Preparation – how are you at preparation? We are in the season of Lent, journeying towards the cross and the resurrection of Christ. How are you at preparing yourself for commemorating these pivotal events? Year after year we go through this time, and we’ve forgotten how to become excited and to prepare for something new as we look at Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
When I’ve talked to “snowbirds” who get ready to go away for a while, they prepare to leave by making sure they have everything they need with them and that things are looked after in their absence. I’m reminded of the troops in Ukraine and the preparation that they go through to get ready for combat. We don’t always like to prepare. I remember my mother nagging me when I was getting ready to study for a while in Europe. “Paul, did you do this, did you do that, did you pack this, did you pack that…” I didn’t care much about preparation but when I look back, I had thought many times when I was on the study tour that I wish I had prepared better.
Are you prepared for Lent? Are you getting ready or are you taking it for granted all over again? God wants us to walk with Jesus to the cross and in order to do that we must prepare. These passages are all about the movement to the cross and the preparation for that.
Matthew 26:18 “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
The appointed time was near. Jesus is feeling pressure. His ministry was about to transition from one of ministering among the people to dying on the cross for the people. This appointed time was going to change the course of history. Do you feel the same pressure? We are closer to that day when we commemorate what happened on the cross. How have you been reflecting on that? Has it been part of your daily devotions and daily walk? Or have you forgotten about it completely?
Everyone was getting prepared for the time change (spring forward). Jesus’ appointed time was the ultimate time change. Our appointed time to connect with Jesus in a new way is near. What are we going to do about it?
Jesus also said that He was going to celebrate the Passover with His disciples. It was not only a pressure time but a celebratory time. What will be new? How will you grow? How will you change and become more like Christ? It is time to celebrate because the time is near.
If you don’t prepare, you will miss out. You miss out because then it is just another day. It’s the same old thing.
Matthew 26:21 “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
One of us will be just like Judas and betray Jesus. If we don’t prepare ourselves every day and focus on this journey, we will betray the One we say we love.
Matthew 26:23-24 “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.”
Someone who was close and had broken bread and walked with Jesus betrayed Him because they weren’t prepared for what Christ was going to go through. If we don’t prepare, we might just be like Judas.
Matthew 26:25 “You have said so.”
This is part of the discourse that Jesus and Judas had where Judas asked Jesus, “Am I the one?” When you look inside of yourself, how close are you to Christ? How much do we want to journey to the cross with Christ? What have we said in our daily lives regarding Jesus and to bring hope and healing into our world? This preparation helps us look inside and determine if we’re walking closely with the One who died and lives again for each of us. The beautiful thing is that there is still hope.
Matthew 26:26-29 “Take and eat; this is my body.”
“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Even in the midst of our lack of preparation, our betrayal, and our inability to see our weaknesses, Jesus speaks of His love for us and that He gave His body and blood for a new covenant. This new covenant will culminate in that celebration where He drinks the fruit of the vine new with each of us in His Father’s kingdom. There is hope! If we are childlike, if we humble ourselves, then we will see Jesus. There is hope.
As I came to the end of my European adventure, I realized I didn’t have quite enough money to get me to the airport to catch the airplane home. I had not prepared well when it came to travelers’ checks. What did I do? I called home and my parents wired some money. I could celebrate because I was good to go home. We will stumble and fall. Phone home and Jesus will come and pick you up and carry you the rest of the way.
Are you willing to work at the preparation of Lent? Prepare to meet Jesus face to face.
