49 PREPARATIONS F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
49 PREPARATIONS
PRAY Show me myself as you see today, dear Lord.
READ Luke 22:1-13.
THINK What did the Passover festivities celebrate? See Exodus 12:21-28.
FOCUS The time for Christ’s crucifixion was drawing near. The Jewish
rulers wanted to arrest him, but they didn’t. Why not (2)? Jesus planned to eat the Passover meal with his disciples, before allowing himself to be taken prisoner. The Passover was a very special time when many preparations had to be made. Here we see three people involved in preparation. JUDAS – to do Satan’s work. Satan was looking for someone to use but it was Judas who allowed himself to be used. We don’t know exactly why he betrayed Jesus. Perhaps it’s just as well. We do know that in the end it only brought him anguish and death. ( Matthew 27:3-5). A MAN – to do humble work. The man is unnamed, but he did the little he could. He carried a jar of water (women’s work and usually considered beneath a man’s dignity). We should never despise apparently small things. You may feel you can’t do much – but do what you can. Because the man was willing to do the little he could, the Last Supper took place – and so we have our Christian ‘remembrance-feast’. JESUS – to do God’s work. The Jewish rulers would prefer to arrest Jesus on the Passover Eve when everyone was at home. This wasn’t part of Jesus’ plan. That was why his preparations were probably kept secret. They led up to the moment when he chose to die. —————————————————————-
PRAY Ask God to make you aware of the things he wants you to do for him.