Matthew 26: Arrested (6)
Pray Psalm 22.23, 24.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
Sing Psalm 22.23-25.
Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King
All you who fear the LORD, now praise His holy Name! You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.
For He has not despised the anguish of our King, nor from Him hid His eyes, Who knew such suffering.
Let praise arise from all who love and serve the Ruler of the skies!
Read Matthew 26.1-75; meditate on verses 47-75.
What was Jesus’ priority in that garden?
Prepare.
1. Why did Jesus submit to being arrested?
2. How did the disciples react to this situation?
Meditate.
This is what it means to be completely submitted to the Word of God. A mob arrived where Jesus was finishing His time of prayer in the garden. Judas stepped forward to greet Jesus with a kiss. After a brief scuffle involving a rash act of one of His disciples, Jesus was taken into custody.
Just like that? He Who walked on water? Healed the lame? Gave sight to the blind? Cast out demons? Raised the dead? Could command twelve legions of angels? He just gave Himself up to wicked, violent men?
Yes. Because He knew the Word of God, and He understood that Word to be God’s will for His life (v. 42). Twice in this passage Jesus insisted that He must submit to the Word of God (vv. 54, 56). He spoke this mainly for His disciples’ sake, knowing they were all about to abandon Him (v. 56). Thus, He encouraged them to follow His example and trust in the Word of God.
Jesus knew the crucifixion was at hand, and how terrible, humiliating, and agonizing that would be (cf. Ps. 22.1-21; Ps. 88). But He was already looking through the crucifixion to the joy of the Kingdom that God the Father had set down before Him (Heb. 12.2; cf. Ps. 22.21-31).
The trial before the Sanhedrin was a mockery. But Jesus submitted to it, insisting that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and warning that all those present would one day see the truth of this (vv. 57-67). What courage! What confidence in the Word and power of God! And what a contrast to Peter, cowering before strangers, as he denied the Savior three times (vv. 69-75). God’s will for us is that at all times we should submit to His Word. That may involve inconvenience, difficulty, hardship, and even suffering. But at the end of it, there is joy in knowing the Lord is with us always, and in holding fast to His unshakeable Word.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like
earthenware covered with silver dross” (Prov. 26.23).
Judas approached Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”
and then he kissed Him. And betrayed Him (Matt. 26.49).
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matt. 26.35)
And then he denied him—three times.
And all the disciples said the same (Matt. 26.35).
“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matt. 26.56).
Fervent they were. Faithful and courageous they were not.
When the full impact of what he had done dawned upon Peter “he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26.75).
When the full impact of what he had done dawned upon Judas, “he went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27.5).
Sadly, we can insert ourselves into multiple places in this grisly scene in Gethsemane, and afterward.
So, we dare not judge these people any harder than we judge ourselves.
Thus, we have the same two options that were before Peter and Judas.
Remorse and repentance led Peter to abundant life.
Guilt and remorse, sans repentance, led Judas to death.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1.8, 9).
And that is exactly why Jesus was so adamant to complete the work that He had been sent to do.
Yes, He certainly could have called down legions of angels to protect Him from what was about to happen;
but He willingly suffered, died, and rose from the dead so that we would not have to perish for our sins.
(Matt. 26.53, 53).
God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3.9).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3.16).
In Jesus’ time of confronting Peter, and forgiving him, we learn what we are to do, as well.
“Do you love Me more than these? …Feed My lambs” (Jn. 21.15).
“Do you love Me? …Tend My sheep” (Jn. 21.16).
“Do you love Me? …Feed My sheep” (Jn. 21.17).
Do you love Me? “Follow Me” (Jn. 21.19).
Let us fervently, courageously, and faithfully follow Jesus with a pure heart, and true speech.
If we daily practice obedience to Him, learn of Him in His Word, talk with and listen to Him in prayer,
and are filled with the Holy Spirit, then we will never succumb to denying or betraying Him (Ps. 119.112; Rev. 2.26).
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90.12).
To follow You to the very end.
Reflect.
1. How can you prepare each day so that you do not deny Jesus or stray from His path?
2. Believers need one another in this matter. Whom will you encourage in their walk with the Lord today?
3. How did Jesus deal with opposition and affliction? How should you?
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” By these words He quenched [Peter’s] anger, appealing to holy Scripture. He prayed that the disciples might accept meekly whatever befell Him when they had learned that this also is occurring according to God’s will. John Chrysostom (344-407.), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 84.1
Pray Psalm 22.26-28.
Praise God for His Kingdom, and thank Him for the suffering of Jesus, by which He earned the Kingdom He has now given to us.
Sing Psalm 22.26-28.
Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King
The all the poor shall eat and praise with us the LORD. Forever we His praise repeat and trust His Word.
Praise God above, all you who keep His vows and who His mercies love!
All nations shall repent and hasten to the LORD. All those to whom His truth is sent shall praise His Word.
The LORD is King! His sovereign rule on high now we His people sing!
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.
