September 11

Text: Matthew 26:1-5

And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,  "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered up for crucifixion." Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas;  and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth, and kill Him.   But they were saying, "Not during the festival, lest a riot occur among the people."  (NASB)

There is an enormous difference between “head knowledge” and “heart knowledge.”  That is a way of saying that there is an enormous difference in knowledge based on facts and knowledge based on emotions.  Rarely will knowledge based on facts use emotions to support its conclusions, but often conclusions based on emotions will appeal to facts for support.  However, major difficulty occurs when a conclusion based on facts is in fundamental conflict with a conclusion based on emotions.

For a long time Jesus declared to the 12 that he would be killed by the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21).  Finally, at least some of the 12 realized Jesus was in danger (John 11:7, 8, 16).  Jesus, as facts, declared he would be killed, that he would suffer, who would be responsible for his death, and where his death would occur.  Emotionally, the disciples could not accept the possibility of Jesus’ death.  Either it would not happen or it could be prevented.

All the facts seemed to support their emotional conclusion.  Jesus was publicly in Jerusalem, and nothing happened.  Jesus publicly confronted Jewish leadership in the temple area, and nothing happened.  More people in the crowd were for Jesus than against him.  The 12’s conclusion: the danger was behind Jesus—he would not die.

However, two things were happening at the same time.  Nothing bad was happening to Jesus publicly, yet Jewish leadership was plotting Jesus’ death.  Note: Jesus would die at a convenient time for them—not during the Passover celebration.

In spite of appearances, never underestimate the power of evil.  Evil never truly accommodates good.

Suggestion for reflection: God’s purposes do not depend on our desires. (Read Genesis 17:15-21.)