Easter Sunday
Monday, April 6 Matthew 26:1-30
“She did it formy burial”
Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper,a man he had healed, when a woman came with a vial of very expensive perfumeand poured it on his head. Speaking outof their materialism, and probably stirred by Judas’ murmuring, the disciplescomplained at the waste, saying that the perfume could have been sold and themoney given to the poor. Jesus’reference to this being preparation for his burial is evidence of his awarenessof what was happening in relation to himself; and he commended her deed, for itaffirmed the Jewish belief that anointing a dead body was a faithful act beforeGod.
There are many questions as to why Judas choseto betray Jesus. He probably expectedthe messianic kingdom in a nationalistic way. Being disappointed when it became clear that Jesus was not an active revolutionary,Judas took things into his own hands to try to force Jesus to act with hisamazing power. Having made his decisionagainst Jesus, Judas sought opportunity from that time on to betray him.
I accept you on your terms, Jesus,setting aside any false expectations I have of you. Amen.
Tuesday, April 7 Matthew 26:31-56
“Sit here while Igo and pray over there”
Jesus led his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. Here he would wrestle in prayer over what wasto come. Leaving eight of his disciplesto wait, he took the three – Peter, James, and John – as a small “inner circle”to be close to him in his anguish, and he shared with them the deep sorrow thatwas affecting him. In verse 41 thestatement, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” is no doubt areference to himself. He was ready to dothe Father’s will, but was wrestling with the limitations of humanness.
Jesus’ three prayers are separated by hiscoming to the disciples for support, only to find them sleeping. The first time he reproved them; the secondtime he seems to have left them asleep. The third time, having been heard by the Father and strengthened in hisresolve, Jesus returned to the disciples with a determined spirit. He was composed and ready to meet hisbetrayer. On a clear night with the fullmoon of the Passover season, Jesus could easily have seen the mob coming up thewestern slope of the Mount of Olives to take him.
Intimes of trouble, Lord, I turn to you in prayer and you strengthen me. Amen.
Wednesday, April 8 Matthew 26:57-75
“It is as you say”
The Sanhedrin, the ruling council of theJews, was in session, waiting for Jesus to be brought before them. What Caiaphas needed was two witnesses whoagreed in order to bring a charge against Jesus. Finally, two are found who give the same falsetestimony. But, in the face of the falsecharges, Jesus refuses to defend himself. Knowing that he did not yet have enough evidence to find Jesus guilty,Caiaphas asks him the question of the Oath of Testimony of the HebrewConstitution: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
Jesus’ response, “It is as you say,” is anindirect way of making an affirmation, allowing him to go beyond theirinadequate understanding of the kind of Messiah he is and declaring himself tobe the divine Son of Man. Caiaphas had whathe wanted. Shouting “Blasphemy!” (whichmeans to act or speak contemptuously against God), he tore his clothes, asymbolic expression of horror, after which he called for an immediateverdict. “Guilty,” they responded, andsentenced him to death.
You, Lord, arethe Messiah, the Son of God, and I confess you as my Savior. Amen.
Thursday, April 9 Matthew 27:1-31
“They bound Jesus and took him to Pilate”
Pilate was thegovernor sent by Rome to keep order in Judea. The Jews did not like Pilate because of his contempt for their religion. Josephus, the first century Jewish historian,tells us that Pilate had put Roman symbols of power in the Temple. Five thousand Jewish men went to Pilate andpetitioned him to remove the symbols. Calling in his militia to disperse the petitioners, Pilate was shockedto see them bow to the ground and bare their necks, saying, “You can cut offour heads, but don’t desecrate our Temple.” Pilate removed the symbols.
ConsideringJesus innocent, Pilate was caught between the pressure of the Jewish leadersand the tradition of Roman justice. As away out, Pilate proposed a trade. Ifthey were concerned to not have their relationship with Rome threatened byJesus, a man they claimed to be an insurrectionist, he would substitute anactual insurrectionist, Barabbas, arrested for the very crime they wereattributing to Jesus. Following a Romancustom, he offered to release one of the two as a goodwill gesture. The leaders incited the crowd to demandBarabbas, and Pilate complied.
Many will chosesomeone like Barabbas over you, Lord, but I chose you. Amen.
Friday, April 10 Matthew 27:32-66
“They crucifiedhim”
The Gospels all relate the crucifixionwith a minimum of words. None go intothe terrible description of a Roman crucifixion. The major question has to do with “Who isthis Jesus?” and “Why did he have to die?” At Calvary something was happening to God caused by humanity, butsomething was also happening to humanity and for humanity caused by God. Both of these aspects need to be recognizedfor us to think adequately of the meaning of the cross. The historical fact is that “Christ died.” The spiritual truth is that “Christ died forour sins.”
This is the heart of the good news of thegospel. The death of Jesus wipes awayour sin so that we will not have to suffer its consequence, which is what wemean by saying that in Christ’s death our sins are forgiven. The crucifixion of Jesus brought God andhumanity together, for here Jesus made evident the depth of God’s love byabsorbing sin’s punishment in himself. Further, the grace of God declares that forgiveness is available to allwho believe in the Son.
You died in my place, Lord, taking my sinupon yourself that I may live. Amen.
Saturday, April 11 Matthew 28:1-10
“He is risen from the dead”
Matthew teachesus how vitally important it is to maintain a resurrection perspective onlife. The empty tomb is a historicalfact to which the angel pointed. Thewomen were probably just as frightened as the guards, but as they listened tothe angel and focused on the empty tomb, their world was turned upsidedown. They still did not totally get it,mixed with fear and joy as they were, but as they encountered the risen Jesus,it all started falling into place. Theynow saw who Jesus really was, and they fell down to worship him. Their Master is not just another religiousleader or authority but is the God of the universe.
Our lives willbe like theirs if we maintain a resurrection perspective. To stay fixed on the historical evidenced forJesus’ empty tomb will open us to encounter him on a personal level, in whichhe is not just a religious figure but our Lord and Savior who is alive andactively involved with our daily lives through his Spirit who lives in us. This truth puts everything else about ourday-to-day living in perspective – an eternal perspective.
Ipraise and worship you, Lord Jesus Christ, for you are the ResurrectedOne. Amen.