“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.” Mark 15:1
Over the years, I have sat in several vision casting meetings with the various organizations that I have worked for. A big part of these meetings was setting out clearly what our “mission statement” was. We worked hard on this. We made plans on how this mission would be accomplished. Intense hours and days were spent on all of this.
These past weeks I have been reading the narrative leading up to Christ’s death on the cross. Something struck me as I read Mark 15:1. The leaders of the temple, the priests, elders and other important leaders, were all gathered and were making big plans! Their plan was clear. Short and to the point, just the way mission statements are supposed to be. Theirs was, “Arrest Christ and crucify him.” The “why” behind this was clear also: get this guy to stop wrecking our ministry and making us look lame!
As they were trying to figure out how to make this happen, confusion was everywhere in the meeting. In Mark 14:55-60 we see the clear evidence of this. Little did they know that while they laid out their mission to stop Jesus, a much greater plan was long in the works, and they were playing right into it.
John 3:16 says “For God SO LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is basically God’s mission statement, and the chief priests and associates paved the way for the greatest gift to you and me to be made. This was the event which changed everything!
Now, those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, can confess their sins and receive forgiveness! No animal sacrifice required! The throne room of God is unlocked and open 24/7 so that God’s beloved children can lay burdens down, find peace in the storm, and receive guidance, wisdom, rest and healing, and so much more - all the beautiful gifts that are ours as believers because of Christ’s sacrifice.
We have so much to be thankful for!
Dear Father,
Thank You for the precious gift of Easter! Thank you for the cross and all that was accomplished through it! Thank You that Your plans went forward and the difference this makes in my life every single day.
In Jesus Name,
Amen