Matthew 26
The chief priests and rulers assembled, seeking a subtle way to take and kill Him. They would not do it on the feast day, because that day was holy, but God overruled as to when and how all took place (Matt. 27:6262Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (Matthew 27:62)). We turn from that awful scene where those who were in the highest place of blessing and religious honor met together, seeking a way to slay the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:88Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)).
This household scene is a picture of the heavenly family and their eternal occupation-worship, fellowship and service (Rev. 22:1-31And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:1‑3)). What a gracious and fruitful end is accomplished by Jesus in His ministry and fellowship in the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-4238Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38‑42); John 12:1-71Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. (John 12:1‑7)). What a picture of heaven to have souls, both loving and spiritually mature, so occupied. The Lord is seen on earth in the loving care of members of His heavenly family, a respite for Him after pronouncing judgment on the Jews, their leaders, Christendom and the nations.
Judas and the other disciples react very strongly to Mary's act of pouring the ointment on the head of Jesus, not understanding why it was done. They say, "To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor." The Lord answered, "Why trouble ye the woman?... For in that she hath poured this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial." In every place that the gospel is proclaimed, the act of this woman will be announced as a memorial for her.
Judas Betrays Jesus
While Jesus and the disciples keep the passover feast, He tells them that one of them would betray Him. He said, "He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me.... But woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born." Judas went out into the night, never to return to be with the Lord or the little group of disciples.
We are sure that Judas never would have done what he did at the start of his course, but as he moved on in company with the Lord in His service, doing the same miracles, demon power began to take over because he hardened his heart against the overtures of mercy that he himself preached. He did not lie on the breast of Jesus as John did. Coming under the power of demons, he erred in his heart and became a thief (John 12:66This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:6)). Finally, Judas was overcome by his evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (Heb. 3:8-128Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:8‑12)).
"I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly." Prov. 5:1414I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. (Proverbs 5:14). Could it be that one of us, surrounded by believers, by not continuing in communion with the Lord Jesus, could begin to take the course that Judas took? Would we harden our hearts against the truth, err in our ways, and finally, by departing from the living God, prove that we had no life after all?
Shall I ask, "Where am I in my soul now?" Surrounded by believers, it is easy to profess to belong to Christ. I ask this also of all, even those who take the lead among God's people. Has Satan deceived me? Have I hardened my heart? Am I erring in my ways? If so, there is but one step between me and death.
These are the last moments of the kingdom of heaven on the earth. The god of this world, Satan, is busier now than ever before to destroy confidence in God and His Word. Sin does not begin in open rebellion, but by hardening of the heart. Communion is interrupted, little evils creep in which we might brand as incidentals, but which are omens of greater events to come.
For one who is professedly in the Lord's service, work can become so time-consuming that no time is left for communion. Then the heart grows cold, service becomes mechanical, and Satan has opportunity to install false notions through reasoning, so that the person begins to believe them, departing from the Word of God. If there is life, the Lord will, by various means, recover the soul. If not, an evil heart of unbelief will cause the person to depart from the living God. Such was Judas. One evidence of departure is to criticize our brethren.
In the case of Judas we see how Satan works to bring in apostasy among God's people. Apostasy is departure from known or professed truth. Soon apostasy will entirely overcome the profession of Christianity. Its leaven will leaven the whole lump (Matt. 13:3333Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Matthew 13:33)). Most do not understand the power of Satan. If one is not in communion, reading the Word of God and praying, the enemy will come and fill the void, and the fall will be great.
Here we have the two or three gathered to His name, with Jesus in the midst. It is a preview of the assembly. With Jesus, the disciples partake of the Lord's supper. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new (in a different manner) with you in My Father's kingdom."
This eating of the bread and drinking of the wine was His last supper with the disciples. Bread is an emblem, not only of Christ's body given for us, but, as a result, a symbol of eternal sustenance. Wine is an emblem of His blood shed for the remission of sin, and, as a result, a symbol of eternal joy. Judas had gone out and was not present at the Lord's supper (John 13:3030He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. (John 13:30)); Satan had entered into him.
After singing a hymn they went out to the mount of Olives. Jesus told His disciples that they would all be offended because of Him that night. He said, "It is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad [Zech. 13:77Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7)]. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." Peter said that he would never be offended; all the disciples said the same. The Lord said to Peter, "Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice." Will we ever learn that the flesh profits nothing? Peter's heart was right, but he did not yet know that his strength lay only in the grace that God bestows.
Gethsemane
Jesus told His disciples to sit while He went apart and prayed. Taking with Him Peter, John and James, He said to them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me." Then "He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Three times He prayed the same words.
Of Him the Word says, "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from [out ofl death, and was heard in that He feared." Heb. 5:77Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7). Only God the Father will ever know the sorrow that Jesus suffered in His entire being as man, when He became sin for us. All that we know is what is written here and in some expressions found in the Psalms and the book of Isaiah.
There never was anything like Gethsemane. There He counted the cost; at Calvary He paid the debt. How could we ever know what He passed through in His soul as He anticipated being abandoned of God, facing the "horns of the unicorns," and bearing for us the righteous wrath of God against sin? How could we ever know what went on in His heart as He was made sin, the One who knew no sin? Our hearts are stirred to praise Him now and evermore.
Jesus said, "Behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me." A great multitude came, led by Judas who said, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him. Jesus said, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" One of the disciples struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." If the Lord had asked, the Father would have given Him twelve legions of angels. But if He had, how would "the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. The high priest and council sought false witnesses against Him; they wanted to put Him to death. They found two false witnesses, but Jesus was silent before their false testimony.
The high priest commanded Jesus by the living God to tell whether He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered, 'Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Having accused Jesus of blasphemy, the high priest asked the council, "What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death." Then the people spit on Him and abused Him.
Peter, after following Jesus at a distance entered the high priest's palace and warmed himself beside the enemies' fire. When a maid accused him of being with Jesus, he denied it. On the porch another maid saw him and said, "This fellow was also with Jesus." Peter denied with an oath. Others that stood by accused him. He began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not the man." Immediately the cock crew. Peter went out and wept bitterly, remembering that Jesus had said, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice."