July 18 2025; Matthew 26:47-75

Daily Dose of Hope

July 18, 2025

Scripture – Matthew 26:47-75

Prayer:  Almighty God, We thank you for this week.  As we go over the days of this past week, give us insight into what we did well and where we fell short.  How did we deny you?  How did we glorify you?  Lord, we truly want to reflect you in everything we do.  Give me self-awareness, Lord.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we are hungry to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Matthew 26.  We’ll discuss Jesus’ arrest in the garden, his time before the high priest, and Peter’s denial.

Let’s start with the arrest itself.  The Jewish leaders sent an armed crowd to arrest Jesus.  Maybe they were expecting resistance from the disciples.  One thing is certain – they needed to come at night and quietly.  They knew that if they tried to arrest Jesus during the day as he was walking among the crowds, that there would be a riot.  They needed an insider though to help them access Jesus privately.  They found one in Judas.

Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, literally.  Jesus seemed to be expecting him.  He knew what was about to occur.  Again, I wonder what is going on in Judas’ mind at the time.  Does he hesitate at all?  Is he so angry and resolute because Jesus wasn’t the Messiah he hoped him to be?  Is he just overcome with evil? 

The Scripture said that one of Jesus’ companions cut the soldier’s ear off.  We know from other Gospels that it was indeed Peter who did so.  Jesus wasn’t happy about that.  He makes this interesting statement about how the things that were prophesied must take place.  Jesus knows.  All of this is necessary, for our sake that is.

Jesus goes before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.  Caiaphas, the high priest, interrogates Jesus.  They are actually in Caiaphas’ home as they do this.  It certainly feels suspicious and secret.  They were looking for something for which to charge Jesus.  They feel so threatened by him.  False witnesses come forward, and Jesus is silent.  Finally, when asked if he is the Messiah, Jesus responds.  But he makes it clear he isn’t just a human Messiah sent by God to set up an earthly Kingdom and free the Jews.  Actually, he is divine.  And Jesus tells them that he will be seated on God’s right hand and will come back to earth on the clouds of heaven in judgment.  He is the rightful king now and in the future.  He is God and he will be on the throne.

Well, that does it.  The high priest can’t believe his ears.  He tears his clothes and calls out blasphemy.  The council decides that Jesus is worthy of death.  Of course, as they do all of this, they have no idea that prophecy is being fulfilled.  They have no idea that they are part of a grander plan that God orchestrated long ago.  They are clueless.  But God will achieve his purposes and he will use whoever he needs to use.

The final portion of the chapter has to do with Peter’s denial.  The man who said he would rather die than deny Jesus is now denying him three times.  And he denies him adamantly.  He doesn’t go hide somewhere.  He stands in obvious locations, allowing himself to be called out, and he vehemently denies knowing Jesus. 

One thing that is great about Scripture is that it doesn’t hide people’s sins.  Here is Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, and he denies Jesus three times.  He is scared.  He is embarrassed and scared of being ridiculed.  He is lacking in faith.  And while the chapter ends here, there is a lot more to Peter’s story.  Just like there is a lot more to our story.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki