A Messiah's Road to the Cross Begins
Text: Matt. 26:1-16
Introduction
1. Illustration: There was a family in our last church in Arkansas that I dreaded to go visit. Now they were really nice people, but they lived on a really difficult road. First, it was a dirt road filled with huge rocks, and most of it was uphill. Second, in was so narrow that it could only accommodate one vehicle at a time. Third, on one side of the road was a bobbed wire fence, and on the other side there was a huge drop off. If it hadn't been for the fact that I had a pick up truck there would have been no way for me to get to their house.
2. Some roads are difficult to travel, but we will never get where we need to go if do not travel them.
3. Jesus road to the cross was...
a. A Road to Willingness
b. A Road to Betrayal
c. A Road of Love
4. Let's stand as we read together Matt. 26:1-16
Proposition: We must be willing to travel down the road that God is leading us down even when it is difficult.
Transition: The road to the cross that Jesus traveled was...
I. A Road of Willingness (1-5).
A. Handed Over and Crucified
1. Some roads are obviously more difficult than others, but our willingness to go down those difficult roads shows our character and level of commitment. Jesus showed His character and level of commitment by His willingness to go to the cross.
2. Matthew makes it clear that Jesus was now ready to head down the road to the cross. He says, "When Jesus had finished saying all these things..."
a. This is the fifth time in Matthew that a linking text is used to connect what has previously happened to what is going to happen.
b. "All these things" is a reference to all the teaching that Jesus did in chapters 24-25, but is also an indication that Jesus' teaching was over and the road to the cross now begins (Horton, 565).
3. Jesus then tells His disciples, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
a. This is the fourth time in this Gospel that Jesus makes a reference to His coming death.
b. Although this prediction is briefer than the others, Jesus connects his death with the celebration of Passover.
c. Later, Paul recognizes the spiritual significance by referring to Jesus as "our Passover lamb" (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary: Matthew).
d. It should also be noted that it was not the plans and schemes that Matthew is about to inform us of, but the will and word's of Jesus' that decide the time of His arrest and death.
e. Despite that plot that is to follow, this verse shows us that Jesus would not be taken by surprise, but rather that He willingly submitted to the cross.
f. It will become obvious that they would fit into His plans and not He into theirs (France, 970).
g. Matthew reminds us that whatever the power of those who plotted against Jesus, Jesus moved according to his Father's plan and not theirs.
h. No matter how strong the forces arrayed against God's servants, God will ultimately fulfill his purposes (Keener, IVPNT: Matthew).
4. Matthew now fills us in on what is going on the other side of this story by saying, "At that 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.'”
a. The "leading priests," controlled by the high priest and the wealthy aristocracy of Jerusalem, were dominated by Sadducean influence.
b. They are among the most eager in Jerusalem to get rid of the threat to their influence in the temple posed by Jesus and his messianic following, so they plot to arrest him (Wilkins).
c. In this meeting at the High Priest's house, they agreed that they needed to come up with a plan to get rid of Jesus.
d. However, they also agreed that it must not happen during the Passover for fear that the people would stand with Jesus and possibly cause a riot which we be had news for them.
e. It wasn't the feast itself that was the problem, but the fact that there would be so many people in the city who made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover (Horton, 567).
f. Again we must notice that it wasn't their plans that were important, but rather the will of God.
g. They didn't want it during the Passover, but God did. Guess who's plan won out?
B. A Willing Heart
1. Illustration: We’ve probably all heard the expression, "This separates the men from the boys!" What kinds of things separate the men from the boys? Things that involve danger and risk. Things that take courage and a willingness to sacrifice. Things that are grueling and gut-wrenching. Things that require maturity and perseverance, not just boyish enthusiasm and energy.
2. Jesus showed us that doing God's will is more important than doing our will.
a. Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
b. Doing God's will is seldom easy, but it is always worth it.
c. Taking the road that God calls us down often means dealing with all of the wholes, obstacles, and roadblocks.
d. However, when we go where God is leading us He will always provide, always protect us, and always be there for us.
3. We need to show the same willingness towards God's will that Jesus displayed.
a. Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
b. We must show a willingness to sacrifice.
c. We must show a willingness of humility.
d. We must show a willingness to put God's will ahead of our own.
e. But like Jesus, if we do God will lift us up the same as He did with Jesus!
Transition: The road to the cross is also...
II. A Road of Betrayal (14-16).
A. One of the Twelve
1. Another one of life's great hurts is to be betrayed by someone close to you.
a. There can be no question that Jesus dealt with this type of hurt on His road to the cross.
b. He listened as those who were praising Him on Sunday were calling for His crucifixion by Friday.
c. He watched as one of His closest friends denied even knowing His name.
d. Most of all, he had one of His disciples scheme with His enemies to have his arrested.
e. Believe me when I tell you, Jesus understands what it feels like to be stabbed in the back.
2. Matthew tells us in v. 14, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests..."
a. Matthew has prepared us in advance for this turn of events in Matt. 10:4.
b. Matthew 10:4 (NLT)
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
c. The arrangements for the betrayal probably occur on Wednesday of Holy Week.
d. If so, it is the only incident in the Gospels that occurs on this day.
e. Jesus and the other apostles most likely stay in Bethany, perhaps at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.
f. This often is called "silent Wednesday," since no specific activities of Jesus are recorded of this day of Holy Week (Wilkins).
3. Judas asked them, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.
a. As Judas enters this plot, his spiritual nature is revealed; he is not a true believer.
b. Many reasons have been suggested as to why Judas does this: greed and love of money;
1) jealousy of the other disciples; disillusionment at the inevitable outcome of Jesus' ministry;
2) an enthusiastic intention to force Jesus' hand and make him declare himself as Messiah;
3) a bitter spirit that arose when his worldly hopes for a place of prominence in the messianic kingdom were crushed, and this disappointment turned to spite, and spite became hatred (Wilkins).
c. Once we consider what Judas is asking them here, we can begin to see the lack of character, integrity, and scruples that lie in the depths of Judas' soul.
d. Did Judas really understand what he was doing?
e. He uses a word here that is only used in on other place in the NT.
f. It is hard to deny that for Judas to hand Jesus over to those who were known to be plotting His death cannot be seen in any other way than betrayal.
g. In fact, this word can also be translated "traitor."
h. The "pieces of silver" is a reference to the Jewish shekel. Thirty shekels was the equivalent of the wages for 120 days work (Horton, 573).
i. Not only does he betray Jesus, but he does it cheaply!
4. As he walks out of the meeting, Matthew tells us, "From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus."
a. The word "opportunity" is literally "good or appropriate point of time."
b. He would tell them where and when to find Jesus, and then he would also point Him out to them (Horton, 573).
c. As we will find out later, he does it in a way that has gone down in history as perhaps the most cowardly act of all-time.
B. Heartbreak
1. Illustration: In 1858 the Illinois legislature--using an obscure statute--sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, "Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh." (Max Lucado, God Came Near, 57).
2. Jesus understands what it is like to be betrayed.
a. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
b. Jesus understands what it is like to be betrayed by a friend.
c. Jesus understands what it is like to be abandoned by someone close to you.
d. Jesus understands what it is like to have your own family not believe in you.
e. If you are in a place where you think no one understands, trust me, Jesus does!
3. Jesus gives us the power through the Holy Spirit to overcome betrayal.
a. Romans 8:26 (NLT)
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
b. He gives us the ability to overcome hurt.
c. He gives us the strength to forgive those who have hurt us.
d. He gives us the courage to move on from betrayal.
4. Jesus gives us the victory over betrayal.
a. 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT)
Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.
b. The devil wants you to think that the hurt will never go away.
c. The devil wants you to become bitter, angry, and resentful.
d. The devil wants to keep you in the chains of betrayal.
e. But our God gives us the victory in Jesus!
Transition: We will face difficult roads in life, but along the way we will also experience...
III. A Road of Love (6-13).
A. Such a Good Thing
1. While the plots of the leading priest's and the betrayal of Judas were extreme difficulties in Jesus' road to the cross, there was also something very good that happened to Him.
a. It was an act of love.
b. It was an act of sacrifice
2. Matthew begins describing this incredible act in vv. 6-7 when he says, "Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head."
a. The identity of Simon is nnot spelled out in the text. Some scholars think that it may have been the father or husband of Martha, Lazarus's sister (Horton, 567).
b. John wrote that this woman was Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha, but Matthew and Mark do not give her name.
c. It is possible that she was still living when this Gospel was written and her name was withheld for her benefit (Horton, 569).
d. It was customary to anoint the heads of important guests, but this woman’s anointing of Jesus is extraordinary.
e. At a Jewish banquet a host sometimes poured small amounts of oil on a guest's head, which remained on the hair and clothing, enhancing the fragrance at the feast.
f. The perfume Mary uses is pure nard, an oil extracted from the root of the nard plant grown in India.
g. This is not a typical household oil for anointing, but an expensive perfume oil used for a solemn and special act of devotion.
h. By breaking the flask, Mary shows that she is not just pouring a few drops to enhance the aroma of the feast but is performing the highest act of consecration to Jesus, even anointing his feet (Wilkins).
i. This perfume was expensive, worth a year of a common laborer’s wages, and had probably been kept in her family as an heirloom.
j. Its fragrance was preserved by its sealing in alabaster (the favored container for perfume). Once the flask was broken, its contents could be used with their full freshness only once (Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
3. However, Jesus' own disciples failed to see the incredible beauty of this act. Matthew tells us, "The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste of money,” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
a. Indignation: anger, exasperation, displeasure, fury; literally "to ache within" (Practical Word Studies in The New Testament).
b. Their indignation was not based on the fact that what she did was wrong, but on their own jealousy.
c. The perfume costs at least three hundred denarii, equivalent to about a year's wages for the average worker (i.e., the equivalent of over $12,000).
d. John's Gospel informs us that Judas Iscariot is the one who expresses the feelings of some of the apostles, especially his own, that the perfume could have been sold for money and given to the poor.
e. But John likewise exposes Judas's real motives, since he regularly stole money from the moneybox.
f. They defended their poor attitude based on generally accepted standards for good works.
g. They insisted that the perfume could have better been used if it had been sold and the money given to the poor.
h. They kept talking among themselves, and chastising her, and sending angry stares at her as well as angry gestures and noises (Horton, 569).
4. Consequently, Jesus comes to her defense. He says, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
a. Jesus saw through the disciples wrong attitude and stood up for the woman.
b. Furthermore, He rejected the notion that what she did was a bad thing.
c. On the contrary, He contended that she had done something amazingly spiritual. She wanted to show her gratitude for what the Lord had done for her brother and all that Jesus had meant to their family.
d. She poured out all of the perfume, not just a few drops, and her gesture was an extravagant expression of love towards Jesus (Horton, 569).
e. In fact, the word that is translated here "good thing," can also be translated "lovely," or "beautiful" (France, 975).
f. Those who had antagonized this woman did not have a clue as to what was about to happen to Jesus.
g. Therefore, Jesus draws their attention to it by stating that they would always have the poor, but they would not always have Him. As a result, her act was to be praised not criticized.
5. Jesus then points out why this is such an incredible act of love by saying, "She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
a. It was a Jewish custom to wash and anoint the bodies of the dead, and to do so was seen as a religious duty that far surpassed anything else, even giving to the poor or studying the Law.
b. Jesus was expecting to die a criminals death, and therefore, knew he would not be anointed before burial.
c. She was doing something that was not only spiritual but praiseworthy.
d. Jesus wanted not just those present, but anyone who would hear the message of the Gospel preached in the future, to understand what an incredible act of love she had shown Him.
e. Something done out of love for the Lord will have an effect far beyond anything that can be imagined (Horton, 571).
B. Healing Power of Love
1. Illustration: Bill Hybels tells about an remarkable experience after a baptism service in their church. He writes: "I bumped into a woman in the stairwell who was crying. I thought this was a little odd, since the service was so joyful. I asked her if she was all right. She said, ‘No, I’m struggling.’ She said, ‘My mom was baptized today. I prayed for her every day for almost 20 years. The reason I’m crying is because I came this close to giving up on her. At the 5-year mark I said, "Who needs this? God isn’t listening." At the 10-year mark I said, "Why am I wasting my breath?" At the 15-year mark I said, "This is absurd." At the 19-year mark I said, "I’m just a fool." But I just kept trying, kept praying. Even with weak faith I kept praying. Then she gave here life to Christ, and she was baptized today. I will never doubt the power of prayer again." This story is remarkable not because this woman had doubts or because she got frustrated and impatient. It is remarkable because it is an incredible act of love and sacrifice.
2. Mary's act teaches us the power of love in the face of adversity.
a. 1 John 4:11-12 (NLT)
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
b. She loved Jesus in spite of what others thought of her.
c. She loved Jesus in spite of the tremendous financial sacrifice.
d. She loved Jesus in spite of the tremendous personal sacrifice.
e. She loved Jesus above all else in her life.
3. Mary's act also teaches us to the need to love one another.
a. 1 Peter 1:22 (NLT)
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
b. We need to love one another because Jesus commanded us to love.
c. We need to love one another because love covers a multitude of sins and hurts.
d. We need to love one another because it is the truest test of whether we are following Jesus.
4. Mary's act teaches us to look for ways to show love.
a. Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
b. She went out of her way to show love.
c. She was willing to face ridicule to show love.
d. She was willing to sacrifice to show love.
e. She was doing for Jesus what Jesus was about to do for all of us when He went to the cross.
Conclusion
1. Some roads are difficult to travel, but we will never get where we need to go if do not travel them.
2. Jesus road to the cross was...
a. A road of willingness
b. A road of betrayal
c. A road of love
3. What road are you traveling?
4. What difficulties does this road present to you?
5. Sometimes God asks us to travel down difficult roads, but He promises that His grace is enough to sustain us on any road.
