Matthew 26: The King's Preparation

Jesus teaches us about preparation and sovereignty as he deliberately walks toward his crucifixion, even knowing the betrayal, torture, and death that await him.

• Jesus announces his coming crucifixion while religious leaders plot to kill him
• A woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, preparing his body for burial
• Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver
• Jesus transforms the Passover meal into the first communion, establishing a new covenant
• Jesus predicts the disciples will desert him and Peter will deny him three times
• In Gethsemane, Jesus prays three times for deliverance but submits to God's will
• Jesus voluntarily surrenders to arrest, reminding disciples he could summon angels
• Religious leaders conduct a sham trial with false witnesses
• Peter follows Jesus to the trial but denies knowing him three times
• Jesus remains sovereign throughout, not a victim but a king advancing toward his purpose

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Chapters

• 0:00 The King's Preparation Introduction
• 3:54 Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial
• 5:58 Judas Betrays Jesus for Silver
• 6:38 The Last Supper and Communion
• 9:50 Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
• 11:55 Jesus Arrested and Disciples Flee
• 14:02 Peter's Denial and Bitter Tears
• 16:41 Reflection on Jesus's Sovereignty

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon. Today, matthew, chapter 26, and today's title is the King's Preparation the King's Preparation. Someone told me one time that preparation is actually more important than execution, because it's the preparation that prepares you for the execution. Well, only the king could do it the way he did it today, and it is amazing that the king knew exactly what he was doing and he kept moving forward. I love Jesus so much and I hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as I do, so we're going to jump into it and jump right into God's word. But while you're getting your Bible ready, your coffee ready, your popcorn ready, make sure you take just a moment to like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you leave us a five-star review on the podcast it really does help and make sure you go into the Bible Breakdown discussion. There's an amazing group of people doing a wonderful job, and you can get all the different links to everything we're doing right now at thebiblebreakdowncom.

Speaker 1: 1:24

Well, if you've been with us over the past while, then you know that the overall goal of Matthew is to talk about King Jesus, and in chapter 1, he just starts off by saying Jesus is the rightful king of the Jews and he's like got his receipts and he said I can prove to you that at the very least, he has a claim to the earthly throne. But then, 2 through 28, he says but he is so much more than that. And as we have been walking through this, we saw how Jesus talked about the kingdom. He showed us what the kingdom looked like. Yesterday, in our last chapter, he was talking about faithfulness to the kingdom. And now, in chapter 26, we get to see the events that lead up to the coronation of the king, when Jesus, on the last days of his life, is getting ready and he's preparing for what's going to happen and only Jesus would know what's coming.

Speaker 1: 2:19

But keep moving forward anyway. That's one of the things that I think is lost on all of us, and that's myself included. When I think about it. It just hits me fresh every time that imagine. Imagine if you knew this is such a morbid thought, but imagine if you knew that tomorrow you would get hit by a car. Let me tell you what I'd do. First of all, I would stay as far away from a road as I could. I would go like, stay underground somewhere. I would put on like all the gear I could to protect myself and I'd be like, okay, well, I'm gonna start a countdown and when 24 hours is over I'll be okay, but I'm not going anywhere.

Speaker 1: 2:56

Jesus knew they were out to get him. They knew he was going to be arrested. They, he knew that the worst possible punishment crucifixion. You know they invented a word to describe what happens when you're on a cross. It's the word excruciating. That's how horrible it was. He knew it was coming and he keeps walking. He keeps walking and spending time with his people. I mean, I just love that so much. And so enough of me talking. Let's jump into God's word and just be in awe of the king's preparation for the greatest day of our life, but the worst day of his earthly life. Let's watch. 26, verse 1 says this when Jesus had finished saying these things remember it was the last chapter talking about faithfulness he said to his disciples as you know, the Passover begins in two days, when the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified.

Speaker 1: 3:48

At the same time, the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him, but not during the Passover celebration, they agreed, or the people may riot. Meanwhile, jesus was in Bethany, in the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this, saying what a waste. It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor. But Jesus, aware of this, replied why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth Whenever the good news is preached throughout the world, this woman's deeds will be remembered and discussed. Pause. I always wonder if the reason you know. Jesus said she has done this to prepare my body for burial. We talk a lot about how beautiful it was, because this would have been very valuable, very expensive to do. It would have not just perfumed Jesus' body for the moment, but wherever Jesus walked the rest of the day there would have been a reminder of what that lady had done. I mean, there's just so many beautiful things about this, but I wonder if she heard Jesus say I'm about to be killed for the sins of many, and while everybody else was like huh, I wonder what that means. She was like, okay, if that's what you need to do, jesus, well, you know what I'm going to do. I'm going to bless you for it. I'm going to say thank you and this is the best gift I can give. Wow, doesn't that make it even more amazing? All right, verse 14.

Speaker 1: 5:34

Then Judas Iscariot the jerk, one of the 12 disciples, went to the leading priest and asked how much money will you pay me to betray Jesus to you? And they gave him 30 pieces of silver. From that time on, judas began looking for an opportunity to portray Jesus. On the first day of the festival of unleavened bread, the Passover, the disciples came to Jesus and asked when do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you? As you go into the city, jesus told them, you will see a certain man. Tell him, the teacher says my time has come. I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.

Speaker 1: 6:12

So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there, when it was evening, jesus sat down at the table with the twelve While they were eating. He said I tell you the truth one of you will betray me. Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn am I the one Lord? He replied one of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. The son of man must die, as the scripture is declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born. Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked.

Speaker 1: 6:54

As they were eating, jesus took some of the bread and blessed it, and he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying Take this and eat it, for this is my body. And he took the cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. And he gave it to them and said Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words I will not drink the wine again until the day I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom. Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Speaker 1: 7:30

I always wonder did Jesus have like a tenor, or was he like a bass voice? You know what I'm saying? I always wonder. I have this idea that he could probably sing super high. But then, because I've watched the Ten Commandments and I've heard how God talked to Charlton Heston, it's like Moses and I always wonder if, like Jesus was just like, oh, you know, I don't know. Anyway, enough Verse 31, on the way Jesus told them tonight all of you will desert me, for the scriptures say God will strike the shepherd, and the shepherd or the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I've been raised from the dead I will go ahead of you to Galilee to meet you there.

Speaker 1: 8:05

Now pause again. Now remember, jesus is telling him this stuff's about to happen and he's still moving forward Once again. If it had been me, I've been hiding somewhere. I'm just going to wait this out. No, jesus is looking in the face of death and smiling. I love that so much and also for what it's worth, kind of an aside if you've ever seen the movies or different things, it's almost this idea that, as they're walking to where Jesus is going to be arrested, that it was like a quiet night, not a creature was stirring and all this kind of stuff. No, no, no, it would have been crowded. This is the night of Passover, everybody is coming and going and all this kind of stuff, and so it would have been a crowded street and Jesus is walking through them. So I want to get that mental picture that all of this is happening and so Jesus is probably raising his voice and you think about it as well. It's Jesus, people probably waiting outside to see Jesus. So as soon as they see him, they're like hey, there's Jesus. So in the middle of all that, he's saying out loud hey, tonight you're all going to desert me, but it's going to be okay.

Speaker 1: 9:03

Verse 33,. Peter says even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you. And Jesus said I tell you the truth, pete, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me. No, peter insisted Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you. And all the other disciples vowed the same. Verse 36,.

Speaker 1: 9:26

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane and he said Sit here while I go over there to Verse 36, and keep watch with me. He went on a little farther and bowed his face to the ground, praying my father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray so that you will not give in to temptation, for the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed my father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done. He returned to them again and he found them sleeping. They couldn't keep their eyes open, and so he went to pray a third time and he said the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said Go ahead and sleep, have your rest, but look, the time has come. The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here.

Speaker 1: 10:42

Even as Jesus said this, judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs, and they had been sent by the leading priests, and the elders of the twelve disciples arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs, and they had been sent by the leading priests and the elders of the people. The traitor, judas the jerk, had given them this prearranged signal. You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. So Judas came straight to Jesus. Greetings Rabbi. He exclaimed and he gave him the kiss. And Jesus said my friend, go ahead and do what you've come for. And then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear. Most likely this was Peter. And Jesus said to him Put away your sword, for those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don't you realize that? I could ask my father for thousands of angels to? And Jesus said to the crowd but all of this happened to fulfill the words of the prophet, as me in the temple. I was there teaching every day, but all of this happened to fulfill the words of the prophet as recorded in the scriptures.

Speaker 1: 11:55

At this point, all the disciples deserted and fled. Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered Meanwhile, peter followed him at a glance and came to the high priest's courtyard. He then went in and sat with the guards and he waited to see how it would all end. Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus so that they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone's testimony. Finally, two men came forward who declared. This man said I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.

Speaker 1: 12:41

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself? But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself? But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him I demand, in the name of the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the son of God. And Jesus replied you have said it, and in the future you will see the son of man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Speaker 1: 13:08

Then the high priest tore his clothes to show this horror and said blasphemy. Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict? Guilty, they shouted. He deserves to die. Then they began to spit in his face and beat him with their fists. Some slapped him. Jeering prophesy to us, you, messiah, who hit you this time?

Speaker 1: 13:31

Meanwhile, peter was sitting outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came over to him. You were one of the ones with Jesus the Galilean. But Peter denied it in front of everyone. I don't know what you're talking about, he said. Later on, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those who were standing around this man was with Jesus of Nazareth. Again, peter denied it, this time with an oath. I don't even know the man, he said. A little later, some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said you must be one of them. We can tell by your Galilean accent. Peter swore a curse on me if I'm lying, I don't know the man. And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me. And he went away weeping bitterly. Wow, I mean, what do you say? What an amazing turn of events. Throughout all of this, jesus keeps moving forward.

Speaker 1: 14:42

You know, what strikes me about this is, First of all, can we give Peter some props here? Peter, yes, he just got through denying Jesus, but notice where he denied Jesus. He had followed Jesus from a distance into Caiaphas' inner courtyard, which means he had every intention on trying to get Jesus out of that right. So in my mind, what he's doing is he's plotting, he's trying to figure out a way to sneak and get Jesus out of there. So we've got to give him props for that. All the other guys, with the exception, possibly, of John, all the other guys, they're gone. We don't know where they are. Peter makes it there, but then, when the time came, he buckled under the pressure, so he made it further than everybody else did. So let's give him that. But so he made it further than everybody else did. So let's give him that.

Speaker 1: 15:29

But what I love about this and what I want to leave us with today is this idea, and that is that Jesus knew what was going to happen and he kept moving forward, and even in the moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the pressure of what's happening and the reality of what's happening is resting down on him. He says, father, I don't want to do this. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. In other words, it's hard, but I'm going to stay the course, I'm going to keep moving forward and then I love you. Imagine it's one thing too. If you're walking toward an execution that you can't get away from Right, like if something's happening and you can't control it, then okay, fine.

Speaker 1: 16:18

But notice how, when Jesus is telling his disciples to stand down, he's saying do you not realize they're not taking me? I'm voluntarily going. He said, right now I could pray and thousands of angels would show up. You know, the Bible says in one place that one angel destroyed an army of 186,000 enemy soldiers. If he sent the amount of soldiers, the amount of angels he sent, he could have killed everybody on the planet at that time Many times over. In other words, he's saying I could kill everybody on this entire planet right now if I want to. They are not taking me. I'm going with them. They're not. You know, I'm not under their whatever. They're escorting me. Basically, the king is being escorted to his throne. The coronation is about to begin.

Speaker 1: 17:16

And when you think about it like that, jesus is no victim, he is the conquering king. He walks into this, you know, as it was a kangaroo court where they've already decided they're going to kill him. They just need a reason. And Jesus is there and they're going. Why is he not answering? Because he doesn't have to. Because the king has got to prove nothing to no one, that he has many enemies but he has no rivals, and so he's just waiting. The king has already won.

Speaker 1: 17:44

And can I tell you, in our lives sometimes it can feel like chaos, it can feel like it's crazy. We don't know what's going on. You know what's amazing? The king's already won. The king is silent because he has nothing to add. He's already on the throne, he's just waiting. And so many times in our life, one of the greatest things we can do is just be silent and just say the king is on his throne. I got no idea why this is happening. I got no idea why this chaos is here. I just know the king is on his throne and because the king is on his throne, everything's going to be all right. Let's pray together right now.

Speaker 1: 18:16

God, thank you so much for today. Thank you that you reign forever, lord. When we read chapters like this, it's bittersweet because on one end, I don't ever want to hear anybody slapping you, anyone hitting you, anyone lying about you, but at the same time it fills us with a sense of honor and thankfulness that you went through all of that for us. Thank you for loving us the way you do. We're in honor. We stand in awe of our King. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen and amen. Jesus said in Matthew 28, verse 19,. He said all authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for the coronation of the king. Matthew, chapter 27.