Today, we’re starting Matthew 26-27.
And we’re looking at these chapters in terms of The King’s Ransom: Jesus Prepares for Our Redemption
We’re going to walk through several events that most of us are very familiar with leading up to the cross.
In each, Jesus will be preparing or being prepared to be our substitutional sacrifice - our sacrificial lamb.
Yet in each event and conversation we see how Jesus is planning and actively working toward redemption.
As those who are disobedient to God’s commands, we deserve to be treated as criminals.
But we’ll see Jesus arrested, tried, and mistreated.
As sinners, we deserve the penalty of our sin, which is death.
But we’ll see Jesus embrace the cross for our redemption and the glory of God.
This morning, we see contrasts in the participants as they end up on -
Title: The Right & Wrong Sides of History
In our polarized culture, I’ve heard a lot of accusations of people being on the “wrong side of history.”
It can also be manipulative for people to ask if someone wants to be on the right side of history on a matter.
Mariantoinette - “Let them eat cake” - wrong side
Franklin Roosevelt's - “the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself” - right side
Abraham Lincoln - right side
John Wilkes Booth - wrong side
In our verses, we see sharp contrast between those that seem to be the winners ending up on the wrong side of History.
These would be the Jewish Religious Leaders.
We also see Jesus who seems to be headed to a horrible end… Pretty much no one would say Jesus is on the wrong side of history.
Also, there’s Judas… Um, no one names their son Judas.
And Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus) who is a great example of rightly-placed heartfelt devotion to God.
· 1When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
· 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
· 6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
· 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
· 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
First from our passage, I want to encourage you to -
EMBRACE YOUR SELF-SACRIFICING KING WHO’S ABOVE THE SCHEMES OF MAN.
· 1When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
For the 5th and final time, Matthew describes Jesus as having finished teaching.
But here He is described as having finished ALL these sayings
It appears that Matthew has transitioned to “go time.”
It’s time for Jesus to secure the redemption of a people for God.
From this point forward, Matthew doesn’t offer much in terms of Jesus teaching,
But we will find Jesus and Matthew reassuring that the events are a part of God’s perfect plan.
Jesus exhibits confidence as he gives the final prediction of His betrayal and crucifixion during the feast.
Once again, He speaks specifically of His being crucified (nailed to a tree)
This would’ve certainly caused the disciples to wince with shock no matter how many times they hear it.
This form of execution was used for only the worst of criminals.
· 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Matthew connects what Jesus just states with what’s going on at the residence of the Chief Priest.
This isn’t a coincidence.
Following Jesus’ prediction, this representative group of the Jewish Religious leaders plot to murder Jesus.
Their fed-up and ready to act.
They meet together and decide that something drastic has to be done.
They fear the people’s response. So they plan to arrest Jesus and kill Him without causing a commotion.
They don’t fear or know God.
So they don’t realize that their sin (though used for His glory) will forever be seen as an incredible tragedy.
This is likely an illegal gathering to hatch such a dastardly plan.
And it’s definitely proof that they’re ruling will already have been decided before any evidence is given at Jesus’ trial.
But we’re not left to wring our hands wondering if Jesus has met his match with these powerful leaders.
We’re not to worry that God somehow let their scheming get out of control.
We can rest assured that their mischief is all part of God’s planning for our redemption.
When I think of what it looks like to embrace Jesus, I think of a lifeguard trying to rescue a swimmer.
no verses
The lifeguard is there and ready to provide the help needed.
But if the swimmer is flailing around, the lifeguard can’t help them.
Sometimes, the lifeguard might have to wait until the person loses consciousness before they’ll grab them.
Like these religious leaders, most people refuse to let go of the idea of what they think God should be like.
Along with this, they have strong ideas of what they think God should be doing or how He should feel about them.
Interestingly, most people think God should understand their failings and bring the hammer down on the mistake of others.
Often people think that they can save themselves.
And like a lifeguard, God isn’t going to save them until this thinking is changed.
They keep flailing around like that swimmer.
Embracing our Sacrificial King looks like surrendering to His perfect plan.
That needs to be done initially for a person for salvation.
And it needs to be done constantly when we know Him as Savior.
We can trust Jesus/God because He has shown more than just a willingness to sacrifice for us
=Or as Romans 8:31-32
* Romans 8:31a–32 31a If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
As we see in the contrasted conversations in our verses, there’s also the schemes of man involved.
Trusting Christ means dealing with hurtful people without returning evil for evil.
Instead you can choose to honor God and grow through pain & betrayal.
I think our men who attended our Men’s Retreat would say our speaker is an excellent example of this.
How does Jesus’ intention to die for you affect your willingness to surrender to God?
What is getting thrown at you that you might cause you to think that God isn’t already at work in?
What does it look like for you to trust that God is aware of and dealing with whatever someone might be scheming against you?
The second player we see in our passage definitely ends up on the right side of History
EMBRACE SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP FOR HIM WHO GAVE ALL FOR YOU.
· 6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
Different than the Gospel of John, Matthew tells us about this event out of chronological order.
This actually takes place prior to Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
It seems that Matthew wants to mark the contrast between this woman and the treachery of Judas amid the climactic tension of the final days before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.
Bethany is the town just outside of Jerusalem where Lazurus and His sisters live.
We know from John that this woman is actually Lazurus’ sister, Mary.
We also know that this perfume that she brings out is worth around a year’s wages.
It was likely an heirloom / possibly her dowery.
We also know from the other gospel accounts It’s made of pure nard or spikenard.
It was contained in a jar of alabaster - a translucent stone from Alabastron Egypt.
The rare stone would be carved, filled with the precious perfume, and sealed for a very special occasion.
The perfume would smell the strongest when the jar was first opened and thus lose value from there.
There’s debate on just what Mary is pointing to here.
But I think that this perfume was likely being saved for anointing a body for burial.
Similar to our purposes for embalming, perfumes would’ve been used to protect the dignity of a loved one’s body during the interim period before burial.
It was common for the wake to take place in the family home.
This is the case in American History too.
I remember reading at the Lusk Home - parlors would’ve been the space for wakes of family members.
Whenever a perfume would’ve filled a home like it did here, it would’ve been associated with a death.
· 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
Sadly, the disciples speak of this as a waste.
And they protest the use of such an expensive oil for this.
If this perfume was specifically to be used for the burial of a loved one.
And the disciples may be objecting because they don’t see the point of using it for something other than that purpose.
They might be so dense to what Jesus has been saying about His coming death that they think Mary’s doing something like ruining an expensive headstone by using it for a doorstep.
On another note, John informs us that it’s Judas who protests the most.
And he’s got a different reason altogether for His objection.
John also “spills tea” when he lets us know that Judas was upset because the large sum would’ve gone into the disciples money box,… which Judas often helped himself to.
So, Mary’s extravagance got in the way of Mr. Sticky Fingers having plenty to pilfer.
· 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
Jesus makes a simple statement of fact.
His time with them is drawing to a close.
Yes, it’s good to help the poor.
But this is an issue of priorities.
Extravagant worship while the Messiah is present with them should take precedent over what they might do for Jesus after He ascends to heaven.
Quote - IVP - “devotion to Jesus himself must precede and inform all other important and godly agendas.
· 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
As we read this statement this morning, we are fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy.
We’re read what Mary did out of love for her Savior without knowing the significance of what she did
Let’s say you’re a real saver
no verses
Let’s say that you’ve got $30,000 set aside for a really nice funeral for your spouse - little morbid but sweet.
Let’s say that your mom desperately needs a new car and you’re really concerned about her.
You’re thinking that you should spend the lavish funeral fund on your mom’s needs.
Let’s also say that you find out that a Nigerian King has died and has left his fortune to you
Don’t laugh, I’ve heard of it happening.
OK, but it’s for reals
If you’re expecting such a huge inheritance to hit, are you really going to worry about holding onto your funeral fund?
I don’t think that Mary was thinking, “I hope Jesus appreciates how much I’m blowing on Him right now.”
I think that she felt moved to make such a sacrifice in worship.
But she also knew that, in Christ, death is not the end.
And what she has in Christ overwhelms whatever she might offer to Him in worship as a response.
Embracing the sacrifice of Christ should change everything for us.
And we grow and find joy in life as we embrace sacrificial worship for Him.
This doesn’t have to be anything radical.
You’re doing it right now.
Do you know how many people that call themselves Christians aren’t in church this morning because it’s their only day off this week?
Is it a sacrifice for you to be here?
It might not feel like it but it is.
More and more, this timeslot isn’t sacred, and its coming down to what we’re willing to sacrifice.
Still, time is just one thing that’s important to us.
There’s money of course or reputation or being a part of the cool, woke crowd or putting up with your kids saying, “But EVERYBODY else has one!”
But maybe God would lead you to offer something in worship to Him that you’re holding back for something special.
If He is leading you to this, I guarantee you that you wouldn’t regret it.
How does Mary’s costly act of worship impact you as you think about something you’re holding back for your own reasonable purpose?
What is God leading you to lay on the altar and give up or give away as an offering of worship for Him?
Lastly, as we look at the situation that definitely ended up on the wrong side of history, -
EMBRACE THE SHOCK OF KNOWING HOW SIN CORRODES THE HEART.
· 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
Imagine this is being read to you for the first time without any previous knowledge.
Then ONE OF THE 12 DISICPLES set out to betray Jesus!
This would’ve been shocking for the original reader.
The listener would’ve been like, “Woah, back up. Read those first words over again.”
Judas becomes a pawn of Satat and solves the Jewish Leader’s problem.
They need a way to arrest Jesus quietly.
Judas will inform them of Jesus’ whereabouts and the perfect timing.
Sadly, Judas asks what it’s worth to them for Him to betray His Messiah.
What He probably should’ve asked was, “What’s it going to cost me?”
Incidentally, I think we’d all benefit from asking this before we turn away from Christ in rebellion.
The amount of 30 pieces of silver is significant in more than one way.
According to the Mosaic Law, it’s what would be paid to a master if his slave were accidentally killed.
These prideful, religious men were making a statement of the value they placed on Jesus’ life.
Secondly, it’s the amount that Zechariah 11:12 predicted would be paid for the Messiah’s betrayal
· 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
The term used for sought means to devote serious effort to obtain something or to achieve an objective
Judas put some serious thought and effort into this.
The damage that sin has done to the human heart is highlighted in Judas’ callous decision
It’s like the two drunk sailors that came stumbling out of a bar at port
They saw their fleet’s admiral walking down the sidewalk and asked him, “Which way to the docks?”
Astounded at their lack of civility or a salute, he replied, “Do you know who I am?”
With that one looked at the other and said,
“I thought it was bad that we don’t know where we are, but this guy doesn’t even know who he is!”
In much the same way, sin clouds the mind, cheats the senses, sears the conscience, and causes us to forget who we are created to be.
Just as Judas walked with Jesus for three years but still turn on him our of selfish greed,
The sinful heart will self-destruct our lives outside of God’s grace.
Sin is nothing to mess with.
Getting free of sin’s influence is something we should be thankful to God for and pray for more of.
How shocking is it to you that Judas would betray Jesus after being around Him for three years?
Do you see some of the same callousness in your heart that leads you to sin?
How might you best pray regularly against your own sinful desires?
Coming to end of this passage, the idea were left with is that the die is cast.
Sides have been chosen.
The opposition is formed.
The plan is hatched.
Still King Jesus is in complete control.
And it’s all for our redemption.
