Sunday School Lessons

DECEMBER 13, 2015

 

JESUS’ BETRAYAL AND TRIAL

 

INTRODUCTION:

1.  Gethsemane means olive press, and as Jesus entered into this garden His soul was pressed to the very limits that incarnate God could endure. What had before been a favorite place for prayer and communion with His Father, had become the scene of His great agony. (Verse 34; Luke 22:44)

2.  In prophetic voice He said, “I have trodden the wine press alone.” (Isa. 63:3) This was true absolutely, in that, even the favored three were unable to keep watch, or to assist Him with their prayers. (Verses 37-39) While He agonized in prayer, “and His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood,” they were asleep with the sleep of sorrow. (Luke 22:44, 45)

3.  As Jesus returned to again find His disciples sleeping, He allowed them to sleep on while He waited for Judas to lead the rabble throng to where He was. The disciples slept on until He called to them, saying, “Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.” (Verse 42)

I.  INDEED, IMMEDIATELY, JUDAS APPEARED TO BETRAY CHRIST INTO THE WICKED HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES. (VERSES 43-46)

A.  JUDAS CAME LEADING A BAND OF ARMED RABBLE, EMPLOYED TO TAKE JESUS PRISONER. (VERSE 43a)

1.  There is no wickedness so black and horrid, but there may be found among men fit tools to be made use of in carrying it out.

a)  Many of the people who made up this violent gang did not know who Jesus was, yet they were more than willing to be employed to go after Him.

b)  They came armed with swords and staves, ready to use whatever force necessary to bring Him in. The Roman soldiers had swords; the Jews armed themselves with clubs.

2.  At the head of the mob was, of course, Judas, one of the twelve, and yet, he was the lowest of the low. He had been conversant with the Lord, prophesied in His name, cast out devils in His name, and yet he was willing to betray Him. There is no wickedness so wicked as that of religious apostates.

3.  This is what His enemies had long aimed at, but were unable to do so until now, because His hour had not yet come. Neither could they have taken Him at all had He not freely surrendered Himself. (John 10:17, 18; 19:11)

B.  MEN OF NO LESS DEGREE THAN THE CHIEF PRIESTS, SCRIBES, AND ELDERS WERE THE EMPLOYERS WHO SENT JUDAS AND THIS BAND. (VERSE 43b)

1.  These leaders of the Jewish people pretended to be looking for Messiah, even preparing for His welcome, yet He being come, they received Him not.

2.  Because He did not court their favor, nor approve of their operation; and because He came not to set up a temporal kingdom, but rather a spiritual one; and because He preached repentance, reformation, and a holy life; and because taught men to set their affection not on this world, but the next, they set themselves against Him to destroy him.

C.  JUDAS ARRANGED WITH THE MOB THAT HIS METHOD OF BETRAYAL WOULD BE A KISS. (VERSES 44, 45)

1.  The mob sent by the Jewish leaders had never seen Christ, nor heard Him speak, if they had, they would never have forgotten, and would not have needed this “token.”

2.  Judas abused a special privilege enjoyed by Christ’s inner circle, and in doing so, feigned a deep respect for Him. He said, “Master, Master, and kissed him.”

D.  THEY ARRESTED JESUS AND MADE HIM THEIR PRISONER. (VERSE 46)

1.  They laid their hands on Him, we suspect, violently.

2.  They took Him, no doubt, crediting themselves for the success of their mission. They had no idea that had it not been that His hour had come, their plot, their intelligence supplied by Judas, their force of numbers and weapons would have meant nothing. He would have slipped away from them as easily as He had avoided other attempts to take Him.

II.  THERE WERE SOME VERY INTERESTING AND MEANINGFUL OCCURRENCES FOLLOWING CHRIST’S ARREST. (VERSES 47-50)

A.  ONE OF THE ELEVEN WHICH STOOD WITH JESUS BEGAN TO DEFEND HIS MASTER WITH A SWORD. (VERSE 47)

1.  Mark, though Peter was his source of knowledge, does not mention that it was he who drew out his sword here. In fact, though all four evangelists record the event, only John identifies Peter as the swordsman. (John 18:10)

2.  We aren’t sure why Mark does not give Peter’s name; perhaps because this reaction was contrary to the spirit and purpose of Christ. (Matt 26:55) Another reason might be Peter’s obvious lack of skill as a swordsman. It is doubtful that he was aiming for the man’s ear.

3.  Peter’s rashness notwithstanding, this was a show of loyalty on his part. Being for the present mindful of his former vow (Verses 29, 31), he here backs up his words with his actions.

a)  This could have easily cost Peter his life, for we can be sure that those Roman soldiers did know how to use their swords. One stroke delivered in retaliation would have been deadly for Peter.

b)  As for why it didn’t happen, we have our answer in John 18:8. Jesus, by His Sovereign command, had already put a wall of protection around His disciples, making them off limits.

c)  Peter’s actions were also immediately corrected by our Lord’s miraculous restoration of the man’s ear. (Luke 22:51)

B.  CHRIST ARGUES THE ABSURDITY OF THE GREAT SHOW OF FORCE ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO CAME TO ARREST HIM. (VERSES 48, 49)

1.  That they had come out against Him as if He was a wanted malefactor, when, in fact, He was innocent of any crime, and had taught every day in the temple.

a)  Those who sent this violent mob to arrest Him had daily access to Him.

b)  His teachings were most excellent, His words were all wholesome words, nothing worthy of arrest. (Psa. 40:8-10)

2.  That they came to take Him privately, whereas He was neither ashamed nor afraid to appear publicly. Of course, these facts were meant to show that it was the chief priests, scribes, and elders who were afraid, for they feared the people. (Ch. 12:12; 14:2)

3.  That they came with swords and staves, as if He and His disciples were armed and dangerous.

a)  They had but two swords among them, and we saw how able they were in using them.

b)  Jesus forbade the use of the sword. He said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews.” (John 18:36)

C.  JESUS RECONCILED HIMSELF TO ALL OF THIS INJURIOUS AND SHAMEFUL TREATMENT BY NOTING THAT IT WAS ALL ACCORDING TO WHAT THE SCRIPTURES HAD PREDICTED. “BUT THE SCRIPTURES MUST BE FULFILLED.” (VERSE 49b; SEE ACTS 4:27, 28; PSA. 69:7, 19)

D.  CHRIST’S DISCIPLES BECAME DESERTERS, AS IT WAS WRITTEN AND AS JESUS HAD JUST THIS NIGHT PREDICTED. (VERSES 27, 50; ZECH. 13:7)

1.  The fact that the Scriptures had foretold this, and thus it must be, did not make it any less painful for Him.

2.  We can so reason from the fact that He had lately indicated that He was comforted that they had hitherto continued with Him in a lesser trial. (Luke 22:28) We may well imagine what a grief it was to Him when they deserted Him in the hour of His greatest trial.

III.  MARK TELLS OF A YOUNG MAN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WAS BROUGHT INTO DANGER BY THE RIOT. (VERSES 51, 52) Only Mark records this event. It is the account of a certain young man, who was apparently not a disciple of Christ, but neither was he a part of the mob that came to arrest Him. He apparently lived near the garden.

A.  HE WAS FRIGHTENED OUT OF HIS BED TO BECOME A SPECTATOR OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS.

1.  The tumult had apparently awakened him, and he covered himself with a linen cloth, probably over his night clothes, and went out to see what the uproar was about.

2.  The eleven had now fled, but this young man continued to follow. Perhaps he had heard of the fame of Jesus and was curious to see and hear Him.

B.  HE WAS NEXT FRIGHTENED BACK TO HIS HOME BY THE TREATMENT HE RECEIVED FROM THE MOB. (VERSE 52)

1.  The Roman soldiers, perhaps upset by the fact that they had allowed the disciples to get away, grabbed this young man.

2.  They took hold of his linen covering which the young man left in their hands and ran home naked, i.e. without the outer garment.

3.  This is an indication of what cruel people these were who were commissioned to carry out Christ’s arrest. We are thus made to understand what a narrow escape the disciples had of falling into their hands. It was Christ’s care of them that prevented their capture. “If it is me ye seek, let these go their way.” (John 18:8)

4.  It is also intimated that there is no hold on those who follow Christ only out of curiosity, and not by faith and conscience.

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 29, 2015

 

CHRIST COMES TO GETHSEMANE

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  Our Lord, after Judas had gone out, continued at the table with His disciples talking with them in a very solemn manner. In John 13:31 we read, “Therefore, when he (Judas) was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” John went on to record three wonderful discourses which Jesus gave for the eleven remaining disciples. (John chapters 14-16) He then offered up that glorious prayer, known as our Lord’s great high priestly prayer. (John 17)

2.  After this, knowing all things that were in store for Him, He left the upper room with the disciples to make His way to the Garden of Gethsemane. This had previously been His place of quiet retreat, but this night it would be a place of bitter agony.

3.  As He walked with the disciples along the narrow streets of Jerusalem, coming to the Brook Kidron, He continued to speak with them as they made their way to the Mount of Olives.

4.  In this lesson we will first consider what He said to them, and the exchange between Himself and the disciples, particularly Peter. Then, secondly, we will consider the scene after Christ and His disciples arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

I.  JESUS CONVERSES WITH THE DISCIPLES AS THEY ARE WALKING TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. (VERSES 26-31)

A.  HE PREDICTS WHAT EFFECT THAT THE EVENTS OF THIS NIGHT WILL HAVE UPON HIS DISCIPLES. (VERSES 27, 28)

1.  He predicts that they shall all be offended because of Him. This word can mean to begin to distrust and desert one whom ought to be trusted and obeyed. That is clearly the meaning here. Notice, not one or some, but ALL will be offended.

a)  Literally, it could also be rendered “…because of me, because of the night.”

b)  Because of the things He would suffer, they would lose hope, and not be able to cleave to Him.

2.  Notice, this prediction is that which the prophet Zechariah had foretold. Jesus was careful to call attention to the prophetic writings as they pertained to Him, “…for it is written.” (Zech. 13:7)

a)  He would, after the resurrection, explain these things to them from all of the Scriptures. (Luke 44:25-27, 44)

b)  The apostles would come to see and declare these things just as their Master showed them. (Acts 4:27, 28)

3.  His prediction goes beyond this night, and their being scattered, to the time after the resurrection when they shall be gathered again in Galilee. (Verse 28)

a)  This was the very announcement that the angel made to the women at the empty tomb with instruction to tell the disciples. (Matt. 28:5-7)

b)  This word was also delivered to the women by the risen Lord in person that same morning. (Matt. 28:9, 10)

c)  Though they all were offended and forsook Him in His hour of need, He would never forsake them. “And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” (Zech. 13:7c) or, “I will bring my hand again to the little ones.” This is a promise to regather the scattered disciples.

B.  PETER PROTESTS, AND PRESUMPTUOUSLY CONTRADICTS HIS MASTER’S PREDICTION. (VSE. 29)

1.  This protest was indeed presumptuous.

a)  First, it contradicted the words of Christ, and His interpretation of the prophetic Scriptures.

b)  Second, it displayed an attitude of self-confidence. Where was the humble self-suspicion that was displayed only a little while before this? (Verse 19) Each one, Peter included, asked, “Lord, is it I?” How quickly pride can be rekindled in our hearts!

c)  No doubt Peter’s words came from his heart, and expressed what he thought his love for Christ would never allow him to do. We must remember that our hearts are by nature deceitful and desperately wicked.

2.  Peter had a sad awakening in store. He must have been amazed and deeply saddened the next morning when faced with how his heart had deceived him.

3.  It is not unlikely that he who thought of himself as being the one exception with respect to temptation will prove to be the weakest of all when the test comes.

C.  JESUS MADE PETER THE OBJECT OF A PARTICULAR WARNING. (VERSE 30)

1.  Christ knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the evil that is in us. He knows the wickedness of which we are capable, and will do, but for the grace of God.

2.  Satan also heard Peter’s boast, and was more than happy to accept the challenge of his proud boast. Pride goeth before a fall, and the devil saw an opportunity to score a swift victory.

3.  The Lord’s warning was such that Peter would not have thought it possible.

a)  He would deny his Lord. “Thou shalt deny me…”

b)  He would do so very soon. “This night, before the cock crow…”

c)  He would deny his Lord repeatedly. “Thou shall deny me thrice…”

D.  PETER, IN RESPONSE TO CHRIST’S WARNING, DOUBLED DOWN, REPEATING HIS RESOLVE,WHICH WAS NOW ECHOED BY THE OTHER DISCIPLES. (VERSE 31)

1.  Not once, but twice, Peter contradicted Him Who is very Truth itself. His insistence will make his fall even more regrettable.

2.  We may not always verbalize our self-confidence, but doubtless we have all experienced the humbling effects of seeing our presumed strength turn to weakness in the face of temptation.

3.  The only way to prevent Satan from sifting us like wheat is to own our weakness, and to seek strength from the Lord, and trust in the power of His might. (See Luke 22:31, 32)

II.  CHRIST COMES WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO THE PLACE OF HIS GREAT AGONY, TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. (VERSES 32-42)

A.  JESUS, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DISCIPLES, CAME TO GETHSEMANE KNOWING WHAT AWFUL AGONIES AWAITED HIM THERE. (VERSE 32; JOHN 12:27)

1.  This had been a favorite spot of our Lord where He would go for private prayer. The disciples, who undoubtedly knew this, could not have imagined the agony which this last visit would bring upon His soul.

“Twas here the Lord of life prepared,

And sighed, and groaned, and prayed, and feared;

Bore all incarnate God could bear,

With strength enough and none to spare.”

2.  Gethsemane means an olive press. It was near the Brook Kidron, about 100 yards east of the bridge. It was probably at the foot of the Mount of Olives, about half a mile from the city walls.

3.  Eight of the eleven disciples remained at the gate to keep watch near the entrance as their Lord entered the garden.

B.  JESUS TOOK WITH HIM PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN, AND TOGETHER THEY ENTERED GETHSEMANE. (VERSES 33, 34)

1.  As they entered, Jesus began to feel and expressed to them the awful weight of His sorrow. It was almost beyond the limits of His endurance.

2.  In His great sorrow, He expressed the desire for faithful friends to watch with Him and pray.

3.  Peter, James, and John were the favored three of the inner circle. They had even been with Him in the Mount of Transfiguration. Yet, they had never before heard from Him such expressions of  sorrow.

4.  Our Lord knew that here in the wine press He must “tread the wine press alone.”

C.  AS JESUS AGONIZED IN PRAYER, HIS DISCIPLES WERE UNFAITHFUL IN THEIR CHARGE.  (VERSES 35-38)

1.  The awfulness of the cup of agony is seen in the posture Jesus took and the opening petition of His prayer. (Verses 35, 36)

a)  He fell on the ground, face down. (Compare Matt. 26:39)

b)  He prayed, if it be possible that this hour might pass, and that this cup might be taken away from Him.

c)  This plea tells us two things. First, the agony was real. Second, there was no other way to accomplish the salvation of His people.

d)  As Jesus cries “Abba Father, it is the pitiful call of the Only Begotten to His loving Father. Yet, the Father could not spare Him if He was to save the elect.

2.  The Son knew that He could not be spared this hour (John 12:27); He knew that He must drink this cup. Therefore, He said, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

3.  We know not how long He prayed, but it was long enough that His disciples fell asleep. (Verse 37)

a)  The gentle rebuke was addressed to Peter, but was meant for all three. “…couldest not thou watch one hour?”

b)  Peter was ever the vocal one, but here he is silent.

4.  Even in His darkest hour, and though their failure added to the sorrow, still His concern it seems was for them. He knew the temptations that were about to assail them, and gives them the best armaments against them. “Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation…” (Verse 38)

D.  TWICE MORE THE SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF. (VERSES 39-41)

1.  The intensity of the second prayer was far greater than these words convey. (Verse 39) Luke tells us that He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44) But, again He returned to find His disciples asleep. They were ashamed for their drowsiness, but had nothing to say as an excuse. (Verse 40)

2.  A third time Jesus went away to pray and again He returned to find them asleep. (Verse 41) When He returned, He said, “Sleep on  now, and take your rest…” Luke says they were “sleeping for sorrow.”

3.  Jesus then added, “It is enough, the hour is come; behold the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Verse 41b)

E.  JESUS THEN CALLED UPON THEM TO RISE UP AND GO TO MEET THE MOB LED BY JUDAS. (VERSE 42)

1.  Far from trying to avoid them, Jesus went to meet them.

2.  The cup was a bitter one, but it was this cup that He came to drink.

3.  He had said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with and I am straitened until it be accomplished.” (Luke 12:50)

4.  Thank God He counted the redemption of His people to be sufficient joy to offset the suffering. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:2)

5.  His meat was always to do the will of His Father, and finish the work which His Father gave Him to do. Thus, He said, “Rise up, let us go, he that betrayeth me is at hand.”

 

 

NOVEMBER 22, 2015

 

THE LAST SUPPER

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  So much has happened since Jesus rode triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem that we must remind ourselves that we are now only four days into what we refer to as the Passion Week.

2.  Even when we consider that the supper at Bethany in the home of Simon the leper, at which a dear woman anointed Jesus’ head with precious ointment, actually happened before Christ’s Triumphal Entrance, it still seems that from Sunday to Wednesday is a short space considering all that has happened.

3.  Speaking of that event which we considered in our last lesson, apparently the Gospel writers Matthew and Mark were moved to record the story just before Judas’ betrayal for sake of emphasis. Immediately following an instance of great kindness comes an instance of great unkindness. Perhaps the waste of that costly substance had stuck in Judas’ craw, causing the receiving of blood money in return for the betrayal of his Master to sound more appealing.

4.  Now that the wicked plot was arranged, only one thing remained to be done before it would be carried out. Jesus greatly desired to eat the Passover with His disciples before the mob would come for His arrest.

5.  Thus, this eating of the Passover is called The Last Supper, but Jesus on that occasion, instituted a new memorial to be observed by the church until He comes again.

 

I.  JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLES TO MAKE READY THE PASSOVER THAT THEY MIGHT EAT IT TOGETHER. (VERSES 12-16)

A.  JESUS WOULD KEEP THE PASSOVER ACCORDING TO THE LAW. (VERSE 12)

1.  Being made under the law (Gal. 4:4), He submitted to all ordinances of it, and to this among the rest. This was kept in remembrance of Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt, the birthday of that people. It was a tradition of the Jews that in the day of Messiah they should be redeemed on the very day of their coming out of Egypt, and it was exactly the case, for Christ died on the day after the Passover.

2.  The time when He would eat it with His disciples would be “the first day of unleavened bread when they killed the Passover.” (Verse 12a; see Exod. 12:17)

3.  The disciples were aware of the day, and they knew that He would certainly keep the Passover. They did not say to Him, “Shall we prepare?” but rather, “Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?” (Verse 12b)

4.  They knew that preparations must be made, and being His servants, they asked for directions where they should make it ready.

B.  THE PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD EAT THE PASSOVER WAS PARTICULARLY APPOINTED BY HIMSELF. (VERSE 13)

1.  Again, they took for granted that He would keep the feast. Though He was at the time persecuted by the chief priests, and His life was sought, they knew that He would fulfill His duty. Those who make excuses for their not attending the Lord’s Supper (our Gospel Passover) are not at all following the example of their Lord.

2.  This was a solemn ordinance, and therefore appropriate preparations were necessary. The original Passover was attended with careful and very detailed instructions. Sacred ordinances require careful preparations, both physical and spiritual. The disciples knew well that this observation would not be done on the fly or in some make-shift manner.

3.  The disciples knew also that Jesus had no house of His own wherein to eat the Passover. In this, as in other things, for our sakes He became poor.

4.  From Him they received instructions. As Zion’s King He had no palace, but as King of Kings and Lord over all, all houses are His. Here, as He gives instructions to two of His disciples, (Peter and John, Luke 22:8) we are reminded of His previous direction given perhaps to the same two disciples, concerning their obtaining an animal upon which He would ride into the city. (See Ch. 11:1-7)

a)  Some are of the opinion that the man whose house would be used was a friend and follower of Jesus, and therefore to his house He invited Himself and His disciples.

b)  That may be, but not necessarily. We hope he was a follower of Christ, or that he became so, but it seems that his willingness was due to Christ’s Sovereign Lordship over all creatures. Note Jesus’ instruction, “Say ye to the goodman of the house, THE MASTER SAITH…” This is very similar to what we had in Ch. 11:3, “Say ye that THE LORD hath need of him.” Notice, they were not to say, “YOUR Master saith, but THE Master saith…” (Verse 4) Even as before, they were not to say, “YOUR Lord hath need of him, but THE Lord hath need of him.” (Ch. 11:3)

c)  This idea seems to find support in the fact that as in the previous matter, Jesus was able to describe exactly what they would see, and how they would be able to identify the man. “There ye shall meet a man bearing a pitcher of water.” (Verse 13; Compare Ch. 11:2)

5.  The disciples did as they were instructed, and finding the man, were led to a place; a large upper room, where they made ready for the Lord and for the other disciples. (Verses 15, 16)

6.  It seems that there was little that needed doing in making ready, since the room was already furnished and prepared. The greater work had already been done by the goodman of the house according to The Master’s pleasure.

C.  WHEN IT WAS EVENING JESUS SAT DOWN WITH THE TWELVE AND ATE THE PASSOVER.  (VERSES 17, 18a)

1.  This was according to the Lord’s great desire. (Luke 22:15)

2.  This was according to the Law. According to the Law, there was to be a lamb for a household. This group made up the Lord’s household.

II.  JESUS INFORMS HIS DISCIPLES THAT ONE OF THEM WILL BETRAY HIM. (VERSES 18-21)

A.  JESUS USED THIS SOLEMN OCCASION TO DELIVER THIS MOST UNPLEASANT MESSAGE. “AND AS THEY SAT AND DID EAT…”

1.  According to the Law, the Passover was to be eaten with bitter herbs. (Exod. 12:8) Surely this added bitterness to the feast for them all, but especially for our Lord. His familiar friend would lift up his heel against Him. (Psa. 41:9)

2.  He had often told them that He would be betrayed, but they could not receive it. Now they learn that it will be one of them who betrays the Lord.

B.  THE ANNOUNCEMENT FELL LIKE A BOMB-SHELL AMONG THE DISCIPLES. (VERSE 19)

1.  It, at first, filled them with great sorrow. “…and they began to be sorrowful.”

2.  It then caused great heart searching with all of them.

a)  Each one individually asked, “Lord, is it I?” This they did one by one.

b)  Notice, not one of them said, “Lord, is it HIM?” There was no finger-pointing.

c)  No one asked, “Lord, is it Judas?” The Lord knew what was in Judas’ heart, but they did not, and it would seem none suspected him.

d)  It is always best to turn our suspicions inward and not towards others. However the original form of the question implies incredulousness. The question expects a negative answer. Though we cannot imagine ourselves ever betraying Christ, let us always be suspicious of our old nature and its capabilities.

C.  JESUS DESCRIBES HIS BETRAYER AS ONE WHO IS A FAMILIAR FRIEND. (VERSES 20, 21)

1.  Not only was he sitting at the same table, but was close enough to the Master to dip with Him in the same dish.  A person can come very near to Christ, even hold office in the church and yet end up betraying the Lord.

2.  Christ’s words assure us that divine decrees do not deprive a sinful action of its guilt. “The son of Man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!”

3.  What awful doom belongs to those who betray that Friend that is closer than a brother. “Good were it for that man had he never been born.”

4.  Many will come to rue the day that they were ever born. This will surely be true of every condemned sinner who dies without Christ, but even more so for those who once owned Christ as their Friend and Brother.

D.  JUDAS HIMSELF INQUIRED IN LIKE MANNER AS THE OTHERS. “MASTER, IS IT I?” (MATT. 26:25)

1.  He knew very well that it was he, (Verses 10, 11) yet he bluffed the question, so formed as the others, to expect a negative answer. But it was answered in the affirmative.

2.  Had not Judas been a hopeless reprobate, this unmasking might have driven him to repentance. But, sadly, he had sold himself to Satan before he sold his Lord.

III.  CHRIST USED THE OCCASION OF THE LAST SUPPER TO INSTITUTE THE LORD’S SUPPER. (VERSES 22-26) The Jewish Passover was made to melt into the New Testament ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, which became the new memorial.

A.  CHRIST SAW IN HIS OWN DEATH THE TRUE FULFILLMENT OF WHAT THE PASSOVER PICTURED AND, THEREFORE, THE NEED TO CHANGE THE MEMORIAL ORDINANCE. (VERSES 22-24)

1.  The type was fulfilled when Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. (I Cor. 5:7) The shadow and type are therefore laid aside because now in the Kingdom of God, the substance is come.

2.  The Passover and the deliverance out of Egypt were prophetic signs pointing to Christ, Who by dying would deliver us from sin and death.

B.  IT IS THE DEATH OF CHRIST THAT IS IN SPECIAL MANNER SET FORTH IN THE CEREMONY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER. (VERSES 22-24; I COR. 11:26)

1.  The bread is a symbol of Christ’s body. The death of Christ as a sacrifice for sin is commemorated in the breaking of bread. (Verse 22)

2.  The wine in the cup is a symbol of Christ’s shed blood by which the atonement was made. (Lev. 17:11; Eph. 1:7) This is the sign or token of the New Covenant. (Verse 24)

C.  JESUS WILL BE TAKING LEAVE FROM THE EARTHLY COMMUNION UNTIL THE TIME WHEN THE ETERNAL JOYS OF HEAVEN WILL BE SHARED. (VERSE 25)

D.  THE CEREMONY CONCLUDED WITH THE SINGING OF A HYMN. (VERSE 26)

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

 

ANOINTED FOR BURIAL

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  Matthew tells us that when Jesus finished His discourse about Jerusalem’s destruction, His own second advent and the Day of Judgment, He then began to speak about His betrayal and death, which was now only two days away. (Matt. 26:1)

2.  He said to them, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” (Matt. 26:2)

3.  Even as He spoke these things, the chief priests and scribes and elders were assembled in the palace of the high priest plotting His death. (Matt. 26:3, 4)

4.  Thus, while He was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, there came in a woman unexpectedly who anointed Him for burial. Only He and the woman knew what she had come to do, and most likely only He knew the higher purpose for what she did, i.e. anointing Him for His burial.

I.  THE PLOT OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES AGAINST CHRIST. (VERSES 1, 2)

A.  AN INSTANCE OF THE GREAT WICKEDNESS OF CHRIST’S ENEMIES.

1.  How vengeful they were in their plotting. They sought not to banish Him, or to put Him into prison, for to silence Him or to stop His progress was not enough. They must take revenge on Him for all He had done.

2.  How subtle they were to avoid publicity. “Not on the feast-day.” Not when the people are gathered together. Notice, this precaution was not taken lest they should disturb their devotions. No, they did it “lest there should be an uproar.” They feared that the people might come to His rescue, and they would become endangered.

B.  AN INSTANCE OF EVIL MEN WITH EVIL DESIGNS WORKING THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

1.  The feast of the Passover was now at hand, and at the feast Christ must be crucified.

2.  This so that His death and suffering might be the more public, and that all Israel, even those of the dispersion, who came from all parts to the feast might witness it.

3.  This so that the Anti-type might answer to the Type. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” It is He Who has brought us out of the house of bondage.

II.  THE ANOINTING OF CHRIST’S HEAD AT BETHANY TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH. (VERSES 3-9)

A.  THE KINDNESS THAT WAS SHOWN TO CHRIST BY HIS FRIENDS. (VERSE 3)

1.  Although Israel as a whole was not gathered to Christ, and particularly the leadership at Jerusalem rejected Him, there were some friends in and about the city who loved Him, and were eager to demonstrate their love in kind actions.

2.  One such friend invited Him to come to his home for a meal. This kind invitation was accepted by our Lord, and even though the time of His death was drawing near, He sat and conversed freely with this man, his family, and guests. (Verse 3)

3.  Another dear friend was so kind as to anoint His head with very precious ointment as He sat at the table.

4.  This was an extraordinary show of respect paid by this good woman who thought nothing too good or costly to bestow upon Christ. She could not have known that she was fulfilling Scripture in this act. “When the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the sweet smell thereof.” (Song of Sol. 1:12)

a)  Christ is not only our Beloved to whom we show our affection, He is also our Sovereign to whom we give our allegiance.

b)  He poured our His soul unto death. Let us therefore pour out our all upon Him. Notice, she break the box. There was not a drop that was not poured on Christ’s head.

B.  THE OBJECTION THAT WAS RAISED BY SOME WHO WERE PRESENT. (VERSES 4, 5)

1.  They thought it a waste of the ointment. Because they could not have found it in their hearts to go to such expense to honor Christ, they condemned the actions of this dear woman as being wasteful. (Verse 4)

2.  They pretended it might have been sold, and given to the poor. (Verse 5)

a)  This was exactly how Judas Iscariot had disguised his wicked motives a few days before when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard. (See John 12:3-6)

b)  In this case their criticism simply revealed that this woman’s high regard for Christ was not shared by them.  We are not to imagine that they would actually have given the money to the poor, only that they considered helping the poor as being more needful than showing honor to Christ.

c)  Many who gather with the Lord’s church do not sense their same debt of love to Christ for what He has done for His people. They, therefore, cannot enter into such sacrifice as Christians see as reasonable. (Rom. 12:1)

C.  THE HIGHER PURPOSE WHICH CHRIST ATTRIBUTED TO THIS SELFLESS ACT EVEN ABOVE THAT WHICH THE WOMAN INTENDED. (VERSES 6-8)

1.  Probably, she intended no more than to show the great honor that she had for Him.

a)  This she would do publicly, before all of this company. She could not have known how the others might view her actions. Whatever others might say, she was not ashamed to publicly avow her love for Christ.

b)  This was done so as to complete His entertainment.

2.  But, Christ received it, and owned it as an act of love to Him, and as a first priority. (Verses 6, 7)

a)  He rebuked those who condemned her actions. “Let her alone, why trouble ye her?”

b)  He received her kindness and was honored by her sacrifice. “She hath wrought a good work on me.”

c)  He agreed with her sense of priority, which was a condemnation of those who would have preferred that the poor be helped. “The poor ye have with you always…but me ye have not always.”

d)  Christ must always be our first love, and His service our first priority.

3.  Christ made of it a great act of faith. (Verse 8)

a)  It was as if she understood that she was performing this funeral rite in preparation for His death and burial.

b)  Christ accepted this as part of the customary preparations which those condemned to die would make in advance.

c)  Strange, His head was not anointed when He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, but is now anointed for His death. He is now about to go into a far country to receive His Kingdom.

D.  THE HIGH PRAISE WHICH CHRIST PREDICTS THIS WONDERFUL ACTION SHALL RECEIVE FROM THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL AGES. (VERSE 9)

1.  Virtue is its own reward, and the honor which attends well-doing is sufficient to offset any reproach that it receives from men.

2.  The apostle wrote of the faithful who though they endured awful trials and suffering, yet obtained a good report. (Heb. 11:36-39)

3.  This good woman was thus repaid her box of precious ointment many times over. Her good name is honored still, which is better than precious ointment.

III.  THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST BY JUDAS, HIS ENEMY DISGUISED AS HIS FAMILIAR FRIEND. (VERSES 10, 11)

A.  THIS DISGUISED ENEMY CONTRACTED WITH CHRIST’S OPEN ENEMIES TO BETRAY HIM. (VERSE 10)

1.  He is said to be “one of the twelve,” one of the family, intimate with Christ. He called him “mine own familiar friend.” (Psa. 41:9)

2.  He went to the chief priest to offer his service to them who plotted to kill Christ.

3.  He proposed to them that he would betray Christ to them by giving them notice when and where they might find Him, and seize Him without causing an uproar among the people.

B.  THE CONTRACT WAS HAPPILY AGREED UPON BETWEEN JUDAS AND CHRIST’S ENEMIES. (VERSE 11)

1.  When they heard his proposal they were glad. (Verse 11a)

2.  They would compensate Judas for his services. “And they promised to give him money.” (Verse 11b)

3.  Judas now must deliver on his contract. “And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” (Verse 11c)

CONCLUSION:

1.  The woman who loved Christ more than earthly treasures, and preferred His honor to costly ointment is memorialized in every place where the Gospel is preached. She who honored Christ is known, and herself honored by the church.

2.  Then there is Judas, who sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver; the same Judas who protested when Mary poured her costly ointment on Jesus’ feet, offering the same alternative as these objectors did. (John 12:4, 5) His name is memorialized as well, but his name lives on in infamy. John tells us that Judas wanted the money for himself.  (John 12:6) He would betray Christ for the price of a slave.

3.  Of these two memorable characters, there’s no question as to which one we would wish to be identified.