Matthew 26 - Jesus Anointed at Bethany and Celebrates the Last Supper with His Disciples

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The Plot Against Jesus

The Jewish Passover was one of the most important times of the year. It was the time where all of Israel remembered God's deliverance of them from the Epyptians in the middle of the night. The blood of an innocent lamb was smeared on top of their doors so that the angel of death "passed over" their houses. Every year an innocent lamb was sacrificed on the day of atonement, as the high priest laid his hands on the innocent lamb symbolic of the sins of the people.

Jesus was about to become the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, so it seemed fitting that the Jewish leaders starting plotting against Jesus. Ironically they chose not to do it during the Passover festival, not because it was a sacred time of year, but they feared a riot among the people. 

They didn’t want to put Jesus to death during Passover, but that is exactly how it happened. This is another subtle indication that Jesus was in control of events, as they in fact killed Him on the very day that they didn’t want to. - Guzik

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Jesus was at the home of Simon the Leper, who has not been mentioned before. Since he is hosting there is a good chance Jesus had already healed him. From other gospels we know the woman who anoints Jesus is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  The disciples completely miss the point of the anointing of Jesus for his burial. Perhaps they are jealous that they didn't think of it first, so they complain about the the expensive nature of the perfume, which could have been used to feed the poor.

It is not as if Jesus is against giving food to the hungry, but He realizes the significance of this woman's sacrficial offering. Jesus not only accepts this offering but declares that this woman's act of worship will be told whenever and wherever the gospel is preached.

I think this is where we get the phrase let your praise be a "fragrant offering" to the Lord. Worship is a response to the One who gave everything to us with his sacrificial death.

“Is anything wasted which is all for Jesus? It might rather seem as if all would be wasted which was not given to him.” (Spurgeon)

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Notice how deliberate and premeditated Judas' betrayal was. He did not need to be enticed. He was "hellbent" on being the one who handed over Jesus to the men, who would send him to the cross. And while we just talked about the costly sacrifice of the Mary who anointed Jesus, by contrast Judas sold out for a mere 30 pieces of silver. 

The exact value of thirty pieces of silver is somewhat difficult to determine, but it was low estimation of the Messiah’s value. “It was a known set price for the basest slave, Exodus 21:31; Joel 3:3, 6. For so small a sum sold this traitor so sweet a Master.” (Trapp)

The Last Supper

Since the Jewish day began at sundown, Jesus ate the Passover and was killed on the same day according to the Jewish calendar. - Guzik

One can only imagine how many things Jesus wanted to share with his disciples with whom he had spent the last three years of his life. After the preparations for the Passover meal were finished, Jesus started on an ominous note by stating that one of the men around the table would betray him. They all wondered out loud, "Is it I Lord?" 

Jesus announced it was one of them who had dipped their hand in the bowl. Since they all hand done that, it could have been any of them. Judas, convicted by the Spirit of Truth, spoke up saying, "Surely you don't mean me?" Jesus replied curtly, "You have said it". Jesus didn't have to condemn Judas, he had already done it himself. 

Jesus did not say this to condemn Judas, but to call him to repentance. It is fair to assume that He said it with love in His eyes, and Jesus showed Judas that He loved him, even knowing his treachery. - Guzik

Then, Jesus celebrates his Last Supper with the words we call, "The Words of Insitution". As a pastor I say these words every time preside at the Table of Holy Communion. 

I think it is pretty cool that for 2,000 years we say the same thing today as Jesus said at the Last Supper with his disciples. Jesus took of the most common staples in Jewish culture, bread and wine, and transformed them into life giving bread and wine. For the bread represented his body being broken, and the wine represented his blood being poured out. 

Though many people argue over how is Jesus exactly present in the sacrament of Holy Communion, I think it is best to take his words at face value. Jesus said to them and he says to us every week, "This is my body." "This is my blood".   

When we come forward during the worship to receive Jesus' body and blood through the bread and the win, we come to experience the very presence of Jesus.  We come in faith trusting in his promise that He is with us in a special way during communion unlike any other time during our week. Martin Luther reminds us the most important words in the Words of Institution are, "Given and shed FOR YOU!" If you were the only person on this earth Jesus would have died for you. 

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial 

Though Peter was the most vocal of the disciples and seemingly their leader, in this passage Jesus predicts that both he and ALL of the others will betray him. But, of course, Peter is the first to speak up to tell Jesus he would NEVER deny him. Not only does Peter say he will not deny him, but he adds that he would even die with him if need be. 

Jesus, though He probably appreciates Peter's wishful thinking, lets Peter know that not only will Peter deny him, but he will do it three times.  

It was an opportunity that Peter did not use. Instead he said, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” Jesus knew Peter far better than Peter did, and in over-estimating himself, Peter was ready for a fall.

And lest we think that is was only Peter who denied Jesus the text says, "And all the other disciples said the same."

The rest of the disciples also overestimated their strength and did not rely on the Lord in the critical hour: And so said all the disciples. - Guzik

Gethsemane

This is one of my favorite passages in the bible. Why? Because Jesus shows his humanness and how much even he struggled to accept God's will. Now granted Jesus was the Son of God and would never sin, but this didn't mean he didn't suffer and struggle. Jesus' angst was so severe he says, "My soul is overwhemed to the point of death!" In another gospel it says, "Jesus sweat drops of blood from his brow!"

Another aspect of Jesus' humanness was his desire to rely on his friends to help him through this time. He knows what lies ahead of him, and even the Son of God called on his friends to pray for him. Asking someone to pray for you shows true humility. It is a way of saying, "I can't do this on my own, I need your help!" Unfortunately the disciples fail to give him the emotional and spiritual support he asked for.

Think about it. Here is the guy who they have spent three years with. They watched him do miracles, feed thousands of people with a few loaves and fish, walk on water, and now he simply asks them to stay and pray with him for one hour. They fell asleep. 

As Jesus struggles alone in prayer, one can see he knew what was truly going to happen to him on the cross. It reminds us that Jesus experienced everything on the cross we would have experienced if we were him. Jesus is so distraught he asks God to take the cup of suffering from him. Yet he concludes each time, "Not my will but yours be done".

If you have ever agonized in prayer you know these words, "Not your will but mine be done". We can express our hopes, dreams, fears, and wants in our heartfelt intercessions, but at the end of the day we say with Jesus, "Not my will but yours be done." As Jesus makes it through the "dark night of the soul" he says, "Arise my betrayer is at hand!" Jesus knows it is His Father's will for Him to go the cross, and he now he surrenders His will to do it.

Jesus Arrested

Finally, at Judas' bidding the leaders and a mob of thugs come to arrest Jesus. It is as if they think Jesus is going to give them some kind of massive resistance. But after being betrayed by a "kiss: from Judas, Jesus calmly says, "Do what you came to do!" You can see the peace Jesus has after his agonizing night of prayer in the garden. 

Though Matthew does not mention Peter by name, we know from John's gospel that it is Peter that cuts off the ear of the the high priest's servant. Though Peter would later deny Jesus three times, you have to admire his zeal to protect his friend.  

After seeing Jesus' arrest, the disciples go from "fight" to "flight". And although it might be easy for us to criticize them, we might have done the same thing. I am sure we might be tempted to desert Jesus with a lot less at stake. 

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

Jesus comes before high priest and the Sanhedrin, which made up of 70 ruling elders. Because Jesus' moral character was above reproach, the leaders groped for some accusation to accuse Jesus. 

This is a remarkable testimony to the life and integrity of Jesus. For having lived such a public life and performed such a public ministry, it was difficult to find even false testimony against Him. - Guzik

Since the high priest and other priests were in charge of the temple, one accuser tried to paint Jesus as a terroist who was going to destroy the temple. Jesus did not act defensively, or even to try defend himself, which made the high priest even more angry. Finally, the high priest got in Jesus' face and asked him if he was the Son of the Living God. The time had come where Jesus could not shrink back from the truth of who He was and what he came to do. 

"Remarkably, Jesus kept silent and answered nothing until it was absolutely necessary in obedience for Him to speak. Jesus could have mounted a magnificent defense here, calling forth all the various witnesses to His deity, power and character. The people He taught, the people He healed, the dead risen, the blind who see, even the demons themselves testified to His deity." - Guzik

Peter Disowns Jesus

Though all the other disciples had deserted Jesus and fled, Peter was hanging out in the courtyard. Ironically a servant girl recognized him and asked him if he was a friend of Jesus'. Peter replied, "I don't know what you are talking about" Basically he is pleading ignorance. 

But then another servant girl recognized him, and this time alerted the crowd about him. You can almost feel Peter's blood pressure rising as he denies it a second time more vehemently, "I don't know the man!" 

Finally the others recognize his Galilean accent and it is guilt by association. 

“The Galileans spoke with a burr; so ugly was their accent that no Galilean was allowed to pronounce the benediction at a synagogue service.” (Barclay)

Peter loses self control and calls down curses down upon himself trying to somehow add more weight to what he is saying. After his threefold denial, a rooster crows. Jesus was right! Before the rooster crowed Peter would deny his friend, his Savior, three times. 

As you think all of the events of chapter 26, which ones stand out to you the most? Put yourself in the shoes of his disciples, what are you feeling as you experience the events of Maundy Thursday through their eyes? Would you have responded any differently? Though we often get down on Peter, in some ways he was the most courageous of all the disciples. At least he stuck around long enough to be interrogated by the crowds!