Mark 14:12-16: a reflection

12On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.” 16His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

As the Passover approaches, and with it his own suffering, Jesus sends two disciples to prepare the meal. But notice how much is already arranged. He tells them exactly what will happen: a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him; and tell the owner of the house where he enters that the Teacher asks for his guest room. He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. The disciples go, and find everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepare the Passover.

Notice Jesus' quiet command of the details, even as his passion draws near. He knows the man they will meet, the house, the room already furnished and ready. Nothing here is left to chance; everything has been arranged in advance. Even as he moves toward betrayal and the cross, Jesus is not swept along helplessly by events; he is in quiet, sovereign control, and the disciples find things exactly as he said.

That quiet sovereignty is a comfort to us who follow him. Jesus was not overtaken by the events of his passion; he went into them knowingly, with everything prepared, in control even of the details. And the same Lord goes ahead of us, arranging what we will need, in control of the details of our lives even when we cannot see it. When you cannot see how things will work out, remember the Lord who had the upper room furnished and ready before the disciples arrived. He goes ahead of you and prepares. Trust the Lord who is in quiet command of the details, and who is never swept along helplessly, but works out his purposes, arranging what his people need.

Lord Jesus, as your passion drew near, you sent your disciples to prepare the Passover, knowing already the man they would meet, the house, the upper room furnished and ready; they found everything just as you said. Thank you for that quiet, sovereign command of the details, even as you moved toward the cross. You were not swept along helplessly by events, but in control even then. And thank you that you go ahead of me, arranging what I will need, in control of the details of my life even when I cannot see it. When I cannot see how things will work out, remind me of the Lord who had the room furnished and ready before the disciples arrived. Help me trust you, who go ahead of me and prepare, who are never overtaken but work out your purposes, arranging what your people need. I rest in your quiet sovereignty.