Readings

Matthew 27:57-66

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Yesterday Jesus Christ died on the cross. Today we read about how Joseph, one of Jesus’ disciples, goes to Pontius Pilate to ask if he can bury Jesus’ body (Matthew 27:57). Pontius Pilate grants Joseph permission to take and bury Jesus’ body. Joseph takes the body, wraps it in a clean linen cloth, and lays it in his own tomb which he carved out of rock (Matthew 27:59-60). Tombs were used to bury several generations of a family. This tomb is special because no one else was buried in it. Because it was the Sabbath, Joseph rolled a great stone over the opening of the tomb and went away  (Matthew 27:60).

All the while, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary watch from a distance (Matthew 27:61), because they could not prepare the body for burial until the next day. These women never leave Jesus’ side when he was alive; they are there to tend to his needs even after his death. Both of the women love and care for Jesus deeply.

Following Jesus means caring for him even leaves the world. Today, you care for Jesus by caring for others. His mission does not end when Jesus leaves the world but continues through you every time you provide clothes for the naked, shelter for the homeless, and food for the hungry. Life continues, just as Jesus’ mission continues through us.

The day after Jesus’ death is still the Sabbath for the Jews. The chief priests and Pharisees meet with Pontius Pilate, because they are worried someone may come and steal Jesus’ body. After all, Jesus said, “After three days I will rise again” (Matthew 27:62-63). It is so striking that they actually did understand his point: it wasn’t that he was going to destroy the temple and raise it, but that he was going to die and his body would be raised. Pontius Pilate does not want a political uprising, and the chief priests and Pharisees do not want more rabble-rousing from this Jesus figure. Surely Pilate will punish them if more tumult ensues. So they petition Pontius Pilate and he agrees to seal the tomb and send out a guard soldiers to watch over the tomb. Pontius Pilate is agreeing to cover all the bases for the chief priests and Pharisees to ensure the Jesus figure does not cause any more problems.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know Jesus. Help us to understand why Jesus had to die. Remind us Easter is coming. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. How do you feel about burying Jesus in the tomb?
2. What is your worst fear?

Readings

Matthew 27:27-56

Devotion

Yesterday Pontius Pilate had released Jesus Barabbas and sent Jesus Christ to be crucified. Today the light will disappear.

After Jesus is sent off to be crucified, the Roman soldiers take him to the governor’s quarters and strip him of his clothes. To mock Jesus, the soldiers dress him in a scarlet robe and crown of thorns, and they put a reed cane in his right hand. Then they kneel down and said, “Hail, King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:27-29). Then the soldiers beat Jesus with the reed and spit in his face before dressing him again in his own clothes and taking him to be crucified (Matthew 27:30-31). The soldiers do not respect Jesus; to them, Jesus is a threat to the Roman Emperor by claiming to be the King of the Jews. What the soldiers do not understand is that Jesus claims to be a king of heaven, not on earth.

On the way to crucify Jesus, the soldiers make a man from Cyrene named Simon carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull (Matthew 27:32-33). Jesus is so weak; he can barely move his own body, let alone carry the cross beam. When I had MRSA this past summer, I felt incredibly weak from all of the antibiotics. I can only imagine how weak Jesus was after being beaten and how hard it was to walk to Golgotha.

The soldiers divide Jesus’ clothes and start bidding on it (Matthew 27:35). Then the soldier put a sign above Jesus on the cross charging him with being “King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37). They continue to mock Jesus, even as he is struggling to breathe. Jesus is on his last finger, not even his last leg, and all the soldiers do is mock him.

What is interesting is that the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and others) follow Jesus to the cross and tend to his needs (Matthew 27:55-56). When I had MRSA, my mom came over every night on her way home from work to make sure I had everything I needed. Even though Jesus’ disciples have scattered, the women—his caretakers—follow him as he travels to death. He is not alone, just as he abandons us.

On the same day, two other bandits are crucified with Jesus. The bandits and the chief priests mock Jesus. They are baffled by the fact that Jesus said he would destroy the temple and raise it up again in three days and yet he seemingly cannot save himself. They are expecting the building to fall, not Jesus.

Then there is the fact that Jesus calls himself the Son of God and the King of Israel, and yet he cannot save himself from death. He can save others and not himself. It does not make sense. Save yourself! Jesus calls out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus understands this is all part of God’s plan, but it does not make it any easier. Jesus is not only fully God, but also fully human; he is emotional; he wants to live.

When the individuals watching realize Jesus is calling for Elijah, one man grabs a sponge, soaks it with wine, and puts it on a stick to give him a drink (Matthew 27:48), while others want to see if Elijah would save him (Matthew 27:49). For individuals who claimed not to believe, they are sure holding out for a miracle.

Then Jesus cries out and breathes his last breath (Matthew 27:50). All their hope is gone. The one who called himself the Son of God dies. It is the end. Or is it?

At the same moment as Jesus dies, the curtain in the temple is torn in half, and the tombs of the dead saints open up and they enter the holy city (Matthew 27:51-52). There is an earthquake too. Everything important to the world is torn apart. The curtain protecting individuals from God is taken away. A change in theology is taking place. Individuals will not need the chief priests to speak to God on their behalf; now they can talk to God themselves.

After witnessing today’s events, the centurion says, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” (Matthew 27:54). Today’s events have made the centurion a believer. But is it too late?

You have probably experienced a Good Friday where hope seemed to have gone away. Maybe it was when you got in a fight with a dear friend, a spouse, a child, etc. Maybe you lost your job. My Good Friday was when I got divorced and had to reinvent myself as a single young lady. I was emotionally exhausted, physically weak, and spiritually lost. Over six years, I became a stranger to myself—dependent on an individual who only thought about himself. I had to find the parts of myself that I had lost during my marriage.

When it comes to your Good Friday moment, no matter the situation was, you thought your life would end.

But Easter, the Resurrection, is coming. Stay tuned…

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus accepting to do your will. Help us to travel to the cross with Jesus, just like the women did, to tend to the needs of the world. Remind us we are never alone, even when the light disappears. Thank you for the promise of new life. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. What part of Good Friday gets to you the most?
2. Where are you in the Good Friday events?
3. How have you experienced a Good Friday?

Readings

Matthew 27:1-26

Devotion

The morning brings light into the world and reveals what we did the night before. Sometimes we are proud of what we did; other times we want to disappear and never see the light of the day again.

Last night, Judas betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. Monday we read about Judas going to the chief priests and agreeing to betray Jesus. Judas showed us his greedy side; he desires nice things for himself.

Today we see a different side of Judas. A new day has brought the light back into the world, and the light shows Judas the consequences of handing Jesus over to the chief priests: Jesus has been condemned to death.

Judas repents (Matthew 27:3) that he betrayed Jesus, which got him condemned to death. He must be thinking, “What have I done? The man is innocent and has never done wronged me or anyone else. All Jesus ever did was love everyone who crossed his path.”

Judas goes back to the chief priests and gives back the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:2-5). He tells the chief priests, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:4a). Judas deeply regrets betraying Jesus to the chief priests, but they could not care less–they got what they wanted: Jesus Christ, the one called the Messiah. The chief priests tell Judas, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”  (Matthew 27:4b). Judas is left to deal with his guilt and sin, so he throws all thirty pieces of silver at the chief priests and hangs himself (Matthew 27:5).

The Pharisees have a debate as to what to do with the blood money since it cannot go back into the treasury. The thirty pieces of silver were used for an unholy purpose–to capture and kill an innocent man. By giving Judas the silver, the chief priest went against what the Lord had commanded in the Old Testament. The money could not go back into the treasury because it was unholy silver.

Then the chief priests decide to buy a potter’s field for a place to bury foreigners with the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:7). The chief priests attempt to do something worthy of God with the blood money as an apology just like my brother apologized for taking my money when he realized he broke my trust. The chief priests want to be back in God’s graces, just as my brother wanted to regain my trust.

Later the chief priests take Jesus to Pontius Pilate who talks to him to gather an understanding as to why the chief priests want to put him to death. When Pontius Pilate asks him if he is the King of the Jews, Jesus replies with “You say so” (Matthew 27:11). This is the same answer Jesus gave to the chief priests when they asked him if he is the Messiah (Matthew 26:63-64). Jesus does not want to incriminate himself, and why should he? Nothing he will say will help his case against the chief priests.

Then Pontius Pilate asks Jesus, “Do you not hear what they are saying about you?” Jesus stays quiet, like he did with the chief priests (Matthew 26:63-64). Again, what else Jesus say? The chief priests are ignorant and do not understand who he is. I am sure Pontius Pilate at least heard about Jesus’ teachings in passing. There was nothing more to say. The scriptures have to be fulfilled, and Jesus is willing to fulfill them.

Pontius Pilate realizes the chief priests handed Jesus over to him out of jealousy (Matthew 27:18). Since it is during the festival when it is customary to release one prisoner of the crowd’s choosing, Pilate matches Jesus Christ up against notorious criminal Barabbas, thinking Jesus’ popularity would win him his release. To Pontius Pilate, it is an easy decision: release Jesus Christ, not the actual criminal. Pontius Pilate did not think the chief priests would persuade the crowd to have Barabbas released (Matthew 27:20). So when the crowd shouts for Barabbas to be released, Pontius Pilate asks what to do with Jesus (Matthew 27:21-22). The crowd answers, “Crucify him.”  When asked why by Pontius Pilate, the crowd just yelled, “Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:23).

Since the crowd has spoken and he does not need a riot on his hands during the festival, Pontius Pilate takes a bowl of water and washes his hands and says, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves” (Matthew 27:24). Pontius Pilate knows Jesus Christ has not done anything wrong and does not want to be included in killing an innocent man. Barabbas is the notorious criminal who should be killed, yet Pontius Pilate needs to avoid a riot and avoid angering his superiors. Pontius Pilate decides to leave it up to the crowd to see to it that Jesus is crucified–he wants no part in it.

The crowd agrees that Jesus’ blood will be on them. So Pontius Pilate releases Barabbas and hands Jesus over to be crucified. The light reveals all–-the good, the bad, and the ugly. Pontius Pilate may not understand or agree with the crowd, but one day the light will reveal to them what they have done. The truth always comes out.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending the light into our lives. Help us to understand why Jesus has to be crucified. Lead us to do your will–no matter the cost. Thank you for being our light and for Jesus agreeing to do your will. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. What is the light revealing in your life?
2. When and why have you repented?
3. When has someone gone against your wishes?

Readings

Matthew 26:57-75

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Yesterday’s devotion ended with Jesus being arrested and the disciples scattering. Today, Jesus’ trial begins.

Once he is arrested, Jesus is taken to a meeting of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish priestly council) led by Caiaphas, the high priest. Everyone is looking for false testimony against Jesus Christ, yet they cannot find anything to charge him with (Matthew 26:59-60). Hmmm…I wonder why?

Then two witnesses come forward. One witness quotes Jesus saying, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” (Matthew 26:61). Jesus stays quiet, which irritates the high priest. But what can Jesus say? “Yes, I said that but I am talking about myself, not the actual building.” If the high priests do not get it now, then what else can Jesus say? So Jesus remains quiet. I shared a story Sunday about an experience I had on a bus in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was harassed by a bus driver who was resistant to tying my electric wheelchair down. I too was unable to say anything to help my case. Other passengers took the driver’s position by saying I needed a personal caregiver to take the bus with me. Whatever I could have said would not have helped; clearly, no one  would have listened or understood what I said, so why bother?

Caiaphas says Jesus is under oath and should tell them he is the Messiah, Son of God (Matthew 26:63). Caiaphas has set a trap for Jesus, yet he replies, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64, NRSV). Jesus does not say he is the Messiah, but Caiaphas still charges him with blasphemy. When Caiaphas asks the whole council what its verdict is, it finds Jesus guilty and sentences him to death (Matthew 26:66).

Then the whole council spits on, strikes, and slaps at Jesus, taunting him all the while (Matthew 26:67-68). God takes a dramatic step and has Jesus suffer to the greatest extent for our sake. Jesus is on trial for our sins – self-pity, greediness, lies, murder, stealing, affairs, blasphemy, or [whatever “it” is] you do against God’s commands. How could he take it?

The first time Peter denies Jesus, a servant-girl points at the disciple and says, “He was with Jesus the Galilean” (Matthew 26:69). Peter replies, “I do not know what you are talking about” (Matthew 26:70). Of course he knows Jesus, but being in the midst of  city hostile toward Jesus Peter chooses to protect himself. Does Peter want to be arrested like Jesus was?

The second and third times he is asked, Peter answers the bystanders the same way. Peter denies Jesus with an oath, “I swear I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:72, 74). Each time Peter denies Jesus, he adds more intensity to his denial. Peter is afraid of the crowd against Jesus. What will the crowd do to him if it finds out the truth? Will he be arrested like Jesus?

The world often makes it difficult and dangerous for us to truly proclaim our faith in the Triune God–God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Peter is such a visible leader in the Early Church and that makes it easy for us to judge his actions. But what would we do in his shoes? What do we do now when it becomes difficult or dangerous to deny Jesus?

As soon as Peter denies Jesus the third time, the cock crows. Then Peter remembers Jesus’ prediction of his three denials before the cock crowed. Peter leaves the crowd and weeps bitterly (Matthew 26:74-75). Peter is hard on himself, just as you are hard on yourself when you disappoint someone. How could he deny Jesus?

Just as Peter denies knowing Jesus, I have often wondered how individuals can deny the love of God by denying others their rights. How could the bus driver deny my rights to safety ride the bus? How could my brother break my trust? Then I think of the danger Peter faces in Jerusalem. The hostility within Jerusalem’s walls toward anyone who follows Jesus Christ causes his disciples to hide. Would I have denied knowing Jesus if I were in the same situation? It is easy to say no, but fear causes you to react in ways you would not in normal circumstances.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for having Jesus go on trial for our sins. Help us to accept Jesus’ fate. Help us to not deny knowing you. Remind us that your grace will always be for us. Thank you for forgiving us. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. How do you feel about Jesus being on trial?
2. Have you ever been “on trial” among friends or family members?
3. How do you deny Jesus in your life?

Readings

Matthew 26:17-56

Devotion

At any kind of “last meal,” there is normally a sense of sobriety—and maybe a few tears—as you say goodbye to a good friend. I remember when my best friend, Nathan, moved away my freshmen year of high school. His family had a big party at the VFW where we sang and danced. A bunch of us sang “Lean on Me” to Nathan, because, no matter what, we could count on each other. It was bittersweet for me, because Nathan and I had gone to school together since we were three years old. It felt like part of me was going away. In a similar way, Jesus’ last meal is intense and full of love.

Jesus calls Judas Iscariot out on his crap–excuse my language. He tells him, “Judas, you’re going to betray me,” even as Judas denies it. Jesus can see the future: he knows he will be betrayed, deserted, killed, and resurrected. Jesus knows the pain he will go through. But yet how could Jesus not have been calm? He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is difficult to imagine an angry, bitter Jesus since we always see Jesus as calm, collected, and loving, except when Jesus knocked over the tables in the synagogue. You can hear Jesus’ frustration toward Judas Iscariot when he says, “It would have been better if he was never born” (Matthew 26:24).

Still, Jesus loves us, and he knows and understands what is going to take place in the next few days. And he is willing to do it.

As always, Jesus acts out of love by taking bread and saying, “This is my body …” (Matthew 26:26). In the same way, he takes the wine and says, “This is my blood, shed for you … which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28). Jesus pours out his blood for our many sins, and he does it willingly.

After dinner, Jesus and his disciples go out to Mount of Olives where he tells them they will all desert him before the night is over. Jesus equates himself to a shepherd and the disciples to sheep. When the shepherd is taken away, the sheep scatter (Matthew 26:31).

For the disciples, the news is difficult to swallow. How could they desert their Lord? After all they have been through? The disciples love Jesus. They would never desert him. Peter is adamant that he would never desert Jesus, even if the others do. Still, Jesus maintains his claim and adds that Peter will deny knowing him three times before the cock crows (Matthew 26:34). I would have been adamant like Peter that I would never abandon or deny knowing Jesus. I have a difficult time imagining my life without my family and close friends. Jesus may have been frustrated, but he also understood the tension was building and being associated with Jesus would be difficult to admit. I can only guess Jesus does not want his disciples to go through the same pain as he was, even though he is willing to.

Jesus and his disciples go to Gethsemane to pray. After telling them not to fall asleep, Jesus goes away from the disciples and throws himself to the ground. He cries out, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26:39). For the first time, we get a glimpse of the emotional roller coaster Jesus is going through. His disciples will desert him in a few moments. The chief priests will arrest him, put him on trial, and crucify him. If Jesus saw a sociologist today, he would probably be diagnosed with PTSD. The stress of the world is coming down on Jesus. Who else could bear that much stress without going insane? When I went through my divorce, I built a wall around me with a few chosen friends. I became numb from the emotional pain of ending a relationship. I can only imagine what Jesus is feeling.

Then Jesus goes back to check on the disciples who are sleeping. “Wake up, guys. Can’t you stay awake?” Jesus says (Matthew 26:40). Jesus asked them to pray, and yet they fell asleep. Jesus emphasizes to the disciples that the spirit is stronger than the flesh. The Holy Spirit will conquer all.

Jesus goes away two more times to pray. Both times, when he comes back the disciples have fallen asleep. Here Jesus stressing (probably having a panic attack) about the next few days, and the disciples cannot stay awake.

The third time, Jesus comes back he simply says, “Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand” (Matthew 26:46). Things are about to be set in motion, and there is no time for goodbyes.

Judas Iscariot leads a large crowd to where Jesus and the other disciples sre. The crowd against Jesus has come with Judas with clubs; these individuals are angry for how the crowd with Jesus has taken over their city on Palm Sunday. And for what? To worship the Son of David? This would have been viewed as worshipping a mere man. The crowd against Jesus would not stand for any of it. The time has come to take a stand for Jerusalem–the Holy City.

Judas Iscariot approaches Jesus and says, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kisses him (Matthew 26:49), which is the sign to the chief priests as to which man is Jesus. As if Jesus has accepted his fate, Jesus says, “Friend, do what you need to do.” And then they arrest him (Matthew 26:50). Judas, one of the twelve most intimate followers of Jesus, betrays him by handing him over to the Pharisees.

One disciple takes his sword and cuts off the ear of the chief priest’s slave (Matthew 26:51). It seems like an honorable thing to do since they are arresting Jesus. However, Jesus gets irritated with his disciple and tells him to put away his sword (Matthew 26:52). He asks his disciple if he has forgotten that Jesus request God the Father’s deliverance at any point, but that this must happen to fulfill the scriptures (Matthew 25:53-54).

Then Jesus turns to the crowd arresting him. Jesus was in the temple teaching several days, yet they did not arrest him then. Now they come with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus like a bandit (Matthew 26:55). The crowd acts like Jesus is a dangerous felon who is a threat to society. The crowd wants Jesus to pay for his transgressions, but they fail to realize that he is actually at work to pay for their sins–self-pity, greediness, lies, murder, stealing, affairs, blasphemy, or [whatever “it” is] humans do against God’s commands. How could he take it?

Jesus is arrested, and all of his disciples desert him (Matthew 26:56). The sheep scatter as the shepherd is taken away (Matthew 26:31). His twelve disciples abandon Jesus out of fear and selfish reasons. He is alone to face his trial, with no witnesses to speak on his behalf. He is alone.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus and his willingness to die for our sins. Help us to accept Jesus’ fate. Thank you for taking on our pain and suffering. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. When have you felt abandoned?
2. What keeps you from following Jesus to the cross?
3. Jesus is willing to die for our sins. What does that mean to you?

Readings

Matthew 26:14-16                        John 12:1-8

Devotion

As a Christian, I have difficulty understanding how Judas Iscariot could agree to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15a suggests Judas does it out of greed and seeks to negotiate with the chief priests to get a good price for his betrayal.

You probably have experienced the betrayal of a close friend. My brother broke my trust by stealing thousands of dollars from me to feed his drug addiction. I had a hard time being around my brother, because all he wanted was money for his next high. It was devastating for my mom and me to watch because he was out of control.

You may be asking yourself how Judas Iscariot knows to approach the chief priests. Remember that yesterday we discussed two groups: 1) those with Jesus and 2) those against Jesus. The crowd against Jesus cannot be very far from where Jesus entered Jerusalem; they are gathering information for the chief priests. Any one of these individuals could have run into Judas Iscariot and asked him questions regarding Jesus Christ. Or Judas could have heard the chief priests want to put Jesus on trial and need an insider to help them. Who better to help the chief priests?

Now we know from the Gospel of John that Judas Iscariot is greedy. When Martha and Mary give Jesus a dinner after he raises Lazarus from the dead, Judas Iscariot objects to Mary anointing Jesus an expensive perfume (John 12:3). Judas objects on the grounds that extravagant purchases take food out of the mouth of the poor (John 12:5), but the Gospel of John says Judas does not actually care about the poor (John 12:6a). Rather, Judas routinely steals from the moneybag and is concerned that such purchases will cut into his stolen stash (John 12:6b).

Do you know individuals like Judas? These individuals always have something to say but do the opposite. My brother was a lot like Judas when he was using drugs. He was smooth talker when he needed money for drugs.

The momentum of Holy Week is building. We know God sent Jesus knowing he would die for our sins. This conflict has to happen, just like my brother needed to be caught and evicted in order to hit rock bottom and make the decision to go into treatment[ED1] . I rejoice in the sobriety my brother has found.

But for Jesus, there remains a long and difficult path through Holy Week. Please continue to join me on this journey.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for showing us that even a disciple can fall into the greed trap. Help us to not fall into the greed trap and to overcome the devil. Remind us of your plan during difficult times. Guide us through the darkness and into the light. Thank you for giving us your peace and your love. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please feel free to answer the reflective questions through comments.  Please agree to disagree and be respectable to each other. Please take a moment, if you have not already, to sign the covenant.  You can answer all or just one of the questions.

1. Do you know people in the crowd with Jesus?
2. Do you know people in the crowd against Jesus?
3. Where do you fit in the crowd?
4. Do you know a Judas Iscariot?