Mt 26:14-46

• vv14-16: Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus:
• v15: 30 silver coins - the 'reward' to Judas,
  
• he later (Friday morning--the morning of the day Jesus was crucified) returned the money (27:3-10) to the chief priests and the elders.
  
• Judas hanged himself afterwards (probably out of regret, 27:3).
  
• The chief priests and elders, considered it against the law to put the money into the treasury, then use the money to buy a piece of land (potter's field) as a burial place for the foreigners.
• The Bible did not say where, or whether, Judas' body was buried.
• This was a fulfilment of Jeremiah's prophacy (Zech 11:12-13, Jer 19:1-13, 32:6-9)
• vv17-30: The Lord's Supper:
• v17: first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread -> Jesus was arrested at this very night (Thursday, v31) and crucified the following day (Friday);
• v17b: the disciples are preparing for the feast (a.k.a. 'Passover'), totally unaware of what's going to happen in the upcoming days;
• v18: Jesus knew his appointed time is near;
• v21: Jesus said to the Twelve one of them will betray him;
• v24: woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man! It'd be better for him if he had not been born. <- This is very heavy stuff! I wonder how Judas felt at hearing it. But his heart was hardened and totally controlled by Satan. For him the struggle was over--he had lost.
  
• v25: Jesus indicated Judas (yes, it is you/you yourself have said it);
• vv26-28: Lord's prayer used at the communion;
• v30: they sang a hymn! I wonder how Jesus would have led the hymn. I pray that Jesus could show me the way.
• vv31-35: Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial:
• v31: all of the disciples will 'fall away' tonight; no exception! How difficult it is the challenge ahead of them!
• v32: Jesus looked past the death and talked about his resurrection. Death is not the end for us and certainly not for Jesus. Everyone must die, and after that he'll face judgment (Heb 9:27);
• v33 : Peter acclaimed he will never fall away. In v35, he again declared he'll never disown Jesus, even if he had to die together. Not just Peter, all others said the same thing (v35b). How feable is our resolution in dangerous situations!
  
• v34: 3 times will Peter disown Jesus before the rooster crows that night.
• vv36-46: Gethsemane:
• v39: Yet not as I will, but as you will.
• v41: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. <- this is excatly the problem.
• v44: three times Jesus went to pray. Not that the number 3 has any special meaning, but only after 3 times, he felt ready.
• v46: here comes my betrayer!