T Minus 4 Days and Counting: The Wednesday of Passion Week
You’ll find the events of this day in: Matthew 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 21:37-22:2
Read Matthew 26:1-5
It has often been said that there is no neutral ground when it comes to Jesus. C.S. Lewis made famous the saying in his book Mere Christianity, when he said that Jesus was either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. As we come to the Wednesday of passion week we find that the Jewish leadership certainly felt no neutrality or ambiguity towards Jesus. They certainly believed he was a liar and lunatic. Their solution to all of his teaching, miracles, and fulfilling prophecies was to simply get rid of him. This was a mobster type group that was willing to figure out a plot in which to kill him. Matthew says, “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest (Matthew 26:3).” Despite it all, the Son of God was in complete control, and his control demonstrates his Lordship in three key areas: his omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
Despite the plotting against him, Christ had full control of all things
You can imagine the scene that took place in this secret location. Matthew makes it clear that their motives were none other than murder. “And plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him (Matthew 26:4).”
The irony is that while men were plotting in a secret room, Christ was safe and secure in the will of God. Both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit give us many proofs that Jesus is Lord, but such moments only demonstrated his Lordship further. One thing is certain in the Scriptures, Jesus willingly laid down his life for us, and no one took his life from him. John 10:17-18 says, “...I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” This shows the complete control that Christ has over the events of the week.
“One thing is certain in the Scriptures, Jesus willingly laid down his life for us, and no one took his life from him.”
That means that even these evil men plotting against the Son of God were only doing the will of God. These plotting leaders may have debated and planned, but Christ was omnipotent. His power was the only reason that they would be able to carry out their man made plans. Peter would later affirm this when he preached on the day of Pentecost. “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:23).”
Despite the plotting against him, Jesus had full knowledge of all things
Matthew tells us that Jesus said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2).” Jesus knew what they were discussing at Caiaphas's palace. He knew the day he would give up his life, and he knew how he would give up his life. Nothing that was happening was a surprise to Christ. What was Jesus doing? He was showing his omniscience.
Despite the plotting against him, Jesus was fully present
Finally, this shows that Jesus demonstrated the omnipresent power of God. All through the gospels Jesus knew that he was sent to die. He tells us that he comes to the will of the Father (John 5), he’s come down as the bread of heaven (John 6), and that he is the son that God gives (John 3:16). It is Jesus who says these words. He says on an earlier occasion the following prediction, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised (Luke 9:22).” How can he do this with such certainty? In eternity past the Father, Son and Spirit planned redemption. Christ was present then, and on earth he is present fulfilling the mission of his father.
If Jesus is Lord, and he clearly demonstrates this fact, then we can have full confidence in his care. Whatever we face today, Jesus already is aware. Whatever sin we have committed, Jesus has already covered it. Whatever our issue, Jesus is our comforter, provider, and Savior. If he knew of the cross, then he knows of my concerns.
Going Deeper:
Ephesians 3:11 discusses the eternal purpose of God that was carried out by Jesus Christ our Lord. What does that teach us about the Trinity’s predetermined mission of salvation (see also Luke 22:22)?
Jesus often said in John’s gospel that he came not to do his own will, but the will of his Father in heaven (John 6:38). How does that relate to his mission of death, burial and resurrection? You can read John 17:5 and John 17:22-26 for further study.
What do you know of the preincarnate Christ (before he became a human being)? Read the following to learn more about his pre-incarnate existence: John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:2.
