Watching Jesus

4/13/25 a.m. “Watching Jesus” Matthew 26 and 27

This morning we’re going to be looking at two Chapters. Matthew 26 and 27. We’re going to look at the last few days of the life of Jesus. There was a lot that happened in that time.

Now we’re going to be mainly looking at the Book of Matthew this morning but to get the full story, and how all of this played out, we have to look at all four of the Gospels. So when you get the opportunity read Matthew 26 and 27. Mark 14 and 15. Luke 22 and 23. And John 18 and 19. These passages do not contradict each other but they all blend together so that we can see the whole story of the DEATH of Jesus upon the Cross of Calvary. So let’s take just a minute and go down through these Verses and kind of get a timeline how all of this happened.

A. So first of all, the Jewish leadership had been looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. They felt like He was a threat to their authority. And so in Verse 3 of Matthew 26, they met together to CONSPIRE how they might do away with Him and keep it all quiet.

B. Then in Verses 7-13, a woman takes an entire pound of expensive ointment and anoints the feet of Jesus. John 12 tells us that it was Mary of Bethany. Also in John 12, this makes Judas mad. He makes the argument that this should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Well, Jesus corrects him in Verse 7 by saying,

“Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”

C. Well, I believe this makes Judas mad, so in Verses 14-16, back in Matthew 26, he joins the conspiracy of the Jewish leadership. Let’s read Verses 14-16.

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”

D. Now that gets us up to Verses 17 -30 of Matthew 26. Let’s go ahead and read those Verses.

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

E. In Verses 31-45, we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where He prays to His Father,

“O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

F. Verses 46-50 is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

G. And so the rest of Chapter 26 is the Denial of Jesus by Simon Peter and the ABUSE that He suffered at the hands of the Jewish leadership. He was spit upon and beaten.