My Time Is At Hand

***CBC CREED***

*Chapter 26, which we looked at the beginning last week show us the final days of Jesus before he would be taken to the cross.

*This chapter begins with Jesus’ telling his disciples what would happen to him, and end with what he said actually occurring. The previous 25 chapters that Matthew had written are now coming down to what we will see over the next three chapters.

*In this chapter there are 10 different sections, and what I want you to see this morning are ten different things Jesus says, one from each section as he gets closer and closer to the cross.

Now last week we talked about the first three sections (Matthew 26:1-16). The first was when said in two days they will deliver me to be crucified and it also showed the religious leaders meeting in secret to come up with a plan to kill Jesus. Then the second section showed the woman pouring an expensive bottle of perfume on Jesus’s head. A wonderful scene of worship. Jesus called it his preparation for his burial. Then the last section we looked at last week was Judas coming before the religious leaders looking to make money and betray his Lord.

Let’s look a the rest of the 10.

4. The Passover with the Disciples (Matthew 26:17-25)

Matthew 26:17–25 (ESV)

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 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.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

What I want to point to in this section is the words of Jesus in verse 21....ONE OF YOU WILL BETRY ME.

We look at Judas today and think HOW COULD THIS MAN DO THAT. HOW COULD HE TURN AGAINST HIS LORD…JESUS…THE CHRIST....GOD IN THE FLESH?

Yet we do the same thing. We may not give him up to death for silver, but we, in our sinfulness, turn our back on him. We doubt that he truly is God, and turn within ourselves and try to make our own way. When we continue to give into sin, over and over, and it doesn’t bother us that we have…we are simply betraying the one who would give his life for us. Betrayal doesn’t just have by Judas, betrayal can happen for the believer and the unbeliever. to make this very simply…betrayal happens when you will not allow Gcd to be God in your life. You turn away because other things are more important.

Judas was part of God’s plan. God used Judas to bring about the redemption of mankind. But you are no Judas. If you are saved or the Holy Spirit is calling you to Jesus, God wants one thing… your heart. He is not looking for another betrayer.

5. Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29)

We are going to put this one as the last one, so we will come back.

6. Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial (Matthew 26:30-35)

Matthew 26:30–35 ESV

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Look at the words of Jesus in verse Matthew 26:31

Matthew 26:31 ESV

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

This was a prophecy from Zechariah that would be fulfilled in when most of the disciples ran when Jesus was arrested.

I read these words from Jesus, and I have to ask myself…whatever the situation is…however bad it gets…whatever may come against me,,, how strong am I in my faith. If someone comes against me because of my faith, am I willing to make a stand, or am I just a runner. Jesus told his disciples earlier that they would face trials and tribulations. People would come against them for their faith. And we see this. Church historians write that every disciple was killed because he proclaimed Christ except for one…JOhn. ANd they tried to kill him, they put him in big pot of hot oil, and they couldn’t kill him.

You and I have to to put it in our mind, before there is a chance to run…that no matter what....we will stand....we will not scatter.

7. Jesus Prays at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)

Matthew 26:36–46 ESV

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

What I want to emphasize here in this section is the mindset of Jesus. He knew what was coming. He knew there would be beatings. He knew there would be whippings. He knew there would be mockery. He knew there would be blood and pain. He knew. But what were his words....two times...

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (40)..... y Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (42)

As a follower of Jesus Christ, sometimes we don’t understand why things happen. Why people close to us die. Why we are not with our families anymore. or why things happen.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Don’t misunderstand what this verse says.... it doesn’t say that everything will be ok....it says ALL THING WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD....that GOOD may not be good in our eyes. It may not make us happy all teh time....but teh GOOD is pointing to his GOOD AND PERFECT WILL.

But we need to keep this in mind....NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL. Do you remember how Jesus showed us a model of prayer:

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

I believe that this is where we truly grow in our faith and our walk with Christ, when we can say this… YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE…NOT MY OWN!

8. Betrayal and Arrest (Matthew 26:47-56)

Matthew 26:47–56 ESV

47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Look back at Jesus’ response to the cutting off of the ear. He didn’t need one of his disciples to defend him. He was God. With one word he could have had twelve legions of angels defend him. A legion is between 4000 & 6000 angels…so 12 legions would have been around 72,000 angels. But did he call them? No. Why? It was God’s plain for Jesus to go to the cross. From Genesis 3 and even before the foundation of the world, it was always God’s plan to send his Son… and he would not allow any human and angel to get in the way of his plan being accomplished.

9. Jesus before Caiaphas and the Council (Matthew 26:57-68)

Matthew 26:57–68 ESV

57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

The one thing that I want to point out here is that Jesus said was.....first....nothing. All of these false charges were brought against him…he said nothing. But when Caiaphas pushed him to answer thew question, TELL US IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF GOD. Jesus said YOU SAID IT. but then… he said that from this time on, the only place you will see him is sitting beside POWER (God) and coming on teh clouds of heaven.

This will be his place in heaven, at the right hand of the Father and… he will be the one coming on teh clouds at the second coming.

Paul wrote about this is Romans 8:34

Romans 8:34 ESV

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

This is where he is now…waiting for the time that God tells him to come back and get his children and the events of the book of Revelation will begin.

10. Peter Denies Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75)

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

This last section isn’t a place where Jesus spoke, but it is one that Peter remembered the words that Jesus spoke.

Everyone sins. Even the a believer will sin. But the difference between a believer who sins against God and an unbeliever who sins against God, is what happens after the sin. The Holy Spirit that lives inside of the deliver reminds them of their since, and there is a chance for obedience in asking for forgiveness.

Peter three times said I do not know him. He denied even knowing him. But Jesus forgave Peter and on the day of Pentecost, he stood up boldly and proclaimed the gospel, and Luke writes what happened when he did...

Acts 2:41 ESV

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Do you know what this tells me? Even in my weakness, God can use me. Even in your weekness, God can use you. Keep coming back to him. Keep seeking Him. Keep worshipping him.

Now let’s go back to #5

5. The Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29)

Matthew 26:26–29 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

In that last verse, Jesus said that the meal they would take, the bread and the wine, he would not take again with the until they were all together in the his Father’s Kingdom. What is he talking about here?

Teh apostle John wrote what he saw. At teh Lord’s returning and teh coming of the New Jerusalem, there will be a great meal…a great banquest. A celebration of Jesus’ return and the finalization of God’s kingdom. This is what Jesus is pointing to. He will not drink of the fruit of the vine until that time. I time of great celebration! (Revelation 19:6-9)

So what does this mean for us today? We, the church are still to observe the Lord’s Supper or sometimes we call it communion. It reminds us of what Jesus did for us. So, this morning, following the command to observe, we will do that today.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 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, 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.