WHO'S IN CONTROL HERE?

Two days before Passover...                                       

The lambs are being scrutinized for defects – are they good enough for all those international visitors?(Matt 26:1-16)   

One visitor is certain of this much... 

“The Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified”                                           

Jesus, with universal authority as Son of Man, faces a Roman execution?? His disciples would think Him mad saying this!

Giving hands

Notice the stark contrasts here...

• Where are the chief priests, scribes and elders?  In a palace!    Where is Jesus?  In the house of a leper.
• Caiaphas the high priest leads a plot to kill Jesus - just not at the feast.  A nameless woman comes to honour Jesus.                                                         
• The ointment for Jesus’ burial is very precious. His disciples claim the poor are more worthy!                                                                               

Greedy hands

Now Judas Iscariote agrees to betray Jesus for 30 lousy pieces of silver – the price of a slave!

Yes, Jesus has deliberately come back to Jerusalem to be crucified like a criminal, He’s just been anointed for burial and now there’s a small price on His head, just as prophesied centuries earlier.                                                                                                          

So, who really is in control here?                                

Will Jesus really be crucified at Passover?