Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 1 – 2

• With this statement, Jesus’ teachings are complete in Matthew’s Gospel and I love what Adam Clarke said on this scene (a late 1700’s, early 1800’s British Methodist Theologian), “Having instructed His disciples and the Jews by His discourses, edified them by His example, convinced them by His miracles, He now prepares to redeem them by His blood!”

• To be delivered up to be crucified is easy to say but can you imagine the terror of what lays ahead of Jesus? He knows very well what will happen. He will be betrayed by His friend, falsely accused, spat at, punched with great hate (different then being struck out of obligation), scourged, mocked, and finally nailed, His body nailed, to a jagged wooden cross and hoisted high above the earth to hang. Knowing that…man just imagine the anxiety and turmoil…but one thing that steadies Him, and them…hope.
• Hope is so very powerful. There have been several experiments conducted to observe the power of hope on the mind. One of which is very famous and if you haven’t heard it then you may be quite amazed. A Johns Hopkins professor names Curt Richter conducted an experiment in the 1950s with two sets of rats. One set was wild and one set was domesticated.

• He placed the wild rats in a container of water. Within a few minutes, all of them had drowned. He concluded that when the wild rats faced a situation where they had no defense and seemingly no escape, they just gave up and almost voluntarily swam down into the water to their end. He called this, hopelessness. He then took the domesticated rats, held each one for a few minutes and then placed them one by one in a container of water. They swam for days…his conclusion, hope caused them to not only live, but to live out what they were capable of doing!

• And I love this, 1 Peter, Chapter 1 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…” If you can assimilate that hope, mind-fill THAT, then what you face today…you’re capable.

• Jesus faces a horrific reality and yet what does He know…He knows that His Kingdom is coming. That what He goes through with now will secure eternal life and forgiveness of sins for His disciples but also for me…and for you…And so with resolve, steadfastness and strength, He lives out what He alone is capable of doing…save the world from hell…

Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 3 – 5

• This guy Caiaphas…he is like you and me and every other man or woman alive in one aspect…he has the opportunity to judge Jesus worthy of life or worthy of death. I mean, that’s really the decision that each of us face. If Jesus is worthy of life, then let Him live…live in you, in your life, in your heart, soul, mind and strength…but if not, He’s not permitted to live in any of those places and that is the deciding factor for each of us in terms of our own eternal life. Caiaphas chose poorly and according to Josephus in his Antiquities, Caiaphas ends up taking his own life only 2 years after Jesus’ resurrection…

Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 6 – 13

• Matthew probably gives this scene as a recollection…to set up the causality of the next series of events because we see the same scene in John Chapter 12 but John places this scene prior to the Triumphal entry on Palm Sunday…but John tells us that this is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and specifically that this critical disciple was Judas. Also, John tells us that this very costly fragrant oil is a pound of costly oil of spikenard (one of my favorite words in the Bible – just because it sounds so cool!). And a pound of spikenard would cost about a year’s salary. This is probably the most precious thing Mary owns. It’s most likely her life’s savings and as she offers it to Jesus, Judas calls it waste.
• I love what Spurgeon said, “Is anything wasted which is all for Jesus? It might rather seem as if all would be wasted which was not given to Him.” It must have been a heavy scene. What else is there to talk about but the fact that Jesus will be betrayed, crucified and then rise the third day. And so heavy with grief, Mary pours out all she has in worship towards Jesus. Her life’s savings…you could say she gave Him her future. Amazing too, with her giving Him her future, He secures it…, “Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, she will be remembered.”

• He didn’t memorialize Lazarus after he was raised from the dead. He didn’t memorialize Martha for all of her labors. He didn’t memorialize Peter for his devotion or John for his love. He didn’t memorialize His mother for her relationship to Him…but He particularly honors this Mary, why? For placing her hope in Him…

• Judas is already uncomfortable and now he can’t escape the aroma of things to come that now fills the room…to the point where he raises objection and when he is shut down…he hits his tipping point…

Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 14 – 16

• This is interesting…thirty pieces of silver is not a lot of money. Some have valued this deal at around $25…it seems almost crazy but I think about this quite often. Especially when there are problems in the church, or problems in a home, a family of God…what is the price, our price, that will cause us to turn against the very heart of God?
• Two brothers in the Lord are arguing over something one of them said in front of others and now they are embarrassed…is that your price? Romans 12 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brother love, in honor giving preference to one another and not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” But that’s put on mute as you seek an apology? Is that all the silver the enemy has to offer you…?
• But Matt, come on man, he caused it when he said that stupid offensive thing about me…why not rebuke him? Because that moment is passed…how is it that you think God has not dealt with him in his heart…because he hasn’t groveled at your feet? The spikenard isn’t for you…Romans 12 continues, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…” But that silver is shiny isn’t it…

• Or a wife will use the word divorce in a time of marital counseling or a teenager will sneak out and go to that kegger they know they should definitely skip…or that employee will berate his boss behind her back…or someone will reach their tipping point and walk out of this church for the last time, never to return, because someone…yet again…sat in their seat! Listen, the next time you set down your cross and take up your torch and pitch fork against a brother or sister in the Lord, before you go on your pride march, stop for just a minute and realize, that’s your price…that’s what the enemy has to pay for YOU to betray the Lord…and I pray in that moment you’d get some wisdom, some clarity, and repent…Judas says 25 bucks, that’s my price…

Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 17 – 30

• These were new words and new actions for the Passover meal. The Passover meal was full of symbolism that reminded the Jew of God’s deliverance from Egypt but Jesus is now ushering in a New Covenant. The fulfillment of the Passover picture in which the Egyptian Passover saved their earthly life, the Passover of the New Covenant in Jesus saves many their eternal life.
• And notice, Jesus breaks the bread, a picture of His body, having been blessed of the Father, the holy/perfect God/Man, and He gave…and His command, “Eat it…eat it now…” No. His direction was “take.” This New Covenant isn’t forced on anyone but the truth is hell will be forced on everyone who rejects Him. This is the only remission of sins out there. And in the words of Jesus, a heart-felt hope to be with you, alive forever, in the Kingdom of God…