This chapter starts off with Judas revealing that he realized what he had done. Verse 4, “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility. Both Judas and the chief priests acknowledge the innocence of Christ. The money was thrown into the temple and and then Judas went and hung himself. In verse 6 "The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” The hypocrisy is amazing. They are willing to pay for the betrayal of Jesus betrayal but the "Blood Money" could not go into the treasury so they used it for foreigners...
In verse 11, Jesus is asked by Pilate if he is the king of the Jews and Jesus answered him but when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.The governor seems to be playing both sides, he wants to keep the Jews happy while still trying to find a way to keep Jesus alive since he did not think Jesus was guilty. In verse 19, While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” So this brings up the fact that in prior chapters we have seen Gods plan and how there were certain things that had to happen to bring about the fulfillment of the scriptures. If this is true was the dream brought about by Satan as a way of trying to stop the fulfillment of scripture or was it God confirming yet another way that Jesus was innocent.
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.It amazes me the power that religious leaders have on the general population. The governor tried to help I think but in the end had to give in due to the fear of riots. Jesus was flogged and Barabas was set free. I wonder how many times the crowd looked back on that moment and asked themselves, "What have we done"
Jesus is mocked by the soldiers and tortured prior to the crucifixion.45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. The curtain being torn is one of the most important and symbolic occurrences that I can think of and one of the main reasons Jesus died for our sins. For every person to have the ability to go before God through the blood of Christ. I guess this also leveled the playing field in the religious circles so that the sacrifices were done, since the perfect sacrifice was done. A perfect and willing sacrifice, wow.
The faith that Joseph showed by going to Pilate to ask for Jesus's body, is amazing. I believe it was divine favor because I am sure the religious leaders would have loved to have the body to prevent future problems, but God is bigger than the plans of men. Jesus is prepared for burial and guards are set at his tomb.
I'll never catch up! more on Judas. I got stuck on the potter's field. I read the verses it references in Zechariah. They are very good and will probably inspire a second poem by the same name, but here's one inspired by Matthew 27:
ReplyDeletepotter’s field
30 pieces of silver
planted in a field of broken
pots scattered shattered
unyielding soil breaks
my shovel my back
I bury the dead anyway
nail beds bloody with exertion
I use what I have
I do what I must
too late to go back
silver cold and entombed
what good is money?
just another rock to lay my head
just one more piece of shrapnel
I count and gather each
like a list of sins
sling them in quick succession
once valuable weapon
a flat hole in the eye of a fresco
the dying light stains
glass doesn’t break
stubborn as soil
I’ve thrown it all
every last cent
flat stanley’s mother says
people should think twice
it is too late to give or get
too late to go back
bury me in silver
the rest of matthew 27 also processed in poetry
ReplyDeletehe saved others but he cannot save himself
they shouted
night at noon
we stay at a distance
sweating fingers intertwined
I can feel your pulse next to mine
I can’t see your tear stained face
but I can hear the grief in your breathing
I imagine I sound the same
tighter I hold on to you
pronounced reminder
we are still alive
blood knocking against veins
against my mind
I have seen enough blood for a lifetime
when the power went out
you would think you’d hear screams
unexpected alarm among the crowd
but everyone is screamed out
skulls suddenly shrouded
empty eyes erased in a neighbor’s face
blackness steals their voices
belligerence
three shivering sunless hours
silent suffering like a halo
his ghostly glow the only light
uneasy in this nightmare
ominous corporate held breath
we are on edge waiting for the end
three hours of suspense
supernatural shout rends the rocks and silence
shakes more than confidence
foundations quake
birthpains or defeat
the buried souls shake the dirt off their feet
and walk among the living dead
streets of Jerusalem
broken barriers and empty tombs
he is dead
the dead are alive
You have a way with words, thanks for sharing the poetry :)
ReplyDeleteLove you!