GUIDANCE FROM THE LORD
Luke 22:7-13
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” 9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” 10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” 13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
When we read the scriptures, we start with some foundational beliefs. We believe that the scriptures were inspired by God. And we believe that the scriptures are there for a reason. So, as we read this story of the Passover being prepared, we know we can learn from this small excerpt from the life of Jesus. In his gospel, John wrote that Jesus did so many things that were not written. But what was written was for us. There is purpose in what was recorded regarding Jesus. In these seven verses, we gain insight into the Lord and how He does things.
Jesus went to the cross during the time of Passover, a Jewish feast. And Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. So, when it became time to prepare the Passover meal, He sent Peter and John. These two men were considered part of the inner circle of Jesus, and yet they were not too important to do this logistical task. Jesus had spoken to the disciples before about how things worked in His kingdom. Serving was the measure of greatness, so Peter and John did not push back on the assignment.
The two disciples did ask Jesus where He wanted the Passover set up. These men had worked with Jesus long enough to know that if He had a directive, He had a plan. They asked, and Jesus gave them detailed instructions. He told them to go to the city and follow the man carrying a pitcher of water. This was not going to be a difficult job because carrying water was typically delegated to the woman. Jesus told them to follow this man and then exactly what to say when they got to the house. This was not the first time Jesus had given such detailed instructions. The disciples knew He was not haphazard. Jesus did not wing it. And this was also not the first time Jesus told the disciples exactly what to say. Similar instructions were given to the disciples tasked with finding the colt for Jesus to ride in His grand entry into Jerusalem.
Peter and John followed the instructions that Jesus gave and were able to complete their assignment.
APPLICATION
We can learn from this story. We learn that if Jesus has a directive for us, He has a plan. He is detailed and planned. We learn that to find the details of the plan, we need to ask and seek from Him. The Lord began to reveal to me in the 80s that I would be a pastor. However, I took off with my own plan without asking Him about the timing, details, and place. My plan did not turn out well.
We learn that Jesus knows where to go and what to say. This is an important topic that requires more development, but learning to follow the Lord, not only in our actions but in our words, is vital.
And we learn that no one is above serving others. That’s how God’s Kingdom works. And our Lord and King is our example of the ultimate servant leader.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for the lessons hidden in Your word. I ask that You continue to open my eyes so that I might see how Your Kingdom works and how I can be more fruitful in that Kingdom.