A PRAYER TO START
If we desire the favor and forgiveness of God, we need only follow Jesus. What seems so simple though, can often require a diligent pursuit. Not to earn the favor and forgiveness, but rather, not to run to something else. Begin your time today praying this prayer adapted from a section of the psalm 119 …
Father, every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey? Break open your Word, Jesus, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning of his life and death and resurrection. Mouth open and panting, I want to follow Jesus more than anything. Turn my way as I follow Jesus, and look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life Jesus’ way. Smile on me, your servant, the friend of Jesus, teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because people do no follow Jesus, your Word.
DIVING INTO THE DETAILS
Matthew adds a few details to the death of Jesus that makes his storied account unique. Remember that Matthew is writing an ecomium, or, an historical biography of sorts written for the purpose of demonstrating the honor of the life and death of the subject. Throughout his account of Jesus’ final moments, he makes two things clear. First, that Jesus is the one who freely gives his life (i.e. 26:26) and that his death is humanity’s complicit rejection of his kingship (i.e. 27:20-25).
What is seen as an act of powerlessness, the inability of Jesus to take himself down from the cross (27:40), is actually the willful act of servant king doing all things according the plan (26:56) and will of the Father (26:39). The power of the priests and crowds and soldiers whose actions led to the nailing of Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross is shown to be but overestimated pride used to fulfill what had long been promised when the spirit of Christ had been yielded up:
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’ (27:51-54)
The disciples expected the end of the world, the apocalypse (see Week 17 | Reflecting & Learning), and that’s exactly what followed the death of Jesus. “There is nothing subtle here” as one commentator so aptly notes when referencing the verses above. Something cosmic is going on. Jesus’ death literally shakes the very foundations of the world. Earthquakes and the living-dead walking the streets are end-time motifs. This is indeed the end of the world, yet not for its demise, rather, its rebirth!
While Jesus was rejected by his own—the crowds never proclaiming his divinity as the disciples did, and in-fact, proclaiming that they would gladly take upon themselves the responsibility for his rejection via murder, “His blood be on us and on our children” (27:25)—he gave the right to all who believe to become children of God (John 1:11-12): starting with the gentiles present and participating in his death. The conversion of the centurion, and those who were with him, marked the beginning of “all the nations” receiving the testimony of the gospel (24:14). So the end, is actually a beginning. What appeared a powerless demise, was indeed a shifting of universal power.
The death of Jesus was a powerful act. What once separated God and man (the curtain of the holy of hollies) was now literally torn down (27:51). A message that before was meant first for the Jewish people (10:5-6) is now a message for all nations (28:19). A death that seemed tragic at best, wasteful at worst, is actually the act that makes a new world. One that Jesus explained in his final super with his disciples. His body given to them, broken, and his blood, a “new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (26:26-29). Jesus’ life given so that those who believe might have life new, resurrected! A life for a life, which has been God’s promise from Genesis 9 and 15 until now fulfilled in Jesus. A way to God now through Jesus.
DEVELOPING DISCERNMENT
What will we do with this death that forgives sins and unites us with God? That’s the question that two of the disciples in the final chapters of Matthew’s gospel will have to answer. Both find themselves rejecting Jesus. Both of their dismissals foretold. Both find themselves recognizing their mistakes. Both finding very different endings to their stories.
Judas is offered a way out, in a manner of speaking. Jesus says in 26:24, “In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!” Jesus’ fate has been determined by the Father, but Judas still has a chance to shut his ears to the voices that are crying out for his destruction. Yet Judas invokes the curse on himself by his response to Jesus’ warning (echoing that of God to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7), “Judas, who would betray him, answered ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so.’” (26:25)
But there is another who also summoned a curse upon himself at the betrayal of Jesus: Peter. Having said he would rather die than leave Jesus’ side, Peter now finds himself outside the trial of Jesus, and being recognized as one of his followers. Rather than taking his place at Jesus’ side—which he already fled from (26:56), Peter denies his association. Not once, but twice, and even a third time with a great force: “Then [Peter] began to invoke a curse on himself and swear, ‘I do not know the man.’” (26:74).
Both men find themselves under a self-imposed curse in their relation to Jesus. Both rejecting and betraying Jesus in their choices, actions and words. And, both men feel remorse at their decision. Peter “wept bitterly” (26:75) when he remember the words of Jesus just after that last dinner (26:33-35), and Judas? Well, he “changed his mind”, returned his reward for giving up on Jesus, and confessed “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (27:3-4).
What would they do, having recognized that they betrayed the savior of the world? Where would they go? How would they seek penance?
Judas’ decision is detailed for us. He identified and admitted his sin, but runs back to the institution from which he believed forgiving sins was their business, only to discover that chief priests and elders wanted nothing to do with actually atoning for sin. “What is this to us? See to it yourself” (27:4) is their answer to the broken Judas. And so, he does what he knew to do; he gave a life for the innocent life taken as the Levitical law required (Leviticus 24:21), and hung himself.
Judas sought atonement, forgiveness and restoration, through the religious means he knew, but not through the body and blood of Jesus offered him at dinner the night before. What would Peter do? Well we know he did not go back to the temple as a place of forgiveness. He remained with the other disciples, apart of the fellowship that he denied being associated with. It seems his pride had been broken, for he ran to the tomb when he heard it was empty (Luke 24:12), and when he saw Jesus, he jumped from his boat and made a fool of himself once again to see embrace Jesus (John 21:7). Peter ran to Jesus through his shame, and heard from Jesus “Feed my sheep” and “Follow me” (John 21:15-19). In the end, Peter received what Jesus offered him. He received the forgiveness of sin, from the One who offered his body broken and blood poured out. Will we?
Don’t skip this part. Information is of little use in quickening a transformed life if we are undiscerning people. Take the time to thoughtfully answer the questions below, and maybe use them as conversation starters in Gospel Community, at work or in your home. Doing so will pay dividends in the long run!
When you recognize your sin, what do you run to for absolution?
Is it old places of forgiveness like people in leadership or more consistent attendance or some other action to appease the guilt? Describe what this looks like or has looked like for you.
Do you run to Jesus, and listen long enough to hear him forgive through questioning your love like Peter? Describe what this looks like or has looked like for you.
A PRAYER TO CLOSE
Jesus’ blood was shed so that our sins, however big or small, might be forgiven. His blood was shed so that we might not be separated from God nor one another. His blood was shed so that we might find our place in this world with him. Remember this truth as we pray together with John Ballie…
Almighty Father, holy above all things, how can I raise these guilty hands to you? How can I pray to you with lips that have spoken hollow and grumpy words?
A heart hardened with vindictive passions;
An unruly tongue;
An irritable nature;
An unwillingness to bear the burdens of others;
An undue willingness to let others bear my burdens;
Exaggerated boasting about small achievements;
Fine words hiding unworthy thoughts;
A friendly face masking a cold heart;
Many neglected opportunities and many undeveloped talents;
Much love and beauty unappreciated and many blessings unacknowledged:
All these I confess to you, O Father.
Thank you, O loving Father, that holy and transcendent as you are, you have always shown yourself to be accessible to the prayers of sinful people like me. Especially I praise your name that in the gospel of Jesus you have opened up a new and living way into your presence, making your mercy free to all who have nothing else to plead. Let me now find peace in my heart by turning away from myself and taking refuge in you. Let my despair over my miserable sins give way to joy in your adorable goodness. Let depression of mind make way for a renewed energy and a serving spirit. So let me lie down tonight thinking not of myself and my own concerns, or of my hopes and fears, or even of the ways in which I have offended you, but of others who need your help and of the work that I can do for their sakes in the vineyard of your world. Amen.