The Passover was approaching and Jesus had instructed his disciples to prepare a place where they could observe the sacred time together. Even the fact that the sacrificial lamb is requesting that His disciples prepare the passover makes the scene pregnant with Hope (His death on the Cross is later understood to be the great Passover: judgement swallowed up, Joy eternal In HIM).
Peter is on high alert, always the one willing to drop the scroll and scuffle with someone looking to pick a fight with Jesus. John is more contemplative and wondering what this strange request holds, a man carrying a jar of water, follow him, give us a room at your place, and prepare a meal for 13 people (Luke 22:7-13).
Only a short time prior the chief priests as scribes were being leveraged by their fear and making plans to murder this carpenter turned prophet, claiming to be Messiah. The tension in the massively crowded city of Jerusalem at this time of year about to celebrate THE PASSOVER, is palpable. Like a courtroom primed to hear the verdict of a hardened criminal, the religious community seems to be on a hair-trigger.
As Jesus finished teaching in the temple he and his disciples would lodge for the night "on the mount called Olivet" (Luke 21:37).
Meanwhile back in town... I can't wait till he comes back to the temple to teach. These last few days the insight is like nothing I have ever heard. I feel myself cut to the heart, but cannot place the claims He is making. Is He really the Messiah? The leadership doesn't think so, they think he's lying or crazy.
Morning dawns, one day closer...
The crowd gathers in the temple common area to hear this man's amazing wisdom. Hey, I've noticed that man seems to be with Him often. "Who is this Jesus? I've gotta know, He claims things and my heart has been stirred by His words... still I have so many questions." Over their shoulder some leaders confer and the man being approached by the curious onlooker catches their eye and they his.
Satan, in a characteristically sly and cunning way, enters in to Judas. He is none the wiser that he is now party to the destruction of Jesus which Satan thoroughly enjoys but God beforehand decreed (Acts 2:23).
Judas displays a similar cowardice and fear of man struggle the religious leaders did. For the leadership feared some would align with Jesus so much so they sought to kill him to control the people (Luke 22:2). Judas, however, only wanted to betray Jesus for money if no one was looking (Luke 22:6). Either way His claims to be the Son of God were simply too much for the defecting disciple AND the religious elite motivated by fear of man. Fear then, seems to be of some importance.
I wonder. What about you (and me)? Passover was a gruesome and bloody celebration of deliverance. Blood was painted on the frames of a door entering a home in order to protect that home from the angel of death (judgement) as Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt.
Is the blood of Jesus' sacrifice painted on the door of your own heart? Your neighbor, friends, family members? Is He Savior and LORD of your life? If He isn't or you'd like to talk about it, please contact me: ncfpastordoug@me.com OR text me through Facebook messenger.
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