Read Matthew 26

So much happens in chapter 26 of Matthew, and you will be reflecting on all of it in the questions below, but right now we’re going to focus specifically on Jesus’ trial…

Here, we see the Lord brought in to be questioned by the Sanhedrin, the ruling chief priests of Israel, and Caiaphas, the High Priest. Witnesses were brought against Jesus, testimonies given, but in truth, this trial was going nowhere because the bogus, contradictory evidence against Him from these “witnesses” wasn’t enough to convict Him.

So, Caiaphas “stood up” (Matthew 26:62 NIV), which F.F. Bruce called, “the action of an irritated, baffled man.” Charles Spurgeon pointed out, “It was a tacit confession that Christ had been proved innocent up till then… The trial had been a dead failure up to that point, and he knew it and was red with rage. Now he attempts to bully the prisoner that he may extract some declaration from him which may save all further trouble of witnesses, and end the matter.”

And so, Caiaphas goes in for the kill by putting Jesus under oath to answer if He is the Messiah because depending on His answer, he could either convict Jesus for what he would call blasphemy or have Jesus state on record that He wasn’t what the people were hoping for, which would have likely killed the movement and following of Jesus.

Jesus responds by revealing His full identity as not only Messiah, but God in the flesh! He said, “I am,” invoking the very name of God given to Moses, then further cemented His declaration of divinity, saying, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62 NIV).

So, not only is He claiming to be the Messiah, not only is He claiming to be God Himself, but with this second half of His testimony, in not so many words, He essentially says, “Today you stand in judgment of Me, which you’re only able to do because I’m allowing it for the fulfillment of all that’s necessary to complete the work of salvation for the world, but when the times comes, I’ll be the ultimate Judge.”

At this, Caiaphas got exactly what he wanted, the Sanhedrin then convicted Jesus of blasphemy, and witnesses say these deeply ironic and significant words: “He is worthy of death.”

If this doesn’t cause you to become overwhelmed with emotion, please go back and read those last words again.

“He is worthy of death.”

NO! He is worthy “to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise” (Revelation 5:12 NIV)! He is worthy of our full devotion, surrender, and service. WE are the ones worthy of death!

The irony here is clear: Every moment of their lives, just like every moment of your life apart from Jesus, was an act of blasphemy against God. How so? Blasphemy is a state of willful, determined opposition to God; it’s denying Jesus’ Lordship and rightful place in your heart and life; it’s rejection of the gospel. These words of false judgment against Jesus were words of true judgment against us and the very reason Jesus gave His life . . . because we’re worthy of death, deserving of the wrath of God.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”—Ephesians 2:4–8 (NIV)

May this truth wash over you today.

Discussion Question 1: How has God shown you He’s in control of your life?

Discussion Question 2: Why did Jesus tell the disciples that the woman’s actions were correct? What does this tell us about Him and about following Him?

Discussion Question 3: What does the Lord’s Supper (communion) truly mean to you?

Discussion Question 4: How should Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane change us? How should it affect our everyday lives?

Discussion Question 5: How should Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane change us? How should it affect our everyday lives?

Discussion Question 5: How should Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane change us? How should it affect our everyday lives?

This Week

Everyone will stand before the Judge to give an account. Knowing this, consider how your life is helping others come to know the good news of the gospel that removes their sins and makes them innocent before God.

Memory Verse

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”—Matthew 26:26–28 (NIV)

Prayer Guide

Jesus, thank You for enduring this on my behalf so I could receive Your gift of salvation and be found in You. Thank You I can surrender my life to You and, in that, find my life and be saved! Help me share this good news with others so they may be found and saved as well. By Your Spirit, give me the words to speak and the compassion and courage to reach out to them with the truth. In Your wonderful, beautiful, merciful Name I pray. Amen.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at CalvaryFTL.org/Questions.