Word@Work Luke322 - Luke 22:8-13
Published: Mon, 03/28/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
MAKE PREPARATIONS
Luke 22:8-13 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. (NIV)
The Passover meal was normally a domestic family event in the houses where people lived. But Jesus and His travelling disciples had no home. So the Master authorised two disciples to go ahead of the group to prepare a room and the meal. However, they did not go blindly because Jesus had already selected a large room; He knew how the landlord could be recognised, and had prepared him to welcome the disciples. There is no indication that these arrangements had been physically prearranged, but that the Lord Jesus had a way of knowing everything ahead of time and preparing His servants to serve Him.
So although Peter and John had to make preparations, the Lord had already prepared the way ahead for them, including some important details. But they were not given the address, or Judas might have betrayed Jesus too early. They just had enough information to take one step at a time until they arrived at the house and could make the meal. Just like His instruction to find the colt on 'Palm Sunday' (Luke 19:30-35), Jesus' prediction of what Peter and John would find were completely accurate, enabling them to do their job of making things ready for Him. And when they reached their destination, they found it was all just as the Lord had said.
Contrary to some, who think that Christians must muddle through life full of uncertainty but trying to do the best they can, this passage teaches that the Lord goes ahead of His people. It is the narrative line of the whole Bible: the Lord prepares the way. However He does not let us see the end from the beginning, but gives us enough guidance to take each bit of the journey. Like the twelve and seventy two disciples who were sent out (Luke 9:1-10; 10:1-24), we will always find His provision ahead of us. Even as we prepare people to meet Jesus, we find that He has already been preparing us and them for the encounter! Indeed, there is nothing we do for the Lord, in His will, that is not already divinely orchestrated. This should be wonderful news for timid hearts: it is completely safe to move ahead with the light Christ gives us through His Word and by His Spirit, even if we cannot see where it is all leading (and we rarely can!). So having received the first instruction, make the first move and let the Lord prepare Your way ahead of you.
Prayer: Almighty God, my Heavenly Father. Thank You for the assurance in Your Word that you always go ahead of Your people, seeing where we need to go and providing for us. Forgive me when I have worried and fretted about the future, and when I have refused to move in faith on Your instructions because I could not see what might eventually happen. Help me to trust the light you give me for each day, and to be confident that You will continue to guide and equip me so that I can serve You well and prepare others to meet You too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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The Passover meal was normally a domestic family event in the houses where people lived. But Jesus and His travelling disciples had no home. So the Master authorised two disciples to go ahead of the group to prepare a room and the meal. However, they did not go blindly because Jesus had already selected a large room; He knew how the landlord could be recognised, and had prepared him to welcome the disciples. There is no indication that these arrangements had been physically prearranged, but that the Lord Jesus had a way of knowing everything ahead of time and preparing His servants to serve Him.
So although Peter and John had to make preparations, the Lord had already prepared the way ahead for them, including some important details. But they were not given the address, or Judas might have betrayed Jesus too early. They just had enough information to take one step at a time until they arrived at the house and could make the meal. Just like His instruction to find the colt on 'Palm Sunday' (Luke 19:30-35), Jesus' prediction of what Peter and John would find were completely accurate, enabling them to do their job of making things ready for Him. And when they reached their destination, they found it was all just as the Lord had said.
Contrary to some, who think that Christians must muddle through life full of uncertainty but trying to do the best they can, this passage teaches that the Lord goes ahead of His people. It is the narrative line of the whole Bible: the Lord prepares the way. However He does not let us see the end from the beginning, but gives us enough guidance to take each bit of the journey. Like the twelve and seventy two disciples who were sent out (Luke 9:1-10; 10:1-24), we will always find His provision ahead of us. Even as we prepare people to meet Jesus, we find that He has already been preparing us and them for the encounter! Indeed, there is nothing we do for the Lord, in His will, that is not already divinely orchestrated. This should be wonderful news for timid hearts: it is completely safe to move ahead with the light Christ gives us through His Word and by His Spirit, even if we cannot see where it is all leading (and we rarely can!). So having received the first instruction, make the first move and let the Lord prepare Your way ahead of you.
Prayer: Almighty God, my Heavenly Father. Thank You for the assurance in Your Word that you always go ahead of Your people, seeing where we need to go and providing for us. Forgive me when I have worried and fretted about the future, and when I have refused to move in faith on Your instructions because I could not see what might eventually happen. Help me to trust the light you give me for each day, and to be confident that You will continue to guide and equip me so that I can serve You well and prepare others to meet You too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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