"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census
should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first
census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And
everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the
house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who
was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she
gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
inn." (Luke 2:1-7)
Even from the day of Jesus' birth, there has been no room made
for Him. In our children's Christmas plays, we often give the
inn-keeper a pretty hard time. He is usually played by one of the
bigger boys who can sullenly shake his head no with his arms
crossed but not have to actually say anything. This is probably a
bit harsh. Bethlehem was a small town and because of the emperor's
decree it was being overrun by hundreds if not thousands of people.
There were probably many other heads of families in the very same
predicament-though most of them did not have their any-moment-now
expectant wife with them. People were bustling about trying to get
signed up with the Romans so that they could get back to their
homes. There was a busyness and chaos in Bethlehem that it simply
had not seen-probably ever. It is into this context that Jesus, the
Son of David, Emmanuel, the Savior is born without any room for
Him.
It was-even at His birth-an indication of things to come.
Fast forward 30 some odd years. His disciples have been with Him
for over three years. They have heard His teachings. They have seen
His miracles. More than that, they have come to know Jesus in a way
that few people have known Him. They have walked with Him, eaten
with Him, joked with Him, cried with Him, prayed with Him-their
whole lives have gravitated around this one person for over three
years. And they have seen and heard and touched and done amazing
things.
But Jesus is not acting the way that they had anticipated Him to
act. And one disciple in particular has taken great offense with
this. Was Judas disappointed that Jesus was focusing on being the
Suffering Servant instead of the Conquering King? Was Judas mad
that Jesus wasn't taking proper advantage of the public status that
He had gained with the crowds? Did Judas feel as though He had
ridden these coattails as far as he could? We don't know-the Gospel
writers never tell us what motivated Judas to act the way he did.
But act, he certainly did.
"Then one of the Twelveâ?"the one called Judas Iscariotâ?"went
to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if
I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver
coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him
over." (Matthew 26:14-16)
30 pieces of silver-it's the same cost that had to be paid in
the OT Law if a slave was gored to death by an ox. The value of
Jesus in the eyes of Judas was no more than that of a slave.
The Passover Feast is occurring and so Jesus gives instructions
for His disciples to prepare for the meal.
"When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the
Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth,
one of you will betray me."
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other,
"Surely not I, Lord?"" (Matthew 26:20-22)
Jesus had already predicted this many times prior to the
disciples. But given the intimacy of the gathering and the
excitement of the past few days, the disciples are saddened that
Jesus would say this. One after another they ask, Surely not I
Lord?
"Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl
with me will betray me. The 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." Then Judas,
the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus
answered, "You yourself have said it"" (Matthew 26:23-25)
They all were dipping in the bowl with Jesus and so Jesus
doesn't make things any less ambiguous though He is certainly
pointing to someone close to Jesus. Judas sensing that he'd best
put up a good front rather than be silent says to Jesus 'Surely,
not I Rabbi?' Jesus responds in a way that remains ambiguous to the
other disciples but is crystal clear for Judas.
Whatever Judas' perception of Jesus was, there clearly was no
room for Jesus in the heart of Judas.
[Bread Distributed]
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of
the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound
him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned,
he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to
the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I
have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied.
"That's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the
temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against
the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So
they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial
place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of
Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was
fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him
by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's
field, as the Lord commanded me." (Matthew 27:1-10)
"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."" (Matthew 26:26)
[Partake]
[Hymn]
"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."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on
account of me, for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have
risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even
if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "I tell you the
truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows,
you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I
have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other
disciples said the same." (Matthew 26:27-35)
Peter. Impetuous, bold, faithful Peter. Jesus says that these
men who have devoted the past three years to Jesus-who have given
up their jobs, their families, given up everything-that these men
are going to fall away. But the falling away would not be simply
because of fear or confusion-Jesus says that the reason they will
fall away is on account of Jesus. This role of suffering servant
that Jesus is embracing will be more than the disciples can handle
and they will forsake Him over it.
But Peter says, Not me! If all fall away, I never will! Peter
declares undeviating loyalty and Jesus-you can almost hear the sigh
in His voice-says that Peter is within hours of disowning Him-not
once or twice, but three times. Peter thinks he is ready to suffer
for Jesus but when it appears that Jesus has failed as the Messiah,
he will disown any knowledge of Him.
Big as Peter's heart was for Jesus, there still was not enough
room in his heart for Jesus.
[Cup Distributed]
"Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl
came to him."You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he
denied it before them all."I don't know what you're talking about,"
he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw
him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of
Nazareth." He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the
man!" After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter
and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you
away." Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to
them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then
Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and
wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:69-75)
"Then he took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave 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 new with you in my Father's
kingdom." (Matthew 26:27-29)
[partake]
Everyone in Jesus' life has stood before Him with arms crossed,
sullenly shaking their heads no. In this most desperate of hours,
Jesus turns to the one who has never turned Him away-His heavenly
Father. And what is He faced with when He comes before His Father?
He is faced with the looming wrath of God, represented as the cup
that He is going to drink. Though Jesus is ready to walk a path
without the cup of God's wrath, He is not willing to walk that path
if it is not the Father's will. He says, 'Not as I will, but as you
will.'
This is a pivotal moment in history. Adam and Eve spoke to God
in a garden and said, 'Not your will, but mine.' They changed the
garden into a desert of thorns and thistles and death. But through
the acts of God, mankind was brought from Eden to Gethsemane where
Jesus says, 'Not my will, but yours.' And with those words of
submission and obedience Jesus transforms the desert of death into
the kingdom of life. And through the act of God, He brings people
from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.
Though we have no room in our hearts for Jesus, because of
Jesus, there is room in the heart of God for us. And as we, through
faith, are drawn into the heart of God, we are able to open our
hearts to make room for Jesus. Open your heart to Jesus today, and
make room for Him.