Sermon from Matthew 26:47-56 for Maundy Thursday

So…

After the Seder feast, Jesus and his disciples traveled to the garden to pray. It seems that this was a regular practice for Jesus. Coming to the end of the day, he took time to set all that happened in context, and then gave it all over to God.

In fact, it would be a great practice for us all, if it is not already. Put the day in context, remember to whom the day and you belong, and then let it go in prayer:

“Lord, the day is done. I can’t change it Lord; I can’t fix it. What has happened has happened and into your capable hands I commend it. I will no longer fret or worry or even be concerned with it. It is done and so am I, and so now to bed and to sleep in order to awaken to a new day in your service. Amen.”

And all would have been well, except that one of the disciples, Judas, had disappeared on the way to the garden, and had arrived with what Matthew tells us was a mob, a group stirred to action by Judas’ earlier visit with the Temple authorities to plot Jesus arrest.

Judas’ reasons aren’t real clear. Perhaps he wanted money. Perhaps he thought Jesus would start the revolution so many Zealots hope for. It my have not even been clear to Judas, making Jesus question all the more challenging and difficult.

“My friend, why are you here?”

It could be that Jesus was asking why Judas had arrived late, or why Judas had betrayed Jesus. It may have even been a more existential question, “Judas, do you understand who you are and what part you have been called to play, and what these actions of your will do to your own soul, tear it to pieces.

“Judas, by these actions, these choices, you have decided to what God would love you not to do, to sell your heart to someone else, to sacrifice your love for God, and more importantly God love for you for a pittance. But it is your choice to make. Love God as God has first loved you, or to reject God, and live and die on your own terms.

“It is the final choice in a life of #mefirst choices, the ultimate following of self-centeredness, and from this, I cannot save you, for you refuse to be saved.” I

In Jesus question, we hear Jesus final offer of love, and we see Judas’ final refusal.

But is a great and powerful question, one that Jesus asks of us.

My friends, what are you here?

To take up your cross and follow me?

Or to betray me?

As followers of Jesus we are given an opportunity. We get to choose; choose to follow Jesus or betray him.

Tonight, we once again consider our choices as we come to the table of the Lord.

Amen.