JESUS’ LAST DAYS

Lesson 12

Key Text:

“ ‘This very night you will all fall away

on account of me . . .’ ”

Matthew 26:31,

In this lesson, Jesus is now entering the

final moments before the cross. The

world, even the universe,

begins to face the most crucial moment in the

history of creation.So many lessons can be derived from the events that

we will look at this week, but as we read, let’s focus on one—freedom and free will. Look at how the various characters used the great and costly gift of freedom. Look at the powerful and even eternal consequences that arose from the use, one way or another, of this gift.

Peter, Judas, and the woman with the alabaster box all had to make choices. But most important of all, Jesus, too, had to make choices, and the greatest one was to go to the cross, even though His human nature had cried out against it: “ ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’ ” Matt. 26:39,

JUDAS

MARY

The irony is incredible: the gift of free will that we had abused brought Jesus to this very moment, where Jesus—using His own free will—had to choose whether or not to save us from the destruction that our abuse of free will would otherwise have brought us.

THE ANOINTMENT“For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she

did it for My burial.” (Matthew 26:12)

Jesus was anointed by Mary with a very expensive oil of spikenard shortly before His death (John 12:1-3).The disciples—specially Judas—saw a waste in that action. Nevertheless, Jesus saw a heart filled with gratitude for undeserved love (Luke 7:47).God gave us free will. People used that free will to decide how to relate to Jesus in the moments prior to His death: Mary decided to honor Him, the leaders condemned Him, Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him.What about you? What will you do with Jesus? Will you use your freedom to give Him the offering of a grateful heart?

“But few appreciate all that Christ is to them. If they did, the great love of Mary would be expressed, the anointing would be freely bestowed. The expensive ointment would

not be called a waste. Nothing would be thought too costly to give for Christ, no self-denial or self-sacrifice too great

to be endured for His sake.”E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 62, pg. 565)

THE NEW COVENANT“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new[a] covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” (Matthew 26:27-28)The first Passover, the blood of the lamb redeemed

Israel.

Since then, the Passover pointed to the blood that would be spilled to redeem us from the slavery of sin instead of the slavery in Egypt.

Now we celebrate the Communion service which points us back to the blood that was already spilled to redeem us.

We also remember the promise of a future celebration; drinking the new wine with Jesus “in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29) after He comes back.

GETHSEMANE“Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to

death. Stay here and watch with Me.’”(Matthew 26:38)

Transgressing the Law involves eternal death (Romans 6:23).Jesus had to carry our sins at the cross and to die to avoid that. He took the sinner’s place.He was afraid of being separated from the Father forever.

Eternity won’t be enough to understand the immense love Jesus showed for us from Gethsemane to the cross.

He was distressed and cried out, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.” But His love for us also made Him cry out, “not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:38).

JUDAS “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed,

and went and hanged himself.”(Matthew 27:5)

Satan tempted the apostles fiercely. Judas and Peter succumbed to temptation. But the Bible says about Judas that “Satan entered him.” (John 13:27). Why?

Judas freely chose to be a thief, to close his heart to Jesus’ and to finally sell his Teacher for a small price.He didn’t even enjoy the “reward” of his sin, since he got rid of the money at the Temple. His remorse made him commit suicide.

Judas was so close to eternal life; and yet, he chose to throw it away for nothing.

PETER“Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed.” (Matthew 26:74)

Peter showed off by brandishing his sword when the crowed came to capture Jesus.Soon after that, he denied to knowing “the Man.” He feared for his live. He suddenly forgot the three years of miracles and living everyday with Christ.The crow of the rooster made him understand his sin. In that moment, Jesus looked straight to him (Luke 22:61).His free will made him betray his Teacher. Nevertheless, he accepted the call of the Holy Spirit that led him to repentance.“So he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75).

“Every man is free to choose what power he will have to rule over him. None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but that they can find deliverance in Christ. […] No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who will consent to enter into covenant relation with the God of heaven are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature. […] The spirits of darkness will battle for the soul once under their dominion, but angels of God will contend for that soul with prevailing power. The Lord says, ‘Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? ... Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.’”

E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 26, pg. 258)

Further Thought:

In 1959, two hoodlums entered a home in Kansas and murderedtwo teenage children and their parents. Before the killers were found, the brother of the murdered father wrote this letter to the local paper: “ ‘There is much resentment in this community. I have even heard on more than one occasion that the man, when found, should be hanged from the nearest tree. Let us not feel this way. The deed is done and taking another life cannot change it. Instead, let us forgive as God would have us do. It is not right that we should hold a grudge in our hearts. The doer of this act is going to find it very difficult indeed to live with himself. His only peace of mind will be when he goes to God for forgiveness. Let us not stand in the way but instead give prayers that he may find his peace.’ ”—Truman Capote, In Cold Blood (New York: Modern Library, 2013), p. 124.

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