Holy Wednesday
4/13/22
Read Luke 22:1-6
Truthfully, it doesn't appear that a lot happened, at least that we can clearly see from the Bible, on the Wednesday before Christ's death. However, we do see that between Tuesday (when many events took place --not just the one we highlighted yesterday) and Thursday, there was a plot to kill Jesus. The people were preparing for Passover-- the feast they would celebrate every year, remembering how God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Verse 3 tells us that Satan entered Judas. Satan thought that by entering Judas and betraying Jesus that His ministry would end and Jesus would become only a footnote in history. But God's plans are never thwarted or thrown off. Jesus tells us no one takes His life, He lays it down of his own accord (John 10:18). In Genesis 50:20, we see another important truth: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Our God is a God who works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). God was indeed working even in what seemed like the end of Jesus and what He came to do. Without the shedding of Christ's blood, there could be no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and today I am thankful that He worked all things for my sins to be forgiven by His sacrifice on the cross.
Do you believe God is working even when it seems like the enemy is winning? The disciples probably thought Satan was winning.... until Sunday! In our world today, it often seems like Satan will win, but we know the end of this part of the story and the end of the whole story. In a few short days, we know that Christ would rise victorious from the grave, and we also know that He will one day return and defeat Satan once and for all. Do you trust our all-powerful Lord to work in the details of your life? Do you really believe that Jesus will reign victorious even when it seems like He won't? All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18), He wins in the end (Revelation 11:15; 20:10), and He is winning now because He is working all things together. Spend some time reflecting today about God's goodness and power. Then spend some time asking Him to help your heart believe it even more, especially on the difficult days.
Truthfully, it doesn't appear that a lot happened, at least that we can clearly see from the Bible, on the Wednesday before Christ's death. However, we do see that between Tuesday (when many events took place --not just the one we highlighted yesterday) and Thursday, there was a plot to kill Jesus. The people were preparing for Passover-- the feast they would celebrate every year, remembering how God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Verse 3 tells us that Satan entered Judas. Satan thought that by entering Judas and betraying Jesus that His ministry would end and Jesus would become only a footnote in history. But God's plans are never thwarted or thrown off. Jesus tells us no one takes His life, He lays it down of his own accord (John 10:18). In Genesis 50:20, we see another important truth: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Our God is a God who works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). God was indeed working even in what seemed like the end of Jesus and what He came to do. Without the shedding of Christ's blood, there could be no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and today I am thankful that He worked all things for my sins to be forgiven by His sacrifice on the cross.
Do you believe God is working even when it seems like the enemy is winning? The disciples probably thought Satan was winning.... until Sunday! In our world today, it often seems like Satan will win, but we know the end of this part of the story and the end of the whole story. In a few short days, we know that Christ would rise victorious from the grave, and we also know that He will one day return and defeat Satan once and for all. Do you trust our all-powerful Lord to work in the details of your life? Do you really believe that Jesus will reign victorious even when it seems like He won't? All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18), He wins in the end (Revelation 11:15; 20:10), and He is winning now because He is working all things together. Spend some time reflecting today about God's goodness and power. Then spend some time asking Him to help your heart believe it even more, especially on the difficult days.