I remember plotting the “crime of the century”—well, for a nine-year-old.  While my parents were out working in the yard on a sunny, hot Saturday morning in the Oklahoma summer heat, I had a plan.  Under the guise of getting a cold drink in the house, I held my head low, barefoot as usual, and cautiously crept into their bedroom.  I don’t know why I thought I had to be so quiet, everyone was in the yard, even my pesky little brother.  My birthday was in August, a few days away.  I knew they had purchased my gift and I was compelled with a plan to get a peek at the prize! 

But, being short of stature, the high shelf above their closet where they generally hid gifts would require an additional plot to the plan of discovery.  It meant climbing on their bed, to try to reach the closet door that led to the shelf.  No luck.  New plan, panicking because I’m running out of time, I drag a kitchen chair into the bedroom.  I’m climbing from bed to chair, getting ready to open the door to the shelf that holds the answer to my seeking when mom appears in the screened bedroom window that is opened for ventilation.  She calmly but firmly says in her best mom voice, “What are you doing?”

Gotcha! Abort mission! Frightened by her appearance and words because of my guilt, I fell back on the bed from my perched chair.  Caught in the act, I responded as most kids do, “I dunno know.”  But mom knew.  Moms always know.  I didn’t figure out this phenomenon until I became a mom. 

God knows.  God always knows.  Jesus, God and man, has given his disciples a full description of what is going to happen to Him.  They still do not want to believe it.  Maybe they think he is figuratively speaking as he does in His parables.  Maybe they think, surely not, look at all the crowds who follow Him.  How can this be? 

Our next passage of Matthew reveals to us the power of God to know.  Jesus has just proclaimed the sins of the Pharisees and teachers of The Law in their presence.  He has said these things of truth as a way to turn people back to God.  Jesus loves all people.  Take note of all the parallels Matthew will give us as the “plot” thickens!

Jesus says to his followers, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”  What the disciples will not understand until later, the words of the prophets of God will be fulfilled in every detail.  “As you know…”; all the disciples seem to know and understand at this time is the tradition of Passover is to be observed.

“At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.”  They just haven’t figured out quite yet that Jesus will be crucified by the Romans by their own manipulations while forgetting that Scripture foretold is being played out word for word.  Messiah, Son of God, will come and redeem His people and will be crucified.  Check out the book of Isaiah.

Matthew—God’s Law Fulfilled

Matthew 26:1-5, NLT

The Plot to Kill Jesus

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

³ At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, ⁴ plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵ “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Yes, God knows what is happening and what will happen to His Son, sent to save the world of all sin by his sacrifice on a cross.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16) No surprises here.  Jesus, Son of God, knows.

We will take this chapter one portion of parallel at a time…stay tuned.

Lord, God of Heaven,

Thank you for saving our souls and making us whole.  Thank you for dying for a relationship with us!  We cannot appreciate, worship and love you enough.  Just the thought of all you did, all you went through, to show your love for us brings me to my knees.  You are God and we are not.  No one is like you.  No one loves us like you do!  Lord, I love you with all that is in me.  And no one can take that away from me.  Thank you.  You know my heart.  I’m glad you know all, are in all and in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Be Still and Know God.

Be Still and Know.

Be Still.

Be.