Preparation
Scripture: Matthew 26:17-19 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” 18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. (Matthew 26:17–19 NLT)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread took place over an entire week. The Passover Meal, however, was held on one night, at one sitting. Preparation for the Passover Meal involved a lamb, the other food for the meal, and an appropriately furnished place to eat together. All the stuff had to be acquired, prepared, and cooked. When the disciples asked Jesus where he wanted them to prepare the Passover meal, he gave them specific instructions on how and where to find the place.
Did Jesus mean something like: “I talked to Lazarus about a place to eat the Passover Meal and he has arranged with a business associate in town for an upstairs room we can use. We were lucky to get it because there are a zillion people in town from all over the world looking for lodging, food, and places to celebrate their Passover. Anyway, your contact is a guy named Joe. The place is on the right, just after you enter the city gate. Check with Joe and he’ll show you where to set things up. The place is furnished and he can get you the lamb and wine and all the other stuff. He’s got people that can do the cooking and serving as well.” Or did Jesus mean something like: “I’ve had a vision of a man waiting just inside the city gate. Approach him and give him the secret code greeting: ‘The Teacher says this is the time, where do we eat?’ He’ll take you to the place.”
Do you ever wonder about this kind of stuff? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wondering exactly how it worked. I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with not knowing. What I think we should we take from this is that God has a way to provide all that we need for the things he wants us to do. And whether he reveals it or we figure it out and whether it happens “supernaturally” or just kind of works out, God will provide!
Prayer:
Father, Thanks for always providing what we need to do what you’ve purposed for us to do. Help us to be sensitive and aware of what our part is and what your part is. We trust you! Amen.