We are close to the nitty gritty of our tour through Matthew, and this week Jesus asks two questions that frame a 'quick review' for the Disciples of all He tried to teach them. I'm going to save the questions for last, because I can see how they could be directed for us- one for the unbeliever, and one for the believer- and neither one very complimentary.
We are in Matthew 26, and in between the 2 questions He makes 6 statements- during a very famous occasion (the Last Supper)- that, like I said, serve as a review of His teaching to them.
MY TIME HAS COME
Mat 26:18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"
The biggest thing that they refused to wrap their heads around was, Jesus was going to die- and rise again. The come to Jesus tour-original version was ending.And yet, as the statements go on, you can see He is still in control.
ONE WILL BETRAY
Mat 26:20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.
Mat 26:21 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Mat 26:22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"
As I was collecting this verse, it struck me that this was a symbol of how little we learn and why. They- and we- were more concerned with the "Is it ME?" angle than what was ACTUALLY going on. "I" am what makes it hard for HIM to get through.
THIS IS MY BODY
Mat 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
Mat 26:27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,
Mat 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
If they could get past their case of the I's, they might have noticed the symbolism He was trying to bring out- and the point that what He was about to go through would erase their debt of sin. But as we well know, there was a lot they weren't getting yet, especially the next part.
AFTER I AM RAISED UP
Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
Still trapped in the I's, they were mentally arguing with Him, that they would NOT fall to fear- which of course, they did. And so they failed to catch both the implication and the promise: He would die- but He would be raised from that death!
YOU WILL DENY ME
Mat 26:33 Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.
Now their mental argument reached spoken level. They weren't sorrowing about His death, nor rejoicing about His resurrection. They were pride-wounded because He said THEY would fall. Jesus knows we CANNOT live a perfect life. That's why He had to do what was coming. We have to get out of the I's to truly see what He DID for us.
WATCH AND PRAY
Mat 26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray."
Mat 26:37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Mat 26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."
There is our job on earth- to remain here, to wait for Him and pray. And I bet if you have been following the scorecard, you know the 2 questions that frame this story.
QUESTION ONE (to the unbeliever)
Mat 26:7 ...a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
Mat 26:8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."
Mat 26:10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.
Mat 26:11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
Mat 26:12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
Mat 26:13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
The woman is doing what the Church is expected to do- she glorifies God, in anointing Jesus. She acknowledges both His God-ship and His prediction of His death. Unbelievers , they think it's all about doing the 'feel-good' stuff, the WORKS that are the important thing. Not to God. To God, the worship is #1.
QUESTION #2 (To the believer)
Mat 26:40 He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour?
Mat 26:41 Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Mat 26:42 Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
Mat 26:43 Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open.
Mat 26:44 He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
Mat 26:45 Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.
We make it such a struggle to pray. But the real challenges are just on the other side of the praying. I found it interesting, in looking at the translations of the words "sleeping" and "resting" that each one has a 'directional'. The word for sleep has a component meaning 'down', and the explanation says, has a component of "frequently denotes opposition distribution or intensity ." Opposition to praying? The word "resting" has a component of "up", but drifts into the realms of 'severally' and 'each'. Each prayer is a battle against Satan. He seeks to distract, to put us to sleep, to make it seem we'll never get it right. Do you see why Jesus told them pray THAT YOU WON'T BE TESTED? We not only need to pray, we need to pray to be ABLE to pray. Jesus told Peter in between questions that
Luk 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
Luk 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Just because Jesus HAD prayed for him, didn't mean he shouldn't have prayed for himself. If you know the test is coming, shouldn't you put the work in to pass? Don't fall asleep.
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