Whatever is approaching does not need to be feared.

Whatever is approaching does not need to be feared.

Luke 22: 1-7

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Passover was approaching. Jesus is the new Moses. Etched in the memory of everyone was the judgment and the rescue of the Passover. The angel of death passed over the homes sprinkled with the lamb’s blood. This is what was in the minds of all the pilgrims, the Jerusalem citizens and the religious leaders. They didn’t know what they celebrated was a shadow of what was to come. This Passover is the real event. Judgment would be known in their generation. At the same time a new Exodus would commence.

Judgment and deliverance were approaching hand in hand.

The allies were approaching. When you have found a cause it is amazing how even people who don’t like each other come together. The chief priests served for 1 year on rotation in the Temple and they increase their wealth through fraudulent money-changing and selling of animal sacrifices. The teachers of the law were either Pharisees or Sadducees responsible for the correct understanding of the Law of God. Officers of the Temple guard are Levites who prevent unauthorised people entering the Temple lest they make it unclean.

Leaders of Worship, the Word and Holiness were approaching.

Judas approached the allied forces. Many have speculated the reasons why Judas betrayed Jesus. Clearly we are told that he received money. But the money he did receive wasn’t a great deal so maybe greed wasn’t the real motivation. No one really knows why someone who had been chosen to be so close to Jesus would try and hand him over to the allies and finish him off. But the betrayal sat in the hands of God who used it to advance Jesus forward in the plan of salvation.

Major disappointment was approaching.

Satan approached Judas. He had managed to sow a destructive idea into his mind. He brought manipulative temptation and Judas was hooked. The early Church believers knew full well of the works of evil. That behind the stories of our lives lies an evil one seeking to exploit opportunities. Apostle Paul wrote, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Spiritual forces were approaching.

Jesus at the centre of a cosmic battle. The coming together of spiritual forces, a major disappointment, a gathering of leaders of worship, the law and holiness was approaching the Son of God. But we know how the story ends. We know the closing chapter. We know of the judgment and the deliverance.

If this was the battle of all battles then whatever is approaching you today, whatever you are facing you can know:

It sits in the palm of God who is in control of everything and is with you.