Matthew 26: Arrested (3)
Pray Psalm 126.5, 6.
Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Sing Psalm 126.6.
Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns
They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.
Read Matthew 26.1-30; meditate on verses 17-30.
Prepare.
1. Why makes this supper so significant?
2. How did the supper end?
Meditate.
We can see that Jesus is sovereign in the details that are unfolding in these final days of His earthly ministry, as we notice the way He arranged to eat the Passover with His disciples. He chose that “certain man” (v. 18) to have a room in his house, where the disciples could make ready for their meal with the Lord. He orchestrated all the events of the evening, directing them toward His arrest and crucifixion, but in a larger sense, to the salvation of the world. Jesus is descending into hell; but He remains on top of the world.
Jesus went to that supper knowing that Judas would betray Him (vv. 20, 21). It was important that Judas should know that Jesus knew, without His making a public scene. Notice Jesus’ affirmative response to Judas’ question, “Rabbi, is it I?” “You have said it” (v. 25). Jesus will say the same before the high priest later in this chapter, to affirm the priest’s demand: “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” “You said it!”
Jesus taught His disciples that the bread and wine, which they took together “as they were eating” (v. 26), were His body and blood. He cannot have meant this literally, because His body and blood were intact in Him at the moment. He must have meant it figuratively or symbolically. The bread He and His disciples ate was true bread, and the wine was true wine, nothing more. But Jesus gave these powerful symbols to the Church in such a way as that, when we participate faithfully in the Lord’s Supper, we have true fellowship with His body and blood, as Paul explained (1 Cor. 10.16, 17). It is a mystery how this can be, but it is so.
Leaving the room, the disciples and Jesus sang a hymn, perhaps Psalm 118 (cf. vv.19-28). Here again we see that Jesus, knowing everything that was ahead of Him, knew how to stay on top of it all. Singing lifts our souls to the Lord, bears witness to our faith in Him, fortifies our unity in Christ, and reminds us of the joy and delight that are ours in the Lord, come what may.
Whatever comes our way in our walk with the Lord, we can stay on top of it all by following Jesus’ example of trusting in the Lord at all times.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know.
They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart.
I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.
But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together;
attackers gathered against me, and I did not know it;
they tore at me and did not cease;
with ungodly mockers at feasts
they gnashed at me with their teeth” (Ps. 35.11-16).
Imagine for a moment, that you have decided to be an organ donor.
Not upon your death; but causing your death.
You have chosen all the beneficiaries.
You, and they, have gathered together to share one last meal.
And all of a sudden, the knowledge overwhelms you
that each of these people in some way will be ungrateful.
And more than ungrateful:
one will betray you,
one will say they never knew you,
and the rest will just vanish without a trace.
And then;
you consciously make the decision
to go ahead with your sacrificial death.
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Ps. 41.9).
This is what Jesus did for each one of us.
But Judas and the boys should be a dire warning for us: watch your deviations.
As we saw yesterday, the proximity between good and evil is quite close.
And we dare not equivocate on our beliefs or behavior.
Lest we end up doing what Jesus predicted his followers would do:
“All of you will be made to stumble because of Me…” (Matt. 26.31).
But we can say something that the disciples could not say:
“No, we won’t. We will not stumble. We will not deny You.
For we have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.
‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind’” (2 Tim. 1.7).
Remember what it would feel like to be denied and betrayed
by everyone you had decided to give your life to help.
So, do not do this to your Savior, the Messiah, the Beloved of God, His Son, the Lamb,
Who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1.29). Your sin. And mine.
Live for Him, Who died for you—wholeheartedly in His Kingdom—for His glory.
And enjoy Him forever.
“So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them…” (Matt. 26.19).
Skip the betrayals and denials and imitate that part; for it is good.
Reflect.
1. We might be tempted to betray Jesus every day. Explain.
2. How should we maintain our commitment to Jesus when trials come?
3. How are you preparing even now to keep from betraying Jesus in any way?
The readiness with which the disciples comply ought to be observed as a proof of their holy submission; for a doubt might naturally arise, when in search of an unknown man, whether they would obtain from the master of the house what they asked by their Master’s command, while they were aware that everywhere he was not only despised but even hated. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 16.19
Pray Psalm 126.1-5.
Weep tears for your sins, but give thanks for the body and blood of our Lord, Who takes away the sins of the world.
Sing Psalm 126.1-5.
Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.
Then the astonished nations said, “The LORD has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!
Restore our fortunes, LORD our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.
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.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
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.
