Matthew 14:1-25

And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me, one who is eating with Me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one after another, “Is it I?” (vv. 18-19) I find it strange, but (surprisingly) altogether human that the disciples would be asking, “Is it I?” That is, I think my natural inclination would be denial – “Surely not I, Lord!” But these disciples must have known their inherent weaknesses, especially when they were at table with One so powerful. Later Peter reverses course and declares his commitment – even unto death (later, v. 29). And we know how that worked out…!!

Then Judas Iscariot … went to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. (v. 10) Then…! Judas was clearly troubled with this anointing and the “wastefulness” of this costly perfume (see John 12:4-6). So it’s “then” that Judas goes to the chief priests. Why “then”? Was this some “final straw” for Judas? Did he finally come to his own realization that Jesus was not the Messiah? Or was Judas never a true believer as were (supposedly) the other eleven? Or was he just some greedy sort and saw an opportunity to come into some additional cash? (He was already taking from the money box that he kept for Jesus’ and the disciples’ use.) Or maybe he didn’t realize the depth of the chief priests’ plot, that their goal was Jesus’ death. After all, Judas was clearly troubled in the end… (See Matthew 27:3-5.) But still Judas had his opportunity to “repent”. Even after going to the chief priests he was at the Last Supper with Jesus when Jesus said, “…woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (v. 21b). One of the saddest incidents in all of Scripture!

See also: October 17 / Mark 14:1-11; October 20 / Mark 14:12-25

Matthew 26:1-29

In the second link below I wrote two years ago that we had almost two months to go through Jesus’ last day, from Thursday evening to Friday late afternoon. This year we are reading twice as much per day, but it will still be almost a full month from today until His resurrection. A lot of contemplation time…!

The Last Supper – the breaking of the bread, the blessing of the wine, and our Eucharistic celebration every Sunday… From my childhood I can recall the solemnity of that moment when the priest would elevate the host and the cup and draw us back to the Last Supper. I’ve experienced that moment in a number of different languages and a number of different settings, from Latin to English and from Asia to Europe, but no matter the language, no matter the location, the solemnity of the moment was always present. And still is, today.

See also: October 16 / Matt. 26:1-16; October 19 / Matt. 26:17-29

John 12:20-50

Yesterday’s three readings from the Synoptic Gospels and today’s reading from John all end at the end of a chapter. The next chapter in each of the four Gospels is Maundy Thursday, the Last Supper – with a couple of other incidents reported in Matthew and Mark before the actual Passover meal. So we will spend a full month on Jesus’ last two days – Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – prior to His resurrection appearances as reported in one chapter each by the Synoptic writers and two chapters in John. Today we have Jesus’ final comments in what my Study Bible calls His “public ministry”. John will spend the next five chapters (13-17) with Jesus and His disciples at the Last Supper.

John quotes Isaiah 53:1 in the following verse: Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (v. 38b) That entire chapter in Isaiah along with Psalm 22 are the most striking Old Testament prophetic accounts of Jesus’ death. So when John quotes 53:1 He is likely referring to the entire passage from Isaiah.

Two items struck me today as they had two years ago when we first read through the Gospels as an RTB group. The first is verse 36b, When Jesus had said these things, He departed and hid Himself from them. This verse is of no particular consequence, except that we wonder why He hid Himself. I commented on that in the third link below, but this time I was wondering if He was hiding Himself from the Pharisees, knowing that He still needed some time alone with His disciples and did not want to be apprehended just yet.

The second item has to do with some of the Jewish leaders believing in Him: Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. (v. 42) I want to believe that these leaders came around to professed belief later, but we do not have that reported. Still I can imagine the torment within their hearts – wanting to follow Him and to say something, but afraid to go public. But even Jesus’ closest friends were afraid to go public – recall Peter’s denial during Jesus’ trial and the disciples hiding in the Upper Room after His crucifixion. We don’t face those kinds of societal pressures as we live our beliefs, but my heart goes out to those would-be believers in Islamic countries who are also afraid of rejection (and even for their very lives) if they were to go public. Let’s remember to pray for the persecuted church.

See also: October 12 / John 12:20-26; October 13 / John 12:27-36; October 14 / John 12:37-43; October 15 / John 12:44-50

Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 13:32-37, and Luke 21:34-38

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. … Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Mt. 25:34b, 41b) What a dramatic contrast in destinations Jesus has for those on His right compared to those on His left. For those on His right He has a kingdom that was part of the creation of the world back in Genesis 1. That’s a kingdom we can all look forward to! For those on His left, eternal fire – also prepared long ago, but prepared specifically for Satan and the angels who rebelled against God even before the creation of the world. Two destinations, two outcomes. Fear alone should prompt us to follow Jesus. Fortunately for us His love is stronger than any fear we might have of the possibility of that horrible second outcome. That is, I feel that we do not serve Him so as to escape Hell; rather, I feel that we serve Him out of the love that He has shown to us. If our service is based on fear, we are in serious need of a personal Pentecost!!

See also: October 9 / Matt. 25:31-46; October 10 / Mark 13:32-37; October 11 / Luke 21:34-38

Matthew 25:1-30

Matthew’s parable of servants receiving 5, 2, and 1 talent in today’s reading can be compared to Luke’s parable of ten servants receiving ten minas each (Luke 19:12-26). In Matthew the three servants are given talents of various levels; in Luke all ten are given the same level. In Matthew the 5-talent servant returned 5 talents more, the 2-talent servant returned 2 talents more, and the 1-talent servant had no increase over his original allotment. Thus the more-gifted servant was expected to return his investment at a higher level than the less-gifted servants, but each was expected to show a return based on their original allotment. In Luke’s parable all ten servants received the same original allotment and showed different returns, but the 5-return servant was rewarded (comparably) just as highly as the 10-return servant.

What I see in contrasting these two parables is that God is the giver of all good things and that He gives to each of us as He chooses, and He puts each of us in our own circumstances and will reward each of us as He chooses. So 10s returning 10 and 5 – both are good. Each of us has to ask ourselves about the talents that God has given to us and to ask ourselves what we have done with His original gift. But that reflection is only contemplation, not evaluation. God alone is the One to whom we must answer – and He alone will reward us as He chooses.

See also: October 7 / Matt. 25:1-13; October 8 / Matt. 25:14-30

Matthew 24:36-51

The rapture: Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. (vv. 40-41) So here’s another argument for evangelism. If all your friends and all the people you hang out with are Christians, what happens when Jesus returns? …one will be taken and one left. So which one of you will go and which one will stay? So make sure you spend some time with non-Christians! (Just kidding…!!)

But as to this rapture… What of it? End-times Bible scholars have different theories of when this rapture will occur – or even if it will occur (as in, maybe we misunderstood Jesus?). But if you believe that there will be a rapture, will this rapture occur before, during, or after the Tribulation? Will it be universal and instantaneous? And does this rapture occur alongside the raising of the dead? The apostle Paul has written, Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52) It’s intriguing to wonder about these things, but I will let the Bible scholars do their research. God has a plan and He will carry it out. Until He tells me otherwise, my only charge is to obey Him in all that He has spoken to me. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (v. 46)

See also: October 5 / Matt. 24:36-44; October 6 / Matt. 24:45-51

Luke 21:5-33

It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will provide you eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute. (vv. 13-15) The previous verse refers to Jesus’ disciples being brought before kings and governors (see Acts 25 and 26), but for us today it can refer to any opportunity that we find for sharing our faith. About this evangelism topic… Evangelism doesn’t mean that we have to find and share with a nonbeliever. It means sharing our faith, wherever. David taught me/us to pray often for whomever in whatever circumstances I/we find ourselves. So yesterday I had a medical appointment with my P.A., a female going on maternity leave at the end of her shift. I asked her if I could pray for her and she was delighted, almost emotional when I had finished praying. I don’t know her full faith direction, but I know that she is a believer. And my prayer to this believer was a comfort and an encouragement. We can do this, folks! We can share our faith – with whomever, whenever, wherever! It’s like learning a foreign language. Early on you find that you can understand what someone is saying or that you can read what you see written. But you only begin to feel confident in that foreign language when you are more fluent in speech. And that only comes when you start speaking the language – the hardest part for most people, speaking. It’s the same with sharing your faith. You’ll get better once you get started. As the Nike commercial says, “Just do it!”

See also: October 3 / Luke 21:5-19; October 4 / Luke 21:20-33

Mark 13:1-31

My Study Bible noted some very direct warnings by Jesus to His disciples: See to it…; But be on your guard…; But take heed…; Watch out, stay alert…; Therefore, stay alert…; …be on the alert!” (NASB, vv. 5, 9, 23, 33, 35, 37, all respectively) The ESV has “Stay awake…” instead of “Stay alert” for these last three warnings. So how do we (or how should we) stay awake or stay alert in our present-day circumstances? What to be on guard for or against…??

…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (vv. 24b-25) I’ve often wondered if there is life on other planets, and I have come to the conclusion that there is not. If there were, God would have to have created them differently than us, without a fallen nature, or God would have to make plans for their redemption as well, as in Jesus dying again to save these other peoples…??!! And these stars that are falling – what happens to those “beings” living in those other solar systems? All this is well beyond my comprehension or imagination! It’s not my issue. I just need to be on guard, stay awake, and stay alert in my world around me!

See also: September 30 / Mark 13:1-13; October 1 / Mark 13:14-23; October 2 / Mark 13:24-31

Matthew 24:15-35

Today’s reading is divided into two parts. For each part we can see Jesus answering the questions the disciples asked in verse 3 from yesterday. For verses 15-28 Jesus is answering the question, “…when will these things be?”, where “these things” are likely referring to Jesus’ comment in verse one about the Temple, “…there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” So it could be that Jesus is foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. In the second part of today’s reading Jesus is responding to that second question that the disciples posed in verse 3: …and what will be the sign of your coming…?

Every Sunday we speak the following words: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” We remember and acknowledge Jesus’ words to His disciples that He will return. There are thousands of people in every generation who point to the end times and Jesus’ return being nearby, but it hasn’t happened yet and it’s been almost 2000 years. One might begin to wonder whether we are all caught up in some fantasy as some nonbelievers would suggest. But …we know Him in Whom we have believed! (II Timothy 1:12, slightly edited) We know of Jesus’ life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His disciples and their writings and their followers, and His Holy Spirit alive and at work in our lives today. There is simply no basis for unbelief in our lives. If Jesus said these things 2000 years ago and three of His followers recorded His words, if we believe all these other truths, then we believe that He will return. When? We don’t know; we wait. End of story…!

See also: September 28 / Matt. 24:15-28; September 29 / Matt. 24:29-35

I expressed frustration yesterday about the inequality of vaccination distributions worldwide. Then a number of news agencies reported yesterday that President Biden is committing another 20 million doses above the 60 million that had already been committed – that the USA would become an “arsenal of vaccines” for the world. So that’s good, but still far short of need.

But today’s Scripture reading… Portions of today’s reading seem to point to the “end of the age” question that the disciples ask at the end of verse 3, especially the last two verses. But other portions seem to reflect ongoing issues in the world from Jesus’ time until now: For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (v. 7) Finally, other portions of today’s reading seem to target Jesus’ disciples and their followers, especially toward the last half of the first century: Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. (v. 9) Naturally this last verse is also alive and active in today’s world, as we hear during our prayers each Sunday for the persecuted church.

With it all, as I read through these “end times” pronouncements by Jesus I am secure in the confidence that I have that “He will not leave us or forsake us”. Although this section in quotation marks is not a direct quote, here are five sources that say essentially the same thing: Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5-6, Deuteronomy 31:8, 1 Chronicles 28:20. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

See also: September 27 / Matt. 24:1-14