Matthew 26
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13 NIV
We know from the account in John (John 12:1-6) that the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil was actually Lazarus’ sister, Mary Magdalene, and that the cost of the oil was worth one year’s wages. We also know from this section of John that it was Judas Iscariot that questioned that waste of such resources. This is the same Judas that was in charge of Jesus’ money, who was stealing from the money bag, and who would later betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders. The important point of this story is that God’s economy is not always one of practicality and frugality. Sometimes He may call us to sacrifice lavishly and extravagantly for Him. Although our practical side may balk at this kind of sacrifice, it will never be a waste!
Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Matthew 26:36-44 NIV
Jesus was fully human and fully divine. How that worked is an absolute mystery and is beyond our understanding. As a human being, He did not want to go through an agonizing death on the cross, any more than you or I would have. He prayed to God and asked if there was any way to save mankind, other than offering Himself as a human sacrifice. Ultimately, the answer was “no.” Jesus was dedicated to the original plan, and said to God the Father “not as I will, but as You will.” It is very unlikely that any of us will be asked to give up our lives for others in a literal sense. However, we are asked to give up our lives in service to others. Jesus tells us that “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). What is it that God is asking you to do? Is it something that you have said “no” to, but instead you need to say “not as I will, but as You will?”
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52 NIV
Here, Jesus clearly denounces using physical violence as a tool of the kingdom. This non-violent concept shows up in many other ways in His teachings and also in Paul’s writings. I personally can’t understand the concept of righteous violence in light of Jesus’ clearly anti-violent method for spreading God’s love and redemption. We change hearts and minds through self sacrificial love, not by violence. It might not make political or cultural sense today, but it didn’t back then either. That is often the case with the power of the Kingdom: it looks weak, but in reality is extremely strong. So, as believers, how are we to interact with our enemies? I leave that to you to decide as an individual, but Jesus’ way is perfectly clear.
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75 NIV
Peter denied knowing Jesus, just as Jesus predicted he would. Hopefully none of us will be in a position where we would be so scared that we would deny knowing Jesus. But, we are at risk for denying Him in more subtle ways. Jesus is our King, our Lord and Savior. If an opportunity comes up to talk about Him or to identify ourselves as Christians, we need to take the opportunity. If we avoid talking about Him, we are basically denying that we know Him and know the truth about the kingdom of God. Ask God to open your eyes to the opportunities to talk to people about Him. They will come upon you more often than you think. Then, pray for boldness and courage to talk to people openly about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen!