Sermon Tone Analysis

His Time Has Come

A phrase that Jesus used on occasion during His time on earth was

My time has not yet come

John 2:

John 7:8

In response to his brothers challenge to show who He really is in Jerusalem during one of the feasts

or in and 8:20 where it says of Him “His time had not yet come” when the religious leaders were going to arrest Him but didn’t or couldn’t.

So now, here in Matthew chapter 26, we get to the part of the story where His time has come

But before we get to His crucifixion, we are going to look at two things that happen before in chapter 26 of Matthew

The Last Supper and

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsame

Both show us something incredible

But before we look at the Last Supper, lets look at

What on earth does that mean?

To understand that statement made by John the Baptizer, we need to first understand Jewish history.

*Talk about the first Passover and the continuing celebration of Passover through the years*

God rescued Israel from Egypt, from bondage and slavery to Pharoah

Now as we look at the Last Supper, let’s get some context from , then

Now

Take a look here at what Jesus is doing

Matthew 26:26-

This ceremony of remembrance that the Jews had celebrated for 2 thousand years, Passover, Jesus is changing.

He’s making it about Himself.

The unleavened bread, present at Passover meals, the bread made in haste as they were going to flee from Egypt, Jesus says is His body.

It’s not the bread that matters but what is done to it.

During a Passover feast, three pieces of unleavened bread would be shown to all present, the middle one chosen and then broken in pieces, then wrapped in a cloth, hid for a while, and then retrieved later.

This is my body, Jesus is the middle matza, Father Son and Holy Ghost, He is pulled out, shown to the world, then broken for you and me, He died, was wrapped in cloths, buried and then reappeared later.

Then the cup of wine, Jesus says it is His blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

The blood of the Lamb, wiped and smeared on the wood cross beams of the doorways in Egypt

The Lamb of God’s blood spilt and smeared on the wood cross beams of the cross.

For years as the Jews celebrated Passover, the slain lamb brought forgiveness of sins for a time.

This sacrifice was done yearly and corporately, as a nation, to attain forgiveness from their sins.

But it had to be done year after year because the blood of an animal could only satisfy God for a time.

It’s the blood of His Son that satisfies God forever.

Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 9, verses 24-28

Hebrews 9:24-28

Jesus death brings permanent forgiveness for those who are truly His and are eagerly awaiting His return.

His death on the cross as the Lamb of God purchases our freedom, not from Egypt, but from sin and death.

We don’t have to fear death and what’s next.

Now let’s look at the crucial moments before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

Matthew 36:

Jesus in distress over what’s to come, goes to a familiar place to pray to His Father in Heaven

He tells Peter, James, and John, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”

In the NLT translation it reads, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.”

Have any of you been there, where you are so troubled, so distressed, in anguish that you feel like you’re going to die, well Jesus can relate.

Here we such a true glimpse of the humanity of Jesus, how real and scary this was for Him.

He cries out to God, “My Father!!

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

This is similar to the prayer Jesus taught His disciples

Matthew 6:9-

Let’s look at the progression, healthy and one for us to model when things come into our lives we’d rather not endure.

Father, if it’s possible let this cup pass from me, but not my will be done but yours

Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done

It doesn’t tell us what He says the third time, but I imagine it sounding something like this, “Father, strengthen me so I can drink this cup and accomplish your will.”

I say that because of what happens next.

Matthew 26:45-

Jesus enters the Garden overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, fear and anxiety, and He then with tremendous resolve, The hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going, my betrayer is at hand.”

Then He walks out and to Judas and the guards and let’s them arrest Him.

Two quick points

Jesus wants out, but will do what God wants

There was no other way for man to be made right with God.

So why did I read and talk about these two passages from chapter 26.

The ceremony that bought temporary forgiveness from God was pointing forward to Jesus, He is the ultimate Passover Lamb who, by His death and shed blood, purchased ultimate and permanent forgiveness from God for those who are truly His followers.

There was no other way.

No other way for man to fix his own situation, to make himself right with God.

If there was, then Jesus didn’t have to die.

No this is the way, the only way

Let us pray