Matthew 26

I haven't blogged in awhile because I caught this horrible virus that seems to be making its rounds. Being a school teacher, it's quite easy to catch every bug that seems to make its way. The funny thing is that since I had been feeling tired and nauseated from the virus, I had many people thinking that I was pregnant. I guess that's something you gotta deal with if you are a woman and married. Yes it does make sense, and I can see how people would assume that, but this is why I hate the word assume. You are rarely right when you use it. So, to answer your question, no, I'm not pregnant, but I plan to be one day though. :)

I must admit, that I am VERY behind on my readings for reading the Bible in a year. I need to do some serious catch up. Anyway, my pastor has been going through the book of Matthew for quite some time now, and this past weekends message was on part of Matthew 26. I learned a few nice little tid-bits that I'd like to share with you. I encourage you to read the chapter, for I will only talk about a couple of things.

This part of the chapter is starting to lead up to Jesus's death. It is actually the day before those events happen. At this time of the year, the Jew's are about to celebrate the passover. The Jew's celebrate the passover every year to represent God saving them specifically from the Egyptians from turning them into slaves. - check out the Old Testament for those details. God commanded that every family kill a lamb and smear the blood on the doorposts, and that God would passover these houses and spare the death of their firstborn. Also that night, the family was instructed to eat, for they would be freed late that night. The meal was to consist of the lamb that was slain and unleavened bread (for there was no time for the yeast to rise). So back to Matthew, Jesus is celebrating the passover with his disciples (actually the day before the actual passover date). verses 17-29: Jesus is having unleavened bread and wine with his disciples (notice, no lamb!). There were actually 4 cups of wine present to represent the 4 different promises that God has made, Jesus picks up the 3rd cup which represented God saving His people and says, "Drink of it, all of you. for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Wow. Jesus is already telling the disciples, look, my blood is going to save you! Also, remember that there was no lamb served at the meal? The next day (actual passover day), the ultimate lamb will be slain for all, Jesus!

Wow. I love these little connections. The book of Matthew has been awesome! One extra tid-bit, Judas is the one who betrayed Jesus v. 14. Why did he do it? Well, he might have known that Jesus was the Messiah, but it wasn't in his heart. Look at v. 25, Judas addresses Jesus as Rabbi, and not Lord. Also, Judas sold Jesus out for only a months worth of wadges, when a poor woman poured an entire bottle of the purest of oils worth a years wadges. (v. 6-16)

Looking forward in learning more! I'm developing a new "awe" in the way that Jesus lived. Amazing...