Salvation Is Jesus

Matthew 26

In Matthew 26, all the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion begin to rapidly take place:

• Jesus and his disciples go to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
• Judas secretly meets with the Pharisees and agrees to betray Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.
• The Lord’s supper takes place.
• Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, and the desertion of all the disciples.
• Jesus prays in the garden in Gethsemane, where he is also arrested.
• The Disciples flee and desert Jesus.
• Jesus is tried before the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling body).
• Peter denies knowing Jesus.

Remember that if God allows for many ways to enter heaven, then the terrible suffering and death of His Son would not be necessary. These last few chapters tell us once more that the death of Jesus Christ is the only way to redeem mankind from eternal destruction, satisfying both God’s justice and love. We’re going to focus in on a few verses that talk about the need for Jesus to die in our place.

The Lord’s Supper

Verses 27 -29:

While 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.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

During the Lord’s Supper (aka Last Supper or Communion) Jesus symbolizes the need for a man to accept from within Christ as Lord and savior over his life. Jesus’ blood was “poured out for many for te forgiveness of sins.” Without Jesus blood, there would be no forgiveness of sin.

Garden of Gethsemane

That evening, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Matthew records two of Jesus’ prayers about his death that was soon to take place.

Verse 39

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Verse 42

He went away a second time and prayed, “My father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

It is clear that Jesus was willing to die to do the will of the Father, but he definitely did not want to die. Shortly after Jesus’ prayers, a mob comes to the garden to arrest him. When one of Jesus’ companions (identified as Peter in other gospels) tries to defend Jesus with his sword, Jesus replies in verse 52:

“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?”

From these verses we can see that Jesus willingly gives his life, for he had the power to call upon legions of angles to defend himself, but chose to go with them because he must die for the sins of the world.