When Jesus had finished this discourse, He said to His disciples,
“You know that the Passover is coming in two days, and the Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.”
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the [elegant home of the Jewish] high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.
But they said, “It must not be during the festival (Passover), otherwise there might be a riot among the people.”
Now when Jesus was [back] in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper,
a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume and she poured it on Jesus’ head as He reclined at the table.
But when the disciples saw it they were indignant and angry, saying, “Why all this waste [of money]?
For this perfume might have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
But Jesus, aware [of the malice] of this [remark], said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? She has done a good thing to Me.
For you always have the poor with you; but you will not always have Me.
When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever this gospel [of salvation] is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her [for her act of love and devotion].”
Then one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” And they weighed out [g]thirty pieces of silver.
And from that moment Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread (Passover Week) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
He said, “Go into the city to [i]a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time [to suffer and atone for sin] is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”
[Accordingly] the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
And as they were eating, He said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me.”
Being deeply grieved and extremely distressed, each one of them began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
Jesus answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the bowl with Me [as a [j]pretense of friendship] will betray Me.
The Son of Man is to go [to the cross], just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
And Judas, the betrayer, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after [l]blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
And when He had taken a cup and [m]given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;
for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins.
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night [disillusioned about Me, confused, and some even ashamed of Me], for it is written [in the Scriptures], ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I am raised [to life], I will go ahead of you [leading the way] to Galilee.”
Peter replied to Him, “Though they all fall away because of You [and doubt and disown You], I will never fall away!”
Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this night, before a rooster crows, you will [completely] deny Me three times.”
Peter said to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane (olive-press), and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], He began to be grieved and greatly distressed.
Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.”
And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup [q]pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words once more.
Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Listen, [the hour [of My sacrifice] is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners [whose way and nature is to oppose God].
Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is near!”
As Jesus was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot], one of the twelve [disciples], came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, [who came as representatives] from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”
Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal].
Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.
And one of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew his sword, and struck [Malchus] the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword.
Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”
At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) had gathered [illegally] together.
But Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the [elegant home of the Jewish] high priest, and went inside, and sat with the guards to see the outcome.
Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death.
They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward,
and testified, “This man said, ‘I am able to tear down the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have You no answer to give? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”
But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I call on You to swear a binding oath by the living God, that you tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus said to him, “You have [in fact] said it; but more than that I tell you [regardless of what you do with Me now], in the future you will see [Me revealed as] the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his robes [in mock horror] and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed [by making Himself God’s equal]! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy.
What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves to be put to death.”
Then they spat in His face and struck Him with their fists; and some slapped Him,
saying, “[Prophesy to us, You Christ (Messiah, Anointed); who was it that struck You?”
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”
After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them too; for even your [Galilean] accent gives you away.”
Then he began to curse [that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself] and swear [an oath], “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed.
And Peter remembered the [prophetic] words of Jesus, when He had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly [in repentance].
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!
Content source: Amplified version of the Holy Bible
Image source: Our media Team
The woman with the alabaster box did a timely offering to Jesus Christ. We should not wait till it almost late before we do something to the Lord.
Also if Peter had cautioned himself and prayed for the grace not to deny Jesus,perhaps he would have been saved but thank God he quickly ask for forgiveness
It's a chapter that makes me feel very sad! At the crucial moment of Jesus all his friends went away, and the worst that all his enemies approached. Betrayal, betrayal, I would shout in the place of Jesus, however as a mute sheep did not open his mouth. Maybe we do not do the same today? We are inclined to be with someone when that person is well, but if it is wrong, we reject it? let's do good and be good friends at all times.
oh how I long to have the happiness of the woman in the alabaster jar! wash the feet of Jesus regardless of the cost of the perfume and what they say of the people. Today we have the privilege of loving him in our hearts and blessing his name.
Jesus's sacrifice was very difficult and a brutal one but it was worth it because of the darkness that has plaqued the world. Am imagining a world without the spirit of God, a world without Christians, how it would looked like - total chaos. But blessed be the name of the Lord for showing us the way with His marvellous light. Glory be to God
For six months Jesus has been announcing his impending death to his disciples. Now he mentions the precise date, although those involved in the crucifixion were not innocent; the lord kept control of the situation all the time.
His sacrifice as the lamb of the Passover represents the conscious consummation of all the predictions and prophecies of the Old Testament.
hundreds of thousands of pilgrims went to Jerusalem during the Passover and the religious leaders did not want to run the risk of an uproar that could provoke a Roman intervention.
In this passage the evangelist Juan identifies the woman as Maria de Betania, the cost is not something to consider when it comes to carrying out an act of devotion for a loved one on the verge of death; The interference is as follows: "It is appropriate that you offer it to me while I am with you." The service for which there are no other opportunities has preferences over which constitutes a daily obligation.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to carry out his ministry; on this occasion he is anointed with an expensive perfumed oil for his burial.
the sacrifice for love of Jesus will have perpetual influence.
Matteo reveals clearly the reasons for the greed of Judas, so it is useless any attempt to mitigate his guilt.
The woman, was aware that Jesus was the King of kings and Lord of lords, and knew that He is given the best, our total dedication, our complete adoration. While the disciples thought of the cost of perfume and that for them It was a waste .... She knew what to say, what was the most important thing at that moment .... To be at the feet of Christ !!!
Here we can also read, the power of discernment that Jesus Christ showed ... by revealing what was going to happen, he knew that the time had come when Judas would deliver him ... he told Pedro that he would deny it before the rooster sang, and so it was ... because God is omniscient and will always demonstrate his power for ever and ever.
The death of jesus is the hope of redemption for Christians. Dont let jesus death to be in vain
This chapter of The Gospel shows a great contrast to a repentant woman who recognized the authority and deity of the Son of God and performs an action that is marked to the present and secondly the betrayal of a Disciple that saw all the wonders and miracles done for Jesus and who did not recognize him as a son of God.
Thanks for sharing
verses 1-5.Our Lord spoke of His sufferings as distant; now he speaks of them as immediate. At the same time, the Jewish council consulted how they could kill him in secret. But it pleased God to defeat their intention. Jesus, the true paschal lamb, was to be sacrificed for us at that very moment, and his death and resurrection would be public.
This chapter of Matthew is for me one of the saddest, I think of the love of God on humanity and the obedience of Jesus, we are not deserving of so much, but even so his grace reached us, Blessed and Worthy is Our Lord.
Congratulations @reliquary! You have completed the following achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on the badge to view your Board of Honor.
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDo not miss the last post from @steemitboard:
SteemitBoard and the Veterans on Steemit - The First Community Badge.