Thursday, June 13, 2024

PT-1 "The Defection of the Disciples" (Matt. 26:55-56)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/13/2024 11:23 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  PT-1 “The Defection of the Disciples”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                              Reference:  Matthew 26:55-56

 

            Message of the verses:  55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 “But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”

 

            As we begin to look at this section one must wonder if what Jesus is saying to the multitude was sarcasm.  He may have been saying something like this:  “Am I so dangerous, that you have to come out in such great numbers and with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber?  Am I so elusive that you had to capture Me by stealth in the dead of the night?  You know very well that Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching.  How come you did not seize Me then?”

 

            I think we know the answer to this question and the answer is that prophecy had to be fulfilled.  MacArthur writes “Jesus knew that no amount of truth or logic would dissuade His enemies from executing their plot against Him.  They knew their charges were spurious and unjust and that they had had countless opportunities to arrest Him publicly.  But when evil men are determined to have their way, they will not be deterred by such considerations as truth, justice, legality, or righteousness.”

 

            In verse 56 we read the answer to the question, something that I have already written about “But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets."  I did not really have to do with their personal reasons and motivations were, prophecy had to be fulfilled.  They were unwittingly accomplishing what their own Scriptures have said through the prophets what you would do to your Messiah.  This was completely apart from their own evil intentions as God is sovereignly using them to accomplish His righteous and gracious purposes.  So in doing this He will demonstrate that His infallible Word through the prophets would be fulfilled.

 

            These men who are doing this to Jesus were not mere robots in following the prophecies that they were helping to full, this was what was in their own hearts and without salvation they will suffer great consequences in hell for doing this.

 

            Now when we come to His disciples this brought little comfort to them as they had forgotten what the Lord had just spoken to them, telling them that they would all flee.  “Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED’” (Matt. 26:31).  Let us also look at John 18:4-5 which helps explain why they really did not have to run away “4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.”

            MacArthur adds “It is easy to criticize the disciples for their faithlessness and cowardice.  But every honest believer knows that at times he has run from possible embarrassment, ridicule, or mockery because of his association with Christ.  We have to confess that we, too, have left our Lord and fled when the cost of discipleship has seemed to high.”

 

6/13/2024 11:56 AM

 

           

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