Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²  The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death;  for they were afraid of the people.

 ³  And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.

 ⁴  And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.

 ⁵  They were glad and agreed to give him money.

 ⁶  So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.

 ⁷  Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

 ¹⁰  And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters.

 ¹¹  “And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”‘

 ¹²  “And he will show you a large, furnished upper room;  prepare it there.”

 ¹³  And they left and found everything just as He had told them;  and they prepared the Passover.”  Luke 22:1-13. 

It is interesting to compare the preparations.  In verses 1 through 7, we read about the preparation for seizing the Passover Lamb of God (Jesus) through Judas. In verses 8 through 13, we read about the preparation for the place and other details of the Passover dinner through Peter and John.

Both activities were preparations.  Yet, a first time reader, not acquainted with other Scripture, might conclude that Judas was ultimately in control of the preparation for seizing the Passover Lamb of God (Jesus);  whereas Jesus was ultimately in control of the preparation for the place and other details of the Passover dinner.

But, we are not first time readers.  We are acquainted with other Scriptures, and we think of Scriptures such as Matthew 26:24 .  “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him;  but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

We may like and teach God’s sovereignty over His creation.

Isaiah 45:12
“It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host.”

We may even like and teach God’s sovereignty in preparing nice things for the righteous (like God’s sovereignty over the preparation of the Passover dinner).

Jeremiah 29:11
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

But, do we like and teach God’s sovereignty over all, including the “bad” actions of the wicked (like God’s sovereignty over Judas’ betrayal of Jesus)?

The Scripture for today reminds us of God’s sovereignty over all, the bad and the good.  “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”  Proverbs 16:4

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?”  Romans 9:21-22. 

We read about Pharoah whom God hardened.  “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:17-18. 

Isaiah 46: 9-11 provides a good summary and conclusion of God’s sovereignty over everything.

“⁹  “Remember the former things long past,
         For I am God, and there is no other;
         I am God, and there is no one like Me,
    ¹⁰  Declaring the end from the beginning,
         And from ancient times things which have not been done,
         Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
         And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
    ¹¹  Calling a bird of prey from the east,
         The man of My purpose from a far country
         Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
         I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

Here is a final warning for those who resist such sovereignty. 

“²  The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
    ³  “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!”
    ⁴  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them.
    ⁵  Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying,”  Psalm 2:2-5.