THE DEATH THAT SHOOK THE EARTH

Matthew 27:45-66 / Keywords 27:51

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

 

1. After the death of Jesus, the religious leaders, allied with the law, wished to rid the memory of Jesus once and for all, sealing his tomb with stone and sentry. They thought that Jesus would be like any other that stood in their way. However, at Jesus’ death, the earth trembled and broke down. His death awakened prophets who had long died. They appeared to people and their voices of repentance to turn from wickedness shouted out in the streets again. Perhaps even Abel came back to life as the first to die at the hands of man.

 

2. The curtain of the temple was torn in two. God, who seemed to have forsaken Jesus on the cross, broke out from the veil of unapproachable holiness and was testifying that Jesus, the Messiah, died to save all people. God was forever going to be with the despised and marginalized, just as Jesus did while in the body. Although sin and wickedness would remain, the world would never be the same. Jesus’ death was not the end but the beginning of a new era.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, your life brought healing and restoration to so many. Your death brought it to the whole world.

One Word Death is not the end

THE CROSS

Matthew 27:27-44 / Keywords 27:32

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

 

1. Christianity without the cross is a shallow consolation to those who are wounded and suffering from the sins of the world. The author puts a spotlight on the cruelty of man and Jesus who is on the receiving end. Jesus, fully inhabiting the frailty of his human body, was mocked, beaten and crucified. Jesus, who suffered so much, is carrying the weight of all those who suffer under an oppressive system, controlled by sin and Satan in its various forms.

 

2. While harsh and even painful to see, the depiction of suffering also holds power to awaken the senses of those who have for too long kept silent in the face of injustice. Today, when we see injustice captured in the news or on someone’s smartphone in social media, it has a power to lead a movement of change and accountability. In the same way, Jesus on the cross came to unearth our deepest fears, wounds and sins. Whether we choose to face it, run from it, or justify it is up to us. Like Simon of Cyrene, we should be the one to carry the cross of Jesus as well.

 

Prayer Lord, I am the oppressor and I am the one suffering. May I face this darkness with courage and conviction to repent and find hope, healing and salvation.

One Word Carry the cross of Jesus

THE TRIAL

Matthew 27:1-26 / Keywords 27:4

"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

 

1. As Jesus’ disciple, Judas had the greatest opportunity to learn from and grow in the wisdom and love of God. He witnessed first hand how Jesus gave sight to the blind, hope to the hopeless, and taught deep truths of the kingdom of heaven. Yet, what caught his heart was the love of money. In the end, he realized the consequences of putting profit over people and how spiritually bankrupt he had become from it.

 

2. The religious and political leaders may well have been worst off. They used their own power and schemes to accuse, try, and finally sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion. They knowingly subverted the systems of law and order to humiliate, torture, and kill Jesus, the Messiah and son of God.

 

3. In remaining silent, Jesus revealed the extent of the corruption and evil that pervaded the religious and political leaders of the times; that which crushed the weak and vulnerable, and subdued the voice of the prophets.

 

Prayer Lord, forgive me of my greed and self preservation at the cost of others. May I choose Jesus over profit and power.

One Word Don’t be wicked

FEAR AND TRUTH

Matthew 26:57-75 / Keywords 26:64

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

 

1. Jesus went before the Sanhedrin where the judgment was already predetermined. Jesus had challenged the religious authorities to the point where they really only had two options. They could either accept the truth of his word and deeds and repent or they would have to deal with Jesus once and for all. Choosing the latter revealed the extent of their desire to yield power and control over others. It also revealed their fear over the threat that Jesus had over their control. The end game of control is inevitably injustice and death.

 

2. Peter, confronted by a servant girl, could not overcome his own fears and disowned Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus, however, did not give in to fear. Jesus did not have any need to defend himself when false allegations were made, but when charged with being the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus replied, “You have said so.”

 

3. In the midst of betrayal, injustice, abandonment, and physical suffering, Jesus held on to the truth above all. Jesus won the battle over fear and man’s attempt to control at all costs, and revealed the true nature of the evil at work.

 

Prayer Lord, have mercy on us, reveal the true nature of our hearts and the institutions we uphold. May we live by love and not by fear. Give us courage to stand up against any injustice we face.

One Word Confront sin with truth

THE STRUGGLE TO DO WHAT MUST BE DONE

Matthew 26:31-56 / Keywords 26:39

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

 

1. Jesus knew what was awaiting him, what his cup of suffering would entail. When Jesus predicted that his disciples would all scatter, Peter reassuringly told Jesus he would never fall away, and would even die before disowning Jesus. The other disciples said the same. Jesus words, however, would eventually come true. Fear would overtake them.

 

2. In a vulnerable moment revealing his deep humanity, Jesus shared with his closest disciples his overwhelming sorrow. In his prayer, too, Jesus asked God that if it was at all possible, to take this cup from him. Three times Jesus earnestly prayed to God, while the disciples were overcome by sleep.

 

3. On the surface courage may sound like bold promises and unflappable beliefs. Real courage, however, is being able to honestly share our doubts, fears, and sorrows. From this reckoning with others, or with God, we may be able to find the strength to face whatever challenges come and do what must be done.

 

Prayer Lord, I feel powerless in a world where abuse and injustice seem to go unchecked. But, you call us to fight the good fight, not with guns or sword, but through sincere prayer and trust in you.

One Word Not as I will, but as you will.

THIS IS MY BODY

Matthew 26:17-30 / Keywords 26:26

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

 

1. Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples. He took bread and wine and transformed them into his body and blood and gave them to his disciples to eat and drink. In the past, theologians debated whether the bread and wine literally turned into Jesus’ physical body and blood. While it seems like a trivial thing to argue about, perhaps it hinged on a belief that God can really transform the mundane things of this world into beautiful and holy experiences that can even transform who we are.

 

2. Every day we wake up and experience the same things we always have. What if Jesus came to lift the veil off our eyes so that we may see the presence of God while staring at the beauty of nature or see the precious child of God when looking in the mirror or in the face of our enemies?

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for offering your blood as a new covenant of grace. Help me to see what is beautiful and holy in the world and in myself by the transformative power of your love.

One Word Take and eat

IN MEMORY OF HER

Matthew 26:1-16 / Keywords 26:13

I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

 

1. In this passage it becomes apparent that those who would put Jesus to death were the political and religious elite, those in power, along with the money hungry Judas. Amidst the schemes of sinful men, however, is a beautiful act of love to Jesus by a woman.

 

2. In a highly patriarchal society, women were rarely given any chance to be of importance as leaders in the community or even mentioned in history books. But Jesus welcomed women and spoke highly of women. Many women followed Jesus and sacrificially provided for him and his disciples. Women were with Jesus when others abandoned him and were the first witnesses of risen Jesus.

 

3. Even though Jesus may not have been the perfume wearing type, he welcomed this woman’s act of love and accepted it as an anointing for his upcoming death and burial. Jesus sees those who are unseen by society, and upholds their lives, their words, and their actions as worthy of his love and of inclusion in the gospel narrative.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to rid myself of vain conceit that destroys others or greed that takes advantage of others. May I learn and practice the generous giving that flows out of the love you poured out to me.

One Word Do beautiful things for others