Destined to die

Matthew 26:3-5 / Mark 14:1-2 / Luke 22:1-2…        

The religious leaders were not interested in learning and living the truth at all. They were out for blood. Of course, they wanted to save their own skins while they were at it. They had long ago decided to kill Jesus, but were concerned with the time and place of their plan.

What they didn’t know is that while their plan would ultimately succeed, it was God’s will as part of His plan. The blood they shed would be the atoning blood that would bring our salvation. What they meant for the worst kind of harm, God used for the ultimate help. It was the most evil act ever perpetrated by men, and yet the most loving act ever perpetrated by God.

Still they were culpable for their actions (Acts 2:23). And so are we; even though we didn’t directly perpetrate that evil, all of us are guilty of cosmic treason against God. We might think that we aren’t against Jesus, but avoiding Jesus is an action against Him. We either embrace Him, or we reject Him. Those are the only options.

If we do trust Him, we will be tested. It means that we will have to go through times where we know we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered (Romans 8:36). Yet in this we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). In going out to a “lost and dying world” we have to enter the den of death to feel and to bring the good news of life (2 Corinthians 1:10 / 1 Thessalonians 1:10). 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

It’s about time

Matthew 26:1-2…

Once again, Jesus is clarifying what is about to happen. He had been speaking of His return, and warning about being ready and avoiding judgment. Now He was making sure that they were informed about His departure into death and resurrection back to life. It was just a little while till the next part of the grand plan would unfold. Let’s notice three things about this.

It was not an accident. Jesus had told them before that this is what was coming (Matthew 16:21, 17:22, 20:18-19). He knew about timing.

It was not to be avoided. Jesus was to be delivered up, to pay for our sins, so that He might be raised up, for our salvation (Romans 4:25). He knew about testing.

It was a divine appointment. Jesus was playing right into the religious leaders’ scheme, but it was all in accord with God’s schedule (Acts 4:27-28). He knew about trusting.

When your timing, testing and trusting seem all out of sorts, remember, God has it all sorted out. The time has come for you to realize that God has a perfect plan, even when you seem to be messing it all up. Your life is not an accident. Your destiny is not something to be avoided. It is a divine appointment for you to travel on the way to your destination. 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Torturous routine

Luke 21:37-38…

This was the routine during the week that Jesus was to be crucified. He would teach in the temple by day, retire to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus by night (Matthew 21:17), and return to teach the next day.

Jesus spoke to the people about being ready, making the most of their opportunities, and warning against withdrawing from preparation, productivity, or people. Ironically, the people didn’t as yet realize that these would be their last opportunities to hear Him teach. 

God has a way of presenting you with opportunities to glorify Him with your life. Sometimes that means having to keep on performing a duty that seems like death. But that is the purpose, to bring life to others as we die to self.    

We talk about “taking it to the cross” and think we will just, in one moment of heroic holiness, thrust ourselves upon the device of our self-destruction in an act of worship. Yet what we fail to realize is that there is a walk, a journey that brings us to the place of actually being like Jesus on the way. This means we have to help others while knowing that they might still turn on us.

We forget that the cross is where other people put us to death. We like going to the temple to teach, but we don’t want to reach the mountaintop just to die. It’s no wonder we so often shrink back at real opportunity. It’s also no wonder that when we find out who Jesus really is, it’s the most wonderful thing in the world. He didn’t miss the opportunity to save us from our sins, even when He had to endure the torture of knowing where He was going. 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©