Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

March 24, 2019

Matthew 26:1 – 16 Worship or Betrayal

{vs. 1-2} “All these things” – refers to the sermon we just completed, a heavy subject for sure, and nothing to make light of!  There is no comfort in what comes next – Jesus moves from The End of the world, tribulation and God’s wrath back to the business at hand – God’s wrath poured out on Christ as a substitute for any who will believe!

As His time grows short, we see Jesus taking charge of the course of upcoming events.  His Triumphal Entry, cleansing of the temple and verbal conflicts with the religious leaders have pushed them to their breaking point.  Closer to home He has been predicting to the inner circle His own death for quite some time now (each time it was paired with His rising again).  Really, Jesus has been predicting His death since the beginning of His ministry, when He said the Jews who always demand a sign would only receive the sign of the prophet Jonah (referring to His three days in the grave).  However, the men could not process or accept this or even the more plain spoken predictions . . . so it went right over their heads.  In the last six months of ministry, Jesus has been trying to prepare the boys for what is about to happen.  On at least three other occasions, Jesus, with progressive details and clarity has told them point blank what is coming.  Each time it has always included a direct tie to Jesus’ rising again on the third day!  Here on the fourth recorded occasion, it is different; we see a shorter version that says “the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”  The only other bit of information given is that it will happen soon – at this Passover festival, after two days.  The time is short and because they are not hearing what Jesus is telling them, they have no idea how short!

{vs. 3-5} Meanwhile, back at the bad guys’ lair – it almost sounds like a comic book transition!  At that same time, the wounded, hate-filled leaders of the Jewish religious/political machine are having a meeting to discuss their Jesus problem!  Can you imagine it, maybe a casual lunch or dinner meeting with lovely kosher hors d'oeuvres where they sit around and plot the assassination of THE major religious figure of their day (of all days)!  The only problem they foresee (ignoring the Law of God, Rome, morality, etc.) is that they don’t want to be tied to the deed (it must be secret) and it should wait until after the festival.  Remember, every observant Jewish male was required to trek to Jerusalem for the Passover (between 1 to 2.5 million!) packed into the city and surrounding areas – many who hoped Jesus was the Messiah, their Deliverer!  Any misstep could cause a riot, could cause trouble for them and possibly even bring down the wrath of Rome (they did not want another revolt suppressed)!

One of the most interesting and encouraging things about these last days is that we see exactly who is in charge!  It is not the Romans, the Religious Jewish leaders – Jesus is calling the shots here!  The powers that be have their clan destined meeting, plan their assassination and decide on the timing, but it will mean nothing!  Jesus prophesies that He will be “handed over to be crucified” in two days during the Feast of Passover and it comes to pass exactly as He says!  More than that, exactly as He has been saying for months and exactly as scripture (God) has been describing starting back at the Fall of Man, in the Garden of Eden!  Some have tried to say that Jesus’ death is the result of a revolution gone bad, that He did not intend to go to the cross but got painted into a corner - - - these predictions and God’s hand moving all the pieces into place preparing for the cross prove otherwise!

{vs. 6} While Jesus was in Bethany – take note of this general time stamp!  Some have played ‘gotcha’ with God’s Word thinking they found an error when they look at the three accounts of this event found in Matthew, Mark and John.  John’s gospel gives more details and states definitively that this happened six days before the Passover (you’ll recall Matthew just said two days).  However, we see that Matthew and Mark are grouping (as they often do) events based upon subject not strictly chronologically.  So yes, two days before the Passover Jesus gave the fourth (recorded) warning about His crucifixion but this event happened a few days earlier (as John tells us) while the group was in Bethany before the time of the Passover Festival.

Simon the Leper – I love that nickname!  Talk about having a life that tells what God has done for you!  This man should probably been called Simon the used-to-be a leper because it is obvious that he no longer suffered from this then incurable disease!  Those who contracted leprosy were outcasts - - - not party hosts!  They were forced to live in leper colonies outside of the city limits, when anyone came into their vicinity, they would have to cry out “unclean!” and keep their distance in order to try to prevent the spread of this blight.  The only reason that this man was able to open his home (to be in his home) or to host this moment of fellowship and peace before Jesus continued His walk toward the Via Dolorosa (way of suffering) was because this man was healed by Jesus! 

We don’t know exactly how many were in attendance, it seems to be a good sized gathering – at least the twelve disciples (a built in crowd everywhere Jesus went), Simon, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus (of course) and possibly others.  During this season, many Jews traveled from all over the known world to reach the holy city.  These travelers depended on the hospitality of homes like this one, situated on the outskirts of Jerusalem (about 2 miles outside the city).  What we know is that the demands and pressure on Jesus is growing and this was a ‘safe place’, a place of rest to which Jesus often retreated when nearby.  Here Jesus was among friends, but even now, one of His own chosen disciples “is a devil” (John 6:70).

{vs. 7} Both Matthew and Mark leave the woman unnamed - possibly for her own protection during the persecution of the church.  John reveals her as Mary (the sister of Lazarus and Martha) possibly because he wrote much later (maybe after her death or after she left Bethany).  During this dinner, everyone is reclining enjoying Martha’s wonderful work, but at some point, Mary slips away to get something very valuable to her – an alabaster jar (or box).  Alabaster was a marble like material, commonly used to hold items such as this perfume oil.  Like an essential oil, it would have been very powerful – clinging to whatever it touched and spreading its scent long after dried or wiped off.  John’s account tells us that the house was filled with the fragrance!  It would have been sealed with something like wax to prevent the aroma from seeping out and protect the potency.  The perfume itself was concentrated oil or pure nard (Spikenard) a flowering plant which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India between 9,800 and 16,400 feet (difficult to harvest, rare and very valuable).  Mark and John tell us that it would be worth 300 denarii (an entire year’s wages for the average worker). 

This perfume was probably her most treasured possession – often kept for a woman’s wedding (possibly as part of her dowry) or to anoint the most important of guests or the body of someone deceased who was well loved.  We need to understand that anointing and perfumes (less expensive than this) were part of everyday life in this century.  The region was mostly hot, walking the dusty roads before deodorant or hot showers had been invented caused a certain musk (odor) to develop.  So, a host would often have servants to wash the feet of guests and anoint them with something sweet – you wouldn’t want your fancy dinner party to smell like a locker room!  However, this is far more than Mary offering Jesus a well-needed tic-tac because well, you know . . . 

Mary is pictured in scripture three times and on each occasion, she is in the same place – at the feet of Jesus, soaking in everything He is saying.  We see this in the Mary/Martha service incident, when she runs to fall at Jesus’ feet when her brother has died and now as she pours this precious liquid on Him and then wipes His feet with her hair.  Mary understands that Jesus is about to die, and overwhelmed with love she is moved to do something (before it is too late).  Because of the size of her love and worship only a grand gesture will do!  She does not open the bottle, but breaks it – pouring the entire contents upon Jesus.  This act is a picture of true worship and devotion – it takes no thought for practicality, cost or consequences -  simply giving her best to the Lord that she loves.  We need to enter into worship this way!  When was the last time your mind and heart were so focused on worship (on God) that nothing else mattered?  So often we stop and think before giving to the Lord; “Can I write that tithe check or do the bill collectors come first?”, “What will people think if I sing out loud or raise my hands?”, and “Do I have time to go to church or do devotions today?”  Mary did this without a thought for what others would think or say – her eyes were only set on Jesus!

{vs. 8-13} The disciples hear the break, see her anoint Him and smell the fragrance – and John tells us that Judas was the first to speak - "Why this waste?"  The other disciples chimed in and followed suit.  We know that Judas couldn’t care less about the poor – he just wanted to take his ill-gotten share of an entire year’s wages!  He thought that this was a waste, but Jesus will call him the ‘Son of Perdition’ (waste).  Waste depends on your priorities.  Worship is never practical in the worlds eyes – “What do you get out of going to church so often?”, “Why do you waste that time in the Bible, in prayer?”  Worship is giving of our time, our praise and our possessions (the things God has given to us).  Worship is not giving because of some need or because God demands it but because we love Him.  Jesus reminds them You will always have the poor – Jesus is not removing the responsibility to the needy, but making us aware that programs, service and giving does not always add up to worship of God.  There are times that we simply need to come without an agenda, not trying to accomplish, to feed the poor or save the world – simply come with a heart and mind focused on Me!

Jesus comes to Mary’s defense.  “Why are you bothering this woman?”  Sadly, the negativity does not just come from outside, often the voices are heard in our churches, among people who claim to be believers – just like these disciples.  Don’t get in the way of someone else’s worship – even if it seems impractical (unless it is heretical, then we need to sit them down and talk!)  “She has done a beautiful thing to Me”.  Do you think that God would say that after you get ready to leave here this morning?  Have we focused on God, lifting Him above everything else in our lives?  I pray this is true, but we can always do better – go deeper, love and worship more!  “She did it to prepare Me for burial” – boys, she knows what is about to happen, you should take a clue from her.  Even the religious leaders heard Jesus say He would die and rise again – they just could not receive this.  God moved Mary’s heart to do this, Jesus knew there would not be time for a proper preparation – but so that everything proper would be accomplished – it was done in advance!  Today as we hear her story once again we are fulfilling Jesus’ prophesy and reward – “in memory of her.”

{vs. 14-16}

The gospels tell us this story to set up a contrast. Mary loved Jesus beyond words.  Judas however was done, he saw things were not going as he wanted and after he got everything he could - he was ready to leave.  This rebuke from the Master, and the loss of 300 denarii from his purse (oh, I mean the ministry’s purse) simply pushed him beyond the tipping point. 

Judas immediately (remember this is Saturday, six days before Passover, before the Triumphal Entry etc.) – Judas goes out and bargains to betray Jesus.  “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” (Psalm 41:9).  Let me point something out to you, verse 16 says, “From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Him over.” – think about that!  The entire week, for six days Judas is following Jesus looking for any opportunity to rat Him out!  Judas made the deal for 30 pieces of silver (nothing compared to a year’s wages).  In fact Exodus 21 tells us that this is the price of a slave. 

Today we see three reactions to Jesus – humble worship, resentment and betrayal and the clueless disciples caught in the middle.  Not much has changed, today we have the same options.  Let us not be among the clueless or the betrayers!  Only one is correct, acceptable to God – the worship of Mary brought commendation [and BTW (by the way) she was the first to see the risen Jesus].  Judas will also receive his just rewards – but we’ll see that later.  As for us, let us worship!