All threads of the events leading to the purpose of the final Passover for Jesus having been drawn to this special night, one finds that Jesus makes preparation in secret, for the Scribes and Chief Priests of the Jews are awaiting an opportunity to capture him and so Luke gives us a good record of events: “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.’ And they said unto him, ‘Where wilt thou that we prepare?’ And he said unto them, ‘behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples ? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.’ And they went and found as he had said unto them; and they made ready the Passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
“Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
And he took bread, and gave thanks and brake it, and gave unto them saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:7-20.
These acts were not understood by the apostles. It would seem that their eyes were blinded for the present to prevent any interruption to the final dramatic death and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus knew from the very beginning of his ministry that God would be his adviser all the way, and in all his trials for there is found this statement: “But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me, and the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.” John 5:36-37.
Jesus was to die “as the Lamb of God”, by the hands of the Chief Priests and Scribes. But they had to have an alliance with someone that could reveal the movements of Jesus, so there was joy in their council when Judas paid them a visit.
In exploring the feelings of the chief priests and scribes, one discovers that these foul individuals would avoid taking Jesus on the feast day of this Passover week; the feast day as it happens at this time would fall on the 15th day of the month, that being also the Sabbath. John says this was a high day—that is the Sabbath and the feast of the Passover would take place on the same day. John 19:31.
Before Judas approached the council of the chief priests Matthew gives this account (Matt. 26:3-5) : “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus subtlety, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Men may make all the plans they wish, but if it is not according to God’s plan it will fail. There is no doubt that the chief priests wanted Jesus out of the way even before the Passover week, for they had sought him ever since he brought Lazarus to life. But God had long before made the plan that Jesus would die upon the 14th day of the first month coinciding with the day the Jews had celebrated ever since their escape from Egypt.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One