THE
FINAL PORTRAIT OF GRACE: THE LAST WEEK
Hebrew has a word for lifelong love that is richer and
deeper than English has ever conceived of: HESED (heh-SED).
Based in a COVENANT relationship, hesed is:
Steadfast,
rock-solid faithfulness that endures to eternity:
“Though
the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love (hesed)
for you will not be shaken.” Isaiah
54:10
Hesed is a love so enduring that
it persists beyond any sin or betrayal to mend brokenness and graciously extend
forgiveness.
Israel had continually broken their part of the COVENANT
through all the years, had endured exile, judgment and return to the land, and
now were under the foot of the Roman empire. Yet, now at the “fullness of time” Galatians 4:4, God sends Jesus to complete the final brush strokes
of a portrait of God’s love decided upon and prepared “before the foundation of
the world”.
It
is the last week of Jesus earthly life.
NISAN
9
Jesus is in Bethany, with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Bethany is a village about 2 miles from Jerusalem on the Eastern slope of the
Mount of Olives.
Jesus takes his disciples aside and tells them that He
was going to Jerusalem to be “betrayed to
the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn Me to death and
will hand Me over to the gentiles, who will mock Me and spit on Me, flog Me and
kill Me. Three days later I will rise.”Mark
10:32-34.
The disciples have no comprehension of what Jesus is
telling them.
Jesus rests with His friends for a night, being
comforted by their presence.
NISAN
10: The First Day of Passover Week
This is the day that will come to be known as PALM
SUNDAY. Thousands of pilgrims are in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. As
they sacrificed at the Temple, the Levites would lead the people in singing the
Psalms of David, especially Psalms
113-118, known as the Hallell. There were many musical
instruments and great joy which culminated in the singing of:
“This is the day
the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Of the first occasion when the Psalm is sung we read 'And when he was come nigh, even now at the
descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to
rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had
seen;' [Luke 19:37].
They 'cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the Lord:' [Mark 11:9] 'Hosanna' quotes 'save now' [Psalm
118:25] 'blessed is he
that cometh in the name of the Lord' quotes Psalm
118:26. From Luke's account of the 'triumphal entry' we learn
that it was not just the people but 'the
whole multitude of his disciples.' [Luke 19:37]
Maybe this incident gives us a little insight into the enthusiasm and
expectation of the disciples at this time. The Psalm was sung by Jews at
Passover time as they looked for political redemption through
Messiah.
“Oh Lord save us (HOSANNA); Oh Lord grant us success.
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we
bless you. The Lord is God, and He has made His Light to shine upon us. WITH
BOUGHS IN HAND, JOIN IN THE FESTAL PROCESSION UP TO THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR.”
PSALM 118:25-27
We need to note why all the people were gathered with
Palm branches near the Eastern Gate. Yes, they heard that Jesus was coming and
they wanted to see the man who had raised Lazarus from the dead, (a messianic
sign) John 12:18; (there were four expected Messianic miracles; healing a
leper, casting out a mute demon, healing a man born blind and
raising someone from the dead after four
days, all of which Jesus accomplished)
but many were there at the Gate because on this day; Nisan 10;, the high priest had gone to Bethlehem and picked out a
spotless lamb to be the sacrifice for the nation. Exodus 12:3 A great
procession followed him in and out of the Gate. The lamb was then taken to the
temple for four days to be observed by the priests and people to be proven
spotless, then sacrificed on Nisan 14
as the Passover Lamb.
Jesus had sent His disciples ahead of him to find His
mount, a prophecy they found fulfilled when the owner of the animals
immediately obeyed the word of the Lord. He was fulfilling a sign given by the
Prophet Zechariah:
“Shout , Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and HAVING
SALVATION, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9;
This choice of a mount is significant. In ancient times,
when a king came into a neighboring country on a mission of peace, he
would ride a donkey. However, if he came to make war he would ride a horse.
“I
saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice He makes war.” Revelation
19:11
On the way from
Bethany, Jesus probably dismounted from the animal he was riding upon to survey
the city rising up before him at the top of the hill from the Kidron Valley. It
was obvious He was distressed. Doubtless his demeanor puzzled the crowds who
were singing praises to him as he traveled up from the floor of the valley.
However their expectations did not match Jesus' own understanding of those
things which were to befall him during the next week and the subsequent
destruction of the temple. As Jesus wept over the city
he spoke of the judgment that was to come.
“If you, even you,
had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from
your eyes. The days will come upon you whne your enemies will build an
embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will
dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not
leave one stone on another ,because you did not recognize the time of God’s
coming to you.” [Luke
19:42-44]. This was
fulfilled to the letter in 70 AD
as the Roman Legions of Titus destroyed the city and the Temple. Ending the
Priesthood, (controlled by the Saduccees,) utterly ending their power and
position and the Sacrifices, exiling the nation.
Jesus continued His ride. Among throngs praising Him, He
fulfilled God’s picture painted by the prophets of old.
Jesus
was announcing Himself as the Messiah, the King, (and the lamb being brought
into the Temple to be examined) and
people were responding with their praises, out of the Messianic Psalms
The fact that Jesus came in through the Eastern Gate is
also significant. We know that Jesus was staying in Bethany to the east, but
also we need to recognize the prophecy involving the now sealed Eastern Gate.
“Then
the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing
east, and it was shut. The Lord said to me, ’This gate is to remain shut. It
must not be opened; no one may enter
through it. It is to remain shut because
the Lord, the God of Israel, HAS ENTERED THROUGH IT.”Ezekiel 44:1-2
The
Eastern Gate is sealed to this day, so
at some time God must have entered the city through it. And He did, riding on a
donkey on NISAN 10.
The religious leaders were incensed that the people and
disciples were calling out the words of the Psalm and applying them to Jesus
for this reason. For this reason 'some of the Pharisees from among the
multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.' [Luke 19:39]
Jesus replies; “I
tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately
cry out.” Luke 19:40 If man will not recognize him, nature
will praise the Creator King!
The leaders have their attention directed to the Psalm
again when Jesus, after castigating them for their hypocrisy says 'Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord.' [Matthew 23:39],
quoting Psalm 118:26.
Thus it can be seen that rather than casual quotations
from the Psalms we have a systematic
use of Scripture to force the leaders to see that Jesus is, indeed, the Messiah spoken of in the Psalm. Furthermore,
by appealing to 'the stone which the
builders rejected' Jesus warns the leaders that they are about to reject
the man of God's provision. (The Messiah was here - but he did not fit in to
their mould and so they refused to recognize him.)
After the entry, Jesus goes to the Temple and “when He had looked round about upon all
things..” Mark 11:11a, it was
evening and He returned to his sanctuary with friends in Bethany.
NISAN
11
The next day Jesus returned to Jerusalem, and went to
the Temple.
The
Cleansing Of The Temple
Selling animals for sacrifice was permitted under the
Law of Moses. [Deuteronomy 14:24-26].
Jesus was not objecting to the fact that men and women were buying animals for
sacrifice. Rather he was objecting to the way in which it was being done.
(The
priestly family that had been in power for many years in Jesus’ time was the
house of Annas (or, Ananias), who himself served for 9 years and then appointed
several sons and one son-in-law, Caiaphas. This family was extremely wealthy
and corrupt, functioning much like a “mafia.”1 The “godfather”
was Annas, who controlled the position even when his sons were given the title
of High Priest. The family of Annas owned the flocks from which the
sacrificial animals had to come. They also controlled the money-changing
tables at the Temple , which were called “booths of Annas.” They
charged greatly inflated prices on sacrificial animals, extorted money, and
stole funds intended to support other priests who had no other income.2The
Jews of Jesus’ time hated this corruption, and one group, the Essenes, entirely
divorced themselves from worship at the temple, considering it to be defiled.
John the Baptist also spoke against the priesthood, saying that the Messiah
would come to clear “his threshing floor” – an allusion to the temple,
which David first established on a threshing floor.) (Matt 3:12 , 2 Sam 24:13) *www.ourrabbijesus.com
*Mark
11:16 informs us that Jesus 'looked round about upon all things' after he had entered the
temple. This action was highly symbolic. Jesus was treating the temple as a
house which had been declared as leprous.
Event
|
Law of Leprosy
|
Jesus
|
first look
|
||
7 days later
|
||
If still leprous remove stones
|
||
destroy house
|
Destruction of Jerusalem
|
The law of Moses was quite specific in instructing
Israel how they should deal with a house which had leprosy.
So we see that there was a threefold inspection by the priest. On the first occasion the condition is confirmed. The second visit examines the condition
and the third visit condemns the house which is still plagued with the fretting
leprosy'.
On the occasion of the first Passover during the
ministry of Jesus he cleansed the temple. for we read [John
2:13-16] 'And
the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in
the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money
sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out
of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money,
and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things
hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.'
On this fifth day before the Passover Jesus [Mark 11:11] 'entered into Jerusalem, and into the
temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the
eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany' This visit answered to the second visit of the priest. On this
occasion Jesus was assessing whether his first cleaning three years earlier had
achieved the desired effect. His inspection confirmed that the house was still
leprous. There was nothing left to do. Jesus
knew that the house had to be destroyed.
NISAN
12
He returned the next day and [Mark 11:15] 'Jesus went into the temple, and began to
cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of
the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;' On this occasion
we are informed that he [Mark 11:16] 'would not suffer that any man should carry any
vessel through (into) the temple'. which answers to the injunction [Leviticus
14:36] 'Then the priest
shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see
the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward
the priest shall go in to see the house:'
The
destruction of the temple by the Romans in AD 70 when not one stone was to be
left upon another answers to the breaking down of the leprous house.
As he cast out the money changers Jesus said 'It is written, My house shall be called the
house of prayer; [Isaiah
56:7] but ye have made it a den of thieves. [Jeremiah
7:11]'
[Matthew
21:13] It can be seen that Jesus is drawing together two
passages from the Old Testament.
The
Fate Of The Temple
By joining the quotation from Isaiah 56:7 with 'but ye have
made it a den of thieves' quoting Jeremiah
7:11,
Jesus is drawing the attention of the Jews to the consequences of polluting the
temple. Jeremiah spoke immediately prior to the destruction of the temple by
the Babylonians; [Jeremiah
7:2-3] Because the people did not listen to Jeremiah's words
the temple
was overthrown.
Matthew 21:14
After the Temple cleansing the blind and the
lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. You bet he does. Look how
Jesus is outward focused. He is other people focused. He knows that it is the
last week of his life; yet he is not sitting in a room somewhere depressed. He
is so focused on fulfilling his mission as the Passover Lamb, helping others, being the Messiah, being there for
other people who needed him. This is so much to be our example. I cannot
imagine the pressure that he was under these last days, and yet look how he
cleans out the temple. He is not so set back by his confrontation with the
priests and the leaders there that he cannot go right into ministering and
helping others. He heals the people that day that came to him. *(www.truthortradition.com)
While Jesus taught in the Temple during the week, the
religious leaders tried anything to trick Him, and allow him to be arrested.
One attempt is recorded in Luke
20:20-26. The leaders sent spies to
trap him by asking about paying taxes to Caesar, a form of idolatry. Jesus
turned the tables by asking the religious leaders for a Roman coin, which they
produced. (Having an image of Caesar in the Temple was idolatry! Caesars’ taxes
were not just about financial support, but about religious veneration, you
were honoring the “god” Caesar by paying tribute to him) the hypocrisy of
the leaders was graphically evident. His famous answer, “Give to Caesar what is his and to God what is His”, silenced them,
and convicted them of the crime they sought to trap him with.( It also
demonstrated proper worship, as the coin had Caesars’ image stamped on it, so
we bear the image of God. To give to God what is is, means to give Him
yourself, not just pay tithes!) Other attempts were made, all with the same
level of success
This
is the longest day in the last week of Jesus' life. That is there is more
recorded about this day than any other, with the possible exception of the day
of the crucifixion.
On arriving in the temple Jesus was confronted about the
cleansing of the temple. Focus is made on the baptism of John which silences
Jesus' critics.
“Then
the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the
high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some
sly way and kill him. ‘But not during the Feast’, they said, ‘or there may be a
riot among the people.’ “ Matthew 26:3-4
Jesus could have left them at this point and continued
with his tasks for the day. If we had been in Jesus' shoes we might well have
left them with the smug self satisfaction of knowing that we had silenced our
critics. However our Lord was not like that. He was concerned that these men
might confront their hypocrisy therefore he tells them three parables,
Matthew
|
Mark
|
Luke
|
|
1] Which son did his father's will?
|
|||
2] Parable of the vineyard
|
|||
3] Parable of the wedding banquet
|
The three parables are all directed at the attitude of
the religious leaders.
At this point in the discussion Jesus draws the
attention of the religious leaders to Psalm
118:22 saying 'Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected,
the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is
marvellous in our eyes?' [Matthew
21:42].
The figure of the vine passes into Jesus teaching and
will resurface the last night with his disciples.
Isaiah
5
predicted the removal of the hedge and the treading down of the vineyard - the
house of Israel. Later on during the same day Jesus spoke to the disciples on
the Mount of Olives. in response to their question “when shall these things [the destruction of Jerusalem] be ...” [Luke 21:7]
Jesus, says. “Jerusalem shall be trodden
down of the gentiles ...” [Luke 21:24]. Jesus is quoting Isaiah 5 again. “I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard ... It shall be trodden
down ...” [Isaiah 5:5].
The Olivet Prophecy is a private explanation of some of the details of the
parable of the vineyard. The destruction of Jerusalem, which was accomplished
by the Romans in AD 70 was a fulfillment of the parable which in turn was an
exposition of Isaiah 5. The absence of a repentant heart made the destruction a
certainty, unlike in the days of Hezekiah. Hezekiah, on being presented with
the judgment repented. The leaders in Jesus’ day did not.
Not
A New Message
Nor was Jesus parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21 the
first time this warning had been given to these leaders. John the Baptist had
already given a similar warning which had gone unheeded. Three and a half years
earlier, when he was baptising at Aenon the Pharisees came to investigate. John
warned them “O generation of vipers, who
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance & the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore
every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire”. [Matthew
3:7-10]
Speaking
To The Heart
There is no doubt that the leaders realized that Jesus
spoke the parable of the vineyard against them for “When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they
perceived that he spake of them”. [Matthew
21:45]. However, just as they had rejected the counsel of
John the Baptist, they rejected Jesus. “They
sought to lay hands on him” [Matthew
21:36]
The only thing which prevented them from taking any action was they feared the
multitude, because they took him for a prophet. [Matthew
21:46]
What follows is amazing. The attacks are brought by the
most unlikely alliances. Pharisees ‘sent
out unto him their disciples with the Herodians' [Matthew
22:16] An
alliance between the Pharisees and the Herodians has only been seen once before in Mark 3:6, where again the object was to 'destroy [him]' [Mark 3:6
The alliance between the Pharisees and the Herodians is
most surprising when their conflicting philosophies are understood. The
Herodians, as their name suggests, were supporters of the family of the Herods.
Herod was the leader appointed by the Romans over Israel. He was not a Jew. The
Pharisees had separated themselves from the secular state in Israel. They
viewed the Roman rulership and the corruption of the priesthood in the way that
it was involved with Herod as a way of life they should avoid. Indeed the name
'Pharisee' is based on the Hebrew pharez which means divide.
Thus we see two groups from totally opposite ends of the political spectrum
joining forces against Jesus. They very were willing to pay Judas when he asked
“What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you”[Matthew 26:15].]
These attacks are triggered by the desire to “take hold of his words, that so they might
deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.” [Luke 20:20].
So we see that so near to the death of Jesus the religious leaders still had
not formulated a plan to arrest Jesus. It is for this reason that on the day
when Jesus said “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and
the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” [Matthew
26:2]
Reinforcing the point that these events all happened on
the same day the record continues 'The
same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection,
and asked him ...,' [Matthew
22:23]. Their attempt to trap Jesus was based on their misunderstanding
of Scripture. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Therefore
their question centered around the absurd question of the woman who had seven
husbands and her position in the resurrection.
The Sadducees were a group of Jews who based all their
teaching on the first five books of the Bible. That is the TORAH, the books of
Moses. Jesus’ answer, which highlighted that the doctrine of the resurrection
was taught in the books of Moses, silenced the Sadducees.
If we had been in Jesus' shoes at this time we might
well have taken the opportunity of leaving the scene now our critics had been
silenced. Our Lord was not concerned for his own welfare. Rather he was
concerned for the salvation of men. For this reason he moves forward to
encourage his audience to consider the implications of Scripture.
Jesus
now questions the leaders
Seizing the opportunity 'While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them ... 'What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?'
[Matthew
22:42]. The question about Christ, by contrast to the
leaders' questions, was not a trick question. It was part of the continual
instruction in the Law which Jesus engaged in.
Consistent with his three parables which he spoke
earlier today Jesus is looking for a response from the leaders. 'They say unto him, The Son of David.' [Matthew
22:42]
which produces the response from Jesus 'How
then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying ...' [Matthew
22:43].
Once again the Pharisees said nothing. The record tells us ' And no man was able to answer him a word,
neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.' [Matthew
22:46].
This response contrasted starkly with the response of
the common people who 'heard him gladly'
[Mark 12:37].* www.biblestudymanuals.net
Jesus, during the time that he was in Jerusalem, was
thoroughly examined. As we have see He
was firstly 'examined' by the religious leaders who, after the onslaught of
Matthew 22, 'no man was able to answer
him a word' [Matthew 22:46]. Jesus had silenced his
Jewish critics. They had not been able to find any fault in him. During his
trial by Pilate his innocence and faultless nature were recognized and he said three times 'I find no fault in him' [John 18:38 19:4, 6] He has completely proved Himself the spotless Lamb.
Thus
the gospel records present Jesus and the lamb which was kept by the family from
the tenth day of the month Nisan which was faultless and therefore an
acceptable sacrifice.
Jesus finally leaves the leaders with the chilling words
'your
house is left unto you desolate' [Matthew
23:38] ringing in their ears. This is the end of his public
ministry. From now on the Gospels will begin focus on Jesus' care for his
disciples.
There is a note of hope however;
'Nevertheless,
among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the
Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:' [John 12:42].
(Two of them will, when all hope seems to be
lost, come out into the open. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are
amongst those spoken of here in John 12:42.)
Jesus now gives his undivided attention to his
disciples. He is never seen publicly
teaching again from now to the end of the week. His public ministry has ended.
Jesus
and The Disciples On The Mount Of Olives
Jesus and the disciples walk over the Kidron valley to
the Mount of Olives where they sit down. Jesus then elaborates on his chilling
words of judgment and coming destruction.
Here we will receive some of Jesus’ most famous end
times parables:
Events as recorded in gospel
|
Matthew
|
Mark
|
Luke
|
John
|
time of day
|
`The Olivet prophecy
|
evening
|
||||
Watch, days of Noah
|
|||||
Ten virgins
|
|||||
The man travelling into a far country
|
|||||
Sheep, goats and judgment
|
*
Now
will come one of Jesus’most detailed prophecy of the last days called the Olivet Prophecy (given on the Mount of
Olives)
The
Olivet Prophecy
Whereas the words to the religious leaders were words of
judgment when Jesus speaks to the disciples about the destruction of the temple
his concern is very different. When he spoke to the leaders he told them that
their days of power were numbered. However
when he spoke to his disciples he was concerned for their welfare during the
turmoil that was to come.
This Prophecy is basically a three part message.
In VS 1-14, Jesus
speaks about the end times as they relate to the nations.
In VS 15-36
He speaks of the events as they relate to Israel.
In VS 37-42
He speaks of the events as they relate to the Church.
The emphasis of the 'Olivet
prophecy' is not that the disciples should be able to know exactly when
the destruction of AD 70 and the final end times were to come. Rather Jesus was concerned that they would
be prepared for it when it did come. The warning for the disciples is that
at the time of the end they would be in extreme danger from those who would
overthrow their faith.
The warnings seen against the two earlier occasions when
Jesus warns the leaders of the destruction of their house we cannot escape the
conclusion that Jesus immediate focus is the events of AD 70.
The sudden destruction, when Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies, we know
will come in AD 70, finalizing the judgment for “not seeing the time of your visitation”. This warning of impending
judgment coupled with the apathy of the people was used by Jesus to warn his
disciples 'Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.' [Matthew
24:42]
Not only were they to watch but each one of them was to
be 'a faithful and wise servant ...' [Matthew
24:45]
Because
of this warning, the followers of Yeshua called “The Way” were able to escape
from Jerusalem prior to the destruction of Titus, proving His Words were
remembered and obeyed forty years after His death and Resurrection.
In
the future Tribulation one third of the Jewish nation will escape the
AntiChrist because of this warning, hiding in the mountains of Petra, protected
by God. Sadly, two thirds of the nation will perish in the persecution of the
Great Tribulation.
The
focus of Jesus' teaching will now begin to move from speaking to the religious
leaders and disciples in warning of future events, to preparing his disciples
for his death.
“When Jesus had finished saying all these
things, he said to His disciples,’ As you know, the Passover is two days
away-and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” Matthew 26:1-2
THE
NIGHT IN BETHANY
Jesus returns to the sanctuary of Bethany. We find Him
here in the House of Simon the Leper. This man was obviously a person healed by
Jesus, otherwise He would have lived in a colony outside the city, and the
disciples would have been most likely hesitant to have dinner with the man.
While at dinner Mary, sister of Martha came to Jesus (we know this is Mary from the Gospel of John)
broke an alabaster box of “very precious ointment”( Matthew 26:7) and then poured
it over His head and according to
John anointed His feet as well.(John
12:3). Mary then knelt at the feet of Jesus (where she has spent time
before) and wiped his feet with her hair, filling the house with the scent of
perfume.
Judas Iscariot immediately objected, being “indignant” Matthew 26:8-9, saying “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money
given to the poor? It was worth a years wages!” In other words, this act
was a waste of good resources. (Not long after this Jesus will call Judas “the son of perdition” lit. in Greek, “the son of waste”). John also tells us
that Judas did not care for the poor, he was a thief and wanted the money in
the purse he carried as the groups Treasurer.( John 12:6)
To Mary this was
no waste, it was a costly act. John tells us that the perfume was worth three hundred denari, a years wages, it
was Mary’s dowery, her required
offering to her husband for her marriage.
We first see Mary at Jesus feet listening while Martha
works, again at His feet after the death of Her brother Lazarus and now here
worshipping with all she has. As she wiped Jesus feet her hair took on the
smell of the perfume. That is what worship does; when you worship the Lord you
take on His fragrance.(Jon
Courson; ibid.)
Jesus immediately rebukes Judas telling him and all
around;
“Leave
her alone.’ Jesus replied.’It was meant that she should save this perfume for
the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among
you, but you will not always have Me.” John
12: 7-8
“When she poured
this perfume on my body she did it to prepare me for burial. 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.” Matthew
26: 12-13
It appears that, despite Jesus warning His disciples
repeatedly of His soon coming death, Mary was the only person who understood
it. Now, it is true that in Jesus day, bodies were perfumed after death to hide
the smell of decay. Mary however anointed Him before His death. Why? I believe she knew from His words that he
would not “suffer corruption” Psalm 49:9;
she knew He would rise again. She had living proof that He was The Resurrection and the Life; sitting
next to her was Lazarus, her brother. (In fact the resurrection of Lazarus was
such a powerful witness, being a Messianic miracle, that;
“So the chief
priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many
of the Jews (Pharisees) were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in
Him.” John 12:10)
Judas now agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests
for money. They agree on a price of thirty
pieces of silver.
“Then
I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made
with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the
flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord. I told them, ‘If
you think it best, give me my pay, but if not keep it.’ So they paid me thirty
pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘ throw it to the Potter,’ the
handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of
silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter.” Zechariah
11:10-13
According to Exodus
21:32 thirty pieces of silver was the price
of a crippled slave, one who was gored by an ox! So the chief priests and elders insulted the
Lord of Glory. So the staff called
Favor was broken that day, the covenant broken, but the afflicted of the flock
(disciples and followers of Jesus) would soon understand it as “The word of the
Lord.”
A new Covenant was coming, but only after the Lord
dissolved the current one of Favor;(
earned benefits for keeping their end of the Covenant), and replacing it with
Grace, unmerited favor through
the blood of the Lamb.
“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called
the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of
the law were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the
people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve.
And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and
discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.” Luke 22:1-4
Judas is
unwittingly fulfillings Psalm 41:9;
“Even my close
friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread has lifted his heel against me.”
In the messianic Psalm, quoted by Jesus in John 13:18, Judas is called a “trusted friend”, which must have wounded
the Messiah deeply, though He knew it was coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment