Matthew 26
December 28, 2022
“‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’” (v52-54)
Jesus was not a helpless victim. He was a willing sacrifice. And what made Jesus’ sacrifice so beautiful was that, at any moment, He could have called down thousands of angels to fight on His behalf. Doing so would have not only spared his life, but inaugurated an earthly kingdom, thus making all of Israel very happy with Him. But He did not come to satisfy our earthly cravings. He came to satisfy the Father’s will: fulfilling the Scriptures, becoming our Substitute for sin, and establishing (through the cross and resurrection) an eternal kingdom, which will ultimately satisfy our eternal cravings.
Lord Jesus, I praise You for willingly laying down Your life, when You had the right to resist arrest and the power to destroy us for treason. Forgive me for still wanting You to meet my earthly cravings more than being grateful for You saving me from my sin and establishing an eternal Kingdom. Mature my appetite so that my deepest desire is for Your coming Kingdom, which will be marked by peace, joy, eternal life and Your rule.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
