Maundy Thursday 2nd of April 2026

2 April 2026 • Pastor Tim Ebbs • Maundy Thursday

Bible Passage: Matthew 26

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,

²“As you know, the Passover is two days away–and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

⁴and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

⁵“But not during the Feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

⁶While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,

⁷a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

⁸When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.

⁹“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

¹⁰Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

¹¹The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

¹²When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

¹³I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

¹⁴Then one of the Twelve–the one called Judas Iscariot–went to the chief priests

¹⁵and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

¹⁶From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”

¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

²¹And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²³Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.

²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when

I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³²But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

³⁵But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be

taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

⁴¹“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

⁴⁶Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

⁴⁷While 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.

⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”

⁴⁹Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”

⁵¹Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 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.

⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

⁵³Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

⁵⁴But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵At that time 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.

⁵⁶But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

⁵⁷Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

⁵⁸But 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.⁵⁹The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

⁶⁰But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

⁶¹Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

⁶²Then 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?”

⁶³But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵Then 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.

⁶⁶What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

⁶⁷Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him

⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

⁶⁹Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷²He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

⁷⁵Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

New International Version (NIV) - for other versions see BibleGateway.com

“The greatest sermon”

In today’s text we hear that it is the first day of the Passover festival, remembering how God rescued his ancient people from slavery in Egypt and passed over all the homes marked with the blood of a sacrificed lamb.

People from all over Israel had come to Jerusalem to celebrate. As the people arrived, reports of Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the grave had spread everywhere, and interest and curiosity in Jesus was at an all-time high. Even those beyond the borders of Israel wished to see Jesus. When Jesus arrived in the nation’s capital, riding on a donkey, the crowd met him with jubilant cheers, acclaiming him as their King.

But on the night Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, things took a drastically different turn. While they ate Jesus announced that one of his own would betray him—the disciple who dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus. After Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives with his disciples, he announced that they would all fall away, just as Zechariah prophesied: “I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7).

Peter boldly promised his allegiance to Jesus: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”—but it will be a promise that he doesn’t keep. Jesus replied that on that very night, before the rooster crows, Peter would disown Jesus three times.

Peter insisted, though, and all the others said the same. But they cannot stay awake and keep watch with Jesus even for an hour. As they snooze and slumber, oblivious to what is about to happen, Jesus rouses them as Judas arrives with a large crowd sent from the Chief Priests and the Elders, armed with swords and clubs. Judas arranges the secret signal—a kiss—taking what is a cultural greeting of respect and friendship and twisting it into a loveless, fake greeting to indicate who should be arrested, then Jesus is seized as if a common criminal. From that moment we hear of false accusations against Jesus, charges of blasphemy, and abuse. Peter sat in the courtyard, and just as Jesus had said, disowns Jesus three times. When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered what Jesus had said…and he went outside and wept bitterly.

It seems that everything rapidly unravels for Jesus and that he is subject to the whim of unpredictable, unjust leaders whose schemes to do away with him had already been set in motion well before Matthew takes us to Gethsemane. Yet Jesus knows his Heavenly Father is in complete control: “If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” he prays. Jesus mentions more than once particular events that would fulfil the Old Testament scriptures on this night. He doesn’t resist arrest. He doesn’t defend himself. The religious leaders and authorities are not in control. He is in control.

In this chapter, Matthew relates not only particular events of that night, but also the interactions of the various people with Jesus. In doing so, Matthew’s focus seems not to be so much on Jesus’ enemies, but more so his disciples and their faith.

Faith is not merely belief but also belief lived out in practice; faith active in love. A person’s words and actions reveal a lot about their heart; what values, priorities, allegiances and loyalties they have. Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, in chapter 6, Jesus had taught them: “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). What will the disciples treasure in their hearts? What will they love…and how will this influence their decisions and course of action from here? In everything that unfolds that night, what will Jesus’ followers—those who have pledged allegiance to him—say and do? Elsewhere Jesus had said to them: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:5). On that night, how would his friends live out their faith in practice? What would his friends do?

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, didn’t stop believing who Jesus was. But he didn’t have a faith active in love for the Lord, because he loved money more than Jesus. Judas took the initiative to go to the Chief Priests and cut a deal for 30 pieces of silver, and from then on watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over. The disciples didn’t stop believing who Jesus was, but their faith wasn’t active in love. They had promised everything to Jesus only to break their promises soon after, deserting him. They fled because they would rather save their life than lose it. So they kept quiet, and slipped into the night, especially Peter, who denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter didn’t stop believing who Jesus was, but his faith was not active in love. He lit his lamp only to hide it under a bowl. When the cock crowed, it was just as Jesus had said.

In stark contrast to the actions of the disciples in this chapter is an act of beautiful devotion to Jesus. It takes place a few days before the Passover, in Bethany. A woman comes to Jesus with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, thought by most to be the extremely rare, fragrant oil of the spikenard plant from India. It is worth a year’s wages (John 12:5). In contemporary Australian average workplace awards, that equates to anything around $100,000. It’s likely that this was the woman’s most precious possession.

The woman pours out the costly contents of the vase on Jesus’ head in an act of extravagant love and devotion. It is also a prophetic preparation for his burial. This is the woman’s faith active in love, a response to what she knows Jesus will endure for her. She shows that a response to God’s grace in Jesus must be taken seriously and will be costly. In contrast to Judas, who had a divided heart, this woman does not begrudge in the least the personal expense to her. In contrast to the disciples who would disown Jesus and flee, this woman is wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus. The disciples thought this a waste, but the woman considers Jesus’ self-sacrificial love as worth exceedingly more than her treasure. With this act of wholehearted surrender, she pours the oil on Jesus’ head in gratitude, symbolic of anointing him as her King, before his death and burial.

This woman’s heart is completely devoted to Jesus. She sees him as her greatest treasure. At the other end of the scale, Peter pours out his tears, weeping bitterly after his triple denial of Jesus. In between these extremes we hear of the snoozing disciples, breaking their promises, falling away from Jesus, failing to keep watch with him. We see the best and worst of the human attitudes towards Jesus by his own people in this chapter.

As Matthew walks us through the events of the night on which Jesus was betrayed, what traits of the various characters do we see in our walk of faith on this night? In what ways would Jesus see our faith active in love? What would our devotion to Jesus look like? Are there times we pledge loyalty to follow Jesus, only to soon after walk by the flesh? What do we surrender to Jesus, and pour out to him from our hearts? What do we consider too costly to give up to him?

Between beautiful devotion and the darkest betrayal and abandonment in Matthew 26, we hear from Jesus. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

By his powerful word, Jesus institutes a special meal for his people to have communion with God, the Holy One. He does not institute this meal for good people; people who make themselves worthy before they come. It’s a meal for sinners—for the disciples who would break their promises, who deny and disown Jesus to protect themselves. It is for those who would fail and fall asleep, and fall away. Jesus even includes Judas, who would betray him.

On the night that will be filled with the failure, fear, guilt, shame, and selfishness of Jesus’ own disciples, and their abandonment of him, we hear the greatest sermon ever proclaimed: “This is my body; This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” As the woman broke open her alabaster jar and extravagantly poured out its contents, so too will Jesus be broken, flesh pierced by nails, side torn by soldier’s spear. Jesus is going to die. He will be the new Passover Lamb sacrificed, once for all. He will love them, and the whole world, to death: “I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”.

Jesus will not hold anything back but will show the fulness of divine devotion and extravagant love for the world by pouring out his blood. Jesus will give his very best. Jesus will give his all. He makes a promise; a new covenant between God and his people which he binds himself to, signed with his own blood: ^“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” He will lay down his own life to redeem God’s people, paying the ransom price with his own blood.

Jesus still proclaims the greatest sermon today. The words ‘for you’ are words he speaks to you here, tonight. Jesus says to you: “This is my body given for you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” His great sermon is for you. When he says “for you” he invites you to come. These words demonstrate his faith to his Father active in love for you, by preparing a table and welcoming you to come, that you might receive from him everything he would accomplish for the world on the Cross. These words tell you that the forgiveness he won for the world he won for you. These words tell you that you are reconciled to God and that you eat and drink as his forgiven child. These words tell you that your past is not held against you, you’re your shame is covered over and that you are precious in God’s sight.

These words tell you that no condemnation can stand against you. These words tell you that you are purified and set apart among his saints. These words tell you that since such a gift was poured out, God paid an immensely high value for you to belong in his family. These words tell you that Jesus gives his best for you. These words tell you that Jesus has poured out his all for you. These words tell you that your Father in Heaven will remain faithful to you to the end, and will keep all his promises for you. These words tell you that God will never abandon or betray you but will be loyal to you. These words tell you that God will not slumber or sleep but watch over you intently, with care and favour and compassion and concern. These words tell you that you are dearly loved by your Father in Heaven, you are met with his great approval and delight, and that you have the fulness of his favour and every spiritual gift in Christ. These words tell you that God will not fall away but there is great rejoicing in heaven over you who come to his table to receive from him in faith.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he willingly obeyed his Father to submit to all the sinful schemes against him, because your Father in heaven wanted to redeem you to belong to him. He wanted to come and make his home in you. Jesus wanted to call you his friend. That is why he would be whipped, beaten and bruised, before he was nailed to the Cross to take the Father’s wrath on sin for us and die the death that should have been ours.

What could we possibly offer up to the Lord for all his undeserved goodness to us?

There is no amount of money, no amount of striving or good work that could make you pleasing to God. Jesus shed his blood for you. After we have received communion tonight and are dismissed with the blessing of the Lord, we are invited to join with the Psalmist in offering ourselves. We are simply invited to lift up the cup of salvation and call on God’s name in praise and thanksgiving for his indescribable riches of salvation given to us. In response to Jesus giving his life to bring life to the world, we are called to vow our own. What is the sacrifice pleasing to God? “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). So let us humble ourselves and give our hearts to God for him to continually shape and mould in the image of his own Son, until the day he brings us to that which is more than a foretaste of the heavenly feast, but the feast itself, gathered around Jesus with all his other saints and the angels in the heavenly victory banquet without end. Amen.

Pastor Tim Ebbs

St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Glenelg

Maundy Thursday, 2026

2 April 2026 • Pastor Tim Ebbs • Maundy Thursday

Bible Passage: Matthew 26

St Paul’s Lutheran Church Glenelg

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Maundy Thursday 2nd of April 2026

2 April 2026 • Pastor Tim Ebbs • Maundy Thursday

Bible Passage: Matthew 26

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St Paul’s Lutheran Church Glenelg

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