“Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. ”
May the cross of Christ bring peace and comfort to your soul. May you be strengthened by the willing sacrifice of Christ. May you be assured once again, that He did enough. He said clearly from the cross, “It is finished.” It is enough. “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. ”
But what was Christ referring to? What is this thing that would come to pass?
Conspiracy - an evil, unlawful, unauthorized, deceitful plan, prepared in secret, by two or more persons. Pretty much sums up the plot to eliminate Christ. Scripture says, “they consulted how they might take Jesus by subtilty, by deceit, and kill Him.”
They knew exactly what they were doing, didn’t they? They knew they needed to hatch this plan in secret, and carry it out in a secretive way, in the absense of the multitude, because they knew Jesus had a big enough and strong enough following that they might not succeed with them around. They feared the people. But they knew exactly how to avoid that problem.
Yet, your comfort, believer in Christ, is that He knew too, didn’t He? “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. ”
But let’s take a step back from their conspiring for a moment. That’s not all that Christ knew. Scripture says, He also knew exactly where this seemingly random man would be standing carrying a pitcher of water, who would proceed into a seemingly random house, where they then would meet the owner of the house, and where they would eventually eat the passover. He knew exactly what His disciples should say to him, which was what? “The Master saith unto thee, ‘My time is at hand.’” So full of meaning, those words are. “Jesus knew that His hour was come”, and again, “He knew who should betray Him.” And two weeks from tonight, we’ll hear, Jesus knew “all things that should come upon Him”.
Jesus knew that these words would convince this man to let seemingly complete strangers eat a meal in his house.
“Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. ” Who is He? He is the very Son of God who knows all.
Believer in Christ, He knows you too. He knows how to save your eternal soul. He accomplished that on the cross, but now He also knows how to deliver that salvation to you, by His Word and Spirit. He knows exactly how to strengthen your faith, through these very words tonight – how He knew everything ahead of time. And knew how to make good come out of evil. He knows how to also make all things in your life, work out for your good.
But where were the hearts of those scheming and plotting to elminate Christ? They’re not afraid of comitting murder, yet, they’re afraid of a crowd?
Later, they’re not afraid of delivering Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion, but they were afraid to enter Pilate’s judgement hall, fearing defilement (even though it really wasn’t).
Later when they finally get their way, they’re concerned about Jesus’ body being left on the cross after sundown, but not because they cared about Him. They didn’t want to transgress Old Testament Law about burying the dead before sundown. Not afraid of taking His life, but they are afraid of how they might look.
Yet your comfort, believer in Christ, is that He went to the cross for them too. In fact, many of them were converted later, by the Word of God.
We are sinners too. We’ve had our share of wrongdoing, even lying, and even scheming too.
Yet, Christ went to the cross for us too, for all sinners. And whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.
All year, but especially during Lent, we focus on His sacrifice for us. The one thing we needed above all else, was for Christ to go to the cross, and make us acceptable to the Father. He provided for that need.
But do we care? Do we take even just a couple minutes out of every day, to pray, or read even one verse, and remember Christ? He says, “Remember Me. Remember what I did for you.” Or are we too busy for that?
Let us not forfeit the peace that belongs to us, the peace that Christ earned for us, the peace that we need, daily, in the cross of Christ, and in His resurrection, which proves the Father accepted His sacrfiice for our sins.
They plotted, they schemed, they lied, and later they shouted, “Crucify Him.”
Yet knowing exactly what was to come, Christ didn’t seem to be the least bit afraid. In fact, the title of tonight’s Passion History is: His Readiness to suffer and die. They had their plan, but He also had a plan. He died that we might live, not just to a nice old age here on earth, but for all eternity.
And He will never die again. He lives to send us His Word and Spirit to open our eyes of understanding and to give us the true saving faith.
May the cross of Christ, and His resurrection, continue to be in your heart, continue to strengthen and keep you.
Christ knew what was to come. And He knows you too. He knows everything about you. And He knows how to provide for you. He always has. He always will.
“Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. ” – The very Son of God, who lived, died, and rose again for you. Amen.