The Gospel of Matthew

This devotional is written by Kat Karamani-Taylor.  Kat is married to Mark, is a Year 6 teacher in North West London and is currently studying for her MA in Education #student4lyf. She loves creating intense itineraries for upcoming holidays (when they can happen again), running and singing karaoke with a dash of interpretive dance.

Matthew 26:17-30

The Passover with the Disciples

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so."

Institution of the Lord's Supper

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Reflection

"My appointed time is near." (v18) - Jesus alludes to his death early on. The 'certain man' in the city that he tells his disciples to go to must also be aware of what is going to happen as that phrasing would make sense to him when the disciples reach him. How many other people might have known what was going to happen? "While they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."" (v21) - imagine being at a dinner party with some of your closest friends and one of them suddenly says this. Bit of a mood killer! Bit of drama! However you view it, this is real and raw conversation. Maybe we could afford to be more real and raw with those close to us? The disciples are very quick to say "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?" I find this interesting; it is as though they don't think they would in their hearts and yet they know that as humans we are going to make mistakes so it is possible that any one of them were the ones to betray him. We can sometimes think "Oh I'd never do that" but can we ever truly know until we are in that situation? I also find it interesting that Judas asks the very same question. "Take and eat; this is my body" (v26) - I think that it is so powerful that we still say these very same words today. Something that Jesus said so long ago is still said today, all across the globe.

Pray.

Lord, I pray that in the lead up to Easter we would be reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I pray that we would reflect on our own actions and think about what we do and how we treat those around us. I pray that we would turn to you when we lose our way and be reminded of your unconditional love for us, despite our flaws. Amen.

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