Matthew 26:30

“ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

As Matthew 26 begins it is two days before PASSOVER. Two days before the entire nation of Israel will pause to remember…

the work of God to redeem them from Egypt.

Exodus 12 gives us the account of the first PASSOVER. Given “to the whole community” and not to the individual, Exodus records “each family was to take a young lamb or goat, one per family, and at twilight the lamb was to be killed, the blood taken and smeared on the door posts and door frame. Then roasted the meat was to be share in the family.

Dressed, with sandals and a walking stick – ready to go -they were to eat with urgency for on that night God would visit the land as the final plague upon Egypt and in any home that was not protected by the blood of the Lamb, the youngest in the household would die.

Matthew 26 tells us that two days before the PASSOVER Jesus was in Bethany, just 3 kilometers from Jerusalem.

In verses ¾ Matthew takes us into Jerusalem to where the religious leaders have gathered, where we learn that they are now actively plotting to kill Jesus after the PASSOVER.

Meanwhile in Bethany, Jesus is in the home of Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. Mary, we learn in John 12, takes a nard, a container of expensive perfume/oil and anoints the feet of Jesus.

The aroma would be very strong and would fill the home.

She then dries his feet with her hair.

She loves him dearly and this display of generosity is not just for now

….for that strong aroma would stay with Jesus for the coming hours even as he faced the cruel treatment of Rome, the tale of her generosity would be present.

There is great commotion at the home of Lazarus, not just because of what is happening but because of the testimony of Lazarus himself – and who can deny the miracle of his resurrection?

The apostle John tell us that this creates such a stir in the people that the religious leaders decide to kill Lazarus as well!

Oh that our witness would be so attractive, so powerful, that we would impact those who hear our own story.

Matthew 26:14 takes us to the meeting of Judas with leading priests – Judas’ only question is “how much?”

Apparently, betrayal has a cost.

Judas will only after the fact realize just what the real cost of betrayal really is.

And now it is PASSOVER.

The time for sacrifice of the lamb.

But the masses have no idea, even as they have travelled a long way and are now centrered on Jerusalem and these high holy days what is about to transpire. They have no idea that when these days are over, no further sacrifice will ever be needed again.

Which always make me wonder – in my own spiritual journey – what is not evident to me as the work of God unfolds, and how can I have eyes to see and ears to hear.

May God help us.

We move quickly to the Upper Room, to the place that the disciples have prepared for the meal, that they would celebrate with Jesus. They are at The Table.

And Jesus reveals to them all that one will betray Him.

And there is much commotion. “is it I?”

And while the meal is being shared, one, Judas, exits the room to go and meet up with the religious leaders….he knows where Jesus will go after the meal and he will take them there.

And having shared the meal, Matthew 26:30 says that they “sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.”

They sang a hymn – what hymn.

It is the same hymn that Jews still sign today.

It is the Great Hallel.

It is Psalm 111 – 118

If you look at those Psalms, you will see the words which Jesus, with the disciples sang. Even as they thought about the words of Jesus – that He would be killed, as they considered the departure of Judas and the “one of you will betray me”.

If you keep going through The Great Hallel you will eventually come to Psalm 118 which has some powerful phrases in it, but none more so than verse 24….

This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day – this day, the day that will result in the death of the sinless Son of God. The day that will see an innocent man arrested, beaten, flogged, berated and mocked. This day that will see him stripped naked and beaten, forced to carry his own cross, to finally be nailed and hung naked upon that cross in a public execution.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

And Jesus heads to the Mount of Olives knowing that Judas will be coming, and Jesus sings This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Redemption –

Forgiveness –

heaven touching earth –

This is The Day.

For on this day a remarkable, divinely appointed moment came for us all, as the death of Christ Jesus occurs at that moment the veil in the Temple is torn in two and the Holy of Holies becomes accessible to all – no longer just for one – the High Priest but we all have access to an intimate approach to God.

And instead of having to go to The Temple, now God comes to us and resides in us.

No need for a lamb

No need for a priest

No need to be fearful

No need to hesitate.

This is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it!

This is the day.

Now – who has been waiting

who has been wanting?

who has been hesitant.

This is the day.