (but we all knew that!). Where would we have followed? What would we have done?

Caiaphas allows Jesus to speak, but He says nothing. Angrily, Caiaphas asks if Jesus was the Son of God (v 63). Instead of mounting a defense, Jesus just agrees, "Those are your words" essentially saying that the high priest Caiaphas just proved that Jesus was the Son of God. Now, accused of blasphemy (not really since Jesus is God), the high priest's anger is evident (v 65).

Now to Peter. Peter followed all of this, but at a distance, possibly to prove Jesus wrong about the rooster crowing.  When confronted, Peter does deny knowing Christ. Why? What would we have done? Peter wept (my translation says he dried bitterly). You can feel the agony and pain in Peter- but he still denied Jesus!

his was a heavy chapter to end the week on! Lots in here to think about and reflect on. Next week we begin with the trial before Pilate and Jesus' crucifixion (not the best way to start the week either!). It is an intense journey that we are on!

I hope you get to enjoy the weekend. We are planning on going to Vermont to see Morgan and Bobbi-Jo, but Sherri woke up with a high fever and chills and aches. Joseph has been sick the last week, so it is starting to move through the house! Looks like maybe our trip may be cancelled.

Shalom+
Pastor Paul