Matthew 26

The Plot Against Jesus

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵ “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

“As you know…”  Jesus had told the disciples what was going to happen, but they just could not wrap their brains around it.  In two days, Jesus was going to die.  He told them he was going to die as they walked along in the roads from town to town, “seeking the lost”.  But crucified?  The disciples knew what it meant to be crucified for it was a torturous way invented by the Romans to deter crime and revolutions.  But Jesus?  He has done nothing wrong so how can this possibly happen to Him? 

Jesus’ devoted followers could not understand when Jesus told them he would be handed over to be crucified in two days.  He also told them He would rise again in three days but they just could not understand…yet.  Yes, Jesus told them the details of God’s Plan to save the world through Him throughout His ministry, but it was too hard to comprehend that Jesus, their Master Teacher, who could miraculously heal the sick and raise the dead would succumb to this scheme by the religious elite.

BUT HERE’S THE REALLY AMAZING THOUGHT…

Jesus, Son of God, knew.  Jesus knew every detail of what He had to do to save us. He knew the minds of the those who hated Him.  He knew the gossip, the mocking, the false accusations that would lead to the scheme to kill him.  He knew the religious leaders did not know God so they did not recognize His Son so they had stopped looking for “the Messiah”.  Jesus knew their plot to use the hated Romans to do their dirty work so life could go back to “normal” for them.  They wanted Jesus to stop getting in their way of oppressing the people of God.  Killing him was the only way…or so they thought.

Jesus knew how painful it would be to be nailed to thick planks after being beaten and stripped of his clothing.  Jesus knew those who had cheered when He entered Jerusalem on a donkey with shouts of Hosanna, “God save us”, would later shout “Crucify Him!” 

Jesus knew but He willingly laid down His life in exchange for our lives.  He who knew no sin took this cruel punishment to pay for the sins of the world.  He paid for all my sin.  He paid for your sin.

Jesus also knew He would rise again in three days from death to prove to the world that He is King of kinds and LORD of lords, the Messiah God’s people had been waiting for centuries to come.  Jesus, our Savior to all who believe and follow Him as Lord, knew.

Abba Father,

Thank you are words that don’t seem to be enough for all you did through Jesus to save us.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for knowing your mission and sticking with The Plan to save us that was created since the beginning of time…because you knew us.  I repent of taking this “knowing” lightly and your saving grace through pain and suffering for granted.  You knew the pain, you knew you would go to hell and back for my sin, and you did it anyway.  You humble me yet again this morning.  I will meditate on your gift of life, the payment for all my sin, all day long.  I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind and soul.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all…