Author: Andrew Timberlake

Matthew 27:51-66

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

After Jesus gave up His life, the curtain of the temple which separated the holy place from the most holy place was torn in two from top to bottom. Man no longer needed a Levitical high priest to mediate between him and God. Because of Jesus’ death, we now have access to God through Jesus. The entire system of animal sacrifices had been done away with. The earth shook and rocks were split with earthquakes as a sign of God’s wrath (Jer 10:10). Many believers (at the time in the future Messiah) were raised from the dead when Jesus was raised and they came out of their tombs and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. These people were likely raised like Lazarus had been, not raised as will happen at the return of Christ. When the centurion and guards who had kept watch over Jesus saw all these things happen, they were filled with awe and agreed that Jesus probably was who He had said He was. While the disciples had deserted Jesus, all the women who had been ministering to Him were there and watched from a distance.

That evening, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The bodies of criminals who had been crucified were typically discarded. Jesus is wrapped in cloth and buried in Joseph’s tomb which had been cut out of a rock. Joseph was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin who had become a disciple of Jesus. Jesus was buried in a rich man’s grave as prophesied (Isa 53:9). A large stone was rolled in front of the grave and the women were there watching.

The next day the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and arranged to have a guard protect the tomb. They knew that Jesus had predicted that He would rise on the third day and they didn’t want His disciples to steal the body and claim a resurrection. Pilate had the tomb sealed and placed a Roman guard to protect the tomb. Jesus had been declared dead and buried. A large stone was placed over the tomb entrance which could not be rolled away from the inside. A Roman guard stood watch on the outside and the tomb was sealed. There was no way anyone was coming out of that tomb apart from a supernatural resurrection.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Matthew 27:33-50

33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

They arrived at a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull because of how it looked. There they offered Jesus a drink of wine mixed with gall. It was an unpleasant tasting drink but it was intended to diminish His pain, which is why Jesus refused it. Jesus deliberately experienced full pain and suffering on behalf of the entire human race. Then they crucified Him. Afterwards, the Roman soldiers divided His clothes among them by casting lots (Ps 22:18). An inscription was placed above His head that read “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” He was buried with two robbers, one on either side of Him, which fulfilled yet another prophecy that he would be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa 53:12). Those who passed by mocked Him, insulted Him and wagged their heads (Ps 22:7). The crowd and the chief priests all mocked Jesus, taunting Him to prove that He was the Son of God by saving Himself. It wasn’t a question of whether He could save Himself. If He had listened to the crowd’s taunts and come down off the cross and had they then believed as they said they would (which they still likely wouldn’t have) there would have been no basis for their salvation. Jesus had to lose His life to save others (1 Cor 15:3-4; Mat 20:28).

The earth responded to Jesus’ experiencing the full wrath of God. The whole land, perhaps the whole earth, went dark for three hours. At the end Jesus called out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1) Almost every other time, Jesus refers to “My Father” but here He engages God in His judicial relationship as the judge over sin and righteousness. Not everyone heard Jesus clearly and some thought He was calling out for Elijah to save him. Some wanted to wait around and see if Elijah would come but Jesus yielded up His spirit. The work of redemption had been completed because Jesus had been obedient to the Father to His death (Phil 2:8). He voluntarily gave up His spirit, He was sovereign even over the time of His death.

Jesus’ love for you was absolute. He endured suffering and voluntarily went all the way to death as a perfect, spotless, Passover lamb to die in your place. At any time He could have stopped everything and changed His mind. The only reason He had to die was because if He didn’t, you would have to.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Matthew 27:15-32

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Each Passover the governor had a custom of releasing one prisoner to the Jews. Pilate knew that the chief priests had turned Jesus over out of envy. He’d also received a message from his wife telling him that she’d suffered terrible dreams over Jesus’ innocence. His clever plan, offer the crowds Jesus and Barabbas. Barabbas was a notorious criminal so he figured the crowd would choose Jesus over Barabbas. But the chief priests and elders had persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas. When Pilate asked them who they wanted to be released, they all cried out to have Barabbas released. When he asked what he should do with Jesus who is called Christ, they shouted back, “let him be crucified.” He tried to reason with them by asking what Jesus had done wrong but they just shouted louder, “crucify him!” Pilate saw he was getting nowhere and feared the crowd would begin to riot so he washed his hands in their presence and declared himself innocent of Jesus’ blood—then he had Jesus whipped and beaten and handed Him over to be crucified. Pilate was not innocent. He didn’t get to just wash his hands and be clear of what he did. The crowed all called back that they were happy to have Jesus’ blood on them and their children. They willingly accepted their guilt and proceeded to have Jesus crucified anyway.

Our choices all have very real, and eternal consequences. We cannot be flippant about guilt and innocence. All of our guilt before God is real and has the eternal consequence of death. We all need a substitution to pay our penalty for us. That day Barabbas had a physical experience of that as Jesus died in his place. We all need a perfect substitute to take our guilt and give us innocence. Jesus gave His life that day to take on your guilt and give you His innocence.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Matthew 27:1-14

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

(ESV)

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  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

In the morning, the chief priests and elders take Jesus to Pilate the governor. They had decided that Jesus needed to be put to death but they had no authority to impose the death penalty on anyone, that was something only Rome could do. The problem was that blasphemy wasn’t going to be enough to get Rome to impose the death penalty, they had to show Jesus as a potential political threat who might spark a revolution against Rome.

Meanwhile, Judas has a crisis of conscience. He realises that He has been instrumental in the condemnation of an innocent man. He returns the thirty pieces of silver and throws it down in disgust for what he has done. The chief priests and elders aren’t interested and tell him to sort out his own problems. Judas realised his sin but there is no indication that his remorse moved him to repentance or belief in Jesus as his saviour. Instead, he can’t deal with what he has done and hangs himself. Even Judas’ betrayal of Jesus wasn’t something that wouldn’t be covered by Jesus’ death on the cross. There is no sin so grave that it is not covered by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Jesus is taken to Pilate who asks Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus confirms that He is and yet Pilate sees no threat in Him. Pilate sits amazed because he can’t see a revolutionary threat against Rome in this quiet, calm man who remains silent in the face of his accusers.

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Matthew 26:57-75

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?”

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.

(ESV)

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  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Matthew skips over the preliminary trial where Jesus stood before Annas, the former high priest (John 18:13). Jesus is taken to Caiaphas’ house at night where He stands trial before the scribes and elders. Peter follows him at a distance so he could see what would happen.

The trail is a farce from the beginning. They are not trying to determine whether Jesus is or is not the Messiah. If they had intended to do that they would have gone carefully through the Old Testament prophecies in order to see if He fulfilled them all. They had already decided Jesus’ fate. This trail was just a vain attempt to legitimise it. They looked for false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. But they found none. They tried many false witnesses but none had any damning evidence. Finally, they used two witnesses who testified that Jesus had said he could destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Even that testimony was false. Jesus had not said that He would be the one to destroy the temple. His words were, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19). This had been three years earlier and was a prediction of what was about to happen. He had been talking about them putting Him to death and then His resurrection. Jesus remained silent at the accusation even though the high priest had hoped He’d say something to incriminate Himself. Caiaphas’ final move was to put Jesus under oath and ask Him if He was the Messiah. Even this was a trick. If Jesus answered that He was the Messiah, then He could be charged with defiance against Roman rule and if He says He isn’t, then they could clear up their problem with Him right away. Jesus answers that He is the Messiah, but makes it Caiaphas’ claim. Then Jesus claims to be a divine being as predicted in the Old Testament as One who will sit at the right hand of God (Ps 110:1) and would be the One who would one day judge those who now judge Him. Caiaphas is enraged and tears his robe (which was unlawful Lev 21:10) and accuses Jesus of blasphemy. The entire council agrees that this was blasphemy and declares that He deserves death. There is no mistake that everyone there believed that Jesus claimed to be God.

Meanwhile, Peter is outside and is approached by a servant girl who connects him to Jesus, but he denies it before everyone. He moves and another servant girl says she has seen him with Jesus but he denies it with an oath. A little while later more bystanders come up and are sure that he is one of the disciples because of his accent. He denies it so strongly he calls a curse on himself as he swears he does not know Jesus. And then the rooster crowed. Peter weeps as he remembers Jesus’ prediction.

Peter made many mistakes as he followed Jesus. He was impulsive and sometimes too sure of himself. He tripped and fell as he tried many things in his own strength. But he kept on going. With Jesus’ grace and loving restoration, Peter went on to serve God faithfully to the end. It doesn’t matter if you trip and fall as you try to follow Jesus. What’s important is that you continue to follow Him. He will pick you up and restore you along the way and in time, by His grace, He will lead you home.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 1

Matthew 26:47-56

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.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Judas arrived with a great crowd carrying swords and clubs and betrays Jesus with the prearranged sign of a kiss. A kiss was a customary greeting. Judas feigns his friendship as he greets Jesus (see Prov 27:6) but Jesus responds with genuine affection calling him “friend”. Peter (John 18:10) responded by drawing his sword and began to attack the crowd but Jesus stopped him to keep him safe. Peter initially responded exactly as he had said he would, prepared to die rather than desert Jesus but his impulsiveness didn’t last. Jesus responded completely calmly, ready to go with his arresters showing that His coming trial and death were never forced on him. He voluntarily submitted to them. He could have called on twelve legions of angels (seventy-two thousand) to His defence, instead, He went willingly. Jesus asked why they came out to Him in the night with swords and clubs when He had been in the Temple everyday teaching and they didn’t come to arrest Him there. Everything that happened to Jesus was done in a way that fulfilled the prophecies of Scripture proving repeatedly that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. In the end, all the disciples left Jesus just as He had predicted they would.

Jesus’ life was not taken from Him. He didn’t have to die because men arrested Him and crucified Him. He had to die because that was the only way to deal with our sin. Jesus died willingly in your place.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 1

Matthew 26:30-46

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.

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.”

(ESV)

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  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Jesus lets the disciples in on some really bad news. Not only will He be betrayed by one of them, but all of them will desert him that night. Jesus quotes the prophecy from Zech 13:7 that when the Shepherd is struck, the sheep will scatter. The good news is that their desertion won’t be permanent and Jesus would meet them again in Galilee after His resurrection. In a demonstration of pride, Peter denies that he will desert Jesus, even if all the others do, he won’t, even if it costs him his life. If only Peter had asked for help he might not have fallen so hard. For Peter it ended up worse, not only would he deny Jesus, but he would deny Him three times in a short period of time. All the disciples stood with Peter and said they would not deny Jesus. Peter was not alone in correcting the Lord.

Jesus went with His disciples to Gethsemane where He asked them to wait for Him while He went off to pray. He took Peter, James, and John with Him and asked them to remain awake and pray with Him. Jesus was deeply sorrowful, not only because of the physical pain of death by crucifixion but primarily because of the spiritual pain He would endure by being separated from his intimate relationship with the Father as he experienced spiritual death. Jesus would become “sin for us” (2 Cor 5:21). Three times Jesus prayed to express His pain and desire but always wholly willing to do His Father’s will. Even at His darkest hour, Jesus wanted his disciples to have the spiritual stamina they needed so he woke them three times to watch and pray with him but they repeatedly fall asleep.

The disciples’ actions provide a warning to us not to be too sure of ourselves and to recognise that spiritual testing is always around the corner. We would do well to humbly recognise our weakness and be quick to pray for help to face whatever is coming our way. Let us pray as Jesus did, bringing our concerns and troubles to God but always seeking His will over our own.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Matthew 26:17-29

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

26 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.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was an eight-day festival of Passover in which no bread made with yeast or leaven could be eaten. Jesus sends His disciples to find a specific man and make arrangements to eat the Passover meal in his house.

While they were around the table, Jesus lets them know that his death, which He had already warned them about many times, would come about by betrayal by one of them. Each of them was deeply concerned that they might be the one to betray Him. Jesus confirmed that it was going to be one of the twelve when He said that it would be one who had dipped his hand into the same dish with Him. Judas asked his question that expected a negative response. “It is not me, is it?” is another way to express it. Jesus confirms that it was going to be him. Note that all the disciples refer to Jesus as Lord, “Is it I, Lord?” while Judas simply calls Him Rabbi, “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus says that it would be better for His betrayer, Judas, not to have been born because, based on his choice to reject Jesus, he will spend eternity in conscious, everlasting punishment.

During the meal, Jesus took the elements of the Passover and gave them new meaning. Where the Passover was instituted to remind the Jews of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt under Moses, the Lord’s Supper (or Communion) now reminds believers of our deliverance from sin through Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross.

Every one of us has the capacity in ourselves to be a betrayer like Judas. Perhaps that is why each of the disciples was concerned that they might be Jesus’ betrayer. They each recognised their inherent sinfulness. By God’s grace we each get a choice, we can embrace our sinfulness and harden our hearts like Judas in which case we will suffer the same fate of eternal conscious punishment. Or we can accept Jesus’ gift of salvation by believing in His death on the cross in our place and receive eternal peace with God. Have you made your choice?

It doesn’t matter how many steps in the wrong direction you have taken, it is only one step back to receive Christ as Lord of your life.

Bodie Hodge

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Matthew 26:1-16

1 When 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.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

When Jesus had finished his explanation of the end times, He told His disciples that His death was imminent. The Passover was coming and plans to crucify Him were already underway. The Passover was always a picture of Jesus’ death and that Passover weekend Jesus would die as the ultimate and final lamb, the perfect sacrifice that would once for all take away our sins and allow death to pass over us.
The chief priests and elders had already decided that they would put Jesus to death (John 11:53), now they decided when and how. They decided not to arrest Him during the feast because that might cause an uproar among the people.

Jesus went to dinner with His friends at the house of Simon the Leper. John 12:1-11 tells us that the other guests were the disciples, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. The woman who poured out the expensive perfume was Mary (John 12:3). The perfume was nard, the most costly of all the perfumes. What Mary poured out on Jesus’ feet cost about a year’s wages and represented a great sacrifice. It was way more than just a sign of hospitality, this was an anointing fit for a king.
The disciples criticise her for spending so much money and said that it would have been better to sell it and give the money to the poor. Jesus corrects them by pointing out that they will always have opportunity to serve the poor while this was a unique situation with Jesus in their presence. Helping the poor is a good thing but serving and honouring God with your money is the right thing. How you do that can vary widely. Mary chose what was best when she honoured Jesus with her sacrifice and Jesus rewarded her in that her story has been told along with the gospel and still is today.

Judas went out and conspired with the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them. They agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12) which was the value of a slave (Exod 21:32). Compare the value Judas placed on Jesus’ life with the value Mary placed on it. How valuable is Jesus to you? What would you give up or sacrifice for Him? Is your whole life lived for Jesus, or are you holding back?

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

When Jesus comes at the end of the tribulation, He will sit on His throne and three groups of people will be gathered before Him, all survivors at the end of the tribulation. On His right (the place of honour) will be the Gentile believers and on His left will be those Gentiles who have not believed through the tribulation. The third group will be the Jews who have survived. Jesus will welcome the Gentile believers on His right to inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Gentiles being a part of the church and welcomed into the kingdom was always God’s plan, not just an afterthought. They will receive entrance into the kingdom because of their righteousness which comes from belief in Jesus, but Jesus points to their works of mercy and compassion towards the Jews, “one of the least of these, my brothers”, as a demonstration of their belief and changed nature. Those Gentiles on His left will be cursed and told to depart from Jesus’ presence and will be cast into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. These Gentiles are cursed because they mistreated Israel but ultimately because they rejected Jesus and did not believe in Him for eternal life.

There are many “least of these” in life today, not only the Jews. Many people are mistreated because of their race, gender, age, or wealth. If you were evaluated purely on how you treat those who are the “least of these” in comparison to your situation, would people identify you as a believer?

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3