Monday, March 15, 2010

Surprise!

Jesus wasn't shocked.


Mark 14:10-16 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Where do You want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for You?" 

13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: "As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with My disciples?' 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal." 

16 So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

A few days ago, Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and he told the disciples where to go to get the donkey that he would ride (Mark 11:6) and now he is telling the disciples the signs that will let them know where they were going to stay for Passover. 

Just in case you might get the idea that things are happening to Jesus that are out of his control or taking him by surprise, he tells the disciples to go and follow a man, probably a servant carrying a pitcher of water. When he gets home, ask the owner of the house for the use of his guest room which will be upstairs. 

No doubt, the residents of Jerusalem had rooms fitted up to be used, for this occasion, to those that came out of the country to keep the Passover. It appears that Jesus was to have Passover at a stranger's house, otherwise he would probably have told the disciples to return to the friend's house by name or he would tell them "You know where we used to go." 

Probably he went where he was not known, so that he might be undisturbed with his disciples and perhaps he concealed the location by giving a sign so that the location would not be known to his betrayer Judas, yes Jesus was still in control, he isn't surprised at anything that is happening.

There are a lot of examples in the gospels, times that Jesus was a few steps ahead of the rest of the people around him, he made it clear that he knew the sequence of events and he knew his purpose for being here. 

I have to know that God will supply every need, he knows what the needs are way before I do and he has the solution already prepared.

It is very assuring and comforting to know that you are in control Lord, I want to rely on you in every situation.