Matthew 26: Arrested (2)
Pray Psalm 27.4-6.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Sing Psalm 27.4-6.
St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise
One thing we request but to dwell with You, LORD, Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace; no foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise!
Read Matthew 26.1-16; meditate on verses 6-16.
What made this a “good” or “beautiful” work?
Prepare.
1. How did Jesus describe what the woman did for Him?
2. Why did Judas betray Jesus to the religious leaders?
Meditate.
Here is a microcosm of the world we live in: The purest, humblest beauty exists in close proximity to the most self-centered ugliness imaginable. And the focus of each is Jesus. Did the woman know that she was “pouring this fragrant oil” on Jesus to prepare Him for His burial (v. 12)? We don’t know; but that’s how Jesus interpreted it. If she did know, then she was one of the few disciples who understood why Jesus had come and what He was about to do.
The aroma of the “fragrant oil”, poured over the head of Jesus, surely would have filled the house, attracting the attention of everyone there. Jesus said she did a “good work” for Him (v. 10, ἔργον καλὸν, ergon kalon). This could also be translated a “beautiful” work, which it surely was, as most in the house would have experienced it as pleasant, even delightful. But as a work of beauty, it points beyond itself to the one true Beautiful One. So significant was the woman’s gesture, that Jesus made a point of telling us that this self-denying act of beauty would always accompany the telling of the Gospel (v. 13). It reminds us that the Gospel is the beautiful thing, because it connects us with the Beautiful One.
Meanwhile, Judas left the gathering and went to the religious leaders, intent on getting something for himself out of this whole Jesus thing (vv. 14-16). His betrayal of Jesus ranks as one of the ugliest acts in all of human history. The woman’s offering is an act we’re all capable of, in the power of God’s Spirit, using beautiful and good works to point others to Jesus. But Judas’ ugly betrayal is also within our reach, unless we guard our souls against self-interest or the fear of men.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair,
whose brother Lazarus was sick” (Jn. 11.1, 2). Her brother died. But Jesus raised him from the dead.
This Mary had suffered the loss of her brother. But also, the majestic raising of her brother to life.
However, she had experienced first-hand all the pain of his sickness and his death.
She and her sister Martha believed in the resurrection:
“I know that he [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (Jn. 11.24).
And Jesus had reinforced their belief by uttering these awesome words of hope:
“I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11.25, 26).
And surely, they did believe Him.
Did Mary tend to her sick brother Lazarus?
Did she make him as comfortable as possible during his illness?
Did she care for his body before his burial?
Was she familiar with this protocol?
It is altogether possible that Mary believed Jesus’ words concerning His impending death,
and wanted to lovingly tend to Him.
It is not hard to grasp that perhaps, in her own human way, she was comforting Him
in the same way He had comforted them after Lazarus’ death (Jn. 11.28-45).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
Who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1.3-5).
Mary’s tender care spoke deeply to Jesus, and was a great comfort to His heart.
“She has done a good work for Me…
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body,
she did it for My burial” (Matt. 26.10, 12).
Who among us does not want to show Jesus our love in this way?
To thank Him, to comfort Him, to care for Him
with all our heart, soul, and strength (Deut. 6.5; Matt. 22.37).
We can, in fact, do just that. By following His carefully explained guidance:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22.39).
“I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me…
Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me” (Matt. 25.35 36, 40).
Mary’s act of love, care, and comfort is a calling “we’re all capable of,
in the power of God’s Spirit, using beautiful and good works to point others to Jesus”;
good works “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.10).
Reflect.
1. Moses prayed that God would show him his work for each day (Ps. 90.16, 17). How might you pray that prayer?
2. How can we make sure we stay on the “beautiful” side of works and not fall onto the “ugly” side?
3. Whom will you see this day who needs a touch of the grace of Jesus from you?
The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good to bestow upon him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 26.6-13
Pray Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
Wait on the Lord in prayer, until you see more of His beauty and realize more of His strength. Seek His face, then ask Him to guide and strengthen you for the day ahead.
Sing Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise
LORD, You are our Light and our Savior most dear! You guard us with might; therefore, whom shall we fear?
Though evil surround us, our enemies fall; no harm shall confound us when on You we call.
Hear, LORD, when we cry and be gracious, we pray! LORD, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall, preserve our good station when on You we call.
LORD, teach us; LORD, lead us because of our foes! Hear, LORD, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see, our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.
Wait, wait on the LORD; persevere in His grace. Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word; His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the LORD.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast features excerpts from the book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column continues our study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
