On the twentieth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...This, my friends, is the real meaning of Christmas! Jesus came to die on the cross for your sins and mine!
Today's Reading: Matthew 26:26-75
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Devotional Thoughts
The process nears a conclusion. The baby was announced to shepherds, worshiped by magi, baptized by John, followed by thousands, and now he has been arrested and is being put on trial. the climactic moment comes as eternity hangs in the balance.
Matthew 26:47-75 records the story of the night before Jesus' death. This was the turning point of history and the moment that all of God's work in this world had pointed to since the foundation of the world. As always, God used men to accomplish this work. In this story, four men - each one had a part in the outworking of God's plan. One did God's will. Three sinned against God.
1. One man betrayed the plan of God. (47-50)
Well, he tried to at least! Judas was disappointed in Jesus as he started talking about laying down his life and dying. Judas was in it to get rich, to reach the top. He did not sign up to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus on this mission of self-sacrifice. There was no way he was going to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross! So, he cut his losses, sold Jesus for a few bucks and led the arresting party to find him.
But one thing must be noted here. Judas betrayed Jesus, but his actions only furthered the cause. Jesus was meant to die and Judas' sin took him down the road to Calvary. Though he was culpable for his actions both in history and in eternity, God used even this man's evil to accomplish his purposes.
2. One man tried to fight in the flesh. (51-54)
Peter was a Galilean fisherman and he had no business wielding a sword, but he did. He tried in his own power to do the heroic thing, to rescue Jesus. I wonder if Jesus smiled sadly, shaking his head? The disciples of Jesus usually make a mess of things when we try to serve him in our own power. He told Peter to put away the sword and let God's plan unfold.
We cannot accomplish the work of God with our fleshly means. Paul told the Corinthians that their weapons were not worldly, but were spiritual and powerful. When Peter tried to fight the fight with the weapons of the flesh he failed miserably. But Jesus, in his grace, cleaned up Peter's mess and continued on the path to fulfilling God's eternal plan.
3. One man obeyed God and submitted to his plan. (57-68)
Of course, we know that he was more than a man; he was the Son of God, God incarnate, the promised Messiah of Israel. But Jesus yielded himself to the Father's plan and accepted what God brought his way. He did not defend himself or declare the injustice of it all. He took the cruelty and lies of sinful men to accomplish the work of God.
4. One man cowered in fear. (69-75)
Of course, the second man and the fourth are the same man. Having blown it once, he now followed Jesus, perhaps hoping that there was some way he could undo the damage he had done earlier. Just a few hours earlier he had proclaimed his willingness to die with Jesus, but now he cowered in fear. If he claimed to be a follower of Christ his life might end as Jesus' was about to. So, instead of standing for Christ he trembled before man (and woman). It was a sad moment. We often criticize Peter as the coward of the bunch, but as best we can tell he was the only one who even had the courage to get this far. But his courage failed and he shrunk back in fear.
But we must remember the end of that story. At the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to him and restored him. The coward became a courageous man of God. Failure is never final in the Kingdom of God.
Four men. Four reactions to the plan and purpose of God. One betrayed Jesus and sought his own glory and good. Another tried to do the work of God in the power of the flesh - and caused only greater pain. Another (well, the same guy, just later) cowered because he feared what people could do to him. One served the purposes of God and he was the one who changed the world.
Do not live your life for self - that is a betrayal of the Kingdom of God. Do not try to accomplish God's work in the flesh - that is futile. Do not be afraid of men and what they can do - fear God, not man. Let us be like our Savior, giving our lives over to the purposes of God - no matter what.
Matthew 26:47-75 records the story of the night before Jesus' death. This was the turning point of history and the moment that all of God's work in this world had pointed to since the foundation of the world. As always, God used men to accomplish this work. In this story, four men - each one had a part in the outworking of God's plan. One did God's will. Three sinned against God.
1. One man betrayed the plan of God. (47-50)
Well, he tried to at least! Judas was disappointed in Jesus as he started talking about laying down his life and dying. Judas was in it to get rich, to reach the top. He did not sign up to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus on this mission of self-sacrifice. There was no way he was going to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross! So, he cut his losses, sold Jesus for a few bucks and led the arresting party to find him.
But one thing must be noted here. Judas betrayed Jesus, but his actions only furthered the cause. Jesus was meant to die and Judas' sin took him down the road to Calvary. Though he was culpable for his actions both in history and in eternity, God used even this man's evil to accomplish his purposes.
2. One man tried to fight in the flesh. (51-54)
Peter was a Galilean fisherman and he had no business wielding a sword, but he did. He tried in his own power to do the heroic thing, to rescue Jesus. I wonder if Jesus smiled sadly, shaking his head? The disciples of Jesus usually make a mess of things when we try to serve him in our own power. He told Peter to put away the sword and let God's plan unfold.
We cannot accomplish the work of God with our fleshly means. Paul told the Corinthians that their weapons were not worldly, but were spiritual and powerful. When Peter tried to fight the fight with the weapons of the flesh he failed miserably. But Jesus, in his grace, cleaned up Peter's mess and continued on the path to fulfilling God's eternal plan.
3. One man obeyed God and submitted to his plan. (57-68)
Of course, we know that he was more than a man; he was the Son of God, God incarnate, the promised Messiah of Israel. But Jesus yielded himself to the Father's plan and accepted what God brought his way. He did not defend himself or declare the injustice of it all. He took the cruelty and lies of sinful men to accomplish the work of God.
4. One man cowered in fear. (69-75)
Of course, the second man and the fourth are the same man. Having blown it once, he now followed Jesus, perhaps hoping that there was some way he could undo the damage he had done earlier. Just a few hours earlier he had proclaimed his willingness to die with Jesus, but now he cowered in fear. If he claimed to be a follower of Christ his life might end as Jesus' was about to. So, instead of standing for Christ he trembled before man (and woman). It was a sad moment. We often criticize Peter as the coward of the bunch, but as best we can tell he was the only one who even had the courage to get this far. But his courage failed and he shrunk back in fear.
But we must remember the end of that story. At the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to him and restored him. The coward became a courageous man of God. Failure is never final in the Kingdom of God.
Four men. Four reactions to the plan and purpose of God. One betrayed Jesus and sought his own glory and good. Another tried to do the work of God in the power of the flesh - and caused only greater pain. Another (well, the same guy, just later) cowered because he feared what people could do to him. One served the purposes of God and he was the one who changed the world.
Do not live your life for self - that is a betrayal of the Kingdom of God. Do not try to accomplish God's work in the flesh - that is futile. Do not be afraid of men and what they can do - fear God, not man. Let us be like our Savior, giving our lives over to the purposes of God - no matter what.
Lord, I give my life to your purposes. No selfish purpose, no fleshly strategies, no fear of man. By your help, I pray that commitment will be a reality.
Think and Pray
Which man best represents your life?
Are you the one who sacrifices the things of God for selfish gain?
Do you fight spiritual battles in the power of the flesh?
Do you cower in fear before hardship and persecution?
Or do you obey God and submit to his plans for your life?
Are you the one who sacrifices the things of God for selfish gain?
Do you fight spiritual battles in the power of the flesh?
Do you cower in fear before hardship and persecution?
Or do you obey God and submit to his plans for your life?
Carol of the Day
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
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