Just as It is Written

Mt. 26: 17-24
Mt. 26:24a; “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!”

Jesus was only thirty three years old when he faced the crucifixion. He could have avoided it if he had chosen to do so. He could have pursued it for a number of reasons. The crucifixion was physically too painful to bear. He had served God and his flock for the last three years, but many of them had deserted him. He devoted himself more to the Twelve. Yet they were too weak to carry out God's mission. Even one of the Twelve was about to betray him. It did not appear to be the right time for his departure. Postponing just one more year appeared to be a viable option. Yet, Jesus held onto the Scriptures in making a decision for his final moment. Despite many discouraging signs around him, Jesus made a firm decision to go ahead as was written about him.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” (Mt. 26:17). It was the Thursday of the Festival and the time came for them to have the Passover meal. Jesus had entered Jerusalem triumphantly four days before. Many things had happened in between, including the righteous anger of Jesus at the temple court. It was the single most important action that upset the religious leaders and sealed the fate of Jesus to death. From that time on, the popularity for Jesus had been declining. People began to grasp that Jesus was not going to fight Romans for their political freedom, nor bring down the manna from the heaven for their hunger. Those who had fervently followed him with wrong motives began to have second thoughts and became lukewarm.

The Passover meal ignited the biggest festival of the year (Ex. 12). The whole course of the meal that was often accompanied by instructions helped them to remember what God had done. God led his people out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt through his servant Moses. The angel of death struck every first male born in Egypt, except the Jews. The angel passed over the door of every Jew, since he saw the blood of the lamb at his doorpost. The angel's action coined the name Passover. On that evening people ate the lamb, ready to move out. They had been celebrating it generation after generation. On this day most Jews met with their family members or relatives. Jesus' disciples, however, celebrated the Passover with Jesus. They had become the family members of Jesus. The Passover day was not an exception. Although there were so many uncertainties in the air, their loyalty to Jesus had not been swayed. They were eager to have the Passover meal with Jesus.

Every year Jesus' disciples asked his opinion on the location. Jesus replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover (Mt. 26:18-19). Jesus had not mentioned the name of the man, but the disciples were able to find him and prepare the Passover. Jesus did not look for the opinion of the man, but made a request. It was more than a request. It was a short notice to have the Passover in his house. What if the owner had a plan to use his place for his own family members for the Passover? Every corner in the city would have been busy and occupied to accommodate the people from all over the world. The owner of the house did not challenge such rude request, but considered it honor to host Jesus and his disciples. At the introduction, Jesus said, "My appointed time is near." It could refer to Jesus' appointment with him for using his house. More likely, however, it referred to his appointment with God. It revealed what occupied Jesus most as he had braced himself for the crucifixion after celebrating the Passover. It was not just another Passover that would happen again the next year. It would be the last Passover with his disciples on earth. Jesus was fully aware what was going to happen after the Passover meal with his disciples. The phrase overshadowed his decision to go as it was written about him.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve (Mt. 26:20). Eating was a joyful time, especially for the disciples who had not had regular meals all the time. But they felt something different this time. To overcome strange feelings, they focused on food without even looking at one another. And while they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. (Mt. 26:21)” It was like dropping a bomb in the middle of a peaceful meal. Everyone was shocked. It was the most gruesome statement from Jesus. At the same time, they took it to their heart. They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” (Mt. 26:22). They had been loyal to Jesus. They had no intention to betray Jesus. But they were aware that Jesus had never lied. Jesus said what was truly going to happen. They were each worried that they themselves might end up betraying Jesus despite their desire to be loyal to him to the end. They wanted to find it out from Jesus. The disciples thought hopefully that Jesus would clarify this for them, since he said only one of them would betray him, not everyone.

Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me (Mt. 26:23)." Jesus did not mention name. If Jesus had named Judas Iscariot his identity as a betrayer would have been clear to everyone. Instead, Jesus just explained what the betrayer did. It is unlikely Judas Iscariot was the only person who dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus. John was the closet to Jesus. Probably John dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus more than anyone else. Probably Peter did as much as John did. But this indicates how sly Judas Iscariot was to the last minute. He acted just like anyone else in the room. But he had a clear intention to betray Jesus. Although he heard it, he pretended not to know it. He acted just like anyone else, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?"

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him (Mt. 26:24a). It was heartbreaking moment when his betrayer refused to repent and rather pretended to love him. He ate bread and drank wine with him like other disciples. He did everything as usual as if he had no evil intention. Jesus had so many options in dealing with his betrayer. He could have exposed Judas’ identity to all. He could have asked Peter to take Judas Iscariot outside and persuade him to change his mind. He could have asked Matthew to hurt Judas physically to discourage his further action. In any company or organization, betrayal is the most serious crime that guarantees permanent separation or even death. Peter the Great achieved so much to modernize Russia (Wikipedia). Unfortunately his son was a weakling and opposed some of his father's policies. He had his son arrested and tortured to death. It set the dark tradition in the Russian history, eliminating some space for compassion. At this crucial moment, Jesus held on to the Scriptures. He was aware of the appointed time. He understood what God was going to do with his destiny. What made it more difficult to bear was the fact that the process involved his own disciple. Jesus did not want Judas to be part of this— especially one among the Twelve. He had loved Judas and taken care of him like his own son. Judas had been special and dear to Jesus, since he had followed Jesus, eaten together with him and slept together with him. Judas was closer to Jesus than his own family members.

When Jesus could not change Judas’ mind, Jesus could have been despaired. He could be fatalistic, thinking that there was nothing he could do to change the situation. At this critical time Jesus held on to the Scriptures. There are three things to learn from Jesus here. First, Jesus understood the meaning behind his destiny. When he chose the Scriptures, it was about what was written about him. Jesus would be arrested, interrogated, tortured and eventually crucified. All this was prophesied, especially by Isaiah 53. It was necessary to save men from their sins. John the Baptist summarized the whole in one sentence, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn. 1:29b)" God was going to use Jesus' utter sacrifice as a ransom sacrifice for men's sins. He was going to be like the Passover lamb. When the angel of death visited the Jews, it did not strike the people inside not because they were any better than Egyptians, but because he saw the blood of the lamb painted on the doorpost. In the same way, many would be saved down through the generation because of his sacrifice.

Secondly, Jesus completely trusted in God for the outcome. Although he could understand God's plan, he would never see the outcome during his life on earth. Everything would happen only after his death. He was still young, full of stamina and dreams. There was so much work to do when he looked at the situation around him. No religious leaders changed their mind despite the tremendous effort Jesus had made in the last three and a half years. Rather they had kept their own view on their own practice and considered Jesus as an outlaw. Jesus' disciples were not ready either. Rather they were vulnerable to any attack and ready to desert Jesus. Yet, Jesus had only a single heart to work with God Almighty and put his trust in God. Although he would not do anything more he firmly believed that God would use him to save men as he had planned.

Lastly, by holding to the Scriptures, Jesus was well prepared to take the path set for him. He would not change the course, but he would maximize the opportunity to do his part. For example, when Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus and signaled the guards to arrest Jesus, one of Jesus' disciples drew his sword, attacked one and was ready to be engaged in bloody battle. If it had continued, it would have massacred every single disciple, not to mention Jesus himself. They were outnumbered and there was no way for Jesus and his company to overcome the guards. Jesus immediately stopped his disciple, healed the one attacked and let his disciples escape. During the fiery trial, Jesus mostly remained silent. Before the King Herod, Jesus did not say a word. But when it was important for him to make a statement, he did make a statement. Even on the cross, while he was in and out of dream due to continuous pains and drains of blood, he spoke many important words for us to remember.

While Jesus took his destiny according to the Scriptures, he clearly cursed the choice Judas Iscariot had made. Judas went as was written, but his choice was eternally condemned. “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Mt. 26:24). Many have argued that Judas is part of plan and deserves praise for his action. It is an outrageous statement, completely distorting the meaning of God's sovereignty. There should not be any hint of such surmise. Nobody should beautify his betrayal, nor relate it to God's sovereignty simply because it was mentioned in the Scriptures (Mt. 26:23). From the beginning Jesus pointed out Judas' choice, not as a helper for God's sovereignty, but as a betrayer. It all grew out of his covet for money (Jn. 12:6). Here we learn a very important lesson. Both Jesus and Judas went as was written. But the outcome was quite opposite. One saved the world and the other killed himself out of regret. So acting according to one phrase from the Bible does not necessarily justify his action, nor please God. His action must be consistent with God's entire plan of salvation. At the minimum his action must meet the basic ethics.

At the crucial moment, Jesus held on to the Scriptures regarding his destiny. Instead of trying to change its course, Jesus viewed it as God's sovereignty and made himself subject to the course. So he was not fatalistic to the circumstance. Rather he proactively participated in the path defined for him and fully cooperated with God in the process— to be the Passover lamb as God had intended it to be. It meant for Jesus’ own death, but he saw its lasting fruit beyond his own immediate death. In this way, he set out his ministry with his utmost reverence to the Scriptures, "It is written.." He concluded his ministry with his absolute obedience to the Scriptures, "Just as it is written."