Our Charade
“Friend, why this charade?” -Jesus, Matthew 26:50
The story written about a Messiah has been thread through the scriptures since the beginning. The story foretold the murder of God’s son and when it finally came in to existence, the story played out just as it was written. The foreknown became known without one person forcing history’s hand.
“I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” -Romans 9:14
Every character played his role, oblivious to the big picture, at the same time, freely asserting his own will in the present picture. Every character played to Jesus as though God’s Son didn’t see the history markers take their place in the present. Every character thought he was doing as he chose. If that were not true, Judas would not have killed himself. Peter would have been able to not deny Jesus.
The fact remains that the plan is made and the story is written. The story of God’s salvation power made its way through the pores of Creation long before Jesus came. They have marked their prophetic spot in time.
David’s poetry came from his heart, yet it was still a prophetic echo:
‘Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.’ -Psalm 41:9
Judas took the bread…
Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. ”What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” Judas, with the piece of bread, left. -John 13:26-30
The author of Deuteronomy thought he was writing Moses’ instructions for the Israelites, but he was also writing a prophetic truth:
Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. -Deuteronomy 21:6-7
Pilate washed his hands…
So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” -Matthew 27:24
David didn’t know his poetry was Creation groaning at what was to come…
“MY GOD, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?” -Psalms 22:1
…but Jesus, Creator in creation, finally got to let out his own cry…
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” -Matthew 15:34
…and that cry continues to echo in creation as those who came and have yet to come enter into a life that echos the life of Jesus.
It’s an echo that pulses from a place that has no beginning and reverberates into a place that has no end.
All throughout scripture there is evidence of a divine plan that not only supersedes the will of man, but somehow encompasses it. We play our part in the story without ever knowing the story. We make our own choices according to our own insight and still, our free choice is swallowed up and used in God’s plan.
We know that someone is controlling things when we try to make something happen that won’t. We know the truth in flashes and moments.
It is written and when you finally figure that out, you will be free. Just as He intended.
[Judas] went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him. Jesus said, “Friend, why this charade?…this is the way it has to be…You’ve done it this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings.’ -Matthew 26:47-56