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Preparation for the Passover

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Jews killed the Passover lamb, the disciples of Jesus wanted to know from Jesus where they had to go and prepare that they might eat the Passover. Jesus asked them to go into the city and to follow a man who would carry a pitcher of water. As they were to follow him, they would meet the master of the house concerned and would ask him, “The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples? And He will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared; there make ready for us” So His disciples went out and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them (Mark14:12-16). As we do God’s will in our life or ministry, we will find His abundant provisions or resources at our disposal. We need not strain our every nerve to get at His provisions for our lives or ministries. The resources will come our way. Money will come our way. The same Jesus is with us today, giving us appropriate directions as we seek Him. As we follow His directions, we will find a large upper room furnished and prepared for us.

Today many of us do not ask Jesus for His guidance. The disciples of Jesus approached Jesus and asked Him where they should prepare the Passover. The Lord showed them the house and its exact location and also told them what to speak to the master of the house. They simply went into the city, followed the man with a pitcher of water and met the master of the house. Then they simply told him what the Lord had instructed them.

Today we put the cart before the horse. We have wonderful visions and prophecies. But we do not know how to fulfil the visions and prophecies. We hear the prophecies and appreciate them. But we do not proceed to make the vision a reality. We do not ask the Lord, “Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?” We know that we have to go and prepare the Passover. But we do not ask the Lord what to do. Yes, the Lord wants to eat the Passover with us in a place of His choice.

The disciples knew that they had to arrange for the Passover celebrations. Had they gone on their own to find out the suitable place, they would have wasted their time and energy. However, they did the right thing. They asked the Lord, “Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?”

When the disciples approached Jesus for His instructions, He deputed two of them to make the necessary arrangements. Only two disciples of Jesus are enough today for doing a ministry initially in accordance with His directions.

When evening had come, Jesus sat down with the twelve disciples. Jesus loved all His twelve disciples. He did not exclude Judas from the fellowship. These days, if we do not see eye to eye with some one in our church or fellowship, we tend to ignore that person or disassociate ourselves from him. Here, Jesus associated with a person who was about to betray Him.

Now as they were eating, He said to His disciples that one of them would betray Him. Upon hearing this, they were exceedingly sorrowful and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” Jesus said, “He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me”. Today it is only those who have close fellowship with us betray and cheat us.

Jesus further said, “The Son of Man indeed goeth as it is written of Him but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born”

Jesus did not become sorrowful about His crucifixion because it had to happen as it was written of Him. But His only concern was about His beloved disciple Judas whom He had to loose, when He said that it would have been good for that man if he had not been born.

Jesus did neither accuse Judas nor did He show His resentment towards him at any time because He loved him. He did not point His finger of accusation just to say, “It is you who will betray Me”. It was only when Judas himself asked Jesus, “Master, is it I?”, Jesus replied, “Thou hast said” (Matt.26:21-25).

- Job Anbalagan