In Matthew 26


● notice the frequency of “when,” “then,” and “now,” suggesting that events are following
close upon one other or even simultaneously in different places,

● register “plotted” (4) and “stealth” (4) as words of calculation and shrewdness and
sinister intent, characterizing the actions of the highest religious leaders of the day,

● contrast the story of the unnamed woman in the home of Simon the leper anointing
Jesus’ head (6-7) with the story of Mary in an unnamed house anointing his feet (John
12:1-3),

● contrast the responses to the anointing in each account: the disciples in Matthew and
Judas by himself in John fuss and fret over cost while Jesus’ references his burial in
each (12 and John 12:7), once again showing the importance of learning to see well,

● notice the familiar thirty pieces of silver (15) involved in Judas’ dealmaking and the
reference to Judas’ persistence “from that moment” (16) in pursuing his goal,

● wonder why the disciples “one after another” (22) feel compelled to ask, “Is it I, Lord”
(22),

● notice that Jesus, when Judas asks with his “Rabbi” (25) twist, turns Judas’ words back
to him (25) in a way similar to his response to the high priest (64): “You have said so,”

● consider the brevity of the account of the Lord’s Supper and its reference both to
covenant (28) and to kingdom (29),

● notice a detail I usually pass over: the singing of a hymn (30),

● consider the spatial arrangement in the garden- larger group of disciples, three disciples,
and Jesus- and Jesus’ repeated return to the disciples as an enactment of anguish on
Jesus’ part, an embodiment of the anguish of his soul, wanting solitude and wanting
company,

● read aloud the garden scene with its threefold submission to God’s will (39, 42, 44),

● contrast the uncertainty of the hour of the coming of the Lord talked about in the
preceding chapters with the certainty of the present events: “The hour is at hand” (45)
and “My betrayer is at hand” (46),

● marvel that Jesus calls Judas “friend” (50) as he he draws near to betray,

● celebrate Jesus’ bold proclamation before the high priest: “But I tell you, from now on
you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds
of heaven” (64), and

● register Peter’s bluster (33, 35), betrayal (69 -74), and bitter weeping (75).

Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson