Deceitful

How this escaped me is a mystery. “The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest whose name was Caiaphas and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some SLY way. ‘But not during the feast’, they said,’lest there be a riot.’ Matthew 26:4 NIV

I know the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection pretty well as a result of studying it to teach children so many times. But somehow the pre-planning being done in a “dolos “ way escaped me. (Greek Strongs: craft, deceit, guile)

Yes. I knew that these priests and elders conspired with Judas to arrest Jesus in a non-public place, but to have planned AHEAD of time to do it in a deceitful and crafty way, astonishes me. And did you notice they got to do it DURING the feast – ahead of their time table? They arrested Jesus the night of Passover. 

Multifaceted thoughts invade my mind. Such as: 

Timetable

The priests and elders may have had one time table, but God’s perfect timing could not be thwarted. From the establishment of Passover in the time of Moses the lamb has symbolized Jesus, so His death had to happen during Passover. 

Will the Real Shepherd Please Stand Up

The priests were supposed to shepherd the people, yet here they cared more about their status and power than they cared for truth. They didn’t try to figure out if Jesus COULD be the Messiah, they just reacted to a perceived threat. Mind boggling, yet sadly what humanity has been capable of throughout time, including now. 

The good news? In Ezekiel 34  God first rebukes the shepherds of the people – in those days the people responsible for providing leadership including the king. And then He promises in 34:15-16 “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak . . .” 

Living Word

I’m reminded to never skip over a familiar passage even if I think I know it by heart. The Word of God is living and active.” Hebrews 4:12a Therefore, God can, and will, bring new realizations even in passages we know well. He will highlight things we never noticed in the past as we focused on a different part of the verse(s).

Without Guile

Jesus declared Nathaniel, one of his disciples, was a man without guile. John 1:48 KJV. Other translations say “in whom there is nothing false” or “in whom there is no deceit” or even “a man of complete integrity.” I desire to be like Nathaniel, not one of the priests or elders. 

As we prepare for the Easter season this year let’s remember that Jesus, our guileless, sinless Passover lamb, promises to be our shepherd. He promises to seek us out and heal our wounds. Here. Now. Forever.