Whilst the agenda of the religious leaders to kill Jesus has been evident from relatively early on in Matthew (cf. Matthew 12), the time has now come for them to execute their plan. Don’t miss just how intentional this action is. The Jewish leaders, many of whom were Roman puppets, are in the palace of the High Priest, scheming as to how they can now bring their plans to completion. However, there’s just one problem: they don’t want to do it during the time of the festival and run the risk of stirring up the crowds. As has been evident time-and- time again, the religious leaders appear to have no real desire to test the veracity of Jesus’ claims, and are far more concerned with their own self- preservation and maintaining of power!

However, Jesus knows - and has shared with others - that he will indeed be arrested and die during the time of the Passover. That as the Jews had celebrated this festival every year as a reminder of God liberating them from Egypt, this will be a Passover to not forget as the world is liberated from the ultimate enemy through Jesus’ death. That just as the lamb was slaughtered at the first Passover (and each year as a commemoration), Jesus will become the ultimate sacrificial lamb to purchase us forgiveness and victory over sin and death.

The religious leaders will think they’ve put a stop to Jesus of course, but God will use it to rescue the world. AL

Questions

Why do you think the religious leaders were so disinterested in honestly evaluating the claims of Jesus? Why did the religious leaders think that there was a risk of a riot being incited by Jesus’ arrest? What does this say about his popularity? How would then religious leaders avoid a riot?

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Thank you that despite the evil intentions of some, that you were bringing your plan for salvation to completion through Jesus’ death and resurrection. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.