Day 9: Matthew 26-28. Passion and Resurrection
Now is the beginning of the end (and the beginning) of the story. Everything is set in place. First note that it begins with the religious leaders, conspiring about how and when to get rid of Jesus.
In Bethany, an unnamed woman comes to the house of Simon the leper with an alabaster jar of ointment. She pours it over Jesus head, angering his disciples. For some reason, they are concerned that she is wasting her money on this act. And why is she doing it, anyway? It is an extravagant act of devotion. Jesus tells us what it means: she is anointing him for burial. (I wonder what the woman thought of this.) Jesus also proclaims that everyone will remember this woman, because of her action. But do we?
Then Judas agrees to betray Jesus. Jesus celebrates the passover with his disciples, and tells them that one of them will betray him. He tells them that the bread they break is his body, and the wine is his blood. Christians have considered this meal important ever since, but have also argued about exactly what it means.
Jesus also predicts that later Peter will deny him. He prays and is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, sent to the High Priest, and then to Pilate.
As we read along, we discover that the gospels share many of the details of Jesus' suffering and death, but also different details that each gospel emphasizes. For example, in Matthew, we hear about the death of Judas; Pilate's wife warns him about Jesus. She has had a dream about him. In Matthew, Jesus' only words from the cross are, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" and there is a great earthquake, and the tombs of the saints are opened.
In Matthew, there are guards posted at Jesus' tomb, because religious leaders are afraid that his disciples will steal his body.
And in Matthew, at the very end of the gospel, Jesus meets his disciples on a mountain, giving them instructions "Go into all the world..." (we call this the great commission), and giving them a promise, "I am with you always." Remember Emmanuel, "God is with us"? At the end of Matthew's gospel, he reminds us of the promise of Emmanuel.
Which parts of the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection do you know the best? Where there any parts of the story that were a surprise to you?
What does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean to you?
In Bethany, an unnamed woman comes to the house of Simon the leper with an alabaster jar of ointment. She pours it over Jesus head, angering his disciples. For some reason, they are concerned that she is wasting her money on this act. And why is she doing it, anyway? It is an extravagant act of devotion. Jesus tells us what it means: she is anointing him for burial. (I wonder what the woman thought of this.) Jesus also proclaims that everyone will remember this woman, because of her action. But do we?
Then Judas agrees to betray Jesus. Jesus celebrates the passover with his disciples, and tells them that one of them will betray him. He tells them that the bread they break is his body, and the wine is his blood. Christians have considered this meal important ever since, but have also argued about exactly what it means.
Jesus also predicts that later Peter will deny him. He prays and is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, sent to the High Priest, and then to Pilate.
As we read along, we discover that the gospels share many of the details of Jesus' suffering and death, but also different details that each gospel emphasizes. For example, in Matthew, we hear about the death of Judas; Pilate's wife warns him about Jesus. She has had a dream about him. In Matthew, Jesus' only words from the cross are, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" and there is a great earthquake, and the tombs of the saints are opened.
In Matthew, there are guards posted at Jesus' tomb, because religious leaders are afraid that his disciples will steal his body.
And in Matthew, at the very end of the gospel, Jesus meets his disciples on a mountain, giving them instructions "Go into all the world..." (we call this the great commission), and giving them a promise, "I am with you always." Remember Emmanuel, "God is with us"? At the end of Matthew's gospel, he reminds us of the promise of Emmanuel.
Which parts of the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection do you know the best? Where there any parts of the story that were a surprise to you?
What does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean to you?
I have always remembered the story of the woman anointing Jesus with oil. It has always stuck out in my mind. However, I didn’t remember that Jesus said it was preparting Him for burial. So that came as a kind of surprise. I’ve always remember the basic outline of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The praying in Gesthamane, the betrayal, the denial, the horrible crucifixion, tearing of the veil, and the rising. I was surprised to hear that during his crucifixion both criminal beside Him were mocking him. I always remembered it as one mocking and the other defending Him. I also thought that Jesus ascended up to Heaven and went down to Hades. Of course, this is just one version. The other Gospels probably have different details.
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