Day 35 of 40 days to Resurrection day

Today’s suggestion:

Read about Jesus last week and the events leading up to His arrest.

(Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-12, Luke 22:1-6, John 12:20-36.)

I see the word “then” often as I read these passages.  The story unfolds as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell about Jesus’ last week of walking this earth clothed in flesh.  “And then . . . ” they say, showing us the sequences of events are coming one right after the other.

• Passover draws near.
• Jesus tells His disciples plainly that He is about to be killed.
• He is anointed with precious ointment and acknowledges it is for His burial.
• The Pharisees plot Jesus’ arrest.
• Judas falls right into their hands and suggests he can help, for a price.
• Jesus says He will be lifted up, crucified.

It’s as plain as the nose on your face.  The plan is in place.  The stage is set.  The will of the Lord is written in heavenly stone and it will come to pass.

Yet some still do not believe.

Matthew and Mark give us a peek into the private conversations of the Pharisees and elders who want Jesus dead.  “But not during the feast [Passover] or the people might riot,” they say to one another. Why would they say this?  It is because Jerusalem will be teeming with people from other countries, visitors coming for Passover.  Many of these have heard of the Miracle Worker.  Jesus had a huge following, those who had seen the wonders and  believed He was the promised Messiah.  The crowds had just hailed Him last Sunday as the One who would come and deliver them.

This was not the right time for an uprising.  Not the time for a crucifixion.

But it was the time, the fullness of time.  God’s time.  All things pointed to Jesus’ death.  And it would come to pass.  This year He would be the Passover sacrifice.

Just like the ointment poured on His feet, He would be poured out for the sins of the world, the precious blood of a Lamb without blemish, a fountain flowing forever to cleanse from the dreadful stain of sin. And nothing, not the powers of hell or anything else, can stop it from happening.

Jesus made a statement to His disciples this last week that would be a light at the end of their tunnel. One hope in the darkness of the events approaching like a galloping horseman.  One truth that will trump the enemy’s destruction.

He said:  “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Oh Hallelujah!  His death is not the end of this story.  Sunday is on the way.

Revised and re-posted from April 2014