Though John the Baptist exceeded all who went before him, he is “less” than the least of those disciples of Christ who follow the Lord to whom John pointed. His greatness lay in his unprecedented knowledge of the Messiah. Their deeper, clearer understanding of Christ renders the followers of Jesus even “greater” than John. Because of his courageous criticism of Herod, John was cast into prison and later beheaded. He thus did not live to see the ministry of Jesus. John never witnessed the powerful healings and marvelous deliverance from demons which those who believed in Jesus saw. Perhaps that partly explains why he asked, “Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another” (3). Nor did John live to hear the matchless teachings of Christ about the kingdom of God (chapters 5-7, 13, 18, 24, etc.). Most important of all, John did not have the chance to follow Jesus through His last days, as He was mocked, tried, and then cruelly crucified. When the Lord rose victoriously from the grave, only His disciples were allowed to see Him alive again. Finally, when the day of Pentecost arrived, the promised Holy Spirit fell upon Jesus’ disciples, fulfilling ancient promises and bringing them that regeneration without which no one can either see or enter the Kingdom(John 3:3,5). John’s significance lay in his clarion call to repent, and his pointing to Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Likewise, the goal of our life is achieved when we bear witness to Christ (10:32-33; 28:18-20). What a privilege we have, to surpass even greatest of the Old Testament prophets as we disciple all nations!
Who Is Greater?
Jesus’ evaluation of John comes through loud and clear: He was the greatest person born up to that time. Why? Because he bravely rebuked King Herod for his adultery, and suffered imprisonment and finally death? Or was it his firm, unbending conviction that led him to preach repentance for sin? He surely was no “reed shaken by the wind” (7). Nor did he indulge in luxury, for he was not “clothed in soft garments,” but “in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist” (8; 3:4). He also exercised strict self-control, so that Jesus said that he “came neither eating nor drinking” (18) – referring to John’s simple diet (3:4). Like Jesus who followed him, John suffered abuse and rejection, for people said that his simple lifestyle showed that he was demon-possessed. Though all of these qualities show John to be an extraordinary man, Jesus called him great for another reason: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You” (10, quoting Malachi 3:1). John was great, because God made him so. In particular, John prepared the way for Jesus (10). Unlike other prophets, he not only predicted the coming of the Messiah, but pointed Him out when He arrived on the bank of the Jordan (John 1:29). John looked for Christ, spoke of Christ, oriented his entire life towards Christ, and finally saw Christ. May we be like him!
The Cost of Discipleship
Although Jesus spoke these words to the Apostles as they began their danger-filled evangelistic career, they apply equally to all believers today. Jesus warned that the Gospel would evoke anger and hostility from many people, leading to rejection and even suffering for the Christian messenger. But those who follow Christ must forsake all competing “loves” in order to gain eternal life. On another occasion, Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 9:34). Between self-denial and fellowship with Jesus lies the cross. Will we take it upon ourselves? What does it mean to take up the cross and follow Jesus? Self-denial comes first. Putting to death the evil deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). Paying any price to avoid sin (Matthew 5:27-30). Serving others before, or perhaps even instead of, oneself (Romans 15:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Philippians 2:4). That leads to following Christ in the footsteps of His suffering for others (1 Peter 2:21). Specifically, that might mean: Staying in an unhappy marriage; not responding to criticism with self-justifying remarks, much less in anger; taking a lower-paying job in order to preserve integrity; staying home to care for children. In short, to take up the cross is to crucify all the “idols” of the heart – the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and “rights” that keep us from loving and serving others. Is it worth it? “He who loses his life for My sake will gain it.” We walk behind a Man who endured the cross because of the joy set before Him, and who right now enjoys intimate fellowship with God the Father.
Sheep amidst Wolves
Jesus sent out His disciples with very clear instructions. He told them where to go, what to say, what to do, and how to finance their mission (10:5-11). After that, however, He warned them that they would face fierce opposition, even deadly persecution. He didn’t want them to be surprised when people rejected both the Gospel message and the messengers. The same warning applies to us. If we are faithful to the truth, the world will hate us, just as it hated Jesus (John 15:18-20). Indeed, the more closely we resemble our Lord, the more hostility will we face from certain people. But Jesus’ promises to His first disciples also apply to us. “Do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak” (10:19). “He who endures to the end will be saved” (10:22). “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (10:26). “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (10:32). In a word, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (10:28).
Labor Shortage
Jesus’ words are just as true today as they were when He first uttered them. Multitudes perish for lack of the knowledge of God through faith in Christ. They are like sheep without a shepherd, with no one to care for them. On the other hand, too few Christians are either willing or able to lead others into the truth. They are pre-occupied with making a living, seeking the things of this world rather than the kingdom of God. Overseas, conditions are even worse. In almost every country, masses rush headlong into spiritual destruction, with no one to show them the way to eternal life. Compounding the crisis is the lack of qualified teachers and pastors among those who do believe in Christ. Jesus’ command rings loud and clear: “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The Power of Perspective
As He traveled around the countryside, Jesus encountered crowds of needy people. Some were physically sick; many evinced spiritual hunger. But all were dead in sin, far from God because of unbelief and rebellion. Notice how Jesus saw them. Though He could have justly despised them for their folly, He chose instead to pity them for their suffering. He focused not on what they had done wrong, but on how they had been wronged by their political and spiritual rulers. Thus, He was “moved with compassion for them.” Here we see into the heart of God. He could have condemned the entire world to hell for our manifold transgressions against His holy law. Rather than pouring out His righteous indignation, however, He sent His only Son to live a righteous life and then to die in our place. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus looked upon sinners as erring sheep. His divine love impelled Him to endure untold pain in order to take our guilt upon Himself and lay down His life for us. How about us? When we see others in trouble because of their foolishness, how do we respond? With disdain and criticism, or with compassion and a desire to help?
According to Your Faith
A woman with a chronic hemorrhage said to herself, “if only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” She was right. As soon as she touched Jesus, she was healed. Jesus immediately explained to her that not the action of her hand, but the faith in her heart, had made her well. Later, two blind men begged Jesus to have mercy upon them. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked them. “Yes!” they replied. “According to your faith let it be to you,” He replied, as He touched their eyes, and immediately their blindness disappeared. Why did faith in Jesus bring such results? Such trust in Jesus demonstrates a confidence in His pity and in His power. These people believed that Jesus could perform the impossible, and that He would, if only they approached Him. Their faith showed that they believed the reports they had heard about Jesus. They considered Him to be great in His power, and good in His person. Jesus did not promise that any sort of belief would work miracles. He commended only that sort of faith which focuses on Jesus as the Son of God, willing and able to demonstrate God’s mercy and majesty towards the needy. We, too, can approach Christ with this type of confidence. In prayer, we can ask Him to give us all that we need to glorify God on this earth. First and foremost, faith in Christ brings us forgiveness of sins. Then, as we rely on Him, we receive power to follow in His steps. If He thinks that we need healing to serve Him more effectively, He will grant us good health. Otherwise, He will enable us to serve Him out of our weakness.
Jesus the Bridegroom
The disciples of John the Baptist had asked Jesus why they and the followers of the Pharisees fasted regularly, but His disciples did not. Jesus’ reply strikes at the heart of man-centered religion, with all its rules and regulations. The Jews of His day tried to get right with God by engaging in all sorts of “religious” activity, but He pointed them to a different way of life. Jesus offered them – and us – a relationship. More than that, He presented Himself as a bridegroom, what we would today call the groom at a wedding. Often in the Old Testament God had portrayed Himself as the husband of His people Israel (Psalm 45; Ezekiel 16; Hosea; etc.). He had chosen them, loved them, delivered them, and bound them to Himself with cords of love. By calling Himself the Bridegroom, Jesus asserts His deity. At the same time, He invites us into a relationship with Him that surpasses even the intimacy of husband and wife. Since we are sinners, however, we can only enjoy this communion with God in Christ because Jesus, the Son of God, died for us. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Even now, at the right hand of the Father, the Lord Jesus, by His Spirit, “nourishes and cherishes” all who trust in Him (Ephesians 5:29). Shall we not turn from all other would-be “lovers” and, through repentance and faith, unite ourselves to our heavenly bridegroom?
Only sinners accept Jesus
The Pharisees were disgusted with Jesus for dining with people whom they considered sinners. Jesus responded by telling them why He came – “Not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” As we have seen, He did not mean that the Pharisees had no sin, but that they considered themselves righteous. To use another figure of speech, they saw themselves as healthy, not needing a physician. The tax collectors, thieves, and harlots knew otherwise. They realized their sin, and saw themselves as “sick,” needing the care of a doctor. That is why they flocked to Jesus for healing and forgiveness. But the Pharisees rejected not only those “sinners,” but Jesus as well. They simply saw no need for Him. They were so obsessed with the faults of others that they could not see their own spiritual poverty and sickness. What about us? Are we so aware of the faults of others that we remain blind to our own? Do we not see just how heinously we offend against God each day, each hour, almost each moment, as we fail to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves? Self-righteous people not only criticize and look down upon others; they also fail to see their desperate, daily, need of Christ. They may profess to believe in Him, but they do not cry out desperately for mercy; they do not beg Him for forgiveness and the power to change. Strange as it may seem, only “sinners” can accept Jesus! And only the self-confessed wicked can receive His grace and mercy.
Jesus Accepts Only Sinners
In Jesus’ day, tax collectors were hated, because they served the occupying Roman army. Usually, they took more than the law required, in order to enrich themselves. Thus, when Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, the Pharisees were probably outraged. Their anger increased when they saw Jesus eating in Matthew’s home, surrounded by other notorious “sinners” – prostitutes, thieves, and the like. How could a holy man like Jesus associate with such wicked folk? Jesus first rebuked the self-righteous Pharisees, then proclaimed that He came only for “sinners,” to call them to repentance (and thus to eternal life). Did He mean that the Pharisees were not sinners? Of course not! Elsewhere He condemns them for pride and hypocrisy, among other offenses. He meant that He receives only those who recognize and admit their need for forgiveness. That’s good news for those who suffer great sorrow for their lack of love for God and for others. Jesus’ treatment of Matthew and his unsavory companions demonstrates God’s matchless mercy towards all those who come humbly and without excuse to Him for pardon.
Who Can Forgive?
Who has the authority to forgive sins? We have offended a holy God, who must judge wickedness and rebellion. No mere man pronounces forgiveness of sins to another in the name of God. But Jesus was not ordinary man, as this passage indicates. First, He called the man, “Son.” Since Jesus Himself was only about thirty years old at this time, and we have no evidence that the paralytic was a youth, this form of address hints at a sense of authority on Jesus’ part. Then, He pronounces forgiveness. Nowhere in the Bible do we have anyone else – not Moses, not any of the prophets – simply telling a sinner that his sins were forgiven. Jesus well knew that only God can pardon offenders against His holy law. Jesus points further to His extraordinary status by saying, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins…” Though “Son of Man” could have several different meanings, on Jesus’ lips it almost certainly refers to the Son of Man in Daniel, who “was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion…” (Daniel 7:14). Finally, the Lord confirmed His authority to forgive sins by healing the paralyzed man with a simple command. Who can forgive sins? Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who became Son of Man, “God with us” in order to save His people from their sins” (1:23, 21).
Salvation through Suffering
Perhaps even more than the agony of crucifixion, the mocking scorn of the people and their religious leaders broke the heart of our Savior (Psalm 69:9, 20). Jesus had refused the narcotic offered Him to lessen the pain (27:34), and was now enduring the slow, agonizing torture of the cross, His hands and feet pierced; the weight of His body supported by transfixed palms and perhaps a small block of wood for His feet; stripped and exposed to the reproach of passersby - He must have been a miserable spectacle. A crucified king? How could it be? Everything about this scene is a parody of royalty: The monarch has no splendid robes. Instead of a palace guard, He is watched by foreign soldiers. The title over His head, “This is the Jesus, King of the Jews,” was written as a sardonic insult by a Roman governor to the corrupt Jewish officials. In place of loyal citizens, He is taunted by a crowd that derides Him for His failure to save Himself. Instead of admiring courtiers, He looks down upon the horrid glee of self-righteous religious leaders who have finally caught their prey. They allude to Scriptures to “prove” that His plight demonstrates that His kingship is a fraud. And all because He would not save Himself from physical pain and death. They simply could not understand His mission, “To save His people from their sins” (1:21). Oblivious to the prophecies and types of a Suffering Savior, they pour contempt on His self-sacrifice, even as their ridicule fulfills the Psalm that most fully describes His total agony (Psalm 22:8; see also Isaiah 53 and Psalm 69). They had seen him save the sick from illness. What they could not see was the real meaning of Jesus’ healing miracles – to point to deliverance from sin and death. Nor could they understand that the Son of Man “must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed” (16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19). Obsessed with earthly power and privilege, they could not imagine that the Son of Man had come to earth “to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (20:28). What about us? Do we also suspend faith in Christ upon His deliverance of us from earthly pain and trouble? Are we not prone to say, “If you take me down from this ‘cross’ I’ll believe in You?” Have we also forgotten that salvation comes only through suffering (16:24-25; Acts 14:22; Romans 8:17; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 1:6-9)?
Mocking the King
From the opening of his Gospel to its conclusion, Matthew takes pains to display Jesus as King. In the first verse, He is called “son of David,” to whom God had said, “Your house and your kingdom shall be established before you. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16), and “son of Abraham,” to whom God promised, “kings shall come from you” (Genesis 17:6). Jesus began His ministry by preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), and proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven would be conferred upon the poor in spirit and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (5:3, 10). He taught with the authority of a king (7:29), cast out evil spirits with a royal command (8:32), and subdued the winds and the waves with a simple word (8:23). Calling Himself Son of Man, He invoked the ancient prophecies of Daniel, to whom it was revealed that “all peoples nations, and languages” would “serve Him… His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 7:14). Over the centuries, Israel had rejected God as King in order to establish their own human rulers, and had consistently refused to submit to their only real Sovereign. As a consequence, they had come under the harsh rule of foreign potentates, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and now the Romans. Roman legionnaires now feign obeisance to Jesus as the King of the Jews. Stripping Him, clothing Him in the scarlet robe of commanders, pressing a thorny crown into His skull, placing a reed into His hands as a substitute scepter, kneeling before Him in false humility, and greeting Him as they would Caesar, followed by spitting and buffeting, they mean to heap scorn and shame upon Him. Little do they know that future Roman Emperors would declare Jesus to be their King. Their play-acting foretells the day when “every knee shall bow, … and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 10:11). Quite unaware that they are already fulfilling the prophecies in Daniel, as well as Micah (Micah 5:2, 4) and Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-10), they imagine that because Jesus cam the first time “meek and lowly, riding upon a donkey,” He will not return “sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 21:5; 26:64). Less we be too critical of these pagans, however, let us remember that we, too, mock the King of Kings whenever we fail to obey His teaching; to submit respectfully to those in authority over us; to exercise authority with gentleness; or to trust in Him alone to save us. How prone we are to put our hope in false messiahs, and to scorn our only Savior!
Carrying the Cross
Matthew had already recorded Jesus’ solemn words, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (10:38). “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me” (16:24). Now he records the story of the first man who – albeit unwillingly – carried the cross of Christ, following in His steps. Though Jesus, as a carpenter, was surely strong enough to bear His own cross, this event reveals just how brutal were the beatings He had already endured, and what carrying the cross entails for His disciples. Indeed, Jesus and His apostles tell us clearly that to deny oneself, take up the cross, and follow Him means to: - Determine to suffer in the flesh as Jesus did, living no longer “for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2) - Be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). Speaking out boldly against sin, refusing to participate in popular depravity, and taking abuse for it ( Matthew 10:1 Peter 4:3-4). - Rejoice when men “revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:11; 1 Peter 4:13, 16). - Bravely proclaim the Gospel of salvation through repentance from sin and faith in Christ alone, despite threats, pain, and even death (Matthew 10:7, 27, 32; Acts 3:11-26; 4:5-20, 23-31). - Risk the loss of the approval of family members in order to follow Christ faithfully (Matthew 10:21-22, 34-37; 23:29) - Give up wealth, houses, and financial security to imitate the one who, though rich, yet for our sakes became poor (Matthew 8:19-20; 19:23-29). - Put to death the evil deeds of the body by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:29-30; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24; 1 Peter 2:11). - Exercise self-discipline in all things in order to be useful to God (1 Corinthians 9:1-27). May God give us grace so to do!
Deadly Mammon
Clearly, Judas had been in love with this present world for a long time (2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:15). Having stolen money regularly from the common purse which had been entrusted to him, he has sold Jesus for the price of a slave (John 12:6; Exodus 21:32). Now that Jesus has been condemned, he is filled with remorse, for he knows that an innocent man has been betrayed by him and condemned by the Jewish leaders.The money they paid is like fire in his hand; he must get rid of it; but they will not take it from him. Their scruples about accepting “blood money” for Temple purposes highlight their hypocrisy, and lead them to use it to purchase a field for burying aliens to the promises of Israel (27:6-10). Matthew sees here the fulfillment of ancient prophecies (Jeremiah 19 and Zechariah 11) that expose the judgment of God which was going to fall upon the wicked rulers of Israel in previous times. Those events foreshadowed the rejection by the Jews of their true Shepherd and King, Jesus, and presaged the horrible fate that would befall Jerusalem when the Romans destroyed it in 70 A.D. (23:35; 24:1-21). At that time, the entire region became a “field of blood.” Thus, both Judas and the authorities in Jerusalem put the love of this world – possessions, power, prestige – above the love of God and of His people. In direct contrast to Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for many (20:28), they paid and received money to destroy the Messiah and save themselves. How about us? In what way(s) have we loved this present world more than God and His kingdom? What have we paid, or received, to betray our Master? Which of our actions show that we are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18)? Perhaps we have been obsessed with laying up treasures on this earth, rather than seeking first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:19-21, 33). On the final day, what will it profit us to have gained this whole world, if we lose our very soul? (16:25-26). It’s not much to “find life” in this age and then to lose it for all eternity (10:39). If pleasure, or popularity, or position turn us from following Christ, then we shall hear those awful words, “I never knew you!” on the last day (7:23). Equally futile will be bitter remorse without genuine repentance (Judas), or a hard heart that disclaims all responsibility for what we have done (the priests and elders). Only true turning from sin and faith in Christ will deliver us from deadly Mammon.
Learning from Peter
What a contrast between Peter and his Master! When Peter and the others ran away, Jesus walked forward to meet His betrayer and the thugs he brought to arrest Him (26:46-56; John 18:48). While Peter denied even knowing Christ, Jesus confessed that He was the Son of God, fully cognizant of the consequences (26:63-64). Humanly speaking, what led to these starkly opposite responses? The most significant, of course, is that Jesus had the Spirit of God and Peter did not. The Lord’s victory in the wilderness, like His triumphs during His arrest, trial, and sufferings, came from the anointing with the Spirit which was given Him at His baptism (3:16). Peter, on the other hand, did not receive the Spirit until the Day of Pentecost, as Jesus had promised (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4, 38). On that day, he and the other apostles received repentance unto life; they fully trusted in Christ; they received the Spirit; they were born again; they were “saved” (Matthew 3:11; Acts 10:43-45, 47; 11:14-18; John 3:3, 5; see also Romans 8:9-10). We should note that after Pentecost Peter never again denied his Lord, but boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to those who had killed Jesus ( Acts 2:14-40;3:11-26; 4:1-31). Still, we can learn from Peter’s failure on the night when Jesus was betrayed. Jesus overcame temptation in the wilderness by quoting the Word of God, upon which he had clearly meditated at length (Matthew 4:3-10). Peter obviously had failed to ponder the warnings Jesus had given him that he would betray Christ three times (26:34). Faced with a terrible temptation, Jesus prayed. Peter slept when he should have been begging for strength to overcome Satan’s wiles (26:39-45; 6:13). Rather than following Jesus closely, as John did, he followed “at a distance” (26:58; John 18:15-16). He placed himself in the midst of God’s enemies, forgetting his spiritual weakness and vulnerability (Matthew 26:41), and perhaps trusting in his own ability to defend himself, as he had tried to protect Jesus in the Garden (26:51). Years later, obviously having learned his lessons, he wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Prevailing Prayer
As events proceed inexorably towards their denoument on Calvary, Jesus seeks both solitude with God and support from His closest companions. He finds the former, but fails to receive the latter. Peter, James, and John, who had been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, despite repeated wake-up calls from someone who longed for fellowship in the supreme trial of His life. He had offered them the cup of blessing in the Upper Room, but the price was high: His own blood (Matthew 26:28), referred to in His prayer as the “cup” from which He shrank in horror, for this was the cup of God’s wrath against sinners (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Ezekiel 23:33; Zechariah 12:2; Revelation 14:10). James and John had glibly said they were willing to partake of this bitter potion when they sought preferential treatment (20:22), but now they are too selfish even to pray with the one who alone possessed the right to take upon Himself the punishment due for the sins of the world. Peter had promised even to die for Jesus, as had they all, but when it came to living for Him as intercessors, it was too much (26:33, 35). So much for good intentions. As Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (26:41). Thanks be to God! Deliverance from ourselves, Satan’s power, and the righteous wrath of God does not depend upon men, but fell upon the mighty shoulders of the Son of God, Jesus, who as the Son of Mary renewed the combat His ancient forebears had lost in Eden. His flesh, too, was weak, but His spirit cried out to God. After confirming that He must indeed die in order to “deliver His people from their sins” (1:21), Jesus pledges Himself again to God’s redemptive purpose: “Your will be done.” The letter to the Hebrews tells us that He “offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7). His righteous innocence recoiling from the prospect of being considered a criminal, His natural aversion to death and His utter grief at the coming separation from His Father produced a piercing agony, so that “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44), but still He persevered: “Your will be done.” His disciples were still asleep when He returned from this hour of wrestling in prayer, but the battle had been won. Our Champion had gained for us what our first parents had lost in paradise. A Man had determined to obey God at any cost. O come! Let us adore Him.
Communion with Christ and Each Other
Just before He faces His ultimate trial, Jesus shares on last Passover meal with His disciples, at the end of which He inaugurates what we now call the Lord’s Supper (or Communion, or the Eucharist). This meal resembles the Jewish Passover, even as it announces and encapsules a new era in God’s dealing with His people. The blood of the lamb sprinkled over the door of each Israelite home finds its fulfillment in the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross. The death of a lamb foreshadows the self-sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God who alone can take away the sins of the world. Notice: There is no lamb mentioned in any accounts of the last Supper, though there almost certainly had to be one; are the Gospel writers trying to shine a beam of light upon the final Lamb? Deliverance from bondage to Pharaoh points towards release from slavery to the penalty, power, and finally the presence of sin. Eating the Passover with family looks to the creation of a new family born again through faith in Christ to become children of God. Formation of Israel as the people of God heralds the creation of the new people from every race and nation who belong to God through faith in Christ. Remembering the mighty deliverance by God from Egypt will be replaced by a memorial to the redemption from sin which was accomplished by Christ. Instead of a fellowship based on the blood of one’s parents, there will be a far deeper communion in the Holy Spirit, bought with the blood of Christ. The Mosaic Covenant, which featured laws that could not transform the soul, is displaced by the New Covenant, in which God’s laws are written on our hearts by the Spirit. How about you? Do you trust in Jesus as the only one who can save you from your sins? If you partake of the Lord’s Supper at church, do you remember with gratitude the mighty salvation which He has wrought for you, with faith and thanksgiving?
Who is Judas?
Judas, the arch-betrayer, was one of the twelve disciples whom Jesus had chosen to be apostles during His earthly ministry (Matthew 10:1-4). Along with the others, he preached the message of the kingdom of God, performed miraculous healings, and cast out demons in the name of Jesus (10:7-8). Trusted by the others, who were entirely unsuspecting, he was given charge of their common purse, out of which he distributed money for the poor He also took dedicated funds for himself, for he was a thief (John 12:6). Money seemed to have dominated his thoughts, for he was the spokesman and apparent ringleader for the disciples who rebuked Mary for her “extravagant” worship of the Lord (John 12:4-5; Matthew 26:8-9). Right after Jesus’ rebuke for such misplaced priorities, Judas went out to betray his Master (26:14-16). So who was he, really? Outwardly, he seemed to be a model disciple of Christ, for he belonged to the chosen company of the apostles and behaved well enough to maintain the trust of the others. He clearly possessed some sort of faith, or he would not have been able to work miracles. From his preaching of the kingdom message, we know also that he had a clear understanding of at least the rudiments of truth. On the other hand, from his attitude towards Mary, and his selling of Jesus, we realize that his eye was not good. He wanted to lay up for himself treasures on earth by purloining funds from the offerings given to support Christ and his team. He was not seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:19, 23, 33). We now see that this wretched thief was a devoted worshiper of Mammon, not of God. With divided heart, he was loyal to his idol and despised Jesus. We may put the matter starkly and say that he loved Mammon and hated God and his Anointed One (6:24). Judas will be able to say on the last day, “Lord, Lord, have [I] not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” (7:22; see Hebrews 6:4-6) Like countless others who have appeared to be devout believers, however, he will hear those terrible words, “I never knew you [that is, He never had an intimate relationship with him]; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” He never really belonged to Christ’s people; that is why he went out from them (1 John 2:19). What a warning to us!
Lasting Fame
What did Mary give to Jesus? And what did she receive in return? She gave Jesus her attention. While others were busy – maybe too busy – Mary found time to sit at Jesus’ feet and drink in His heavenly doctrine (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus’ comment that she had anointed Him for His burial reveals the hidden chambers of Mary’s heart, where words of the Lord’s impending death were reverberating ( Matthew 26:12). Clearly, her mind was focused on Christ, and not upon this world. She exhausted her assets. As we have seen, the value of the perfume and of the alabaster jar exceeded a year’s income, and may have represented her hope for marriage, since without a dowry a woman could not expect to be chosen as a wife. Thus, She offered to Him all of her aspirations. It may have seemed to her that the death of Jesus would mean the end of all hope, so she seized this moment to proffer to Him her hopes and dreams, her deepest longings and strongest fears, in one last act of worship. She poured upon His body all of her affection. It is as if she saw Jesus as her true Husband, upon whom she lavished her love. True devotion yearns to give, to serve, to express tender care, no matter what the cost. What, then, did Mary receive? From mean-spirited men, nothing but scorn and rebuke, and even a complaint to Christ, just as her sister Martha had complained (Luke 10:40). But from Jesus, the strongest possible affirmation: “She has done a good work for Me…Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (26:10, 13). This stunning announcement resonates with many chords of precious truth. Among them: There is a “gospel” – good news – that Jesus wants all nations to hear, and He will fulfill His own purpose (24:14; see also 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). That “good news” centers on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (1:21; 20:28; Luke 24:46-47). Indeed, for two millennia the story has been relayed, from one generation to another, of how this woman offered all she had to Him who for our sakes became poor, that through His poverty we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). May the one who thus honored Mary receive our heartfelt praise, now and forever!