March 22nd, 2026 - The People and Power

Scripture Passage:  Matthew 26:47-68

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Lent 5
The People and Power
Matthew 26:47-68

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Look for yourself in the crowd

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Empowered and Dangerous
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

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Hidden Power
 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

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Jesus meets the facade
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

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Power of the Sword
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

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Jesus on weapons
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

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Knowing where the power lies
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” ... 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

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The power of a good question
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.”

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Feeling Powerless
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.... 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

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"Withdrawn!"
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

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Power of baiting
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”

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The power of silence
63 But Jesus remained silent.

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Exerting verbal power
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

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You said it first.
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

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Clear or Cryptic?
“But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

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The power of loud and angry
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

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Power unhinged
“He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

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We live in a world full of
weapons
lies
and unhinged response.

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Jesus calls us to calmly question
and trust that God's got this,
And even absorb some of the evil.

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At the very least, know that the Son of Man reacts in a way that is very different from our beastly responses.