March 19 / Matthew 27:15-31

Matthew 27:15-31

Dear RTB’ers,

Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified. (v. 26) These are only a few words, “having scourged Jesus”, but they leave me almost sick to my stomach every time I read them. The famous “forty lashes less one”… My Study Bible noted that it was not uncommon for prisoners to die from the scourging before they ever got to the crucifixion.

I’m sure that I have said this before, that if Jesus had to die for the sins of the whole world for all time, wouldn’t a simple beheading have been enough? Why did He have to go through all this suffering? I am not a theologian, so I’m certain that my comment, my question must sound trivial. But I do cringe at the suffering that Jesus endured. I can only make sense of it when I read something like Isaiah 53:5, But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.

It’s troubling to me, all that Jesus suffered. Nothing brings me closer to Jesus than when I embrace His suffering, His scourging, His crucifixion. For us. For me. For you…

Blessings.

See also: June 17 (2021) / Matt. 27:27-44.

March 18 / Matthew 27:1-14

Matthew 27:1-14

Dear RTB’ers,

So, what to make of Judas? Here is Jesus speaking at the Last Supper: The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but 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. (Matthew 26:24) Is this Jesus’ ultimate condemnation of Judas for his betrayal? What exactly does Jesus mean by this statement? Then, also, what about Judas’ remorse? Then when Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. (vv. 27:3-4) Is this confession (I have sinned…), deserving of the same forgiveness that Jesus offers any one of us? Judas leaves me confused. Naturally, I go along with Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, whatever He meant…!

Jesus answers Pilate’s first question (Mt. 27:11), but He fails to answer his second (Mt. 27:13-14). By contrast, Jesus refuses to answer any of the accusations from the chief priests and elders (Mt. 27:12). For Matthew, this is the end of Jesus’ discussions with Pilate. Please see John 18:33-38, 19:10-11 for further discussions between Jesus and Pilate.

We continue Jesus’ Passion for another three reading days.

Blessings.

See also:

March 17 / Matthew 26:57-75

Matthew 26:57-75

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s first verse, Then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. (v. 57) The scribes and elders had gathered already, very likely through the night and early into the morning, yet they had not been part of the rabble crowd that had arrested Jesus: While He was still speaking, Judas came, … and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. (v. 47, yesterday) A big difference, “from” the chief priests and elders, not “with” the rabble crowd. Cowards!

Caiaphas’ question to Jesus was specific, I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God. (v. 63b) My Study Bible noted that the form of Caiaphas’ question was such that Jesus was legally bound to answer. And He did, and was summarily accused of blasphemy.

Peter’s denial. And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (v. 75) Matthew’s account falls a bit short of Luke’s statement of Peter’s departure, And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (Luke 22:60b-61a) Peter remembering Jesus’ statement (Matthew) is different than Jesus turning and looking at Peter (Luke). When I visualize that scene, Jesus turning to look at Peter, I fully feel Peter’s remorse, for him to have felt Jesus’ eyes on him as he had denied Him. What a sad moment. And he went out and wept bitterly.

Blessings.

See also:

March 16 / Matthew 26:30-56

Matthew 26:30-56

Dear RTB’ers,

Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same. (v. 35) I have to put myself on the same page as Peter and “all the disciples”. In my mind, I imagine that I would never deny Jesus. Or, in other words, I ask what would it take for me to deny Jesus? I remember a philosophy class from my undergraduate years where we were reading Soren Kierkegaard’s essay on Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. Our professor asked us to write an essay, “What would it take for you to deny Jesus?” I can remember writing even back then, some fifty years ago, that I would never deny Jesus. But I do have to ask myself again and again, what would it take? Peter and all the disciples were firm – and they all fled. [But, truth be told, in the end we are told that they all, excepting John, suffered martyr’s deaths.]

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is super important for all of us in our daily lives. So often we pray Jesus’ words, …not as I will, but as You will. (v. 39b) We repeat, along with Jesus, …Your will be done. (v. 42b) And I know that we mean it, that we want what He wants, and that whatever has happened in our lives is His will being carried out. But as we pray for our future, our plans, our families and friends, we have dreams and desires and we regularly pray, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” And we mean it. Don’t we? Really…?? Yes / No? Your thoughts…??

Blessings.

One more thing… I must confess, all along this morning my mind has been wandering to the Kudzu comic strip preacher, Pastor Will B. Dunn.

See also:

March 15 / Matthew 26:17-29

Matthew 26:17-29

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the Last Supper and Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist, which we remember and celebrate every Sunday.

“Take, eat; this is My body.” (v. 26)

“Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (vv. 27-28)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Blessings.

See also:

March 14 / Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew 26:1-16

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we begin Passion Week: Then the chief priests and the elders of the people … plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him. Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and … from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him. (vv. 3-4,14,16)

A solemn week ahead… How timely to be reading it during Lent.

Blessings.

See also: November 12 (2023) / John 12:20-50; Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; Luke 22:1-6.

March 13 / Matthew 25:14-46

Matthew 25:14-46

Dear RTB’ers,

Talents and the Final Judgment. A major contrast in these two accounts that Jesus related is that in the parable of the Talents each person (each of us?) is given some measure of “talents” to use here on earth. In the latter account, the Final Judgment, Jesus says nothing about what people have been given. In fact, it could be that these people being judged have nothing except food, water, shelter, and the clothes on their back.

But there is one item that is common in both accounts – time! Each of us has been given time, 24 hours a day to do with as we choose. Forget the measure of talents – some have been given much and some very little. That’s the way it is, and each is asked to do with what he or she has. But we have each been given the exact same amount of time – 1440 minutes a day, no wealth measure here! I’ve already used more than a third of my daily allotment; what to do with the rest? Maybe, again, a good Lenten question…??

Blessings.

See also:

March 12 / Matthew 24:32-25:13

Matthew 24:32-25:13

Dear RTB’ers,

OK, Jesus leaves me confused with the following words: Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (vv. 24:34-36) First, this generation… Did Jesus literally mean the apostles’ lifetimes? Or does this generation mean all humanity on Earth, “end times” sorts of stuff? And what does He mean by all these things? Everything that He foresaw about the fall of Jerusalem…? Or His predictions about the end times? And that day and hour… Sometime still to come? Confusing!

With it all, Jesus’ bottom line: Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (v. 24:44) It’s how I ended yesterday’s post, “Are you ready for this?” …and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. (v. 25:10b)

Blessings.

See also:

March 11 / Matthew 24:1-31

Matthew 24:1-31

Dear RTB’ers,

Matthew 24 is a confusing chapter. Is Jesus talking about the fall of Jerusalem (which occurred in 70 AD), or is He speaking about the end times and His return, or is He speaking in general terms? Our STS companion book suggests that verses 4-14 are general principles; verses 15-28 are the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; verses 29-31 are the days of Christ’s coming; and verses 32-51 are preparation for both events. My Study Bible suggests a different split on the fall of Jerusalem and Jesus’ return, that verses 15-22 are the destruction of Jerusalem and verses 23-31 are Jesus’ return. Even 2000 years later, scholars differ on these interpretations!

Many verses worth noting today! Here are a few. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (v. 7) Has that not already happened? And wars are still going on around the world even today! 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) We read about this in Acts and again, still ongoing today. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (v. 14) Here Jesus offers us a serious motivation for evangelism and missionary activity today!

Then we have Jesus’ narrative on the fall of Jerusalem, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (vv. 21-22) Yes, those days must have been cut short. With the Romans overwhelming them, the Jews dispersed throughout the world and are still a people and a nation today.

Finally, Jesus’ own return, For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (vv. 27, 30) Are you ready for this?

Blessings.

See also:

March 10 / Matthew 23:23-39

Matthew 23:23-39

Dear RTB’ers,

Four woes today, and for two of them Jesus focuses on the filth of the inside (of the cup and the tomb) compared to the cleanliness of the outside. And yes, He means to draw our attention to our own internals, especially (no doubt) our heart attitudes.

Jesus closes out His woes with prophetic words: Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town… (v. 34) Sadly, we see Jesus’ words played out in the book of Acts, beginning with Stephen’s stoning in Acts 7 and continuing with James and Peter and Paul and Barnabas and Silas and countless others unnamed, but all sacrificial in their service to Jesus and His name. Most of us are not asked to make these sorts of sacrifices, but we can go back to Jesus’ earlier words in today’s reading, sacrificing ourselves for …the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. (v. 23b) Let’s think on those today. Justice. Mercy. Faithfulness. What might God be asking of us, over and above what we do every day? Maybe that’s a good Lenten question…?

Blessings.

See also: