Matthew part 46
Christ, our Example in Suffering
Today’s passage has its roots way back in the Old Testament. Certain parts of Isaiah are traditionally read during the Easter week because they foretell what would happen to Christ as he approached the cross. One particular is especially appropriate for our passage today.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.Isaiah 53:4-9
Now, we know this passage in Isaiah directly pertains to Christ’s crucifixion, but I would like us to focus on verse 7 today. Notice, Isaiah prophesies the Messiah would not open his mouth even though he would be led to his slaughter. It is an odd prophecy, but its fulfillment is a demonstration for our main point today.
Jesus is our example for thriving through even our darkest times.
Notice I say “thriving” because even though the circumstances we are reading today will eventually end in Jesus’ death, death is not the end for Jesus. He will achieve a feat that no other person could ever do. He will rise from the grave and open the doors of heaven for all who are willing to enter.
When we are facing our dark times, even those times that may lead us to our own death, we can look to Christ as an example of perseverance. Let’s begin reading in Matthew 26:36 and see the lessons God has for us today.
The Gethsemane Prayer | Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Matthew 26:36-46
First, we see Jesus knows what is about to happen. We have seen this many times throughout Matthew’s Gospel, but now the time has come. And Jesus’ humanity starts to show even more. He does not really want to die. It is a perfectly reasonable and healthy attitude. No one wants to go through the process of dying. Everyone knows they have to die at some point, but most of us agree, if we could just go to sleep and not wake up, that would probably be the best option. So how does Jesus deal with this emotion? He prays. He prays all night.
The first step to thrive through struggles is to pray fervently and honestly.
Notice Jesus does not offer some eloquent, sugar coated nonsense. He goes straight to the point. “Lord, if there is some way I can skip this next part of life, let it be done.” He is distraught, and the disciples aren’t going to be any help.
But the very next clause gives us the second point. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
As we pray, we must keep God’s will in focus.
This next step for Jesus is going to be the hardest, but it is also going to be the most important. All of the work Jesus has done for the last three years will be for nothing, if he does not go to the cross. He understands his mission, and he is willing, but he is having a moment of weakness.
It is not a sin to feel weakness. It is not a sin to be concerned about a situation of struggle. It is not even a sin to ask God to remove the struggle. Jesus does all of these things. But in this time, we must remain focused on the will of God, so that we can accomplish the task he has given us.
Jesus goes back to the disciples to find them sleeping. Notice, he offers them a way out of their own temptations and their fall. Even though, as we discussed last time, it has already been prophesied they will fall away, Jesus still tells them, “If you can remain with me and keep watchful prayer, you can bypass the temptation.”
The strength to avoid sin and temptation, especially during times of struggle, comes from the Lord. Paul said,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Jesus is drawing strength to continue the mission by leaning on the Father. We can draw strength for our own struggles by leaning on Jesus.
Notice it takes three times for Jesus to pray for strength and focus. It is not a “one and done” prayer. Three times Jesus goes to the Father, three times he sees the disciples asleep, and three times he asks if it is possible for the cup to pass from him. But we know that God, three times, tells Jesus he must continue on. And after the third time, Judas approaches marking the beginning of Jesus’ last trial.
Jesus Arrested | Matthew 26:47-56
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Matthew 26:47-56
Jesus’ death begins with the betrayer coming to identify him for the soldiers. Jesus, the name, is fairly famous at this point, but if these soldiers have not seen him, they would have no way of knowing which is Jesus. The first century is long before photography. There is a certain bitter irony in the way Judas identifies Jesus. Judas greets Jesus with the kiss of a friend. Jesus returns the mocked kindness with actual kindness. He still calls Judas ‘friend’.
We should not let this small kindness towards Judas go unnoticed. Despite the fact Judas is actively betraying Jesus, Jesus stills keeps the real enemy in mind. Jesus is not going to the cross because of Judas. He is going to the cross because Satan introduced sin way back in Genesis 3. As we follow Jesus’ example in our own struggles, we must remember:
During our struggle, our enemy is not any one person around us, but rather the dark spiritual forces influencing the people and circumstances around us.
Jesus could have easily attacked Judas and the guards, just like Peter does with the sword. But notice, Jesus reprimands Peter for the act. Well intentioned or not, the mission and will of God supersedes Peter’s desire for revenge. We can compare this to Paul’s command in Ephesians.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Ephesians 4:26.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10
It is perfectly fine to be angry at a situation, but it is not fine to take that anger out on people, even those who seem to be actively working against you. This attitude of focusing our anger in the right direction can be the hardest part of thriving through a struggle. But that is the example Jesus gives us.
Last, notice how Jesus does attempt to point out the foolishness of this dramatic arrest. He was in the temple teaching day after day, but they choose to arrest him in the middle of the night in a garden. But all of this drama and foolishness is to fulfill the Scripture.
And now, Jesus will head into the trial where he will face a litany of false accusations.
A Mockery of Justice | Matthew 26:57-68
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “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 the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Matthew 26:57-68
We must keep in mind the timeline of this trial because it speaks to the mindset of the scribes and elders. They do not wait til the morning to bring in witnesses, nor do they seem to seek out people who would defend Jesus. The disciples have scattered as was foretold—except for Peter who remains nearby. But they bring in false witnesses to drum up charges, but it isn’t until the last two witnesses come forward that a charge sticks. The charge that Jesus threatened to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.
This charge comes from a statement Jesus makes when he cleanses the temple. John includes it in his Gospel when the Pharisees question Jesus’ authority. Jesus says if they “destroy this temple,” he will raise it in 3 days. Jesus is actually referring to his body, but the Pharisees believe he refers to the building.
And here we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7. The only reply Jesus gives to the accusations is “You have said so”—or as we might say, “If you say so.” Then, Jesus tells them they will “see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” They tear their robes and call it blasphemy. They recognize that Jesus has explicitly claimed the Messianic prophecies for himself and has even gone so far as to equate himself with God.
Periodically, you may hear someone claim Jesus didn’t consider himself God. His disciples added that bit later. The truth is, the scribes and Pharisees seek to kill him because of their jealousy, but they are able to push the trial through because they believe Jesus is being blasphemous. He is equating himself with God because He is God. But this claim is enough for the council.
We will continue the story next time, but as we consider this part of the trial, consider how Jesus deals with his accusers. He chooses to remain (mostly) silent and refrains from returning their attacks. He has put his life in God’s hands and will allow God to complete the mission. He chooses to face death in spite of the lies and the abandonment of his disciples. He is a lamb that will go to the slaughter unjustly.
How is able to do it? As stated above, his mind is on the mission. He is focused on the will of God and the task he has been given.
When we face struggles of various kinds, we can thrive by keeping focused on the task God has given us.
We may not know the next step, but if God has made it clear what we are to do now, then that is what we must do. Allow God to deal with those who are causing our struggle. Allow God to deal with those who lie and malign our character. We must keep focused on ministering to those God calls us to minister to, evangelize those God calls us to evangelize, and serve those whom God has called us to serve.
In Psalm 3:3, David declares,
But, You O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3
James tells us,
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:10
There will come a time when the Lord will raise you back up from this low estate. But before this current struggle ends, we must remain humble before the Lord.
When you find yourself in the midst of struggle:
Take your struggle to the Lord.
Keep you mind set on the mission God has given you.
Do not be distracted by those who falsely accuse you or speak ill about you.
Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.