Friday Scripture:
Matthew 26:36-27:55
Matthew 26:36-27:55
- Tell the story: Jesus prayed for strength with his disciples in a garden. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and a disciple tried to defend him with violence, Jesus rebuked him. Jesus was taken to the high priest and was condemned. He was taken before the governor, who didn’t want to put Jesus to death but who followed the demands of the people. Jesus was taken to Golgatha and crucified between two bandits. In the afternoon, Jesus died. The whole earth shook at the moment of his death.
- Read Matthew 26:36-27:55
- Read pages 267 in the Shine On story Bible.
- Prime the pump:
- Things to notice:
- Map out the story with places and times as you tell it.
- Track Jesus’ words and actions through the story. He often chooses to be silent, so notice his silence and the words he chooses to say. Find his verbs.
- Background information:
- The historicity of the Sanhedrin trial described in 26:57-68 is questionable. Hearings were forbidden on festivals, and it’s strange for a court to convene in a priest’s chamber, among other discrepancies. (Levine, Amy-Jill and Marc Zvi Brettler, Eds, 2017. The Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2nd Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, pg 61.) Why do you think the writer of Matthew chose to tell the story this way?
- Conversation starters:
- Notice the times that Peter enters the story. Do you think you would have done and said the same things as Peter?
- Pilate offers the release of one prisoner - Jesus who is called the Messiah or Jesus Barabbas. Barabbas - or “Bar Abba” means “son of the father.” Talk about this interesting play on words.
- Look at all that’s described in 27:45-54 as happening at the time of Jesus’ death. What in the world?!
- Things to notice:
- Activity prompt:
- At noon, turn off all the lights in your house. Keep them turned off until Sunday morning.