It was the beginning of Jewish Wednesday, but would have been Tuesday for us. The Gospel of Matthew speaks this way: "When Jesus had finished saying all these things (found previously in Matthew 24-25) he said to his disciples, "As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
At those very moments the plotting of his death became intense: "Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him, "But not during the feast", they said, "Or there may be a riot among the people."
Were these men religious? Very much so. Were they cowardly? Even more so. Did they play into the Hands of Almighty God? I think so. The death had to happen. The Perfect Sacrifice for the sins of all people had been prepared. A motley crew of twelve had been picked, along with some other Believers Jesus had accumulated, to deliver this cross and resurrection event to the world.
It would seem impossible events are stacked on each other. No problem with God. He had a plan bigger than any Satan could create. That plan began, even with the evil plotting of these "holy men", and the ultimate crucifixion. The one event where no one was needed would take place Easter Sunday. Unaided by mankind the Son of God would reveal forever who He was and is.
Does that make our Easter Sunday a joyous event? You better believe it! Bunnies and baskets and eggs don't even begin to tell the story. They CAN make Easter a happy day for kids, and that joy can evolve, with our help, into helping them see the greater happiness and joy in the Resurrection. At least that is what happened for me. Celebrate!
