The supremacy of God on the events

"Two days later it was Passover and unleavened bread. The chief priests and the scribes sought how they could seize [Jesus] by deception and put him to death ; for they said : Not at the feast, lest there be trouble among the people." Mark 14. 1, 2

Two days before Passover, events are jostling in Jerusalem. The religious leaders assemble in the high priest's court and decide to seize Jesus by trickery to kill him. This is not the first time they have tried to get rid of it (Mark 3: 6, Luke 4: 28-30, 19. 47-48, John 5: 18, 7, 1, 25, 32, 45, 46, 10, 31). Until then, all their attempts against Jesus failed, for the hour of his death had not yet come (John 7:30). One thing keeps them from executing without delay : they fear an uprising of the people, because all hold Jesus for a prophet. They decide to postpone his death after Passover once the thousands of pilgrims have returned home.

Jesus now knows that "the time has come" for him. He had already mentioned his death several times (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10, 33, 12, 7). But on that day, he specifies the date : "You know," said he to his disciples, that in two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified" (Matt 26. 2).

When Judas comes to give assurance to the religious leaders that he can deliver them to Jesus without the knowledge of the people, they accept his unexpected offer with joy. It only remains for them to settle some details ...

Judas Iscariot also bears his full responsibility for the crime, but his sinister purpose could not have been fulfilled without Jesus telling him the following evening at the last supper : "What you do, do it quickly" ( John 13. 27).

A few hours later, Jesus told Pilate who claimed to have the power to have him crucified : "You would have no power against me, unless you were given from above" (John 19:11).

The true Paschal Lamb was to be sacrificed for us at the time marked by God at Passover, not after ; and his death was to be made public, not kept secret.

God's redemptive plan for our salvation was accomplished just as the religious leaders wanted to avoid the most. Everything is beyond our understanding (Acts 2:23, 1 Pet. 1. 19, 20), but fills our hearts with assurance and gratitude. God is sovereign. Let's bow, let's adore !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)