Jesus Devotional - Day 4
Day Four
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
Resistance is Futile
Luke 22:1-12(NLT) “The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around. 7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, 'Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.’ 9 'Where do you want us to prepare it?’ they asked him. 10 He replied, 'As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, "The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.’ 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.”
Fear causes you to act irrationally. It leads you to do things that are utterly foolish and clouds your judgment. When our security is threatened, and we believe we're losing control, we grasp at anything we think will restore that sense of control again. The issue is that much of life is beyond our control. I know it might seem like we have control, but if we're honest, we have to admit that most aspects of life are uncontrollable. Enter the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They’ve had enough of Jesus. They see Him as a threat—threatening their influence and power, their way of life, the Temple, and their income.
Jews would pay a Temple tax. This was not just limited to the Jews who lived in close proximity to the Temple. So, needless to say, the Temple tax was equivalent to millions of dollars. Some Roman governors even tried to pass laws against it because so much money was flowing to the Temple from surrounding provinces. For the Jewish leaders, Jesus was seen as a threat that needed to be dealt with, all because of what they thought they might lose.
So, the plot thickens. The anger of the Jewish leaders is about to boil over. They have had enough of Jesus’ meddling. So, instead of just simmering in their anger, they are now actively planning how to kill Jesus. Their only obstacle: the crowds. Unlike themselves, who only drew crowds on special holidays and festivals, Jesus had crowds everywhere He went. What's ironic about their anger toward Jesus is that it was a miracle that pushed them over the edge. John 11:43-53 (NLT) “Then Jesus shouted, 'Lazarus, come out!’ 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, 'Unwrap him and let him go!’ 45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. 'What are we going to do?’ they asked each other. 'This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.’” 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, 'You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ 51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. 53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.”
The problem with thinking we're in control is a false sense that we can manipulate circumstances to get the outcome we want. Here's the overstatement of the ages: “If we allow Him to go on like this.” Really? You allow Jesus? The leading priests and Pharisees are scheming. Satan is lying and deceiving. Judas is betraying and conniving. Yet Jesus continues with His plans. It reassures me to know that while all this evil is being plotted and schemed, Jesus is doing what He was always going to do.
Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal. He gives them specific instructions: who to follow (the man carrying a pitcher of water), who they will meet (the owner of the house), what to say (the Teacher asks, where is the guest room), and what they will find (an upstairs guest room already prepared). Luke 22:13(NLT) “They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.”
Luke writes and shares this detail for a reason. In his writing, John explains that Caiaphas, the high priest, is telling everyone to be quiet! He has a plan: just kill Jesus. Caiaphas, under the same delusion, thinking he’s in control, is actually prophesying according to John. Do you realize that it is futile to resist God’s plan for your life? You might think you’re in control, but the truth is, none of us is truly in control of life’s circumstances. Powerful nations are plotting, politicians are scheming behind closed doors, people are manipulating, and some are trying to intimidate. What are we supposed to see?
No matter what happens in the world, what lies the devil spreads, what evil people plot, or even if a friend betrays you, none of that is beyond your Father’s knowledge. As a Christ follower, here’s the good news: Jesus is still doing His work. Just like Peter and John, we must do what He tells us, and in the end, we will see that everything turns out just as Jesus said.
Prayer:
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
Resistance is Futile
Luke 22:1-12(NLT) “The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around. 7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, 'Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.’ 9 'Where do you want us to prepare it?’ they asked him. 10 He replied, 'As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, "The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.’ 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.”
Fear causes you to act irrationally. It leads you to do things that are utterly foolish and clouds your judgment. When our security is threatened, and we believe we're losing control, we grasp at anything we think will restore that sense of control again. The issue is that much of life is beyond our control. I know it might seem like we have control, but if we're honest, we have to admit that most aspects of life are uncontrollable. Enter the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They’ve had enough of Jesus. They see Him as a threat—threatening their influence and power, their way of life, the Temple, and their income.
Jews would pay a Temple tax. This was not just limited to the Jews who lived in close proximity to the Temple. So, needless to say, the Temple tax was equivalent to millions of dollars. Some Roman governors even tried to pass laws against it because so much money was flowing to the Temple from surrounding provinces. For the Jewish leaders, Jesus was seen as a threat that needed to be dealt with, all because of what they thought they might lose.
So, the plot thickens. The anger of the Jewish leaders is about to boil over. They have had enough of Jesus’ meddling. So, instead of just simmering in their anger, they are now actively planning how to kill Jesus. Their only obstacle: the crowds. Unlike themselves, who only drew crowds on special holidays and festivals, Jesus had crowds everywhere He went. What's ironic about their anger toward Jesus is that it was a miracle that pushed them over the edge. John 11:43-53 (NLT) “Then Jesus shouted, 'Lazarus, come out!’ 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, 'Unwrap him and let him go!’ 45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. 'What are we going to do?’ they asked each other. 'This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.’” 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, 'You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ 51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. 53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.”
The problem with thinking we're in control is a false sense that we can manipulate circumstances to get the outcome we want. Here's the overstatement of the ages: “If we allow Him to go on like this.” Really? You allow Jesus? The leading priests and Pharisees are scheming. Satan is lying and deceiving. Judas is betraying and conniving. Yet Jesus continues with His plans. It reassures me to know that while all this evil is being plotted and schemed, Jesus is doing what He was always going to do.
Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal. He gives them specific instructions: who to follow (the man carrying a pitcher of water), who they will meet (the owner of the house), what to say (the Teacher asks, where is the guest room), and what they will find (an upstairs guest room already prepared). Luke 22:13(NLT) “They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.”
Luke writes and shares this detail for a reason. In his writing, John explains that Caiaphas, the high priest, is telling everyone to be quiet! He has a plan: just kill Jesus. Caiaphas, under the same delusion, thinking he’s in control, is actually prophesying according to John. Do you realize that it is futile to resist God’s plan for your life? You might think you’re in control, but the truth is, none of us is truly in control of life’s circumstances. Powerful nations are plotting, politicians are scheming behind closed doors, people are manipulating, and some are trying to intimidate. What are we supposed to see?
No matter what happens in the world, what lies the devil spreads, what evil people plot, or even if a friend betrays you, none of that is beyond your Father’s knowledge. As a Christ follower, here’s the good news: Jesus is still doing His work. Just like Peter and John, we must do what He tells us, and in the end, we will see that everything turns out just as Jesus said.
Prayer:
- Pray for God’s Kingdom to govern your heart and mind.
- Honestly admit where you're trying to control instead of trusting, and ask for forgiveness.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to submit to God’s plan for your life.
- Pray for the people in the place where God has called you.
Posted in Jesus Devotional