Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Matthew 26:2
Do you know what day of the week your birthday falls on ten years from now? How about the date for Easter 20 years from now? Or the date of the first full moon of the year 50 years from now? Even if we don’t know these things (most of us don’t), we can quickly look them up. The experts have long-range calendars that spell out the exact dates and times for all sorts of events in the future, with absolute certainty. But there are many events of the future that are beyond our power to know, or guess. But as our text points out, they are not beyond the power of the Lord Jesus to know.
Everyone in Israel knew that the Passover was approaching. But only One knew about the great event that was to occur during this Passover season. In fact, even before Moses was given the instructions for the first Passover in Egypt, and the instructions for commemorating the event annually, the Lord Jesus knew all about the betrayal by Judas and the crucifixion at the behest of the Jews and at the hands of the Romans. As the Passover approached, the Lord Jesus knew all about the events that lay before, and yet he did not flee Jerusalem to escape. With no surprises possible to Him, He moved with eternal purpose toward that most significant event in human history. As His disciples could speak with anticipation of the upcoming Passover event, He could speak with conviction of the upcoming betrayal and crucifixion. The purpose for which He had come into the world was about to unfold.
Our text identifies for us the difference between the puny plans of men and the eternal purposes of God. Men could make their little preparations for the upcoming Passover, but God had made His great preparation for His great plan of salvation. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14). All of the Old Testament provides the pictures and patterns concerning that great event. The Holy Spirit guided those holy men of old to speak concerning the Saviour. The birth and sinless life of the Lord Jesus were in perfect fulfillment of what had been prophesied. The calendar that was established in eternity was unfolding in time, and the Lord Jesus could inform His disciples that the upcoming Passover was the occasion for this great event.
As we consider and review the events of Calvary, we remember that it was an event that marked great dismay among the disciples, that displayed rejection and hatred among the Jews, that showed cruelty and indifference on the part of the Romans, and that proved the unfathomable love of God to a world of undeserving sinners. -Jim MacIntosh