POURED OUT FOR MANY

Matthew 26:1-30

Key Verse 26:28

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Today’s passage is framed around the Passover. It is like a delicious sandwich with the beautiful display of love in the middle. As we eat this delicious sandwich, may the Lord help us to learn the beautiful and sacrificial love of our Lord Jesus who poured out his life for us. 

First, The Passover is Two Days Away (1-5)

Verses 1-2 read. “¹When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ²’As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” Today’s passage is framed around the Passover. It was two days away and it was the time for Jesus to be handed over to be crucified. 

The Passover was a very important Jewish holiday, if not the most important holiday. It was part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread that lasted for one week and was designed to commemorate and remind the people of God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. At that time in Egypt, according to the Lord’s instructions, the people put the blood of a lamb on the door frames of their homes. When the Destroyer came over the land, he passed over the houses that showed the blood. It was the time of their new year, they had a new life and a new status as a people belonging to God, to know and serve God. But, interestingly, the Lord says that the blood was a sign for the people. They could see that they were bought at a price. So when the Passover was celebrated, a lamb, a year old and without defect [and other regulations], was sacrificed. This Passover looked ahead to Jesus, who would be offered as the Lamb of God to deliver God’s people from slavery to sin and death into life in God’s kingdom.  

But what were others doing? Look at verses 3-5. “3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5’But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people.’” They thought that they were in control, secretly plotting how to arrest and kill this man that they did not like. But Jesus says that he would be “handed over” to be crucified. They thought they could plot on how to take him, but really Jesus was being handed over to them. As if to say, “Okay, it’s time. Here you go. Here he is.” They plotted evil, but God used them to fulfill his purpose and plan of salvation. Jesus saw beyond man’s evil intentions to God’s purpose of salvation. Jesus was always in control. These religious leaders had examined and tested Jesus, found him innocent, and were ready to kill all according to the Scripture. 

Second, a Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus (6-13)

Look at verses 6-12. “6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

This may have been an awkward or embarrassing scene for the guests at Simon’s house. Can you image just sitting at the table, reclining, when suddenly an entire bottle of perfume is our poured out over your heard? But it was not awkward or embarrassing to Jesus. In fact, there is a big contrast here between the disciples’ reaction and Jesus’ reaction to what this woman did. The disciples called it a “waste.” When they saw the perfume being poured out, they saw lots of money being thrown away. They couldn’t understand it. They said that it was worth a “high price” and very expensive. How expensive? Enough to garner this reaction from the disciples. 

But Jesus said, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” He had in mind something completely different from the disciples. She had done this to prepare Jesus for his burial (12). 

These verses do not tell us much about this woman at all. We don’t know her name, her background, or current situation, or even where she came from. This is done for a good reason—a perfect, deliberate omission. Her pouring out of her precious perfume was not just because of something Jesus may have done for her or her family at a previous time, such as last week. Jesus says that it was for his burial. And so it was beautiful in his eyes. It was to commemorate his sacrifice. It was a reflection of Jesus’ own sacrificing, pouring out his life on the cross. Normally, the kind of perfume that was placed in alabaster jars were rare and expensive. They were kept for the day of a woman’s wedding. So, on the wedding night, she might take a few drops and put them on her neck and use the perfume throughout her marriage. But in one instance she poured the whole bottle on Jesus’ head. This woman’s actions show her love for Jesus as she didn’t hold back her best, but sacrificially offered it to Jesus. She found Jesus worthy of her marriage perfume, of her love fully poured out. 

This passage reminds us that we have one reason as a foundation to continually give thanks to God and to give all our best to him always in every situation, and that is Jesus’ sacrifice—what he gave for us that we may be delivered from the power of sin and death and into the kingdom of God. That does not and will not change. So our thanks and devotion and worship must not waver or change depending on this or that. Many times it is hard for us to give thanks to God and to pour out our lives fully for him. We are quick to complain. We say, “I can’t give thanks because of such and such.” We want God to do something in this situation or to fix something here for us, or for a better situation, and then we can give thanks and then we can give of ourselves to him. We think a lot about our situation as the New Year’s is around the corner. It is easy to get filled with worldly ambition or depression. But we have this single unchanging thing which God has done for us by giving Jesus Christ which is greater than any problem or worry or concern or injustice we have carry or face at this time. Jesus is worthy because of his sacrifice. Even the angels in heaven sing of Jesus being worthy because he laid down his life for us (Rev. 5:9-10). In Jesus, victory is secured, so there is always increasing joy and devotion and service. This sacrificial offering and out pouring of love was beautiful in Jesus’ eyes. We can live beautiful lives by following the sacrificial example of our Lord Jesus. May we see that Jesus’ grace is all sufficient for us, that his grace is enough (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a). Therefore, Jesus is worthy of our full devotion and love poured out.

Third, Judas Sells Jesus Out (14-16)

One disciple, Judas Iscariot, did not listen to Jesus, but instead went from bad to worse. He went to the chief priests and made a deal with them to betray Jesus to them for thirty silver coins (14-16). His words, “What are you willing to give me?” reveal his true heart. He was looking to get something. This led him to greed and to ultimately betray Jesus. His actions strongly contrasts the woman’s. We don’t know that she got anything from Jesus, yet poured out her love on him. Here was Judas selling Jesus for 30 silver coins. While she serves as a good example, he serves as a warning to us. If we operate with his mentality of looking out for what we can get for ourselves all the time, we put ourselves in spiritual danger.

Fourth, Jesus Tells of His Betrayer (17-25)

According to Jesus’ instructions, his disciples prepared the Passover meal for them to eat together. This came to be called the Last Supper, because it was the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his death. He took this time to explain to them further the meaning of his sufferings and death. He first says, in verse 18, “My appointed time is near.” He reminded them that his sufferings and death to come were appointed by God according to the Scripture. The Lord was in control. Then, as they reclined at the table during the Passover meal, Jesus brought up the matter of one of his disciples betraying him. Although Jesus had talked about his coming sufferings and his betrayer several times before (cf. Mat 17:22), the disciples were again shocked and confused. So they each said one after the other, “Surely, not I, Lord?” They couldn’t believe that the betrayer was one of those eating at the table with them. No one stood up and said, "Judas! Are you planning something? We know it's you." But instead, they looked in their hearts and thought the unimaginable to them, which is that they might be the betrayer, so they all asked Jesus honestly, "Surely, not I, Lord?"

But one person did not say, “Lord.” Judas said, “Surely, not I, Rabbi?” Jesus was not his Lord at this time. Jesus gave the warning, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (24b). And he replied truthfully to Judas, “Yes, it is you” (25b). Jesus had included him at the table even though he knew what Judas was about to do. He had eaten this last meal with Judas, he warned Judas, he let Judas hear the message of the forgiveness of sins for many. Jesus loved even Judas and warned him. 

Again Jesus spoke from the point of the view of the Scriptures. Look again at verses 23-24:

23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

The one to betray the Son of Man was one of his Twelve disciples, one of those who were eating with him at that time. Dealing with being betrayed is one of the most difficult things for a person to do, especially by a close friend. We can’t help but carry bitterness or anger in our hearts. We don’t know what to do in that moment. The more we love, the bitter the betrayal. In fact, many are afraid to open their hearts to love others, including Jesus, out of fear of betrayal. But we see here that Jesus personally knew what it is to be betrayed by one of your closest friends. But he was not defeated by it. He saw even this according to God’s sovereign leading. And when he did, he freely spoke about it, not for his sake, but for the sake of the disciples and even the one who would betray him. 

Fifth, the Bread and the Cup (26-30)

Next, Jesus spoke about the meaning of his sacrifice in more detail. Look at verses 26-28. “²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ ²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” 

Jesus related the bread and drink to his own body and blood. Jesus’ body was broken and given to them. His blood was poured out on the cross. It was because he loved them. In love, Jesus gave his body and poured out his blood for many. Just as they had eaten the Passover meal many times to commemorate God’s deliverance and accept the lamb’s blood spilt for them, now Jesus told them to take and eat of his body and to drink his blood—not like cannibals, but meaning to accept his sacrifice on their behalf, and to accept his love poured out for them. So they had to prepare their hearts to receive this bread and cup. In fact, to eat the bread and drink the wine is to proclaim the Lord’s death until his return (1 Corinthians 11:26). 

Jesus body given for the world is also like bread in that he came to give life to the world. This is a covenant of life not death. And the way he gave life is to take care of the problem of death. Sin brought death into the world. And sin is a problem that no person can clear on their own. So to give eternal life and defeat death, Jesus paid the price for sin in his own death. He gave his body for the world and he shed his blood for our forgiveness. In so doing he established a covenant, an agreement, between God and sinners that those who receive Jesus' body and blood by faith are forgiven and have life in Jesus. 

Therefore Jesus’ blood is not like the lamb’s blood, which was just a ritual. Jesus’ blood has real power for those who believe in him. Verse 28 says, “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 say, “18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 

This is his amazing grace to us. Jesus did not pour out his blood for us to continue to live under the power of sin and in the shadow of death, a slave to our worldly and fleshly desires, to continue to whine and complain all the time. Jesus poured out his blood to set us free. He redeemed us from that empty way of life that we may have life in him and with that life live to serve God and have hope in the kingdom of God, to be a people who belong to God. It is the one way for a person to live a truly fruitful and blessed life. Jesus’ sacrifice is truly beautiful. Jesus poured his life to give us life. This life is more important than the money Judas wanted and it's more important than expensive perfume.

Jesus saw beyond his sufferings and death. At this time he saw the fruit of his sacrifice and love, the victory of being together with his disciples in his Father’s kingdom. (29) By faith in Jesus who shed his blood we too have this hope in the Father’s kingdom enabling us to be free to serve him fully and sacrificially with our lives. Jesus gave thanks twice in this passage. Not just because you should say your prayers of thanks before meals! And then he sung a hymn together with his disciples and then they went out (30).

The juxtaposition of this passage with the woman's story shows that Jesus did this not out of obligation or mere duty, but he did it out of love. Love for those who need the forgiveness of sin, for this woman, for even a betrayer like Judas, and even for us. Jesus said in John 15, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." And the Lord sees it as a beautiful thing when we love the Lord as the Lord loved us. May God help us to live truly beautiful lives that are sacrificial like our Lord Jesus.

One Word: Poured out for many

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