Messages from Matthew: The Prelude to Passover (Matt 26:1-5)

MESSAGES FROM MATTHEW ON THE MINISTRY OF JESUS:
The Prelude to Passover (Matt 26:1-5)

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2017
 

A major holiday, like a significant birthday or anniversary, often requires extensive preparation...or surreptitious preparation.

A man rushed to the jewelry counter in the mall, soon after the doors opened and said he needed a pair of diamond earrings. The clerk showed him a wide selection, and the man quickly picked out a pair. When she asked if he wanted the earrings gift-wrapped, he said, "That'd be great. But can you make it quick? I forgot today was my 25^th anniversary...and my wife thinks I'm taking out the trash."

As a major holiday approaches, it often requires extensive preparation. For Jews, the most important holiday may be the annual commemoration of Israel's freedom from slavery in Egypt. It is a celebration that people hold in small groups with a meal together, a meal that has grown more elaborate with the passage of time. For Jesus and his disciples the celebration required some preparation, such that The Prelude to Passover involved more than an ordinary gathering.
 

As Passover nears again, the disciples and Jesus look forward to another observance. They have been together now for over three years, and each year they have gone up to Jerusalem to celebrate. This year should be no different. They are older, of course, and their ministry has grown in popularity, as well as grown in envy among certain religious leaders. Still, their popularity affords them some protection, especially around the holiday. The high priest and certain members of the Sanhedrin are calling for Jesus' arrest, but that may simply be wishful thinking, the kind that often attends thoughts about political opponents. This year's celebration will probably go off without a hitch.

I. The disciples prepare for the holiday (vv. 1-2).

Matt 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things [i.e., the Olivet Discourse], he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

A. The service is near.
B. The sentence will follow.

Wait, those two events should not go together. Passover, of course, happens every year at this time, and God's people will observe it this year just as they have done in years past. It is a festive occasion, a celebration of Israel's freedom from bondage in Egypt. How does that party relate in any way to Jesus' arrest, which does not sound like a fun time at all? The rabbi must be mistaken. The disciples will just ignore the crucifixion for now and concentrate on the celebration instead.

Jesus has just finished a major instructional session on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, which is a magnificent setting. He taught the disciples about what the future holds for them, including a special appearance he would be making.¹ The precise timing of those events was a mystery, but God would sort it all out. For now there was a celebration to make ready. As Jesus gives instructions for the festive occasion, he includes some disturbing news.

What follows is a meal among friends that passes without incident, marred only by the sudden departure of Judas to attend some undisclosed private matter. As the evening ends they sing a hymn together and retire to the Garden of Gethsemane for an impromptu prayer meeting. It is an unusual way to follow on the seder ceremony, but perhaps Jesus is instituting a new Passover tradition just for the disciples. Judas has not yet returned from whatever errand had taken him away, so he will miss this new activity. Whatever Jesus has in mind, it is not very stimulating because he keeps having to wake them up.
 

At the end of this prayer session, those members of the Sanhedrin who disagree with Jesus send soldiers to arrest him. The Council will accuse him of some crime that allows extradition to the civilian authority and sentencing him to death, thereby ending this threat to social stability.
 

Application: God's plan is not at all points enjoyable for God's people. There are difficult times ahead. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33a). We live in a fallen and failing universe, one that has malevolent forces arrayed against us but whose forces are inexorably headed for defeat, because Jesus also said, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). Whatever difficulty you may face, rest assured that it is limited both in degree and in duration: "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Ps 30:5), and the rejoicing will last forever!² At times you may not understand what is happening or why something is happening, especially to you, but know that God will help you through it and will work things to your ultimate benefit because "in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Rom 8:28). That is one of the great advantages of serving the Lord. He always 'has your back.'
 

The disciples are not the only ones gathering at this time. Others are meeting as well, and some with nefarious purpose. Although many welcomed Jesus' ministry, others did not. There were people who opposed him as a danger to their status in first century Jewish society. These were usually the religious elite, threatened by his popularity among the masses. Because few could argue with his methods, the miraculous healing and profound teaching, his detractors were reduced to using ad hominem attacks on his character (= ad personam). Their harshest criticism came in response to his compassionate healings:

• When he cured a man with a palsied hand, they accused him of being a law breaker:³

"If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But [some] Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Matt 12:11-14)

• When he cured a man who was blind and mute, they accused him of being a demon sympathizer.⁴

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined.... If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ...But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matt 12:24-28)

These were both feats the religious authorities could not duplicate, but rather than celebrating Jesus' supernatural ability, they chose to deny his obvious authority.

II. The leaders plot for the arrest (vv. 4-5).

Matt 26:3 The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 "But not during the festival," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

A. The seizure is near.
B. The sentence will follow.

Certain leaders consider Jesus' popularity a threat to their power and prestige. As his acclaim grows their own status declines.⁵ They must act soon to stop the erosion. The religious elite have anticipated this shift in public perception and have been considering ways to counter it. While there have always been individuals who would challenge Jesus, those voices were now loud and united. His most extreme opponents were on the Sanhedrin and wanted to eliminate him altogether, remanding him to the Roman government to deal with as it would any insurrectionist.⁶ In the end, that is what they decide to do, despite the fact that resorting to a secular legal authority is contrary to Jewish tradition.⁷ They resented his instruction and his miracles, especially when the two coincided (e.g., in the Sabbath healing). Their hostility ranged from verbal to physical and from mild to severe (i.e., life-threatening).⁸

The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." (Matt 26:3-5)

That "sly way" was to have one of his disciples entrap him and betray him, which Judas did for "thirty silver coins" (Matt 36:15), a relatively small amount today but sizable then (about $200). Moreover, the Council wanted to keep its deliberations secret, lest the public react violently. Support for Jesus was greater than his opponents were willing to risk. Even if people did not see him as the messiah, they knew that he was more than a teacher, at least "a prophet" (Matt 21:46).⁹
 

It takes some persuasion, but eventually Pilate agrees to the demands of the Sanhedrin representatives,¹⁰ bolstered by some vocal supporters,¹¹ and the Roman governor sentences Jesus to death. It is against both his judgment and that of his wife, a decision he may regret later.¹² In the end, though, Pilate accedes to the pressure, condemning the rabbi to death and turning him over to the executioners.
 

Application: No disciple of Jesus today would contemplate such a traitorous act, but are there other deeds that have a similar cast? At work or school, when the conversation turns in the wrong direction and you have an opportunity to speak out for truth and for your Lord, are you ever quiet, not wanting to appear contrary to coworkers or friends? It is easy to remain silent, but when such an opportunity presents itself silence may not be the proper response. Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Matt 10:32-33). What you speak for Jesus now, he will speak for you later. While you should not be pushy about your faith, neither should you be reluctant to say something when an opportunity presents itself.
 

When the disciples met for The Prelude to Passover, they did not realize that it would be their last such celebration before the savior's death.' Neither did they realize that his death would precede a most remarkable demonstration of divine power that would change the course of their lives and of human history.

For a pdf with Bibliography and Endnotes go here.