Matthew 26 - The Kiss of Death
The Plot Against Jesus
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
The Passover was the most important Jewish religous holiday because it commemorated God's deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians. A significant aspect of Passover was when the unblemished lamb was taken from the family flock and killed. Then the blood of the lamb was put on the doorposts to remember the night in which the angel of death "passed over" the homes of the Israelites because of the blood smeared on the door.
It is fitting that Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be crucified at the time of the Passover. Jesus' blood poured out at Calvary covered our sins. One day death will "pass over" us, because we are marked with the blood of Lamb. He has redeemed us from the slavery of sin and brought us from death to life. Though the religious leaders wanted Jesus' blood, they didn't want to make it public because it was the time of the Passover. Like with a lot of things they tried to use their religion for selfish gain.
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
In the Old Testament when the Israelites crowned a new king, they anointed him with oil in the temple. Bodies were also anointed with oil before they were buried. The oil of anointing was a symbol of the covering and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus received his anointing for burial from a surprising source, a woman whose name or origin we do not know. She could have been a disciple, or possibly one of the women he healed. Luke's gospel account of this story gives us a clue.
We know from John 12 that this woman was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:39), made this extravagant display of love and devotion to Jesus.
Jesus uplifts this women and says her story will be shared whenever the Good News of the gospel is proclaimed. Why did he do this? She was a perfect model of worship of our Lord. First, her act of worship was costly. The perfume she bought was thought to be a very expensive perfume.
“It had no handles and was furnished with a long neck which was broken off when the contents were needed…We may fairly deduce that this perfume was costly. Jewish ladies commonly wore a perfume flask suspended from a cord round the neck, and it was so much a part of them that they were allowed to wear it on the sabbath.” (Morris' Commentary on Luke)
Also, it was bold. For a woman to enter into a gathering of men was highly unusual and took courage. We see that the men tried to rebuke her for "wasting" such expensive perfume, as it could have been sold to the poor. But Jesus received her sacrificial gift. Finally, it was humble. It took humility for this woman to pour this perfume on his body.
Is your worship bold? Sacrificial? Given in humility?
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Clearly Judas did not have to be tempted to hand over Jesus. All he needed to do was negotiate the price to do it. Shockingly he did it for thirty pieces of silver. It is difficult to know how much this was worth but in Exodus 21, it was the price set for the lowest slave. In a sense Jesus was a slave. He had given up all of this rights as the Son of God and emptied himself to serve us by offering up his life. Judas sold out the Savior for a mere pittance when Jesus gave him everything.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The time came for Jesus' last meal with the disciples. We call it the Last Supper. As Jesus and the disciples began the supper, they were seated on the ground around the table. It was at this time that Jesus informed him that one of them would betray him. All of the disciples were shocked and but one man spoke up said, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" That man was Judas.
Then Jesus says the words we call the Words of Institution. In my Lutheran tradition, we say these words before we celebrate Holy Communion. There were two specific parts of the meal that Jesus memorialized. First, he took the bread, broke it, and told the disciples, "This is my body given for you!" Bread is an important symbol in the bible. God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever eats of me will never be hungry again!"
Altbough literally Jesus gave them physical bread, spiritually it was a sign of his body being broken for them. When Jesus said, "This is my body!", he meant it. This is why when we receive the bread in Holy Communion from the pastor or communion assistant we need to remember these words Jesus says to us today, "This is my body given for you!"
In a similar way the wine represented Jesus' blood poured out on the cross. Wine was also an important symbol used throughout the bible. There are many stories about vineyards and the fruit they produced. Jesus said, "I am the Vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me will bear fruit that will last!"
But the other important aspect of the wine, was when Jesus says, "This is my blood of the covenant poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins." While old covenant required blood from an innocent unblemished lamb, the new covenant required the blood of the Son of God." Never again would goats be slain in the temple, for Jesus was the once and for all sacrifice given us on the cross.
When you receive communion at cburch, do you take time to think about what the bread and wine symbolize? Do you take time to remember what Jesus did for you on the cross? This is why it is a good time to confess your sins to the Lord. When we think about the price he paid for us, it helps us to take our sin more seriously and turn from it.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[c] 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Though all the disciples will deny Jesus, Peter's denail is remembered the most. Why? Because Peter was the first one who publicly said he would NEVER DENY HIM. In fact Peter was so bold that he promised he would die before he disowned Jesus. We don't often mentione that the other disciples did the same thing. Jesus was very specific about how Peter's denial would be played out. Peter would deny Jesus three times before the rooster even crowed!
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
This is one of the most meaningful and moving stories for me in the bible. Nowhere do we see more of Jesus' humanness on display than in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew he was going to the cross but in the Garden the full weight of it hit him hard. As he went to the garden he called on Peter ,James, and John for emotional support.
We get a glimpse of how agonizing this is for Jesus, when he says his soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. We sometimes say we are overwhelmed, but it pales in comparison to what Jesus is going through here. Jesus pleaded with the Father to take the cup of suffering, which would be poured out on him on the cross. He begged the Father not once, not twice but three times. All the while what were his best friends doing? Sleeping. Jesus faced the agony of the Garden completely alone.
However, we do see that through prayer Jesus summoned the courage to take the next step in the journey to the cross. We hear a confidence in his voice as he says to his disciples, "Arise my betrayers are at hand!'
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d] Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
The religous leaders must have expected a fight, because they brought an angry mob with them armed with swords and clubs. Judas had carefully orchestrated his betrayal telling the leaders the one he kissed was their man. What Judas did was bad enough but the way he did it was worse. He calls Jesus "Rabbi", and then gave him a kiss. This was the kiss of death.
Jesus didn't put up a fight at all. In fact he said, "Do what you are going to do and do it quickly." It was like was saying, "Get on with it already!"
One of his disciples, who we later learn is Peter, tried to cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus told him to put his sword back. If Jesus wanted to, he could have defended himself in a heartbeat with a legion of angels at his beckoning cry. But Jesus came to fight another battle. The battle against sin, death, and the power of the devil. Human swords could never win that battle only the Son of God could.
When the disciples realized Jesus wasn't going to put up a fight, they all ran. They probably did it to save their own skin. The knew what was going to happen to Jesus, and they didn't want to be next.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Jesus came before the Sanhedrin, which was made up of 70 Jewish elders who ran the temple and ruled over the people. As Jesus was brought before them, Peter followed but was careful not to be seen or associated with Jesus. You wonder what he might have been thinking.
There was no evidence of any wrongdoing, and the false witnesses who came forward brought no charges worthy of death. So they had to find a way to get Jesus to incriminate himself. They heard Jesus say he was the Messiah, and if they could get him to admit this, they could bring him up on the charges of blasphemy. That is a mere human who claimed to be God.
So they point blank asked Jesus if He was the Messiah. Jesus did not deny it and then added that one day he would sit at the right hand of the Mighty One, and he would come on the clouds of heaven. The high priest had what he needed, and the crowd agreed with him that Jesus was worthy of death. Then things got downight nasty, as they spit on him, mocked him, and hit him. It really is hard to fathom that they are doing this to the Son of God, who is God.
Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter was not sure what to do. He was probably in shock. Was it over? Was the man he had given his life to and followed for three years gone just like that? But then someone recognized that Peter was with Jesus. He was busted. What would he do? He flat out denied he knew Jesus! And just like Jesus has predicted when the rooster crowed Peter had already denied his master three times. Peter's heart sank to the ground. All he could do was to go out and weep bitterly. Fortunately one day he would get another chance to redeem himself.
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