Slow down. If you have to, go back and read Matthew 26 again. I found myself this morning racing through, because I realized that the chapter is long. As familiar as these words are, slow down and take the time to read, to see, to listen, and to focus in on Jesus’ final hours.
In this chapter where we read of Jesus being betrayed and denied, all the disciples abandoning him both in prayer and when the soldiers came, his arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin, we also read about him giving us one of the greatest gifts he has provided for us: The Lord’s Supper. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition of events, but one that displays depth of God’s grace in the face of our sinfulness. Jesus was well aware of what was about to happen to him, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” He warned Judas, Peter and all the others of their betrayals. Yet he chose to stay the course, to give this gift, and to head toward the cross.
God’s grace over and against our sin is a compelling picture. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33) Out of eternity he had planned for this night. From before the moment Adam and Eve first betrayed God – not by lips touching cheek, but through lips that touched forbidden fruit – God had looked ahead to this day as the day he would win his children back.
So the sorrow of these events meets the determination of a loving God and Jesus gives himself away. He gives his body and blood to eat and drink for forgiveness of sins, in with and under the bread and wine of that Passover meal. He pours himself out in the garden praying, “God’s will be done – no matter the cost!” through tears, sweat and agony. And he goes to trial where he stands silent until he tells the high priest that he is indeed the Christ, and he would be seen in glory.
One of the events in Jesus arrest struck me as I read. Verses 54-55: Jesus points out that he had been in the temple courts and they did not choose to arrest him publicly, but this took place to fulfill Scripture. Why say that to the crowd that was there to arrest him? I think we see once again, his mercy and grace against human sin. I think he’s planting a seed for these men to remember after he has risen, so that they will say, “He did fulfill the Scriptures!” and then they would believe in him, too.
How do you respond to that? What could ever be sufficient to give back to God? What song or hymn could ever be high enough to praise Jesus for what he is doing and about to do in our readings?
Look back at the early part of the chapter where Jesus was anointed. Having received such grace, how can we lavishly pour out our lives the way this woman lavishly poured her ointment on Jesus in worship? Not out of guilt – there is no guilt here in Jesus – but in an overwhelming sense of awe at what Jesus has done?
God thank you for showing how incredible your grace is, especially in comparison to my sin. Help me to see my sin rightly so that I might even more clearly see the depth and richness of your forgiveness. Help me pour out my life in worship of you, and let my life show others your forgiveness, too. For Jesus’ sake I ask this. Amen.
In this chapter where we read of Jesus being betrayed and denied, all the disciples abandoning him both in prayer and when the soldiers came, his arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin, we also read about him giving us one of the greatest gifts he has provided for us: The Lord’s Supper. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition of events, but one that displays depth of God’s grace in the face of our sinfulness. Jesus was well aware of what was about to happen to him, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” He warned Judas, Peter and all the others of their betrayals. Yet he chose to stay the course, to give this gift, and to head toward the cross.
God’s grace over and against our sin is a compelling picture. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33) Out of eternity he had planned for this night. From before the moment Adam and Eve first betrayed God – not by lips touching cheek, but through lips that touched forbidden fruit – God had looked ahead to this day as the day he would win his children back.
So the sorrow of these events meets the determination of a loving God and Jesus gives himself away. He gives his body and blood to eat and drink for forgiveness of sins, in with and under the bread and wine of that Passover meal. He pours himself out in the garden praying, “God’s will be done – no matter the cost!” through tears, sweat and agony. And he goes to trial where he stands silent until he tells the high priest that he is indeed the Christ, and he would be seen in glory.
One of the events in Jesus arrest struck me as I read. Verses 54-55: Jesus points out that he had been in the temple courts and they did not choose to arrest him publicly, but this took place to fulfill Scripture. Why say that to the crowd that was there to arrest him? I think we see once again, his mercy and grace against human sin. I think he’s planting a seed for these men to remember after he has risen, so that they will say, “He did fulfill the Scriptures!” and then they would believe in him, too.
How do you respond to that? What could ever be sufficient to give back to God? What song or hymn could ever be high enough to praise Jesus for what he is doing and about to do in our readings?
Look back at the early part of the chapter where Jesus was anointed. Having received such grace, how can we lavishly pour out our lives the way this woman lavishly poured her ointment on Jesus in worship? Not out of guilt – there is no guilt here in Jesus – but in an overwhelming sense of awe at what Jesus has done?
God thank you for showing how incredible your grace is, especially in comparison to my sin. Help me to see my sin rightly so that I might even more clearly see the depth and richness of your forgiveness. Help me pour out my life in worship of you, and let my life show others your forgiveness, too. For Jesus’ sake I ask this. Amen.
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