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Show IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS Matthew 26: 1-5 We can learn something from the Psalmist David when he sang, "Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." He wanted look very no reason good us to know that things did not in terms of life but that there to be afraid. F or a was shadow looks like but is not the real thing. A shadow is shade within defined limits, representing the form of the body representation of the real thing, that which is obscure and deprived of light David was talking about walking through the valley, the depths of despair. In essence that is what Jesus was talking about in this text as he walked in the shadow of the In this text we cross .. find Jesus earthly public finishing His mission and message. He has said all that needs to be said to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the multitude. Now, He moves on to more private discussions and teachings with the twelve. What is more, He has been 1 going about doing good and is about ready to give His life for the salvation of souls and the forgiveness of sin. His death is to be by that cruel and crude form of the just two days the away, cross. standing Here He is, in the shadow of cross. Eugene Peterson puts it in contemporary language: "When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, You know that Passover comes in two days. That's when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion. At that very moment, the party ofhigh priests and religious leaders were meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Listen to the text Passover week. hands, " they First, as "We don't want said. " (Matthew 26: in the shadow of the of the Lord's public a riot on our 1-5) cross is the end discourse. There will be 2 no more controversies with the scribes Pharisees, and the Sadducees. deliver another sermon on , the He will not the mount of Olives. parables are all done. Who will sit on the throne of glory is settled. His work of public teaching has come to an end and He is now embarking on the work of atonement. He is ready to make that ultimate sacrifice for the The salvation of the world. He stands to offer propitiation, the gift of women, boys, and girls. Himself as the sufficient grace for guilty men, He finished teaching, shadow of the now it's show time in the cross. Notice in the shadow of the cross, Jesus clearly identifies the time and the occasion. "After two days is the Passover." The time is long. Just two days and the events will all come together around one of the most important not festivals of all times. For the Passover celebrates the passing over when the blood of a lamb doorpost of the of the death was angel sprinkled on the Israelite houses. This time the 3 celebration was sure to be different. For the highest day would be marked or desecrated by the crucifixion of the King of Kings. Christ is becoming our sacrificial lamb, shedding His blood freely and calmly for us. See the Lamb of God taking His stance in the shadow of the cross. Finally, in the shadow of the cross, Jesus is delivered up to be crucified. "The Son of Man is delivered up, is betrayed to be crucified." Although this is the tenth time that they sought to kill Him, this is only the second time that Jesus laid out the form and manner of His death. The Roman governor appointed Caiaphas to be high priest that very year and Caiaphas urged the Sanhedrin to look for ways to take Jesus's life. In cooperation with Him assembled the chief priests, the scribes and the elders. These high level religious leaders all scheme and connive to do away with Jesus. Somebody reminded them that it was Passover time and that all sorts of people were 4 in town for the they agreed to take Him quietly but not to kill Him yet. They would hold Him until after the crowd was gone. They did not want to stir up the anger of his loyal followers, to inflame the passion of those gathered for the Passover, to arouse a burst of public sympathy. They would make Him a martyr if they crucified Him on Passover. They thought they could stop His movement but they forgot that Jesus said, celebration. So if I be lifted up, I will draw all unto me." "And I , men I close when I tell you this. When you stand in the shadow of the cross, be careful that you do not hear the teachings of Jesus unto condemnation like the chief priest, scribes, and elders did. "For the word of God is like a two edged sword." Second, remember that in the shadow of the cross, death is not the end. "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Finally, those who believe in the shadow of the nothing to cross have fear of death. For death is but passage from life unto eternity. 5 our |
