Although most commentaries show little or no activity, a trusted source, Bible.net, have the two events I'm looking at taking place today.
Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of the Passover.
Bethany was about two miles east of Jerusalem. Here Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha lived. They were close friends of Jesus, and probably hosted him and the disciples during these final days in Jerusalem.
The Plot To Kill Jesus
Matthew 26:1-5 Key passage: Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.
The word dolō carries the idea of deceitfulness, underhandedness, cunning, or treachery
Mark 14:1-2 Key passage: It was now two days before the Passover.
The conspirators do not capture Jesus until after Passover; they orchestrate His death during the festival of Unleavened Bread.
Luke 22:1-2 Key Passage: for they feared the people.
John 11:47-53 John unpacks the account much more than the other gospels with a lengthy exchange between Caiaphas and the religious leaders.
Key Passage: Caiaphas says to the leaders, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Caiaphas is exactly right and his prophetic words earlier in the year are right on.
Judas and The Betrayal Agreement
Matthew 26:14-16 Key Passage: Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
In the Faithlife Study Bible Notes, a plausible reason for Judas wanting to betray Jesus is when Jesus was anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13), Judas saw it as a huge waste and he had reached his tipping point about how Jesus should be doing things.
John elaborates on what Judas thought when he records this: "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Mark 14:10-11 Key Passage: And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Luke 22:3-6 Key Passage: Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Satan and his minions do their best work 1 on 1.
John 13:2 - Jesus had already explained the devil’s control over the Jewish people: prompting them to believe a lie and follow his evil desires (John 8:44). In this moment, when facing Judas, Jesus is not encountering a mere demon; He is facing the one He has called the “murderer from the beginning” of time - From Faithlife Study Bible Notes
John 13:27 - Here, the term Satanas is used instead of diabolos, as in v. 2. The two are equated in different gospel accounts that exchange the terms in their descriptions of Jesus’ temptations - From Faithlife Study Bible Notes
John 6:70-71 - For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.
Yes, a quiet day with eternal significance. But, isn't that every day?
No comments:
Post a Comment