TEXT: Matthew 26:3-4 - 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.
Jesus had predicted many times the journey beginning at the Mount of Transfiguration would end with His being handed over to the authorities. He would suffer. He would be crucified. On the third day He would rise again.
Those who would carry out the plan were the religious leaders of the time. Their understanding of when the Messiah would come and what He would do did not include Jesus. They saw Jesus as anyone but the Promised One.
Their hope to be able to do the arrest on the sly was unexpectedly made possible through the agreement with Judas. For 30 pieces of silver he would facilitate the arrest. The journey that had been delayed while Jesus was in Jerusalem was suddenly put on "fast forward."
Many have raised questions about how these people could want to do something so secretive and sinister. We wonder how a disciple could betray his rabbi. We wonder until we reflect on our own "sly" plans. Then we humbly praise our Lord for His journey to Calvary and the gift of His forgiveness.
THE PRAYER: Forgive us, Lord, for our sly plans. Amen.
