Matthew 26: Arrested (7)
Pray Psalm 22.29.
All the prosperous of the earthShall eat and worship;All those who go down to the dustShall bow before Him,Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
Sing Psalm 22.29.
Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth
All the prosp’rous of the earth shall before His mercy fall;
bending low before His worth, hear them humbly on Him call.
Even those low in the grave He will by His mercy save.
Read and meditate on Matthew 26.1-75.
How would you describe Jesus’ outlook in this chapter? Where had He set His mind?
Prepare.
1. What did Jesus teach us about submitting to Scripture in this chapter?
2. How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ being arrested?
Meditate.
The events of this chapter are familiar to all who know, love, and serve Jesus Christ. They fill us with sadness. We feel a certain shame in reading about the disciples’ betrayal and Jesus’ arrest and trial, because we understand that, had we been there with Him, we’d have run away like all the others.
But there is a glimmer of hope in this chapter, and it affords a glimpse into the mind of Christ as He entered the full measure of His suffering: “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (v. 29). Jesus was looking ahead to the coming of the Kingdom, which God would give Him as the prize of His great victory, and which He would bestow on His saints for the reconciliation and restoration of the world (cf. Dan. 7.13-18; 2 Cor. 5.17-21).
In Psalm 22, the suffering Servant is looking through the gloom and pain to the bright morn into which His Spirit will spring like a deer of the dawn. Psalm 22.1-21 graphically depicts the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. But then verses 21-31 spread out what the writer of Hebrews referred to as “the joy that was set before Him” which by envisioning, He was able to “endure the cross, despising the shame” (Heb. 12.2).
Submitting to God’s Word does not mean only submitting to the disciplines and difficulties that come with following Jesus. It also means submitting to the vision of His Father’s Kingdom and glory, the Kingdom and glory Jesus secured by His death and resurrection, and which He bestows on us from His throne at the right hand of God.
See Jesus seeing this Kingdom coming in glory. It is a vision of joy unspeakable, power for righteous living, and peace that nothing can disrupt. Submit to God’s Word concerning our calling to seek His Kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2.12). If you do, you will find strength to bear up through whatever this sinful world may throw at you today.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“You have answered Me” (Ps. 22.21).
“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying,
‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.
Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation’” (Lk. 22.41-46).
During this time of intense agony, He sought to be with His Father.
And as the Psalmist wrote, God answered Him.
He did not take the cup of suffering away; that was not His will.
But He gave Him something to look forward to, afterward.
After the pain, the suffering, the anguish, the humiliations, His death and separation from the Father.
The temptation He felt to renege on the plan for our salvation was overcome.
But please take note. His agony was real.
A vexation of soul and spirit so strong that it had a physical manifestation.
Hematidrosis is a rare medical condition wherein tiny blood vessels in the skin rupture,
due to extreme stress or emotional distress. Make no mistake, His agony was intense, and it was real.
“For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4.15). Egregiously tempted.
We know He overcame His agony because He told His disciples to “rise and pray, lest you enter temptation” (Lk. 22.46). Prayer worked for Him during the darkest night of His soul, and it will work for us, as well.
Jesus recommended, experienced, and lived out the truth of His guidance for us.
He never expects anything from us that He did not first, go before us, and accomplish.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…” (Col. 1.19-23).
In every happiness, sadness, extreme stress or emotional distress, at every point that we are tempted to sin, Jesus says: “Rise and pray and know that God has answered your prayer. In His way. In His time”.
We will find victory over everything, when we keep our eyes focused on the eternal prize of His Kingdom—here and now and there and then.
“Submit to God’s Word…seek His Kingdom and glory. If you do, you will find strength to bear up through whatever this sinful world may throw at you today.”
Rise and pray!
Reflect.
1. How does prayer strengthen you in your times of trial?
2. Would you say that you value prayer aa much as Jesus did? Explain.
3. How can we as Christians help each other become more prayerful and trusting in the Lord?
“Till that day when I shall drink it new with you.” It is plain from these words that He promises to them a glory which they will share with Himself. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 26.29
Pray Psalm 22.30, 31.
As Jesus entered into His suffering, He saw His Kingdom coming on earth. He saw you in it. Talk with Him about how you should serve Him today.
Sing Psalm 22.30, 31.
Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth
Let the generations all witness to His saving grace;
let them to all nations call, “Bow before His holy face!”
Let the children of the earth hear of Jesus’ saving worth!
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.
