Bible Verse Synopsis 3-15-25
Matthew 26:
The plan to capture and murder Christ was done by wicked men. This is the greatest crime done by man since the fall. There will be no greater sin committed than this. In verse 2, Jesus tells the disciples what will happen again. Do they not listen?
In Simon the leper’s house, Mary anoints Jesus with oil and Judas questions her. Jesus responds to Judas in the only way possible. She has done a good work unto Me and you will not always have me. This was usually reserved for the dead. Now, done unto a living man in signified that she believed He would rise from the dead and she would never have the opportunity to otherwise! Scripture continues to be fulfilled here and Mary is a merchant of God here. She works in His name to anoint the alive Christ. The only person to do so.
Jesus rewards a family in Jerusalem His presence for Passover (taken a day early). We are not told whom the family is but what a blessing this must have been for them! Jesus announces the betrayal but does not say who it would be that betrays Him. The disciples ask yet are given poor hints, on purpose. Jesus could have exposed Judas at any point, yet He did not. For the will of God relied on Judas to give up Christ to the wicked men (and for the price of a slave no less!). Jesus gave Judas one last opportunity to out himself and Judas did not take it even knowing the punishment even to the degree of him not being born.
In verse 26-30 Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper or communion as it is known today. The ritual is the same, and the purpose directs us to the Cross. Let the sacrifice of Christ be a reminder of the purity of the bread and the wine.
When they all went to the garden of Gethsemane, Christ was weighed down heavily by the burden He was about to face. He took 3 with Him to watch over Him in HIs struggles. The weight of all of humanities sins, the overcoming of death, and separation from the Father all were taking their toll on Jesus the man. His physical being was already suffering from the stress and weight of what He knew to come. He fell on His face in prayer and asking for strength. For Jesus knew that His body was not able to carry the weight.
Jesus found the disciples asleep. He was disappointed, yet Love forgives. Now, Christ return to His prayer. The same prayer He prayed once before. In His weakness He looks for the disciples. Asleep again! Forgiven again and prayed the same prayer a 3rd time. The lesson here is that we must be willing to forgive often and easily. We must also submit the same prayer multiples for God to hear us. Persistence in prayer is something we must continue to do.
Jesus is taken by Judas and the religious leaders. Peter slices off an ear of a servant of a HIgh Priest. Jesus consequently heals His ear before being taken to death. The forgiveness and love shown by Christ is something that man cannot achieve by himself. Only through God can we have the strength to overcome the weakness of ourselves and our sin nature. Christ submits Himself to the will of God and allows the High Priests to take Him. He would not have to do this for He could call forth the angels and save Himself, but this is not the will of God. Christs strength as a man is being now tested as His weight begins to grow. Especially as He is now alone and the disciples have fled.
Jesus does not answer his accusers as there is no reason for Him to testify against false witnesses. When Caiaphas directs Jesus directly, Christ proclaims nothing that Caiaphas does not already know. Jesus does not want to give these wicked men ammunition to condemn Him with. Jesus finally speaks and says that He will sit at the right of power (God) and coming in the clouds of Heaven. The High Priest rips Christs clothes (to the show his horror). The Sanhedrin condemns Christ to death. On their way out they batter him with hands and fists and rods until Jesus was nearly unrecognizable. The punishment of Christ begins and He will carry more weight than any man ever has.
Within a short window, as Peter watched the happenings to Christ, he betrays his love of God. I know not the man. Sworn once, and twice, and 3 times. Just as Christ said he would. Why would Peter do this? Self preservation is a sin of man that we are all too guilty of. Peter hears the rooster crow and realizes that he has fulfilled Christ’s prophesy to him only hours ago. Swear no oath against the Lord and admit your love for Him openly! Spare yourself the damage of lies and despair by embracing the Christ always.