Maundy Thursday Service

Maundy Prophesies

Matthew 26:14-16, 31-35, 47-56

INTRODUCTION:

Tonight, we will step back from the cross and look at three occurrences that took place on Maundy Thursday.

One of Matthew’s major themes in his gospel is the fulfillment of prophecy and in each of the occurrences we will look at tonight, we find examples of actions that were prophesied in advance and then fulfilled on Maundy Thursday.

I. Judas’ betrayal (14-16)

– Psalm 41:9, 55:12-14; Acts 2:30

The first event we want to look at is Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Look at verses 14-16 with me now:

“Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matthew 26:14-16)

Notice how Matthew stresses that Judas was one of the Twelve.

Judas was one of the twelve original disciples, specifically chosen by Jesus to be with him, to learn from him, and to share the good news of the kingdom with others.

Judas had a front row seat to Jesus’ miracles, his teachings, the inside scoop on the parables and many other events in Jesus’ life.

Judas received power along with the other disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons. Judas was blessed with special privileges as one of the original Twelve which only makes his deed that much worse.

Notice when the betrayal takes place. It is right after Mary anoints Jesus with the expensive perfume at Bethany.

All the disciples objected to the apparent waste of the perfume, but we know from the other gospels that Judas was especially upset, as he was the keeper of the money bag and used to help himself to the funds whenever he wanted (John 12:4-6).

And it takes place right before Jesus’ last supper with his disciples – when Jesus will wash each of his disciples’ feet (including Judas), share bread with them and then tell his disciples that one of them will betray him.

Notice the chief priests don’t go to Judas.

Judas goes to them. This is his idea. Judas goes to the chief priests of his own accord and asks what they will give him if he hands Jesus over to them.

They count out for him thirty silver coins, exactly as prophesied in the Old Testament book of Zechariah (11:12).

From then on Judas watches for the opportunity to hand Jesus over to them. It will come soon enough when Jesus and the disciples make their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is our first example of Scripture fulfilled.

We have already seen how the thirty silver coins were prophesied by Zechariah.

But we also find prophecies about Judas’ betrayal in the Psalms. Psalm 41:9 foretold the sharing of the bread at the table.

David writes: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9) Psalm 55 identifies the betrayer as a close friend.

And so that is the first Scripture that was fulfilled on Maundy Thursday night – Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

II. Peter and the disciples’ failure (31-35)

We find the next Scripture fulfilled in Peter and the disciples’ failure.

A. The disciples will all fall away (31-32)

– Zechariah 13:7

First, Jesus addresses the disciples, telling them they will all fall away. Look at verses 31-32:

“Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:31-32)

Jesus and the disciples left the comfort of the Upper Room and made their way to the Mount of Olives where Jesus issued them a sharp warning. “This very night” you will all fall away.

Jesus warned them that this event was imminent.

It would happen in just a few hours’ time. It was a short time frame, but Jesus gives them fair warning, and they have adequate time to prepare themselves to stand firm.

But true to Jesus’ warning, they do not.

Jesus tells them they will all fall away. Earlier in the evening when they shared the communion cup together, Jesus told them, “Drink from it all of you.”

Now he tells them they will all fall away. We will share tonite in communion together as the disciples did that first Maundy Thursday night.

The reason Jesus told all the disciples to drink is because all the disciples would fall away. The lesson for us is that we don’t take communion because we are worthy, but because we are sinners.

**We all drink the cup because we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

Jesus tells them, “You will all fall away on account of me.” It was not on account of Judas or the religious leaders or the soldiers they would fall away.

It was on account of Christ. Jesus himself will be the cause of their falling.

Jesus then quotes a prophecy from the Old Testament book of Zechariah.

He quotes from Zechariah 13:7 which says, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)

Jesus is the good shepherd. Jesus is the leader of the flock. But when they strike him, he will not defend himself, and then the whole flock will scatter.

Finally, Jesus tells the disciples, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Jesus not only predicted his death, but he also predicted his resurrection.

And so, there is a glimmer of hope on the way from the Upper Room to the Garden. Jesus will die, but he will also rise again.

**There is also a word of grace here. Jesus tells the disciples, “You will all scatter, you will all fall away, but I will not abandon you.

I will still lead you. I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

B. Peter will deny the Lord (33-35)

– 1 John 1:8,10

So, those are the words Jesus spoke to all his disciples. Next, Jesus addresses Peter. Look at verses 33-35:

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:33-35)

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Brave, foolish words of Peter.

There are three mistakes Peter makes with his words here (Frederick Dale Bruner, Matthew Vol. 2, p.973):

First there is Peter’s condescension towards the other disciples.

Jesus said, “All of you.” Peter says, “All the others.” Peter said, “Even if all the others fall away on account of you, I never will.”

Next there is Peter’s confidence in himself.

Peter is confident that out of all the disciples, he alone will not fall away. Peter should have been praying, not protesting.

And then thirdly, there is Peter’s contradiction of Jesus’ words.

Jesus had just told him he would fall away. Peter says he will not. Peter would have done better simply to accept Jesus’ words and ask for forgiveness.

Jesus ups the ante with Peter and next predicts Peter’s three denials.

The Bible tells us pride comes before a fall.

Peter protested the most, and Peter fell the hardest.

The other disciples fled, but only Peter denied his Lord.

In verse 35, Peter continues to contradict Jesus’ words. He tells Jesus, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” But Jesus has just told Peter he would disown him three times.

We read in 1 John 1: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and … we make him out to be a liar.” (1 John 1:8,10) Peter was deceiving himself and making Jesus out to be a liar.

And so, we have another example of Scripture fulfilled on Maundy Thursday evening. The Scriptures foretold that all the disciples would fall away, and Jesus foretold that Peter would deny him three times.

III. Jesus’ arrest (47-56)

Finally, we come to Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. And this is where all of the Scriptures we have already looked at come together.

A. Judas betrays Jesus as foretold (47-50)

First, we come to Judas’ actual betrayal of Jesus. We read in verses 47-50:

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.” (Matthew 26:47-50)

And so, Jesus is not only abandoned by the disciples. He is also betrayed by a friend. He is not only betrayed by a friend. He is betrayed with a kiss – that which should be a sign of affection and loyalty.

The singer Michael Card has a song that captures the incongruity of Jesus being betrayed by a friend. The song goes like this:

“Why did it have to be a friend, who chose to betray the Lord?

And why did he use a kiss to show them, that’s not what a kiss is for.

Only a friend can betray a friend, a stranger has nothing to gain.

And only a friend gets close enough to ever cause so much pain.”

Judas came up to Jesus in front of everyone, greeted him, “Hello Rabbi!” and then identified him to the soldiers with a kiss. Jesus told him, “Friend, do what you came for.”

At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:55-56)

The crowd has come to arrest him under the cover of darkness, and Jesus calls them on it. They had plenty of opportunity all week, but now they come at night when darkness reigns.

Notice Jesus points to the Scriptures again. This has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.

And then, just as Jesus told his disciples earlier that evening, they all deserted him and fled. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.” Jesus was arrested, and all the disciples abandoned him.

CONCLUSION:

Everything Jesus did, he did in obedience to the Father and in fulfillment of Scripture. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world. When Jesus said, “Father, lead me to the cross,” he meant every word.

The disciples told Jesus they would follow him all the way to the cross, but they all fell away.

It would be easy for us to condemn the disciples, but we are really no better. There’s a reason why we repeat communion.

Communion is not a one-time fix, for we require continual confession and forgiveness of sin.

Jesus went willingly to the cross for you and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

-PRAYER

Join us as we prepare for the Lord’s Supper….