DAY #46: February 15, 2009 - Matthew 26:6-25

Bethany was located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives (Jerusalem is on the western side). This town was the home of Jesus’ friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Jesus had been returning to Bethany from Jerusalem each night during this final week, probably staying with these dear friends.

One night, a dinner had been prepared with Jesus as the honored guest. The host, Simon, did not have leprosy at this time, for lepers were forced to live separately from people. Jesus may have healed Simon of his leprosy, but he had the nickname as a former leper. The woman who came in was probably Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She had a beautiful jar of expensive perfume which she poured on Jesus’ head. Such an anointing, using expensive oil, pictured a royal anointing appropriate for the Messiah.

Mary’s gift to Jesus was worth a year’s wages. The disciples concluded that the expensive ointment had been wasted on Jesus, and they rebuked Mary for such an act because the perfume could have been given to the poor. Where Matthew says the disciples, John specifically mentions Judas (John 12:4-5). Judas’s indignation over Mary’s act of worship would not have been based on concern for the poor, but on greed. Because Judas was the treasurer of Jesus’ ministry and had embezzled funds (John 12:6), he no doubt wanted the perfume sold so that the proceeds could be put into his care.

Jesus reprimanded the disciples for their lack of insight. Their words criticized Mary’s actions, but Jesus’ words comforted her. The expensive perfume poured on Jesus had been a good thing—a beautiful act of love and sacrifice—and Jesus declared it to be so. This was a unique act for a specific occasion—an anointing that anticipated Jesus’ burial and publicly declared faith in him as Messiah. In saying you will always have the poor among you, Jesus was not saying that we should neglect the poor, nor was he justifying indifference to them. Believers should show kindness to the poor, and opportunities to do so would continue until the end of time. There would always be poor people who would need help.

The phrase - I will not be here with you much longer - meant that Jesus would soon be gone from them physically. Jesus’ purpose in these words was to explain that the opportunity to show him such devotion and to anoint him with oil would soon pass. Jesus was affirming Mary’s unselfish act of worship and highlighting the special sacrifice that Mary had made for him. The essence of worshiping Christ is to regard him with utmost love, respect, and devotion, as well as to be willing to sacrifice to him what is most precious.

Mary may not have set out to anoint Jesus for burial; she was merely showing great respect for the Teacher she so loved and respected. She may not have understood Jesus’ approaching death any more than the disciples, although she was known for truly listening to Jesus. She may have realized something was going to happen to Jesus, for all knew he was in great danger, and thus she sympathized with him and honored him with the greatest gift she could give.

Mary’s unselfish act would be preached throughout the world along with the Good News. This has come true because we read about it today. While the disciples misunderstood Jesus’ mission and constantly argued about places in the Kingdom, and while the religious leaders stubbornly refused to believe in Jesus and plotted his death, this one quiet woman so loved Jesus and was so devoted to him that she considered no sacrifice too great for her beloved Master. She is an example to us all of unselfish devotion to our Savior.

Why would one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot, want to betray Jesus? The Bible does not reveal Judas’s motives other than gaining money. Judas knew that the leading priests had it in for Jesus, and he knew they would have the power to arrest Jesus. So that was where he went. Judas’s greedy desire for money could not be fulfilled if he followed Jesus, so he betrayed him in exchange for pay from the religious leaders. To have discovered a traitor among Jesus’ followers greatly pleased the religious leaders. They had been having difficulty figuring out how to arrest Jesus, so when an offer of help came from this unexpected corner, they took advantage of it.

Matthew alone has the exact amount of money Judas accepted to betray Jesus—thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). This fulfilled Zechariah 11:12-13. The Passover took place on one night and at one meal, but the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which was celebrated with it, would continue for a week.

The chronology of the events of Jesus’ final week is as follows:
Thursday—Lambs were slain in the afternoon, Passover began at 6:00 p.m., Last Supper, Gethsemane, arrestFriday—Official trial, Crucifixion, burial by sundown, Feast of Unleavened Bread and Sabbath began at 6:00 p.m. Saturday—Jesus’ body was in the tomb. Sunday—Early morning Resurrection


Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover supper?” Peter and John were sent to make preparations —buying and preparing the unleavened bread, herbs, wine, and other ceremonial food. Jesus told the two disciples that as they entered Jerusalem, they would meet a certain man. In Mark, Jesus explained that this man would be carrying a jar of water (Mark 14:13).

Ordinarily women, not men, would go to the well and bring home the water. So this man would have stood out in the crowd. This may have been a prearranged signal, or Jesus may have supernaturally known that this man would be there and would lead them to the right house. This private location kept the plans secret and security tight. Tradition says that this may have been Mark’s home (the writer of the Gospel). If this speculation is true, the owner of the house would have been Mark’s father and one of Jesus’ followers. He knew exactly who the Teacher was and probably knew the disciples by sight. The disciples did as Jesus directed and made preparations for the others.

On that evening, Jesus and the disciples arrived in Jerusalem. The Passover meal was supposed to be eaten in Jerusalem after sunset and before midnight. The disciples and Jesus took their places on the couches around the table. While they were eating, Jesus said, “The truth is, one of you will betray me.” His words caused quite a stir among the disciples. Jesus had told them three different times that he would soon die, but news that one of them was a traitor saddened them greatly. Although the other disciples were confused, Judas was not. Apparently, Judas was not obvious as the betrayer, so each disciple asked Jesus for assurance.

Jesus would be betrayed and would die as he had already told his disciples. His death would not occur merely because of the betrayer, for the Son of Man had to die to complete God’s plan as the Scriptures declared long ago. But it would be far better for the betrayer if he had never been born. Jesus’ words are reminiscent of Psalm 41:10-12, where the sufferer is vindicated by God and his enemies punished. Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, and he also knew that Judas would not repent.

Jesus’ answer to Judas was ambiguous enough so that only Judas would know that Jesus had identified him as the betrayer. Luke wrote that “Satan entered into Judas Iscariot” before Judas went to the religious leaders (Luke 22:3); however, Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. In God’s sovereign will and according to his timetable, he uses sinful men, but that doesn’t excuse their sin. All people will be held accountable for their choices and actions. Satan tried to end Jesus’ mission and thwart God’s plan. Like Judas, Satan did not know that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most important parts of God’s plan all along.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I am humbled by the worship and devotion of Mary to Jesus. She loved Him greatly. She gave all she had to honor Him. She didn't care what others said of her, she simply worshipped and loved our Lord. Lord, I pray that my life, as imperfect and flawed as it is would bring you the same type of worship and devotion. Mary understood who Jesus was and what He had saved her from. Lord, I am keenly aware of what you have done for me and who you are. You are deserving of my best and highest worship. Lord, may we bring you that this morning - really every morning -every moment of every day.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

PRAYER

Lord, draw people here to COV this morning. In spite of the rain and poor weather, may Your spirit draw them and compel them to worship You today. And Lord, get me out of the way. May my words be Your words. Use Your words to work in the heart of every heart and life. Lord, I am so grateful for what You have done at COV. Lord, I ask that you do a greater work.

Father, I love You. Bring revival to the house of God today.

"Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease [forever]. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger [and disfavor] and spread it out to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation."
Psalm 85:4-7 (AMP)