While He was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for Him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour-when darkness reigns.”

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I hear people all the time say, “But you don’t know what they did to me,” or “You don’t know what they said about me.” Jesus knows…in fact, one of his closest friends who He had spent every day of the last three years with betrayed Him and handed Him over to death. Sometimes we hold grudges and have a hard time forgiving people. It’s important to remember, Jesus forgave you. He forgave everyone who has turned their back on Him. He forgave as He was being nailed to the cross. Betrayed by one of His inner circle, and still willing to forgive. Let the grudges go…let the anger go…seek forgiveness and learn to forgive.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” And angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When He rose from prayer and went back to His disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

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Jesus kept telling His disciples to pray so that they won’t fall into temptation. He knew what was getting ready to happen…He knew the events that were about to take place. Even though He had warned His disciples, I don’t think they truly knew what was about to happen. They were about to be alone…He was about to leave for a few days. What would they do? How would they react? Jesus wanted them to prepare in Spirit for that moment. We should follow suit. We don’t know what today or tomorrow has in store. What will we do? How will we react? Today, start making it a priority to pray and prepare for any temptation or trial that may come your way. Be strengthened…be ready. You never know what the future holds.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to the man who betrays Him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit in thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen you’re brothers.”

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors;’ and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” He replied.

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It’s hard not to focus on self. Even the disciples, being told Jesus would suffer soon and leave them, broke out in an argument about who was the greatest. Its hard not to focus on self. But Jesus demands us to lower ourselves and elevate others. I think we know this, teach about this, even talk about this. But when it comes right down to doing this…we seldom follow through. You want to resemble love, grace, and hope? Lower yourself…and elevate others. Jesus did it for you. Now it’s our turn.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

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I find it interesting that the religious leaders were trying to get rid of Jesus because they were afraid of the people. It wasn’t that they feared God and didn’t want someone interfering with their relationship with Him…it wasn’t that they feared God and wanted to make sure they were responsible for always doing the right thing…it was because they feared the people. This shows where their heart lied…it was in their authority, reputation, and image. This is a temptation for a lot of people. We focus so much on these things that only point back to ourself…when we should be saying and doing everything to point to Jesus. Don’t be like these religious leaders…be in reverent fear of God…and live like it.

Some of His disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Then He said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

But before all this, they will seize your and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and put you in prison, and you will he brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.

When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that it’s desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift tour heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all of those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the temple.

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I encourage you to spend some to unwrapping this passage for yourself. But what I found interesting is the fact that the disciples were told they may die, they would be persecuted and hated for following Jesus and they did it anyways. Now that’s faith! You and I don’t hardly face any of that. We get to serve God freely. And yet, we still struggle sometimes to do so. Pursue the faith of these disciples. Pursue their live and commitment to Christ. Because, well, as Jesus said, if you can you will win at life.

As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

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Giving back to God should be sacrificial. If we only give out of our comfort, what are we truly giving? If we only give Him Sunday, and we take the other 6 days what does that show? If we only give a percentage of offering that doesn’t effect us at all, what sacrifice is that? If we only give Him the parts of our lives that we are comfortable giving…that’s called being lukewarm. Following Jesus means completely and totally following Him with every fiber of our being. It’s all or nothing. What will it be?

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to His disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

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Jesus warns of thinking too highly of yourself. Instead of needing the fancy things and the honorable seats, we should be humble and put others before ourselves. Really, what He is saying, is if you act in this way you don’t truly understand or know God. You have knowledge, but no relationship. The love and focus is on self…which will bring severe punishment. Put self aside…humble yourself…exalt the name of the Lord in your life…love God and love others as you do yourself.

Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

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Jesus is explaining that the Son of Man is the son of God…not a son of a created being. David was no different than me and you. Sometimes we put too much status on individuals and we elevate them to a status that God never intended for us to be at. We are all created in the image of God. We are all sinners. We are all in need of God’s grace. We all needed a Savior. Let’s take our focus off of man and fix it on the Creator of man. He is the only one who deserves our praise and worship.

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”

Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” And no one dared ask Him any more questions.

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There is a lot we could unpack in this passage. Everything from the resurrection, marriage, unbelief, etc. But what stood out to me today was even the teachers of the law…who were trying to plot to kill Jesus, applauded His response to the Sadducees. You see, I believe sometimes we can get so caught up in religion and even in particular denominations that we almost make it a competition. Who can be better…who is more right. No wonder the unchurched wants nothing to do with that. It’s important to have the right doctrine, but we don’t have to dislike and even to an extent hate someone of another denomination or belief. We are to love them…not compete with them. The teachers of the law were so caught up in this that they were applauding the one they were trying to kill…all because He put the Sadducees in their place. It’s not a competition…our job is to love God and love others and share the Gospel. We should want everyone to be with us in eternity. It’s time we shift our thinking.

Keeping a close watch on Him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something He said, so that they might hand Him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned Him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

They were unable to trap Him in what He said there in public. And astonished by His answer, they became silent.

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I love this. He uses the coin that bears an image of Caesar to show what they give back to Caesar. So what bore God’s image? The people! He was telling the spies and everyone listening that you give the taxes to Caesar as the coin bears his image, and they need to give their life back to God because they bear His image. We are all image-bearers of our Creator. We need to give back to Him what is His…our lives. Turn back to God today. Give Him what He is owed and what He deserves. I can’t think of anyone or anything else I would rather give my life to then Him. What about you?