Two days before the Passover, Jesus warned his disciples what was to come. At this point they have been warned enough that they were starting to feel like it would not happen. They had been Jerusalem for a while and the reception was good, not violent. Jesus had to remind them that appearances can be deceiving. While the people loved him, he had people plotting his death in secret. This was led by Caiaphas, the high priest.
The love of money and material things askew what is good. True beauty may not make sense to other people. Jesus was still trying to teach what really matters in life. A simple life that can focus on the Trinity is a beautiful life.
Jesus was visiting a leper (who he healed) when a woman named Mary came in and poured perfume over Jesus' head to display love and respect. That perfume was really expensive. It was about the amount of a year's wage. Judas Iscarot arrogantly thought it was a waste. He did not understand that she was giving Jesus the very best of what he had and anointed for Jesus' impending death. Jesus recognized that the woman understood what mattered in life.
Judas went off to plot with the Pharisees. He sold Jesus out for 30 silver coins. That was about three months wages. He sold his soul to betray Jesus for less money than Mary sacrificed for Jesus. Jesus knew this, but he acted normal. He celebrated his last human Passover in another man's house. Since he left his parent's house, he never has his own home. He always had people to open their homes to make him feel like family or a special guest.
During the Passover meal, Jesus informed the apostles that he knew who was betraying him and it was one of them. This got their attention because the betrayal was against Jesus, but ultimately it was betraying the trust of all of the other apostles too. It was shocking news that made them sad.
Jesus gave the apostles a sign to confirm it, but the others just could not accept that one of their own would ever do anything to kill Jesus. Maybe the Holy Spirit closed their ears enough to make it where they would not try to interfere because this betrayal was crucial for everyone else to have an opportunity for salvation. This betrayal doomed Judas, so in a since he was willingly sacrificed too, but his was for selfish reason unlike Jesus. This act confirmed his heart and cursed him to hell.
The Passover meal became the first Lord's Supper. In a way it replaced the Passover, but I like to think of it as the two uniting and becoming a fulfillment that empowers Christians today. It did replace the covenant that God made with Moses, with the fulfillment of Jesus' sacrificial covenant, but that does not mean that the Passover does not have any meaning today. It is impacted with layers of meaning from the escape from Egypt to the last meal that the Apostles had with Jesus before his death. It would change everyone's lives forever one way or another.
When the meal was over, it is like they had all forgot about the news that Jesus had just laid on them. Judas had left to do his deed and the rest went for a walk with Jesus in a festive mood. They were singing on their way to the Mount of Olives. Yet, Jesus had to warn them that they would all abandon him that night. That means in a way, each apostle betrayed him. However, Jesus knew their hearts. He knew they didn't have the Holy Spirit yet. The new covenant had not been fulfilled at that time. Yes, they betrayed him, but it was not out of hateful hearts. It was out of fear and confusion of what was happening.
As Jesus waited for the betrayal to take place, he prayed. He was full of sorrow and was troubled. I think that is very normal, but the difference was that it was not all about him. He was worried about his friends. He knew what they would face very soon. However, he was not excited about what he was about to face. He felt pain like everyone else. He was in for a horrible couple of days and he knew it all. He prayed and they fell asleep. He had to wake them three times, but I doubt they would have slept if they understood the full impact of what was happening at that moment.
Judas arrived with a mob that had swords and clubs. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss of friendship displaying a shameful hypocrisy. The mob was ready for a battle. They captured Jesus who did not give any fight. That probably surprised the ready attackers. Everything about Jesus was so different from the world everyone was so used to. Peter on the other hand acted impulsively as always and cut off the ear of an officer. Jesus told him to put the sword away. This had to happen to fulfill scripture (Isaiah 52 & 53). Jesus could have called down thousands of angels to fight for him or protect him. He did not.
Somehow that night, when everything went down, they all got separated. They lost their strength because each was alone without Jesus' God strength to support them. It must have been scary and very lonely. They were like sheep out in the wild without their shepherd. Jesus was not with them, but he was still watching over them. That is what they had not grasped yet.
The surprising betrayal came from Peter. Peter followed Jesus and his capturers at a distance. He knew exactly where Jesus was. He was always the most faithful friend. However, to protect his own life that night, he denied knowing Jesus three times. It is exactly as Jesus said he would, but not even Peter thought he was capable of doing it. When he realized how he betrayed Jesus he wept bitterly. This moment changed him forever. He learned the worst part about himself and he found forgiveness.
Jesus sat there while people gave false testimony about him. He never said a word. When he did, it was powerful. It only enraged the priest more. They sentenced him with blasphemy which is the death sentence. Normally it is performed immediately by stoning. They decide let their so called victory linger by torturing him. Then they spat on him. They beat him. They did all this because they did not like him. The human heart is capable of so much evil.
Matthew 26
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