Easter 2011, Part 1

Easter, Part 1

Matthew 26:17-30

Introduction

- This morning we begin a 5 week mini-series on the Easter season

-- Every Sunday morning, for the next 5 weeks, we will examine a section

-- The Easter story is not just about Easter morning, but a culmination of events

-- Each event marches us closer to the promise, that death of a Savior; Christ

- It is in this study that I pray we would respond to the calling of Christ

- As we look to the Savior for a glorious HOPE of resurrection; we have trials

-- It is in these trials and life issues that we can gain strength from Him

- As we gather this morning – I urge you to clear your mind of the week ahead

- It is my prayer that in anxious anticipation we would desire to meet with Him

- CONSIDER: As Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover, I often wonder if they knew that this would be the last time they would have to be with Him before His arrest. This morning, could be the last time YOU and I have to meet with Him before we slip into eternity … and it is my prayer that we would take it serious, and show God how much He means to us in our study.

- Stand and read Matthew 26:17-30 / Pray

Setup the story (need to set the stage for today’s message):

- Matthew 26:6-13 shows Jesus being anointed for death and burial

-- The woman who came at Bethany anointed Jesus with her most precious gift

-- Could have been used as a dowry; was equivalent of gallon of Chanel #5

-- As the disciples rebuked her, Jesus reminds them of Deuteronomy 15:11, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

-- APP: The poor will always be around us, and we should minister to them

- Following this event, we see where Judas joins the plot against Jesus

-- Zechariah 11:12, “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.”

-- Exodus 21:32, “If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.”

- Exodus identifies thirty shekels of silver as the price of a slave

- Zechariah describes the Shepherd being given the insulting price of a slave

- Explain: From Matthew’s perspective, the scriptural background shows that all the events leading up to Jesus’ death were part of the divine plan

-- APP: God foreknew even the price that would be paid for Jesus to be betrayed

- Being called & named one of the twelve did not guarantee a right heart for Judas

Point 1 – Making the preparations (17-19)

- What Judas had done was set him on a collision course with Jesus

- As Jesus made preparations for His final Passover; the plot was already in motion

- The Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread was one of the three great Jewish festivals prescribed in the Old Testament and all Jews of Jerusalem and Judea were required to participate

- Passover/Unleavened Bread came at the early spring and so it was more difficult for those who traveled a great distance to attend that festival. However, it held preeminence among the festivals simply because without the first Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles would not have existed.

- An interesting thought is the time of the celebration coinciding with Jesus’ death

-- Exodus 12 tells us of the importance of this celebration (blood of a lamb used)

-- The Angel of Death passed over all those who applied the blood to the doors

-- Jesus was to be the sacrifice for ALL from this point forward

- Jesus’ instructions were simply that they enter Jerusalem, find a certain man, and announce to him that the teacher wished to eat the Passover at his place

-- He knows the right words to convince this man to rent them the room

-- The disciples went and did as Jesus said and prepared for the Passover celebration (APP: their obedience was all that mattered in this time)

- TRANS: So, the disciples and Jesus are eating together, and the night gets interesting

Point 2 –Predicting a Denial (20-25)

- Think for a moment about being in this dining party

- You are together with your closest companions, talking, laughing, & learning

- And out of the blue comes this prediction that ONE of YOU will betray Him

- Jesus had made several predictions of his death in Matthew’s gospel