Preparations are underway.

Preparations are underway. (on our way to Easter) Luke 22.7-13

Click to read passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022.7-13&version=NIV

Good Day! 

Jesus and his men have come back to Jerusalem amid a throng of cheers and welcome and waving palms.  It is Passover time, and the city is teeming with people, since all Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to go there for the festival. The pilgrims came from all over the Roman Empire, converging on Jerusalem to remember the night the death angel smote the first born sons of all in Egypt, except for the Jews who had spread the blood of a lamb across their doorframes. The observance was an annual time of remembering, honoring and giving thanks to God for how he had saved the Jews.

Think for a moment--the Jews are about to put Jesus to death, though it was the time of year they were honoring God for 'saving' them . . . from losing their firstborn sons, from the tyranny of the cruel Egyptian pharaoh. It is estimated that nearly 300,000 'spotless' sacrificial lambs would be slaughtered in Jerusalem that week, and the one Spotless Lamb who was their Messiah they not only missed, but instead chose to kill. Hmmm . . .

Jesus takes charge by telling Peter and John to "go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together." 'Where shall we eat such a meal, Lord?' Remember, Jerusalem is busting at the seams with all of the people in town to observe Passover, looking for a place to hold their meal. "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, (they would be coming from the Mount of Olives, a little less than a mile away), a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him . . ." Peter and John prepare the meal of a sacrificed lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, wine, and other ceremonial food for Jesus and his men to eat in the upper room.

Let's think of Peter and John for a bit-- Jesus did not randomly grab their elbows thinking, 'oh they are as good as any, I guess, they can take care of this'--no, I think Jesus deliberately chose Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal, the Last Supper. They may have grumbled under their breaths, because some of what they would be doing was 'women's work', and well beneath their calling. But think of it--they were chosen for this task--not knowing the significance of it until much later.

What things has God 'tasked' you with that might seem well beneath you or unimportant right now? Paul later said, "We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."¹ It was not happenstance that Jesus chose Peter and John to prepare the sacrificial lamb. Would it interest you to note that they were the only two of the Twelve who were recorded referring to Jesus as the Lamb? Ponder that. In fact, many years later, Peter would write, "we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."² So, visualize Peter and John preparing the lamb that day--believe me, they would remember it all their days!  God revealed to them the Lamb of God through the symbolism of their hands-on work with that little lamb.

How about you--has God called you to a task lately that you have yet to follow through doing?  Maybe you felt a little tug about doing something . . . maybe you chose to ignore it.  Maybe you shouldn't. Be encouraged today, my friends. God wants to use you in His work, just as he used Peter and John that day. You are called to do the work of the King, if you're willing.

Make yourself available today . . .

Ask God to use you in some capacity . . . He will.

You were created for it.

Christine

PastorWoman.com