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Matthew 26:1-16; Exodus 24:1-8, Jeremiah 31:31-34
While eating in the home of his friend, Simon, a woman poured very expensive oil over Jesus. The disciples were angry because they knew they could have sold that very oil and had enough money to feed and clothe many poor people. They even said to Jesus that this woman was acting like a criminal.
Jesus had to set these men straight. They had good intentions but they did not understand that this woman was actually preparing Jesus for his burial. And just as Jesus had predicted, we might not be able to name all of the disciples but this woman stands out for her kindness. Jesus said, "You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired."
Don't judge the acts of others because you don't know their assignment. The disciples might have been jealous that this woman was able to do something that they could not do and based upon their assignment from God, she was out of line. However, it is clear she was acting out of obedience and that her act of sacrifice is to be an example for us. The only opinion that matters is Jesus' opinion and the Bible says that Jesus called what the woman did, "wonderful."
A few days later Jesus would be taken into custody. He would be beaten and hung on a cross then left to die. This woman's act was indeed preparation for the gruesome torture that would unfold.
Next in this passage we learn that the Jewish leaders were ticked off. Jesus had done for their people what they had not been able to do so they plotted to take him out; to rid themselves of this upstart itinerant preacher who was making them look bad. Judas struck a deal with the these leaders to turn Jesus over to them for cold, hard cash. Jesus is never angry at Judas because Jesus knew how the story would end. He knew that Judas was easily corrupted out for a quick buck. Sounds like all of us when we are at our worst.
Jesus and his disciples, like thousands of other Jews, made their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. The city was home to about 50,000 people and at this time of year, another 150,000 came to celebrate God's great goodness. Jesus was famous by this time among the Jews because he had been going about the area for three years doing miracles. He had made the blind to see, the lame to walk and gave clean skin to those afflicted with leprosy.
Jesus served his last passover supper to the disciples but he did not drink from the cup. He told them that he would drink with them again when he sees them next when they are all together with their heavenly father.
Jesus was putting an end to the old covenant and he was fulfilling the promise made in Jeremiah 31:31-34. This passage reads,
“Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord. “But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
We stand amazed at the love of God.
