It’s almost laughable, if it weren’t so ridiculously sad as we think and plan the business of our lives so seriously and completely. We want and demand control of all situations that might affect our environments.  So, we tenaciously focus on attempting to have a plausible response for every detail that might occur.  This thinking is called overkill.  We do this in our churches—sometimes without the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit—causing the environment to look and feel like any other organization in the world.  Yikes.

Don’t read into what I’m not writing.  Proverbs is full of wisdom about wise planning along with Jesus who says “count the cost” before becoming His disciple who desires to learn to be like Him in every way. (See Luke 14 and Proverbs 16) What I have learned through God’s Word so far in my life, is that we miss the mark when what we plan is not God’s Plan.  We are prone to diligently plan then pray, “God, bless our plans”.  This is backwards to His will and quite frankly, dangerous.  Jesus just showed us in yesterday’s passage how to pray… “Not my will, but your will, Father.”  “Not what I want but what You want.” (Mark 14:25-26)

Admit it, we jump ahead of God all the time in God’s church because overkill is played out in each of our daily lives!  This habit of behavior is subtle, but we do it.  And when we do—it leads usually to overkill in the details of life as we worry.  We bypass what God intended as His will and execute our plan that seeks self-control of all outcomes as we imagine they ought to be.

I have experienced this very sin recently as a staff member for a few years of a church lead by a business minded pastor who demanded that “all the ducks” not only be in a row but counted precisely more than once as we executed man’s best made plan. Then we prayed, asking God to bless. I knew it was the wrong approach, I tried to advise, but didn’t have the authority to overcome the overkill of this thinking.  So, I prayed that God would forgive, teach, and show us His will and plan above all.  And God did just that no matter what we did.  I smiled afterwards knowing that God was, is, and always will be in control—with authority to overcome man’s plan as we attempt our puny ways of managing what He wants done. 

Is that what Judas thought as he planned for the arrest of Jesus with the religious leaders?  Was the plan of Judas overkill?  Did he plan for every scenario that he thought might happen? Did he think Jesus might resist arrest?  Is that why so many soldiers were ready to do battle if necessary?  The “kiss,” customarily a sign of affection and recognition, was Judas’s plan to signal the beginning of the suffering Jesus would do to save our souls.  But was it his plan?  Was Judas really in control?

Mark 14, The Message

A Bunch of Thugs

^43-47 No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a bunch of thugs, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him. Make sure he doesn’t get away.” He went straight to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The others then grabbed him and roughed him up. One of the men standing there unsheathed his sword, swung, and came down on the Chief Priest’s servant, lopping off the man’s ear.

^48-50 Jesus said to them, “What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I’ve been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. What you in fact have done is confirm the prophetic writings.” All the disciples bailed on him.

^51-52 A young man was following along. All he had on was a bedsheet. Some of the men grabbed him but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him before he carried out the plan Judas thought he had so meticulously devised.

Judas’ plan was extreme overkill.  “What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs…,” Jesus said.  The response of Peter, the one who lopped off the ear of a soldier, according to John’s account, was also overkill for the situation at hand.

See Zechariah 11 for the foretelling of this act of betrayal that even includes the “thirty pieces of silver” in payment! 

So, Who is in control?  Not man but God!

We read the wisdom of Proverbs—

• Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
• Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
• Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.

But the best example is Jesus who prayed God’s will even as God’s Plan unfolded—

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36

Jesus advises His disciples (and us today)—

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:38, NIV

Jesus teaches us to consistently seek God’s will—

“Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.”  Mark 14:39, NIV 

If overkill is our mantra in behavior, then let’s redirect this tendency to overly and above all else seek God’s will first before plans are made—for that is the best thing we can do.  Seek the One who loves us most and desires to guide us to His best plan for us.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”—Jesus telling us that all on earth and in heaven is in God’s hands, Matthew 6:33, NIV

Lord,

I admit and confess overkill!  Even when I see your plan at work—I will sometimes jump in to worry and add details that you might have missed—how ridiculous!  How unholy! 

Cleanse my heart of all that offends you.  Renew my mind with transformed thinking.  Refresh my soul with your new mercies and confidence in you alone for all outcomes.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work continually within me.  I have not arrived fully at where you want me to be…draw me closer still.  

Hallowed and great are you, Lord.  May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day all that you know we will need to do your will.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive others who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil.  For you hold all power.  To you be all glory, honor, and praise forever!

In Jesus Name, Amen