Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Now while they were eating Jesus took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” And after taking the cup and giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, from now on I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” And after they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:26-30)

Chapter twenty-four continues Jesus’ private teaching to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. He tells them of the ten virgins prepared to meet the bridegroom – but only five were wise in their preparations. Those who were not ready missed out. They weren’t bad. They weren’t terrible people. But they missed the bridegroom when he came because they were not ready. Then there were the ten talents divided among three servants for them to steward. Two did something with the money they were given. One did nothing. He did less than nothing. He buried it, not evening earning interest by ignoring it in a productive place (a bank). It was taken from him and he was cast out as an unfaithful servant. Because he did NOTHING he was told to do. Then there was judgment on those who ignored the poor, the desperate, those who needed real help. And the reward for those who helped the poor, the desperate, those who needed real help even when they didn’t recognize the Lord in them. We have been called to bless those around us and there is reward for us when we do.

Chapter twenty-six is the last of the last teaching Jesus gave before His mission on Earth was finished. The chapter starts off with the FOURTH time Jesus warned His disciples He would be betrayed and would die by crucifixion. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were plotting to kill Him. Not the Jews as a whole. Not all the religious Jews. A segment of them only. They determined to seize Him and kill Him, but not during the Feasts because they feared an uproar. But they couldn’t stop the Will of God. In Bethany, Jesus was anointed for burial the second time (the first time was by Mary, sister of Lazarus). This time by an unnamed woman in a leper’s home. Then Judas, possibly ‘this is the last straw’-ed by the ‘waste’ of this expensive product they could have sold (remember, he stole from the money they took in), went to the chief priests and agreed to sell Jesus to them for the price of a slave: thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13; Exodus 21:32). When the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) arrived, it was prepared for Jesus in Jerusalem. He ate it with the Twelve disciples, again telling them that He would be betrayed. The eleven asked in astonishment ‘LORD, is it me?’ JUDAS asked ‘MASTER, is it me?’ Judas did not acknowledge Jesus as Lord, only as a teacher. Jesus changed the order of ceremony of the Passover meal, inserting Himself into it as the blood and the meat of the sacrifice. He was going to be the sacrificial lamb. He was going to enter into Covenant with the Father. He was showing them how they would be able to join with that Covenant through Himself. He was the WAY. He told them to REMEMBER His words, to REMEMBER the covenant. [This is one reason the Holy Spirit was given to us: remembrance of Jesus – John 14:26] When they were done the meal, they sang a hymn (probably Psalm 113-118, the traditional psalms sung at Passover) and went out to the Mount of Olives.

The chapter continues with Jesus warning the disciples they will all fall away, but Peter denies this. Jesus tells him that before the cock crows Peter will deny him three times [‘the cock crows’ could be natural animals making sounds. It was also the name for the Roman soldier’s 3am shift change trumpet call. Either or both could have been involved in how it played out. Both things would have been very familiar to Peter.]. Jesus called the disciples to pray with Him in the garden. Jesus was burdened by the upcoming ordeal. For the first time EVER He would feel the sting of Sin. It would be on Him and in Him. It would separate Him from the Father. There would also be physical torment. Jesus didn’t WANT that, but prayed that the Will of the Father be done because He had great JOY in the END RESULT of the upcoming trial (Hebrews 12:2). While Jesus was humbly submitting to the Father, Judas arrived with soldiers and servants from the Temple. They seized Jesus and Peter cut off one of the servant’s ears with a sword. Jesus rebuked Peter and healed the man. They bound Jesus and took Him before the high priest. He was on trial for blasphemy and they chose to condemn Him to death (for which they needed Roman permission). They mocked Him, ripped out His beard (Isaiah 50:6), spat on His face, and slapped Him. While this long process was going on, Jesus was followed by Peter and John (that’s revealed in another Gospel). Because John was from a wealthy family with connections, he KNEW the high priest and could easily get into the compound without suspicion. He took Peter with him. Peter was fearful of being exposed, unable to circulate like John, and was questioned by people who suspected him of being one of Jesus’ disciples. He denied it. Three times. Then he heard the cock crow (or the third crowing of a cock) and realized what He had done. He wept BITTERLY and fled.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Disciples, Chief Priests, Scribes, Elders, Jews

Key Verse(s): Matthew 25:1-13; 26:6-16