Day 150: Matthew 23-25
Chapter 23 is one of the most controversial moments in the life and ministry of Jesus. He have been talking about love, and teaching his disciples about the better way to deal with neighbors and enemies, but in this chapter, he does not look so friendly for many people. The way he is talking with the religious leaders sounds like very harsh, but when you understand that this was more an institutional denunciation rather than a personal confrontation, it really makes sense.
The religious Jews system had been corrupted, and the people were very frustrated because instead of finding God, they were in a maze of rules and statutes that did not provide a way to God. Jesus was that way, but the religious leaders did not want either to allow the people to come to him the real way to God.
Chapter 24 is the scatology view of the events that will prepare the second coming of Christ. Jesus is trying to make sure, that his disciple could understand, that this world and its future were in God’s hand, and that everything will finally make sense in God’s plan.
In Chapter 25 the Lord is trying to encourage his disciples to be faithful, he presents it with three different examples in which is expected something from the participants. In the ten virgins parable they suppose to be ready for the wedding, in the talents parable they suppose to use and invest correctly what was given to them, and in the final account they suppose to take care of the needy as well as they would do with the Lord himself.
In others words, what you do with your life is directly related with God and your neighbors, and God is expecting for us to use our opportunity to be in this word, to be a blessing for others as well as to bring glory to his holly name.
Day 151: Matthew 26-28
These last chapters talks about the final hours of Jesus. He has done everything that he supposed to do, now a wonderful woman anointed him with a very expensive perfume when he was getting ready for the meal (26:6-13).he used this occasion to prepare his disciples for his final hours, he explained them that what she did was more than beautiful, was the preparation for his burial.
The other thing, which Jesus did, was to establish the communion or Lord’s Supper as testimony of his future death and resurrection. (26:20-29) Also, he prophesied the betrayal of Judas, and the denial of his disciples in the beginning of his darkest hours.
From 26:55-75 and 27: 1-66 are recorded the entire trial and judgment of the Lord, in which we continue to see the amazing character of Jesus. He could do anything in order to avoid this shame and injustice, but he decided to obey God and fulfill his destiny, which was the redemption of the world.
Chapter 28 is the decisive point of the writing. When you reach this point, my impression is that the writer is telling us, now you have to choose, or you believe that Jesus was a great myth and you forget about him or you believe that he is The Lord and you will follow and obey him.Jesus is not raised to be admired; he is raised to be obeyed. You can believe the religious leader report that “his disciples stole the body away” or you can believe that he is raised and come before him with worship and obedience.
What will you choose?