[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 26
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me, yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39)
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41)
“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42)
THE PLOT AGAINST JESUS (vs. 1-5)
Jesus told His disciples that He will be handed over to be crucified. The chief priest and the elders of the people plotted to arrest Him in some sly way and kill Him (v. 4)
JESUS ANOINTED AT BETHANY (vs. 6-13)
Jesus was at the house of Simon, the leper at Bethany. Then a woman (Mary) came and poured an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on His head. The disciples criticized her and Judas called Mary’s worship a “waste”. But Jesus said: “She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (vs. 10-13)
JUDAS AGREES TO BETRAY JESUS (vs. 14-16)
Judas Escariot went to the priests to receive 30 silver as payment for handling over Jesus to them.
THE LORD’S SUPPER (vs. 17-35)
The disciples were making preparations for Passover in the Upper Room. During their meeting, Jesus announced that one would betray Him. When Judas asked: “Surely not I, Rabbi?”, Jesus answered: “Yes, it is you” (v. 25). Judas was expecting a negative reply and pretending to be faithful to Christ. But he yielded himself to Satan. When Judas left, Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper. He took the bread saying: “Take and eat; this is my body”. Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered 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” (vs. 26-28). Then they sang a hymn (from Psalms 115-118) and went out to the Mount of Olives.
JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL (vs. 31-35)
Jesus told His disciples that they will fall away. Peter affirmed that he would never disown Christ even unto death. But Jesus said: “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (v. 34)
GETHSEMANE (vs. 36-46)
Jesus took Peter, James and John to Gethsemane and asked them to pray while he went a little further to pray. He prayed to the Father three times asking Him to take the cup away, not according to His will but according to Father’s will. Every time He returned to the disciples, He found them sleeping instead of praying.
BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (vs. 57-75)
Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest while Peter followed at a distance. They accused Jesus of blasphemy when He affirmed that He is the Christ, the Son of God. And He will be sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven (v. 64). So Jesus was sentenced to death. They spit on his face, struck him with their fist and slapped Him.
PETER DISOWNS JESUS (vs. 69-75)
While Peter was following Jesus nearby, a servant girl said to him: “You also were with Jesus of Galilee”. Peter denied and said: “I don’t know the man!” (vs. 69-70). Then he went out to the gateway, and another girl saw him and said to the people there. “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth”. Peter again denied with an oath saying: “I don’t know the man!” (vs. 73-74). After a little while, people standing there said to Peter: “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away”. Peter swore to them: “I don’t know the man!” (vs. 73-74). Immediately, a rooster crowed and Peter remembered what Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times”. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
LESSONS:
- The disciples criticized Mary when she anointed Jesus at Bethany, but to Jesus, it was a lasting worship. Therefore, we are not to judge one another.
- For thirty silver coins, Judas Iscariot handover Jesus to the chief priests. The love of money is the root of all evil. So, do not be greedy.
- Peter boasted that he would remain faithful to Christ even if he had to die with Him. But Jesus warned him that he would disown him 3 times before the rooster crows. We cannot depend on our own ability. We need God’s power to give us strength to overcome everything.,
- Jesus asked His disciples to pray at Gethsemane. But the disciples slept. We should always watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation (v. 41)
- Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Have you ever betrayed Jesus?
- When Jesus was arrested, Peter tried to defend Jesus by using a carnal weapon (sword) to cut off the soldier’s ear. Let us remind ourselves that we must use spiritual weapon to fight against Satan.
- Peter denied Jesus three times. When the rooster crowed, he remembered Christ’s Word. He went out and wept in repentance. When we confess our sins and profess godly sorrow, God will forgive and restore us.
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