Learning the Jesus Way of LifeSample

Some Things Never Change

Pray: Jesus, give me the faith to go where you go, do what you do, trust what you say, and love how you love. Today, I commit to following you. Amen.

If you knew you only had a few days left to live, what would you do?

Would you go someplace you’ve always wanted to visit? Would you take a risk that you’ve been putting off? Would you work to mend a broken relationship?

If you knew you only had a few days left to live, what would you do?

Perhaps a more important question: How different would the way you spend those days be from how you spend every other day?

For Jesus, while the circumstances of His last days were unique, not much really changed. He was still the same person, doing the same things, investing His time in the same priorities. He was ruthlessly consistent. The author of Hebrews says it this way: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

No matter what, Jesus’ focus never wavers. His character never falters. Even on His worst days, He is still totally devoted to serving His Father, training the disciples, and rescuing the lost. This is why we can be confident that the good news of Jesus always has been, and always will be, good news. Because the center point of that good news is a person who never gets knocked off center. He stands firm in His convictions, and He remains gentle and humble at heart. Some things never change.

So, here we are, near the end of Matthew’s Gospel and the end of Jesus’ life. In these last few days, Jesus’ character, His priorities, and His posture toward people remain the same. Because Jesus is entirely committed to the will of His Father, and He is constantly pouring out His life in the service of others.

Today’s chapter begins with these words: “When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified’” (Matthew 26:1–2 NIV).

The story of Jesus’ life is nearing the climax. All of creation is holding its breath in anticipation to see which side will win the day. The forces of darkness are gathering.

A plot to kill Jesus is being hatched. And Jesus knows it.

What does He do? He doesn’t run and hide. He keeps moving forward, marching in the same direction. He goes to the house of Simon the leper to share a meal with him—a man most people see as an outcast, but not Jesus. He sees Simon as a brother.

While sitting at Simon’s table, a woman arrives and pours a jar of expensive oil on Jesus’ head. An act most people, including the disciples, consider a waste, but not Jesus. He called this act a gift.

Because some things never change. Even now, Jesus is doing what He has always done. Demonstrating with His actions and educating with His words how the kingdom of God operates on a vastly different value system than the rest of the world.

In the kingdom of God, the least are most, the last are first, and the lost are found.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14–16 NIV

Sadly, unlike Jesus, things often change for us, especially when they don’t seem to be going our way. We, like Judas, would rather cut our losses and quit while we’re ahead. The same Judas who once believed Jesus was his savior, now sells Him for the same price it would cost to buy a slave.

How did we get here? What changed?

In John’s retelling of the story of the woman anointing Jesus with oil, he includes this detail about why Judas was upset with her actions: “But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:4–6 NIV).

Judas wasn’t following Jesus because he wanted to be with Jesus or become like Jesus. He was following Jesus because of how it benefited him.

Once the perks ran out for Judas, he ran out on Jesus.

It’s really easy to point a finger at Judas and call out all the things he did wrong. There are a lot of them. But, as followers of Jesus, we recognize that real spiritual growth doesn’t come from pointing the finger, but from looking in the mirror.

Like Judas, we will at times be tempted to focus more on what Jesus can do for us than what we can do for Him. And, like Judas, we will find ourselves tempted to turn tail and run when the going gets tough—because people don’t voluntarily walk into situations they know will cause suffering and where they may not make it out the other side.

Well, most people don’t. But Jesus did. When things get hard, He never turns His back on us.

Right after we learn about Judas’ betrayal, we read about the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shares with His disciples before being arrested, put on trial, sentenced to death, tortured, and finally executed on a Roman cross.

And while it would be totally reasonable—expected even—for Judas not to be invited to this farewell meal, he is. Along with all the others. Because some things never change.

Jesus’ love never changes. It is unconditional. He loves you no matter what, with no strings attached.

The unconditionality of Jesus’ love isn’t just displayed through His kindness to Judas. It’s shown in the way He treats all of His disciples. Because here, at this final meal, as the final hours of Jesus’ life are ticking away, He is joined by the twelve men who have been with Him through it all. All the miraculous, messy, and monotonous moments that took place during their three years of ministry together.

And before this night is over, not only will Judas have betrayed Him, but Peter will deny Him, and the rest will abandon Him.

The lesson? Some things never change. The character, heart, and mission of Jesus never change. Even when we just want to get something from Him, He still wants to be with us. Even when we are unfaithful, He never forsakes us. So, when things get hard, run to Him, not from Him.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV

Application: Are there any conditions you’ve put on your commitment to God? Do you have any expectations that if God doesn’t meet, you’ll stop trusting Him? Is there anything that you feel like God has asked you to do, but you aren’t doing until He does something for you first? Take an honest evaluation of your faith and see if there are any conditions you have for your devotion to God. Figure out what they are and why they are there, and then ask the Holy Spirit to increase your faith so you can trust God more deeply.