Lent 24 post 1

Matthew 26.17-30

 

Matthew 26 just keeps getting darker, doesn’t it? We read of, an anointing for burial(.1-13), planning for a betrayal(.14-16), preparation for a memorial(the Passover .17-30), prediction of a denial(.31-35), overwhelming struggle(.36-46).

You will know those words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, but have you noticed how they are slung between betrayal and denial, between Judas’s deceit and Peter’s boasting? That is the dark backdrop to our precious sacrament of Holy Communion, when we remember the Lord’s death. Those are the sin-laden realities, in which we all share, that made it necessary.

It was a Passover meal, of course. And that’s when they would celebrate the exodus with a longing that God would come once more and deliver his people, as of old. There were set words for the host to say during the meal. But at two points, with the breaking of bread and the pouring out of one of the cups of wine, Jesus astonished his disciples with different words of his own.

There were four cups of wine at Passover (corresponding to the four promises of God in Exodus 6.6-7), and the third was called the cup of redemption or cup of blessing. It was probably while pouring out this cup that Jesus broke the traditional Passover liturgy with startling new words.

This is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26.28

How many times have you heard those familiar words? But try to hear them for the first time in that upper room, with the disciples who knew their Scriptures very well. Jesus is pulling together phrases from three different Old Testament scriptures to help his disciples (and us) grasp the meaning of his bloody death, now only hours away.

‘Blood of the covenant’

This comes from Exodus 24.8, when God made his covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai. There were sacrifices, the reading of God’s law, a covenant commitment, the sprinkling of blood and then a meal with God. This sealed the relationship between God and his people after the exodus. God had redeemed them, now they belonged to him. So what Jesus means is, ‘My blood, which will be poured out in sacrifice, seals the relationship between you and God. You and all my future disciples will be mine for ever in covenant love and commitment. I have redeemed you, you are mine.’

‘which is poured out for many’

These words from Isaiah 53.12 recall the Servant of the Lord portrayed in that chapter. The Servant will suffer and die, yet not for his own sins, but for ours.

He was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities,

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53.5

But after his unjust death, God will vindicate and exalt his Servant. Why? ‘Because he poured out his life unto death . . . for he bore the sin of many' (Isaiah 53.12). So Jesus identifies himself as the obedient Servant of the Lord. And today we can rejoice that his vicarious death has brought us resurrection life with him, for ever.

‘for the forgiveness of sins’

The other Gospels (and some manuscripts of Matthew) quote Jesus as saying ‘blood of the new covenant’. And that takes us to Jeremiah 31.33-34. God promised that there would be a permanently restored relationship with his people. And the bottom line of that promise was, ‘I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ So Jesus is saying, ‘That promise will be fulfilled and total forgiveness will be made possible through my atoning death.’