This is Personal.

This is Personal. Matthew 26

Are you an observant person, or are you in your own head so much you miss a tremendous amount? For instance, do you pass by something rare and beautiful because your mind is flitting from this thing you have to do to what someone expects of you to some vague notion of something eating at you, though you haven’t stopped long enough to work that thought through? What do you fail to notice?

What did you notice when you listened to the podcast of Matthew 26? Sure, it was lo-o-ong, but Matthew recorded a lot in one chapter. I loved some of the responses I got to ‘what do you notice?’ Well, here’s what I noticed in this significant chapter in our Lord’s journey, in what he knew to be his last couple days of life1:

Undeterred by the death angel he knew was coming for him, Jesus walked out his priorities: obedience to the Father, time with his friends and disciples, and going to his knees in prayer.

Would you and I have continued into the Passover week when we knew how it was going to end for us—in torture and death? Now sure he was Jesus, but he was fully human, having laid aside his divinity to become a man. Emotionally, spiritually and physically, Jesus was to undergo what no one has ever had to endure; if it were not for his obedience to God, and his heart for us, he would have turned around and gone back to Capernaum, to Jesus Headquarters. But in all things, it was the Son of God’s highest priority to obey the will of his Father.2 First thing I notice? Jesus was obedient.

Note to self: That which I know God wills me to do, I must obey.
That includes my speech. Regularly, I teach from the Word of God and I like to weave in personal stories and observations to show what scripture means to me and how applicable it is to every area of life. Because I can talk too much, I pray what Jesus immortalized. “Lord, please help me say just what the Father has told me to say3—nothing more, nothing less.”

Jesus was well liked, often invited to celebrations, dinners and social gatherings. Knowing his days were few, he valued time with Mary, Martha and the disciples. Second thing I notice? Jesus made it his priority to be with his friends and disciples. Can’t you picture him talking with them at Simon’s house, (verse 6), as they enjoyed a meal together? A woman approaches him, no doubt asking if she could lavish fragrant oil on him, as he smiles and nods his approval.

That woman loved Jesus so much she gave him her most valuable material possession – the expensive perfume. Others scoffed, not Jesus…he said, “…wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”4 Why? Because her sacrifice did not just show her heart but also mirrored the great sacrifice Jesus was to endure.

Note to self: Jesus values my sacrificial giving.

The Lamb of God served the disciples communion in the upper room above the crowded streets of Jerusalem where thousands of pilgrims had come to observe Passover and sacrifice a spotless lamb for their sins. In the course of things, Jesus warned Judas and Peter that they would sell him out – [you hadn’t missed this, had you? Jesus told both of them ahead of time that they were going to betray him—that gave them both a chance to change their minds, but neither did]. Then Jesus descends the dark stairs, and heads for the garden at the Mount of Olives. O, it was a familiar place for our Lord as he often stole away to pray at Gethsemane. 
At times of great distress, we need a place of solace, a place to be still. 
Jesus was no different. 
Note to self: if Jesus had a set-apart place of prayer, shouldn’t I?

What do I notice when reading Matthew chapter 26? As death was near, I see Jesus’ priorities of obedience to the Father, time with his loved ones, and prayer. Simple, clear, significant, meant for us to take personal.

These takeaways are meant to be personal. Jesus’ every move was purposeful and intentional; it was for you and me to notice and do likewise.
Obey God, spend time with my loved ones, 
and never neglect prayer.

1 – Matthew 26.2 
2 – John 6.38
3 – John 12.49-50
4 – Matthew 26.13